§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how payments for persons infected with HIV as a result of an NHS blood transfusion or tissue transfer will be treated for the purposes of social security benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThey will be treated in the same way as payments made to haemophiliacs under the Macfarlane Trusts. That is to say, they will be fully disregarded in the income-related benefits and exempted from the scheme to recover sums equivalent to the value of social security benefits from compensation payments. The confidentiality of beneficiaries will also be protected by making it unnecessary for them to report the receipt of any payment to a social security office or a local authority.
We will introduce the necessary amending regulations as soon as possible.