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| Scots blood virus probe ruled out | Scots blood virus probe ruled out |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's health minister has again ruled out a public inquiry into the supply of contaminated NHS blood to haemophiliacs north of the border. | Scotland's health minister has again ruled out a public inquiry into the supply of contaminated NHS blood to haemophiliacs north of the border. |
| Andy Kerr was responding to the announcement of an independent inquiry into transfusions in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. | Andy Kerr was responding to the announcement of an independent inquiry into transfusions in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| Hundreds of people with haemophilia received contaminated blood in Scotland during that period. | Hundreds of people with haemophilia received contaminated blood in Scotland during that period. |
| Mr Kerr said there would be "no further practical lessons" from an inquiry. | Mr Kerr said there would be "no further practical lessons" from an inquiry. |
| Labour peer Lord Archer of Sandwell is to conduct a UK-wide investigation after a campaign by Lord Morris of Manchester. | Labour peer Lord Archer of Sandwell is to conduct a UK-wide investigation after a campaign by Lord Morris of Manchester. |
| Lord Morris, president of the Haemophilia Society, said more than 1,700 haemophilia patients exposed to HIV and/or hepatitis C-contaminated NHS blood and blood products had died since being infected. | Lord Morris, president of the Haemophilia Society, said more than 1,700 haemophilia patients exposed to HIV and/or hepatitis C-contaminated NHS blood and blood products had died since being infected. |
| 'Unchallengeable integrity' | |
| He said an independent inquiry was "the only way forward" if the voices of those affected were to be heard and public confidence in the safety of blood supplies was to be restored. | He said an independent inquiry was "the only way forward" if the voices of those affected were to be heard and public confidence in the safety of blood supplies was to be restored. |
| Lord Morris told BBC Radio Scotland: "Successive governments have resolutely resisted any idea of an independent public inquiry. | |
| "Therefore the only way forward was to try and set up an independent inquiry, held in public, under a lawyer of unchallengeable integrity and authority. | |
| "I think you'll find at the end of this inquiry, such is the standing of the people involved, that its report will be self-standing and of such commanding authority that can't be dodged by anyone." | |
| Scotland's health minister said he would think again should any new evidence arise. | Scotland's health minister said he would think again should any new evidence arise. |
| We need closure Andy GunnHaemophiliac | We need closure Andy GunnHaemophiliac |
| He said: "I would be willing to revisit my decision not to hold a public inquiry were fresh evidence to come to light but presently I believe there is not sufficient grounds to justify such an inquiry. | He said: "I would be willing to revisit my decision not to hold a public inquiry were fresh evidence to come to light but presently I believe there is not sufficient grounds to justify such an inquiry. |
| "As I have said on many occasions, I am of the view there would be no further practical lessons, beyond those already acted upon, that would help those who have suffered and been affected and improve our health services for the future. | "As I have said on many occasions, I am of the view there would be no further practical lessons, beyond those already acted upon, that would help those who have suffered and been affected and improve our health services for the future. |
| "Every effort has been made to trace and inform people in Scotland who contracted Hepatitis C from blood transfusions." | "Every effort has been made to trace and inform people in Scotland who contracted Hepatitis C from blood transfusions." |
| Many patients received payments of between £20,000 and £45,000 under a scheme pledged by UK and Scottish ministers in 2003. | Many patients received payments of between £20,000 and £45,000 under a scheme pledged by UK and Scottish ministers in 2003. |
| Calls for a public inquiry have continually been made by victims and political figures. | Calls for a public inquiry have continually been made by victims and political figures. |
| Lord Archer will call on patients, bereaved family members, former health ministers and other witnesses to help with the independent inquiry, which will begin in around four weeks. | Lord Archer will call on patients, bereaved family members, former health ministers and other witnesses to help with the independent inquiry, which will begin in around four weeks. |
| 'Properly independent' | 'Properly independent' |
| Philip Dolan, chairman of the Scottish Haemophilia Forum, welcomed the UK-wide inquiry. | Philip Dolan, chairman of the Scottish Haemophilia Forum, welcomed the UK-wide inquiry. |
| "But what I regret and find difficult to understand is that the health committee of the Scottish Parliament voted in April that there should be a public inquiry and Andy Kerr hasn't responded to this," he said. | "But what I regret and find difficult to understand is that the health committee of the Scottish Parliament voted in April that there should be a public inquiry and Andy Kerr hasn't responded to this," he said. |
| Haemophiliac Andy Gunn, from Inverness, was diagnosed with Aids and Hepatitis C 15 years ago after receiving blood between 1981 and 1986. | Haemophiliac Andy Gunn, from Inverness, was diagnosed with Aids and Hepatitis C 15 years ago after receiving blood between 1981 and 1986. |
| He has been at the forefront of the campaign for an inquiry into the contamination scandal. | He has been at the forefront of the campaign for an inquiry into the contamination scandal. |
| Mr Gunn said: "I really hope that it (the inquiry) is properly independent and that the government plays the game by not hindering it. | Mr Gunn said: "I really hope that it (the inquiry) is properly independent and that the government plays the game by not hindering it. |
| "We need closure." | "We need closure." |