§ 20. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, having regard to the case of Paul Hardman of 4 Landsbury Avenue, Parr, St. Helens, whose parents received one document which contained incomplete paragraphs, other relevant documents which were incomplete, and others which were hardly legible, he will ensure that his Department always provides clear and conclusive information to the parents of vaccine damaged children upon request.
§ Sir George YoungIn dealing with vaccine damage payment claims every effort is made to obtain and provide all available information, but in some cases relevant documents have unfortunately been destroyed.
In the case referred to, some hospital records were available only in microfilm form and certain words were unclear. But these related to the period immediately following Paul Hardman's neurological illness, while the tribunal decision was based on the interval of time between the vaccination and the onset of the illness.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs the Minister aware that until the father of this boy saw his Member of Parliament about the Department's refusal or inability to supply the necessary information that parent was unable to gather any information on which to base an appeal? On taking the matter up with the Department, I was only able to get some information but not all of it. Will the Secretary of State and the Under-Secretary take steps to ensure that the medical officer of health, who was in a position to give the necessary evidence on behalf of Paul Hardman, is brought forward?
§ Sir George YoungThe hon. Gentleman has acted commendably in taking up this constituency case. Both my right hon. Friend and I have gone through the file in some detail. The suggestion that the hon. Gentleman has made is a matter for the tribunal and not for Ministers.