asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants for the vaccine damage payment have had their application rejected because their application was out of time.

At 6 March 1987, the latest date for which information is available, 73 claims had been rejected because they were out of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that in every centre where vaccination is carried out there is a poster drawing attention to the provision of a vaccine damage payment.

We have no plans to do so. General information about the vaccine damage payments scheme is contained in our leaflets dealing with benefits for sick and disabled people. These leaflets are freely available at local social security offices and post offices. In addition, the Health Education Council publishes leaflets on whooping cough and on immunisation generally which set out clearly all the facts on vaccination. These are available to the public.