To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of implementing Lord Archer's recommendations on compensation to those affected by NHS-supplied contaminated blood. (322033)

The Department has made an estimation that the potential cost of implementing in full Lord Archer's recommendations as set out in his report, on financial relief to those affected by NHS-supplied contaminated blood and blood products, could be approximately £3-3.5 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance, excluding lump sum payments, is available for those diagnosed with (a) HIV and Hepatitis C, (b) HIV only and (c) Hepatitis C only as a result of the transfusion of NHS-supplied contaminated blood. (322034)

The Government currently make ex-gratia payments to those infected with HIV by contaminated NHS blood and blood products, through the Macfarlane and Eileen Trusts and to those infected with hepatitis-C by contaminated NHS blood and blood products through the Skipton Fund. In addition to the new flat rate sum of £12,800 per annum paid to infected registrants with the Macfarlane and Eileen Trusts, the trusts make discretionary payments which vary on a case by case basis. The Skipton fund only makes lump sum payments.