§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by the Lord Warner on 5 February (HL Deb, col. 802), why they have decided to treat the widows of National Health Service patients infected with hepatitis C less favourably than the widows of those infected with HIV by excluding them from the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection, to be administered, like that for HIV infection, by the Macfarlane Trust. [HL1418]
§ Lord WarnerThe recently announced hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme will be administered by a new independent operation that will be called the Skipton Fund. Although the management of the fund will be associated with that of the Macfarlane Trust, the schemes are distinct and have been established for different purposes.
122WAThe underlying principle behind the Skipton Fund is to help alleviate the suffering of people living with inadvertent hepatitis C infection. That is where the money available has been concentrated. These payments are not compensation for bereavement, although we recognise the pain and hardship suffered by widows and families.