PARENTS of vaccine-damaged children met the Social Security minister at the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Led by Golborne mum Jackie Fletcher, it was the first formal meeting of the group with a government minister in 18 years.

Members of JABS, Justice Awareness and Basic Support,will discuss a range of issues with Baroness Hollis of Heigham, Under-Secretary of State for Social Security.

JABS was founded by Jackie Fletcher, from Golborne, whose son Robert has been severely brain damaged following the MMR vaccination.

Mrs Fletcher explained that the organisation is "not anti-vaccine, but seeks justice for the victims of vaccine damage, to increase the awareness of all relevant information about vaccines and to provide basic support for those families who have been affected."

The Vaccine Damage Payment Act was one of the last pieces of legislation put through under the Labour Government in 1979.

Mrs Fletcher says she and the other group members are hoping for:

The removal of the six-year time limit on the period in which claims can be made.

The payment to be able to cover all degrees of disability, particularly, since at present, claimants must be at least 80pc disabled.

Greater provision to be made for all vaccine-damaged people to be adequately compensated for injuries suffered in the interest of public health policy. Last year Birmingham Labour MP Richard Burden raised an early day motion in the House of Commons which had the backing of more than 200 MPs from all parties.

The original payment, which was set up under the last Labour administration, was seen to be an interim payment to alleviate immediate hardship while a proper compensation scheme was determined.

JABS now hopes the new Labour government can "complete the work started in 1979."

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