Vaccine Damage Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will now consider updating the £10,000 interim payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 to take account of rises in the cost of living. The Prime Minister We have no present intention to do so. We believe that the way forward is to provide improvements for the disabled generally when resources become available. Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Prime Minister what has been the number of claims, both total and successful, brought under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister The information available is as follows: ---------------------------------------------- | | ---------------------------------------------- |Persons living in Scotland | ---------------------------------------------- |Persons living in the rest of United Kingdom| ---------------------------------------------- Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Prime Minister in how many instances a successful applicant for damages under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 has been refused supplementary benefit. The Prime Minister Information about the number of claimants refused supplementary benefit because of a vaccine damage payment could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost, but some 150 supplementary benefit claims have been made by persons who have received such a payment.