Caroline Flint, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, repeated in a letter to the Haemophilia Society that "Donor screening for hepatitis C was introduced in the UK in 1991 and the development of this test marked a major advance in microbiological technology, which could not have been implemented before this time." Read more about Caroline Flint, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, repeated in a letter to the Haemophilia Society that "Donor screening for hepatitis C was introduced in the UK in 1991 and the development of this test marked a major advance in microbiological technology, which could not have been implemented before this time."
Lord Warner, speaking in the House of Lords, claimed that "the infection of people with hepatitis C was inadvertent. Nothing could have been done at the time with the technology available to assess the blood for that level of infection." Read more about Lord Warner, speaking in the House of Lords, claimed that "the infection of people with hepatitis C was inadvertent. Nothing could have been done at the time with the technology available to assess the blood for that level of infection."
Responding to Carol Grayson, the Department of Health's Customer Service Directorate asserted that donor screening for Hepatitis C "could not have been implemented" before 1991. Read more about Responding to Carol Grayson, the Department of Health's Customer Service Directorate asserted that donor screening for Hepatitis C "could not have been implemented" before 1991.
In her letter to Nick Harvey MP, Caroline Flint, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, repeated the line that Hepatitis C Screening could not have been introduced sooner and that a public inquiry was not justified. Read more about In her letter to Nick Harvey MP, Caroline Flint, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, repeated the line that Hepatitis C Screening could not have been introduced sooner and that a public inquiry was not justified.
In his oral evidence to the Inquiry, Lord John Reid acknowledged that it was accurate to say that Hepatitis C screening could have been introduced earlier than 1991, although he did not have knowledge of this at the time. Read more about In his oral evidence to the Inquiry, Lord John Reid acknowledged that it was accurate to say that Hepatitis C screening could have been introduced earlier than 1991, although he did not have knowledge of this at the time.
In his written statement to the Inquiry Lord Reid noted that the wording of his letter to Andrew Kerr was based on the briefing received by officials and agreed that the line was 'simply inaccurate'. Read more about In his written statement to the Inquiry Lord Reid noted that the wording of his letter to Andrew Kerr was based on the briefing received by officials and agreed that the line was 'simply inaccurate'.
The Secretary of State for Health, Lord John Reid, wrote to Andy Kerr, repeating the line regarding introduction of the donor screening for Hepatitis C in the UK in 1991 in the context of the Government's position that a public inquiry was not justified. Read more about The Secretary of State for Health, Lord John Reid, wrote to Andy Kerr, repeating the line regarding introduction of the donor screening for Hepatitis C in the UK in 1991 in the context of the Government's position that a public inquiry was not justified.
An update for the Secretary of State dated 29 March 2005 emphasised that donor screening for Hepatitis C was introduced in the UK in 1991 and the development of this test marked a major advance in microbiological technology, which could not have been implemented before this time. Read more about An update for the Secretary of State dated 29 March 2005 emphasised that donor screening for Hepatitis C was introduced in the UK in 1991 and the development of this test marked a major advance in microbiological technology, which could not have been implemented before this time.
A brief by Scottish Executive officials stated, in relation to the introduction of Hepatitis C screening in 1991, that this development was introduced as early as it reasonably could be in the light of the scientific knowledge and technical capabilities at that time. Read more about A brief by Scottish Executive officials stated, in relation to the introduction of Hepatitis C screening in 1991, that this development was introduced as early as it reasonably could be in the light of the scientific knowledge and technical capabilities at that time.
Richard Gutowski, in his statement to the Inquiry, recognised that the lines to take drafted for the Government relating to donor screening for Hepatitis C could have better reflected the findings of the Court in "A & others [2001] EWHC QB 446". Read more about Richard Gutowski, in his statement to the Inquiry, recognised that the lines to take drafted for the Government relating to donor screening for Hepatitis C could have better reflected the findings of the Court in "A & others [2001] EWHC QB 446".