§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 5 April (WA 130), whether their response to Mr Justice Burton's judgment in the High Court on 26 March concerning contaminated blood supplied by the National Blood Authority will be reported first to Parliament. [HL1708]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Government have decided not to seek leave to appeal against the judgment given by Mr Justice Burton on 26 March.
Although an appeal would have provided an opportunity to seek clarification on some aspects of the judgment that may have a bearing on the future liability of National Health Service bodies, the Government did not wish to subject the claimants to a further period of uncertainty while the appeal was under way.
The Government are now focusing on the implications of this judgment, which will take time to consider.