Contaminated Blood (Support for Infected and Bereaved Persons) Bill [HL]

Baroness O'Cathain Excerpts

Friday 22nd October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness O'Cathain]

My Lords, I rise to speak briefly in the gap. I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Morris, as I have spoken in support of him in this Chamber from the very start of his campaign but, due to my lack of attention to detail, I did not realise that this debate was taking place today. However, everything that I wanted to say has been said in the most moving and compassionate way.

Promises have been broken, victims have been betrayed and trust has been compromised—all of this, I am afraid, is accepted. I have three hopes. The first is that the response from my noble friend will be positive and compassionate. Secondly, I hope that this debt, which is much easier to settle than the debts that this Government have inherited, will be settled. Thirdly, I hope—this is probably the vainest hope of the lot—that the media will find it in their hearts to support the Bill, cover the speeches made today and realise that this debate is something on which this House scores. It is a good news story, and we have a role to play in the Parliament of this country.