§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimates they have made of the cost of the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products on the assumptions that (a) 6,000 and (b) 7,000 people will benefit. [HL2238]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)Due to the nature of a person's infection with hepatitis C, the natural history of the virus and the variable incidence of cirrhosis, it is difficult to quantify the cost for specific claimant numbers. However, the Government have committed to honour all valid claims received under the ex gratia scheme for hepatitis C infection from National Health Service blood or blood products, known as the Skipton Fund.