NORTHWICH’S MP has secured a financial guarantee for victims of the contaminated blood scandal.

In a Parliamentary debate, Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale, asked Jackie Doyle-Price, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, whether she could give assurances that the victims would not be left worse off as part of a new review of a scheme set up to provide them with financial support.

The scheme was established to pay the victims of the tainted blood scandal, where thousands of haemophiliacs in the 70s and 80s were mistakenly given blood contaminated with hepatitis C and HIV.

The review had caused concern among some campaigners amid fears the government wanted to scale back the scheme in an effort to cut costs.

But during a Parliamentary debate, Mike Amesbury highlighted the plight of a Weaver Vale resident impacted by the scandal, and secured a commitment by the Minister that none of the victims would be left financially worse off.

Speaking in the Commons, he said: “From April next year those affected by contaminated blood including Michael in my constituency of Weaver Vale could face considerable cuts in their discretionary support as the Business Services Authority is currently reviewing this.

“Will the Minister give a clear cut guarantee that absolutely nobody will be left worse off as part of this review?”

The Minister replied: “I can absolutely give the honourable gentlemen that assurance and that will form part of the statement that I gave on the response to the consultation that we undertook earlier that those discretionary payments will be maintained.”

Mr Amesbury welcomed the commitment.

Speaking later outside the Chamber, he said: “This is an important guarantee and I hope it provides peace of mind for Michael and the many others whose lives have been blighted over the years.

“We will now continue the fight to ensure they also get the justice they deserve.”