§ Mr. Rooney:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with the Thalidomide Trust in the last 12 months; and what advice and assistance he has offered to the Trust. [131301]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson:The Department has not had any meetings with the Thalidomide Trust over the past 12 months. The Government paid £5 million to the Trust in 1974 and £0.8 million in 1978, following misunderstandings about the tax treatment of the fund. In 1996, we made a further payment to the Trust of £7 million in recognition of the unique and tragic circumstances which surround the thalidomide disaster. The Department would always be happy to meet with the Trust if it so wishes.