§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to whom his Department circulated the statement concerning the agreement that compensation made from the Department of Health to fund non-haemophiliacs infected with HIV through blood or tissue transfers would not affect the entitlement of those individuals to benefits.
§ Mr. BurtMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary announced in the House on 18 February this year that the payments would be fully disregarded in the income-related benefits. All prospective applicants for a payment were sent a copy of the document describing the scheme which made specific mention of the social security provisions. A letter explaining these provisions in detail was issued to all recipients of a payment.