§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the settlement of the litigation by those haemophiliacs infected with HIV; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am pleased to be able to announce that a formal offer conveying the detailed terms of' the settlement has now been made to the plaintiffs' representatives. The new trust, which will administer the payments, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) (No. 2) Trust, is being set up today.
Payments can begin as soon as acceptances have been received from individual plaintiffs and the settlement has been approved by Mr. Justice Ognall. This should be within a few days.
Full details of the payments to be made under the settlement will be given once those details have been announced in open court.