The Support Available to Haemophiliacs and their Families

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:37 pm on 14 May 2019.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 1:37, 14 May 2019

First Minister, you will recognise, as most of us here do, that the contaminated blood scandal is one of the great and terrible scandals that's occurred—admittedly, well before devolution, but one where there is a legacy with us to this day. You'll also be pleased, I'm sure, to welcome the commencement, at long last, of the contaminated blood inquiry, which has started to take place. And I'm sure you will also welcome the actual work that Julie Morgan has done with Haemophilia Wales, and with the families and the victims throughout Wales, and the work she's done with the cross-party group. But, First Minister, as the inquiry started, the UK Government announced a financial package of support—until it turned out that that financial package only applies to England. It appears that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are an afterthought and are not included within it, that there is no new money, no new funding, no new consequential. And this, First Minister, must be one of the most cruel and reckless activities by the UK Government—raising expectations while not providing any financial support. First Minister, will you urge the UK Government firstly to ensure that there is new money—proper money—to fund these people who deserve it, and that there is proper provision for the widows? And can you inform this Chamber what discussions, what contacts, you have had from the UK Government, because they are certainly writing in correspondence that there are negotiations about to start? And will you also arrange to meet with the cross-party group—or members of your Government to meet with the cross-party group—so that they can be involved in any forward planning, any decision-making process, but also for an explanation as to where we are with this inquiry and with the issue of support for victims?