§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families have so far received the £10,000 payment for vaccine damage to children.
§ Mr. WhitneyUp to 18 June, awards have been made in 803 cases as a result of claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the level of today's £10,000 payment under the vaccine damage scheme if its real value were to be restored to that in the year when the scheme was introduced; what steps he proposes to take to increase the payment to that level; and if he will make a statement;
(2) why he has not maintained in real terms the value of vaccine damage payments since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Whitney:The present equivalent of £10,000 in 1979 is £17,750. When my right hon. Friend made his statement about the annual uprating of social security benefits on 18 June, he announced at column 171 our intention to increase the payment to £20,000.