Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in what locations in Northern Ireland will hearings in the contaminated blood inquiry take place; and if he will make a statement.

The Infected Blood Inquiry's terms of reference require the Inquiry to ascertain, as far as practicable, the likely numbers of people who have been infected (directly or indirectly) in consequence of the use of infected blood and the use of infected blood products.

The Inquiry has held four well-attended meetings in Northern Ireland so far with people infected and affected, including meetings in Belfast on 30 July and 20 November. It is planning to hold further meetings elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and I have offered my support to the enquiry for this plan.