Government criticised for inquiry no-show

Sunil Peck

Campaigners have criticised the government for failing to appear at an inquiry into the supply of contaminated blood which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,700 people with haemophilia.

More than 4,500 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C during the 1970s and 1980s after being given contaminated blood products.

Successive governments have refused to fund a public inquiry, but a campaign by Lord [Alf] Morris of Manchester (pictured), president of the Haemophilia Society and a former minister for disabled people, resulted in a privately-funded inquiry, chaired by Lord Archer of Sandwell QC.

Haemophilia Society chief executive Chris James said: "Many extremely brave people have come forward and given powerful evidence, including highly painful, personal information. 

“The Haemophilia Society had hoped that common respect for their loss or admiration of their courage would have been enough to persuade the government to match their candour by appearing at a hearing."

A Department of Health (DH) spokesman said the department had released copies of all documentation for the period in question (1970-85) to the inquiry team and placed them on the DH website.

He added: "The department is fully co-operating with the Archer inquiry. Officials have met [privately] with Lord Archer and colleagues on 25 April 2007, 19 September 2007 and 12 June 2008."

The inquiry ended this month, and is expected to report later this year.