§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries have set up compensation programmes for people developing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease caused by human growth hormone.
§ Mr. SackvilleI understand that the French Government have offered to compensate families of children treated with growth hormone between January 1984 and May 1985 who contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease provided they agree not to proceed with the litigation over the treatment programme. The extent to which this offer was taken up is not known. In the United Kingdom, the treatment was provided in good faith and conformed with the best known scientific and medical advice available at that time. In the circumstances, compensation is not appropriate without proof of negligence.