Written question asked by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Friday, 7 October 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 October 2016. It was answered by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Monday, 17 October 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Germany: Thalidomide

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September 2016 to Question 45858 and 2 August 2016 to Question 42407, whether Government assistance has been provided to the UK Thalidomide Trust on its proposal to allow collective compensation applications to Contergan Foundation established by the German government.

Answer

The Government has discussed this proposal with the Thalidomide Trust and is considering the detail. The German Government has been clear, however, that collective compensation is not permissible. In response to the UK Government's previous correspondence they have stated that:

"The assessment of damage by the Medical Commission of the Contergan Foundation and the individual categorization in line with the damage points according to the legally stipulated points based system are mandatory – irrespective of analogous assessments from abroad".

The German Government further states that there are approximately 300 non-German recognised persons worldwide who are currently supported by the Contergan Foundation, each of whom has undergone individual assessment. This information has been shared with the Trust.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 47353
Session: 2016-17
Related items: Germany: Thalidomide
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Written questions
House of Commons; Germany: Thalidomide
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Compensation Germany Thalidomide
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Germany: Thalidomide

Secondary information

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