Does memo hint at blood scandal cover-up?

PREVIOUSLY unseen Cabinet papers hint at a ‘cover-up’ of a contaminated blood scandal which killed more than 2,400, campaigners have said.

An estimated 7,500 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis after being treated for haemophilia in the 1970s and 1980s.

But a Cabinet memo from 1987 suggests there was a deliberate policy not to accept responsibility for the way contaminated blood products had been given to haemophiliacs. The patients were given clotting agent Factor VIII imported from the US, where in many cases it was taken from highrisk groups including prisoners, prostitutes and drug addicts, despite recommendations to use British stocks only.

Secretary of State for Social Services at the time, John Moore, stated in a memo he believed victims should receive financial compensation. But he expressed concerns over whether this could leave the government open to legal action.

His memo, submitted to the Home and Social Affairs Committee’s sub-committee on Aids, recommended not giving patients individual payments, but instead offering a £10million lump sum to be distributed to victims through a charity.

Mr Moore, now Lord Moore of Lower Marsh, stated: ‘The second option is particularly attractive as it minimises government intervention, and it would be consistent with the policy of not accepting any direct responsibility.’ Victims’ groups say the document, made available by the Cabinet Office, is evidence of a ‘cover-up’, which has emerged as more than 500 people are set to sue the current Government for compensation over the scandal.

The Department of Health said yesterday: ‘The infected blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s is an appalling tragedy... which is why this Government [is] committed to a full inquiry to ensure victims and their families get the answers they have spent decades waiting for.’