Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish an independent inquiry into deaths resulting from people receiving contaminated blood.

There has been a comprehensive release of Government papers that has already taken place and the numerous statements made by Ministers in both Houses of Parliament on this issue.

Lord Archer of Sandwell and Lord Penrose have already separately undertaken thorough, independent inquiries within the last decade. Both inquiries did not find the governments of the day to have been at fault and did not apportion blame.

We do not believe that another inquiry would be in the best interests of sufferers and their families as it would be costly, it would further delay action to address their concerns, and would curtail plans to reform the existing support schemes. The Department has published all relevant information that it holds on blood safety, in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.