Question reference: S6W-26097
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 13 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to compensate any children that have been affected as a consequence of their mothers being given sodium valproate during pregnancy, and when it expects compensation payments to commence.
Answer
The Scottish Government will await the view and any decisions by the UK Government in relation to redress for anyone who was affected by exposure to valproate.
As set out in our letter to MSPs, this is because the recommendations on redress the UK Government is considering may involve a new agency and schemes that would be funded via a levy on manufacturers of medicines and medical devices and the Scottish Government has only limited powers under the devolution arrangements to impose levies.
We will of course update the Parliament about any important developments.