Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Government remains committed to addressing disparity in the support offered to those infected and affected by the infected blood disaster, across the United Kingdom.

The Department is working with relevant Government departments to resolve the immediate and pressing disparity between the English support scheme and those in Northern Ireland and Wales. The Government intends to launch a consultation between the four nations of the UK to achieve comprehensive parity for all those infected and affected and to consider the broader issues of support.

In addition to considering any recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I am the responsible Minister for the Infected Blood Inquiry. Following correspondence from the Prime Minister I have written to victims and organisations representing those infected and affected offering to meet with them.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I am the responsible Minister for the Infected Blood Inquiry. Following correspondence from the Prime Minister I have written to victims and organisations representing those infected and affected offering to meet with them.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) currently makes provision for ex gratia one-off payments to eligible spouses, civil partners and long-term partners for individuals meeting qualifying criteria.

The EIBSS also makes provision to help with the costs of bringing up children of an infected beneficiary in the form of an income top-up payment. This is a discretionary monthly payment to increase household income to help with general living costs. These are means-tested payments for dependants who are defined as children of an infected beneficiary up to the age of 18 years, or up to 21 if in full-time education.

In July 2017 the then Prime Minister announced the establishment of the Infected Blood Enquiry. This statutory inquiry chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, will examine why men, women and children in the United Kingdom were given infected blood and/or infected blood products and the impact on their families. The Inquiry will consider the nature and the adequacy of the treatment, care and support (including financial assistance) and the Government will carefully consider any recommendations made.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) was established in 2017 to provide dedicated financial support to people infected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through treatment with National Health Service-supplied blood or blood products, and their affected families. This scheme is currently administered by NHS Business Services Authority.

The Government announced a £30 million uplift to the financial support available to registered EIBSS beneficiaries on 30 April 2019.

The discretionary and non-discretionary payments made to beneficiaries and are on an ex-gratia basis; any award of compensation will depend on a determination of legal liability, to which the Infected Blood Inquiry’s determinations and recommendations may be relevant.

We are committed to working with counterpart schemes in the devolved administrations to look at the issue of parity of support across the United Kingdom and are engaging in discussions on this issue.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As Minister for the Cabinet Office, I have Ministerial responsibility for the Infected Blood Inquiry. I replied to the letter from the hon. Member for Kingston Upon Hull on 30 September, and have apologised to her for the time taken to reply to her letter to the Prime Minister of 1 August.

Answering body: Northern Ireland Office

The contaminated blood scandal was a tragedy that has caused unimaginable pain and hurt to victims and their families.

The Infected Blood Inquiry is UK-wide and the Inquiry terms of reference include consideration of financial assistance across all the nations of the UK.

The Minister of State for Northern Ireland recently met with the Chair of Haemophilia NI to discuss the issue of support for victims in Northern Ireland.

However, this is a devolved matter and the allocation of the NI budget is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

As stated in the letter sent to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 30 April 2019, the Government is committed to working with its counterparts in the devolved administrations to look at the issue of parity of support across the United Kingdom. I have written to Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and other counterparts in the other devolved nations inviting them to meet to discuss this issue, and a date is currently being sought for this meeting to take place.

The recently announced £30 million uplift in payments in England will be coming from existing 2019/20 Department of Health and Social Care’s non-National Health Service budget and is not a new allocation from HM Treasury. There is therefore no Barnett consequential arising from this for the existing Northern Ireland scheme.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

As stated in the letter sent to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 30 April 2019, the Government is committed to working with its counterparts in the devolved administrations to look at the issue of parity of support across the United Kingdom. I have written to Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and other counterparts in the other devolved nations inviting them to meet to discuss this issue, and a date is currently being sought for this meeting to take place.

The recently announced £30 million uplift in payments in England will be coming from existing 2019/20 Department of Health and Social Care’s non-National Health Service budget and is not a new allocation from HM Treasury. There is therefore no Barnett consequential arising from this for the existing Northern Ireland scheme.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

Today the Government has announced its intention to increase the financial support for beneficiaries of the infected blood support scheme in England, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

This follows a meeting on 21 January 2019 between myself, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Infected Blood Inquiry secretariat and affected beneficiaries where I committed to looking at where further improvements might be made to the support provided by the existing infected blood scheme.

In this announcement, we have set out our plans for a major uplift in the financial support available to infected and affected beneficiaries of the infected blood support scheme in England. The current annual cost of the scheme is estimated at £46.3m per annum and we expect this will increase to over £75m to provide for these uplifted payments.

The level of support provided to infected beneficiaries will increase. In addition, the upper threshold level of household income currently used to means-test support provided for the bereaved will also be substantially raised allowing more bereaved beneficiaries to be eligible for additional support from the scheme.

All beneficiaries will be sent a letter by NHSBSA this week setting out the details of the changes and the impact they will have on them. This detailed payment information will also be made available on NHSBSA’s website. All new payments will be backdated to 1 April 2019.

I have also announced my intention to reach out to the devolved administrations to look at how we might provide greater parity of support across the United Kingdom. I will update Hon. Members on these conversations in due course.

Today’s announcement reconfirms the Government’s commitment to providing those affected by the infected blood tragedy of the 1970s and 1980s with a fair and transparent support scheme, one which focusses on their welfare and long-term independence.

