HC Deb 13 February 1978 vol 944 cc11-5W
Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until they settle the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until they settle the claim for compensation of the Y list children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief and other terms of aid until they settle the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claims for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until they settle the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until they settle the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation for the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Ashton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Heffer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Heffer

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Heffer

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Heffer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will blacklist the Distillers Company from all future Government grants, subsidies, tax relief, and other forms of aid until it settles the claim for compensation of the Y list thalidomide children on the same terms as those on the X list drawn up prior to the 1973 settlement.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I have been asked to reply also to the Questions to other Departments.

My hon. Friends will wish to know that, in keeping with a suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) in a Question on 16th December 1977—[Vol. 941, c. 583]—I have been maintaining close contact with interested parties on the issue of the Y list children. While my Department has no standing in the matter, in view of my concern both personally and as a Minister I am continuing to do what I can to help resolve outstanding problems. I have had discussions with the Chairman of the Distillers Company Limited and with the Chairman of the Medical Panel. This contact will be maintained. While I understand the concern expressed by my hon. Friends, I believe the initiatives that I have taken represent the best means whereby the Government can help. There are complex issues involved, but I shall be making a further statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department spent on goods manufactured by the Distillers Company Ltd. in the last financial year.

Mr. Ennals

Nil, but the Department has a contract with United Glass in which the Distillers Company Ltd. has a holding.

The Distillers Company Ltd. also has a number of subsidiaries in the food industry from whom the National Health Service may buy but the value of such purchases are not known centrally.