MPs debated contaminated blood
15 January 2015
On Thursday 15 January, MPs took part in a debate on a motion relating to contaminated blood. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
This debate was opened by Mr Alistair Burt, Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, at 11.29am. Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health, Jane Ellison, responded on behalf of the Government.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate contaminated blood
- Read Commons Hansard:MPs debate contaminated blood
Text of the Motion
MPs debated the following motion:
'That this House supports a further review of the circumstances surrounding the passing of infection via blood products to those with haemophilia and others during the 1970s and 1980s; notes the recent report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood into the support arrangements provided for those who contracted blood-borne viruses as a result; also notes that the Penrose Inquiry into these events will shortly be publishing its findings in Scotland; further notes that those who contracted viruses and their partners and dependants continue to be profoundly affected by what happened; therefore welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to look again at this issue; and calls on the Government to respond positively to the APPG report and engage actively with those affected with a view to seeking closure to these long standing events.'
Further Information
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.