§ Mr. Fallonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider compensation for the families of haemophiliacs who die as a result of contracting the AIDS virus through blood transfusions; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to compensate those haemophiliacs who have been infected with AIDS by Factor VIII brought from the United States of America.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987]: There is no state compensation scheme for those who, like haemophiliacs infected with the AIDS virus, unfortunately suffer adverse effects from their medical treatment. Compensation may be awarded by the courts in cases where negligence has been proved. Compensation for the families of haemophiliacs who die from AIDS infection may similarly be awarded by the courts.
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will estimate the number of haemophiliacs currently infected with the AIDS virus through blood transfusions.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 25 November 1986, at columns 199–200. These are the most recent figures available for haemophiliacs who have been found to be HIV antibody positive.
The transmission of HIV to haemophiliacs was through the use of blood products in their treatment and not through blood transfusion. Blood products used by haemophiliacs are now heat treated to inactivate HIV.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he advised health authorities, when deciding on the disposal of land or buildings, to take into account any plans for the development of services for those suffering from AIDS.
§ Mr. NewtonThe requirement for health authorities to take into account other health service needs and developments before disposing of properties is a standing one which has been included in the National Health Service "Handbook on Land Transactions" since 1977.