§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to review the administration of payments made to haemophiliacs suffering with HIV infection.
§ Mr. MellorA new charitable trust, known as the Macfarlane trust, was established on 10 March 1988 specifically to give financial help to haemophiliacs infected with HIV and to their dependents. The Government made an ex-gratia payment to the trust of £10 million and by regulations have ensured that payments from the trust are disregarded for the purposes of housing benefit, income support and family credit. A majority of the trustees were appointed by the Haemophilia society. I believe that we have thereby fulfilled the promise made to the House by my predecessor on 17 November 1987.
It is now a matter for the trustees to allocate their funds in the way which will best meet the needs of those eligible for assistance. I understand that so far the trust has received about 350 applications and made some 297 payments.