Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure the health and independence of UK thalidomide victims.
On 20 December 2012, I announced a new 10-year grant to the Thalidomide Trust. The grant will be paid on an annual basis, uprated in line with inflation, which means that over the 10-year period it will be worth in the region of £80 million.
The grant is intended to enable investment in adaptations and preventative measures to improve health and wellbeing and to help minimise further deterioration for this unique group of people.