Jonathan Djanogly has strongly welcomed the announcement by the Government of a £20 million funding contribution to the St Neots based Thalidomide Trust. The money will be used to meet the health needs of the 466 survivors in a more personalised way. The Minister, Mike O’Brien MP, has also expressed the Government’s “sincere regret and deep sympathy for the injury endured by all those affected when expectant mothers took the thalidomide drug between 1958 and 1961”. Mr Djanogly has run a recent successful campaign to achieve tax exemption from donations made by Diageo (the successor to Distillers who marketed the drug) to the Trust. Responding to the announcement, Mr Djanogly said: “I am delighted to hear this news. It is important: firstly because the ageing Thalidomiders have been showing unique symptoms that were often not fundable within normal NHS remits – this will help that problem. Secondly and importantly, this is the first time since the tragedy that the state has faced up to the position not only that it was partly responsible for what happened but that it should make a payment to help the survivors.” “I congratulate the Thalidomide Trust and its National Advisory Committee on working so hard to get this admirable and just outcome.”