Haemophiliacs: Factor 8 and Deaths from Hepatitis C

HL Deb 11 January 2000 vol 608 cc105-6WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish documents relevant to the death of haemophiliacs from hepatitis C after being given Factor 8, referred to in the Observer on 21 November; and, if not, why not. [HL69]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

There are two documents referred to in theObserver article. The first is a letter about manufacturing practice dated 2 May 1979 from Dr Richard Lane, then Director of the Blood Products Laboratory, to an official in the Department of Health and Social Security. The second has been identified as a paper written by officials on 21 December 1979 advising Ministers on the future of the Blood Products Laboratory. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library.