Jonathan Djanogly, the Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon Constituency and founder of the Thalidomide All Party Parliamentary Group, today hailed the Government's decision to award income tax exemption to periodical payments made by the St Neots based Thalidomide Trust to Thalidomide victims.
Mr Djanogly said:
"This has been a three year campaign through the national media, hundreds of Thalidomide victims and their supporters and the formation of an All Party Parliamentary Group in Thalidomide, which now numbers over 100 Members of Parliament.
At last the Government has recognised their unjust tax treatment of victims of this tragic human disaster and, at a time when ageing victims are increasingly suffering from age and repetitive related illnesses, the additional funds will be very welcome. This is a great victory for justice and common sense.
Further discussions are now being held with the Government relating to NHS support to Thalidomiders and I have every expectation that progress will also be made on this issue."