By Steve Bargeton, political editor

MINISTERS YESTERDAY announced a full independent public inquiry into how people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C though contaminated blood transfusions.

Hundreds of patients, including haemophiliacs, were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s.

The previous Scottish Executive rejected calls for a public inquiry, but yesterday Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon honoured an SNP manifesto pledge to hold one.

The inquiry will be conducted by the distinguished former judge and sheriff Lady Cosgrove with a budget of £3 million.

“The transmission of hepatitis C and HIV through blood and blood products is a tragedy that has blighted the lives of many people in Scotland,” Ms Sturgeon told MSPs.

“That is why we are committed to a thorough inquiry to get to the bottom of this. We owe an explanation to patients and the public of what took place.

“No one can undo the pain and suffering of those affected but those individuals and their families do have a right to a deeper explanation of how hepatitis C and HIV came to be transmitted through NHS treatment in Scotland.

“They also have a right I believe to an assurance that where there are lessons for the future, these have been learned.

“I hope the inquiry that I am announcing today gives them both.”

In her statement to parliament the minister paid tribute to campaigners and patient groups who have fought for 15 years to keep the issue on the political agenda.

“I hope that they feel today that their efforts have at last paid off and that they are now a significant step closer to the answers that they deserve,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that significant work has already been done by previous inquiries and investigations into this issue.

However, she argued that this inquiry was different in one key respect.

“These inquiries have provided some valuable information and advice but were carried out by the government and, therefore, lacked independence,” she said.

“In other words, we have not yet had an investigation with the credibility and authority that a full Scottish public inquiry will bring.”

Ms Sturgeon said it would be for Lady Cosgrove to determine the “shape” of her inquiry once the terms of reference have been agreed.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) said it fully supported the inquiry.

However national director Keith Thompson said, “This inquiry must not, and will not, affect the vital daily work of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

“Blood testing and processing systems today provide excellent levels of safety and the NHS relies on the blood donations of people throughout Scotland.

“A regular supply of blood is vital and it is crucial that donors continue to come forward to support SNBTS and patient care.”

Haemophilia Society chief executive Chris James said, “For too many years campaigners across Scotland have been refused a public inquiry to address serious concerns about lethal infections being transmitted by blood and blood products used as part of NHS Scotland treatment.

“This will be the first time that any part of government has investigated these infections in public.”

Labour public health spokesman Richard Simpson said, “It is right that individuals and their families affected by hep C through contaminated blood products receive an explanation.

“The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service introduced measures to stop contaminating blood products with hep C quicker than those in England or Wales.

“We are also still awaiting the outcome of the UK hep C working group from Lord Archer, which may address some of the concerns that the SNP would expect a public inquiry to address.

“Therefore, there is some doubt as to what more a separate Scottish public inquiry would achieve.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Mary Scanlon said, “We welcome the inquiry to thoroughly investigate all the facts and indeed allegations...Nothing can undo the pain and suffering to individuals and their families, but this is an important step.

“Given that the terms of reference are inquisitorial rather than adversarial, we would like to know that if a substantial amount of evidence is forthcoming, whether or not there will be a revisitation in relation to compensation payments.”

An SNBTS spokesperson said there had been no cases of infection through contaminated blood in the Tayside or Fife areas since testing was introduced in the 1980s.