WILLOTT WELCOMES CONTAMINATED BLOOD PAYMENTS REVIEW

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Apr 2010

Jenny Willott, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central and long-time campaigner for the rights of victims of the contaminated blood scandal, which saw thousands of haemophiliacs contract Hepatitis C and HIV, has today welcomed a decision by the Government to bring forward a review into the payments made to people who contracted Hepatitis C as a result of their treatment.

In a written Ministerial Statement today, Health Minster Gillian Merron MP, said that, as a result of pressure, the Government would begin the review of the Skipton Fund this year, rather than in 2014 as intended.

Ms Willott has called for a number of years for all victims of the scandal, in which blood products from unsuitable donors, such as US prisoners, were given to haemophiliac patients, to receive fair and reasonable compensation.

Speaking today, Ms Willott said:

"I am delighted the Government has finally decided to bring forward the date of this review. This is something I have been calling on the Minister to do for some time, including when I led a delegation to see her last autumn.

"Everyone involved in campaigning for blood-scandal victims agrees that 2014 is far too late for a review and would mean many more victims dying before changes are made.

"It is time the victims of the contaminated blood disaster who have Hepatitis C are treated fairly. I will continue to press the Government to ensure that all victims get fair and improved compensation after this review and are finally given the justice they deserve."