The government has confirmed today that it is to apologize at last to thalidomide victims for their suffering. It will add £20 million to the depleted compensation fund, which was established for victims in the 1970s following a long court battle. Stretching back to 1958 -- when the drug was first prescribed to mothers suffering from morning sickness in pregnancy -- thalidomide is one of the worst public health and political scandals in Britain's recent history.

The drug should never have been given the go-ahead for public...