To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new procedures and practices have been implemented by the NHS as a result of the lessons learned from the supply of contaminated NHS blood products. (100630)

Bio Products Laboratory, part of NHS Blood and Transplant, supplies a range of plasma products to the NHS, along with a number of commercial organisations. Organisations producing plasma products are highly regulated, and have to conform to high standards and strict regulations, like any pharmaceutical organisations.

In addition, blood safety issues are considered by the committee on the microbiological safety of blood, tissues and organs for transplantation. Where there is significant uncertainty, the committee has adopted a highly precautionary approach towards minimising the risk of infection through treatment. In relation to the possibility of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) transmission through blood and blood products, we have introduced a range of precautionary measures to prevent transmission between patients. For example, plasma derivatives such as clotting factors are obtained from the United States. In addition, we provided funding to extend the availability of synthetic clotting factors to adult haemophilia patients.

Since the identification of HIV and hepatitis C in the 1980s practice in terms of communications between health professionals and patients, and assessing and communicating the risks of medical treatment has changed significantly.

Our primary focus is to ensure that we adopt the precautionary principle where there is scientific uncertainty, and to balance the need to communicate information about possible risks and protect public health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate her Department has made of the cost of holding a public inquiry into the supply of contaminated NHS blood products to haemophiliacs; (100631)

The Government have great sympathy for those infected with hepatitis C and has considered the call for a public inquiry very carefully.

However, as previously stated, the Government do not accept that any wrongful practices were employed and do not consider that a public inquiry is justified. Donor screening for hepatitis C was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1991 and the development of this test marked a major advance in microbiological technology, which could not have been implemented before this time.

The cost of holding a public inquiry would vary depending on the scope and length of any inquiry.