HC Deb 14 December 1989 vol 163 c802W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he intends to increase publicity for the vaccine damage payments scheme;

(2) in what ways the existence of the vaccine damage payments scheme has been made known to parents since the inception of the scheme.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The Department of Health and Social Security issued health notice HN(79)7 and local authority social services letter LASSL(79)1 in January 1979 informing heath and local authorities of the introduction of the scheme and asking them to bring it to the notice of staff and others working with possible beneficiaries. The notice and letter are still current. The Department tries to ensure that its leaflet on the scheme is widely available in places where potential claimants are likely to seek help, including social services departments, citizens advice bureaux and voluntary organisations. There is general information on the scheme in our leaflet for sick or disabled people which is freely available in the Department's local offices and post offices. We have no plans at present for further publicity.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he plans to allow children damaged by the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine to receive payments from the vaccine damage payments scheme.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The list of diseases to which the Vaccine Damage Payments Act applies includes measles and rubella. We are considering whether to add mumps to the list and I shall let the right hon. Member have our decision as soon as possible.

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