HC Deb 25 March 2003 vol 402 cc170-1W
Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his decision not to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee in connection with the Scottish Executive's Hepatitis C compensation proposals. [105035]

Malcolm Wicks

The Scottish Executive's proposal to compensate Hepatitis C sufferers who contracted the virus through contaminated blood has raised issues broader than that of the interaction with the benefit system and the responsibilities of the Department. It would be inappropriate for me to comment until discussions have reached a conclusion.