To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with the Thalidomide Trust in the last 12 months; and what advice and assistance he has offered to the Trust. [131302]

I met representatives of the Thalidomide Trust on 18 December 2002. Subsequently, Inland Revenue officials visited the Trust to offer direct advice and assistance on a number of issues, including tax repayment and access to tax credits.