§ Mr. Bruceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government propose to implement the recommendations of the Pearson commission relating to vaccine damaged children; what steps the Government will take to provide more adequate compensation; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Government have no plans to implement the recommendation. The £10,000 lump-sum payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 already provides vaccine damaged children with a measure of preference without prejudicing the right to institute legal proceedings on the grounds that negligence occurred. Our view is that any development should not extend this preference. Our long-term strategy is to work towards a more coherent system of benefits for disabled people in general.