CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

HEALTH – CONTAMINATED BLOOD INQUIRY - 20 July 2017

HEALTH – CONTAMINATED BLOOD INQUIRY - 20 July 2017

Dr Julian Lewis: I thank the Minister for saying that no decision has yet been taken about which Department will run the inquiry. Does she agree that perception is as important as reality in this matter, and therefore will she gain from this occasion a mindfulness of the weight placed by hon. Members, on both sides of the House, on the idea that the inquiry perhaps would be perceived to be more objective if some other Department took the lead?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jackie Doyle-Price): I say to my right hon. Friend, and I have repeated this in other discussions as well, that the Cabinet Office is very closely involved in this, and this opportunity has given me the time to make that clear to the House. The Government are listening; we want to consult as widely as possible. No decision has yet been taken, but the Cabinet Office is closely involved in all the consultation we are currently having.]