To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2009 to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central, Official Report, columns 656-57W, on blood: contamination, whether he has sought from the people whose personal information is in the seven withheld records permission to disclose those records. (290157)

No. I am advised that the documents contain personal information (exempt under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act), some of which was provided in confidence (and so exempt under section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act). In view of the time that has elapsed, and the personal nature of the information, we do not believe that it would be appropriate for the Department to make such requests.