Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Department for Work and Pensions

The Infected Blood Inquiry is ongoing, and it is only reasonable that the inquiry concludes and provides its final recommendations before the Government responds. The Government is undertaking the necessary work to enable a swift response to the full report, when it is published.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise from needs related to a long-term health condition or disability. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is an income-replacement benefit for individuals who have a health condition or disability that limits their capability to work.

People whose ability to work or to live independently which has been affected as a consequence of receiving infected blood can claim, and in many cases are already claiming, these benefits. The department has talked to people affected and improved its processes to ensure these claims are dealt with quickly and accurately.

Eligibility for these benefits is not based on the diagnosis of a health condition or disability. Instead, both the Work Capability Assessment, which determines entitlement to ESA and the additional health-related amount of Universal Credit, and the PIP assessment, assess the impact of a person’s health condition or disability on doing everyday tasks to determine eligibility for the benefit. In practice, these assessments will often be a paper-based process where people are seriously ill.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Government continues to make progress and is working to be ready to respond soon after the publication of the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, following the interim payments we have already made. On 23 October I issued a public statement on the Government’s current position in responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry. The timetable of the Inquiry is a matter for the chair. I will update the House as soon as I have further information to provide.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Honourable Member to my previous answer to UIN 201237 on 20th October 2023.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I would like to refer the Honourable member to the debate on Thursday 22nd June, where I updated Parliament on the Government’s progress on this important issue. In this update, I shared that part of this work includes chairing a Small Ministerial Group (SMG) to enable in-depth discussion about the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s second interim report and HM Treasury is represented at this group. The SMG is an important forum to work through the recommendations and drive forward the Government’s response to the anticipated Infected Blood Inquiry Final Report.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

There are a number of complex issues arising from the recommendations in the Compensation Framework Study. These issues are under active consideration across government, including consideration of Sir Robert’s evidence to the independent Inquiry on 11-12 July. I will update the House as this work progresses.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 16932 on 20 June 2022.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Work is currently underway across the government on a number of infected blood issues. I will update the House shortly on progress.

The (then) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 2 July 2018, approving legal support funding for people infected, and their families. Details of how to apply for funding are on the Inquiry’s website - Statement of Approach: Legal Representation at Public Expense.