ACCUSATION DOCUMENT AND THE CONTAMINATED BLOOD PUBLIC INQUIRY

Early day motion 1318, tabled 20 April 2007 by Jennifer Willott (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 63 members.

That this House applauds the hard work and dedication that Tainted Blood has put into compiling their Accusation Document; notes the exceptional coverage of this issue in a special report by BBC's Newsnight programme; further notes the accusations and evidence in the document levelled at successive Governments, the Department of Health and the haemophiliac and blood product medical profession of gross maladministration, unethical research and a cover-up over how 4,800 haemophiliacs were infected with hepatitis C and over 1,200 with HIV whilst receiving treatment under the NHS during the 1970s and 1980s; further notes that of the 1,200 infected with HIV, 800 have died and that hundreds more have died from hepatitis C; is deeply dismayed at the Government's handling of this issue, their refusal to back a full independent public inquiry and the destruction and withholding of documents relating to this affair; and strongly urges the Government and the Department of Health, in the light of these revelations, to cooperate fully with the ongoing inquiry into this matter chaired by Lord Archer of Sandwell QC.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 35, Labour 18, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1.