It also reaffirms the Prime Minister’s support for the Infected Blood Inquiry, which she ordered in 2017, and which specifically asked for the support given to those affected by infected blood be looked at again. The Government will continue to listen to and co-operate fully with the Inquiry.

Answering body: Department for Work and Pensions

It is important that claimants are reassessed at appropriate intervals to ensure that their benefit entitlement is correct, as a person’s health condition and its impact on their capacity to work can change.

The Department does not therefore consider it appropriate to suspend assessments for individuals involved in the Infected Blood Inquiry for the duration of that Inquiry.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

Following two extensive public consultations in 2016 and 2017, the current infected blood support scheme for England was introduced in 2017. These reforms committed an additional £125 million of support to those affected over the Spending Review period to April 2021, more than doubling the Department’s annual spending on the scheme. New annual payments for people with stage 1 hepatitis C infection and a new one-off payment for bereaved partners and spouses were introduced. In addition, a new process for those with stage 1 hepatitis C infection who consider their infection, or its treatment, to have a substantial and long-term impact on their ability to carry out routine daily activities to apply for the higher payment amount was also announced. Alongside these reforms a single programme of discretionary support for all, infected and bereaved, was introduced with an increased level of funding available.

The Government has noted recent concerns that have been raised through the Infected Blood Inquiry about the support provided. This matter is receiving careful consideration and an update will be provided as soon as practicable.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Government is committed to full disclosure to the Infected Blood Inquiry, and no historical record or document relevant to the Inquiry will be withheld from it.

In his statement on Disclosure and Legal Professional Privilege (LPP), Sir Brian Langstaff recognized that the right to assert LPP is preserved in the context of public inquiries by section 22(1) of the Inquiries Act 2005. He also recognised that, given the passage of time that the Inquiry will be investigating, many of the LPP and confidentiality issues will have eroded and this is the Government’s position also.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Until the report of the Infected Blood Inquiry is received it is difficult to commit to implement its recommendations. However, on receipt of the Inquiry’s report the Government will make a full statement to Parliament and will give the Inquiry’s recommendations full and proper consideration which we will do with the utmost urgency, recognising that many infected people have passed away since the start of the Inquiry, and every day that passes before the Inquiry completes its work risks further tragic losses.

Answering body: Northern Ireland Office

I am happy to confirm that The Infected Blood Inquiry is UK-wide and includes Northern Ireland. The contaminated blood scandal was an appalling tragedy and I urge all victims from Northern Ireland, or family members of victims, to engage with the Public Inquiry and I acknowledge the work of Haemophilia Northern Ireland to support some of those affected to do this. The Inquiry terms of reference include consideration of the question of financial assistance, including for those in Northern Ireland.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS), administered by NHS Business Services Authority, was launched on 1 November 2017 following two public consultations in 2016 and 2017. These consultations sought views on the proposed reforms to the EIBSS and the new special appeals mechanisms for those with chronic hepatitis C infection. Over the period of the current spending review, the launch of the EIBSS was part of the Government’s commitment, in January 2016, to provide an extra £125 million to support people affected by infected blood and blood products.

The Infected Blood Inquiry, announced in July 2017, has included examination of the support provided to people affected by infected blood in its terms of reference. The Department continues to follow the Inquiry closely and will careful consider any views from the Inquiry on where further improvements to the EIBSS could be made.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

It is for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider the issue of financial support raised by Sir Brian Langstaff in his letter. The Minister for Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention has expressed her willingness to meet the Inquiry team and other discussions may follow.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry's terms of reference require the Inquiry to ascertain, as far as practicable, the likely numbers of people who have been infected (directly or indirectly) in consequence of the use of infected blood and the use of infected blood products.

The Inquiry has held four well-attended meetings in Northern Ireland so far with people infected and affected, including meetings in Belfast on 30 July and 20 November. It is planning to hold further meetings elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and I have offered my support to the enquiry for this plan.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry's terms of reference require the Inquiry to ascertain, as far as practicable, the likely numbers of people who have been infected (directly or indirectly) in consequence of the use of infected blood and the use of infected blood products.

The Inquiry has held four well-attended meetings in Northern Ireland so far with people infected and affected, including meetings in Belfast on 30 July and 20 November. It is planning to hold further meetings elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and I have offered my support to the enquiry for this plan.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

During Cabinet Office Oral Questions on Wednesday 14 November, in response to questions about the Infected Blood Inquiry from Member for Manchester, Withington Jess Smith MP and the Member for Kingston upon Hull North Diana Johnson MP, I used the word “compensation” to refer to the financial payments made to victims of infected blood. In doing so, I misspoke. I should instead have used the words “financial support”. I am sorry for any confusion this may have caused in the House. I am happy to make that clarification, and the record has been corrected to reflect this.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

It is for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider the issue of financial support raised by Sir Brian Langstaff in his letter. The Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention has expressed her willingness to meet the Inquiry team and other discussions may follow.

The Inquiry’s focus is on events and circumstances within the United Kingdom. As such, I do not expect the UK’s exit from the EU to have any effect on the Inquiry’s work.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

It is for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider the issue of financial support raised by Sir Brian Langstaff in his letter. The Minister for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention has expressed her willingness to meet the Inquiry team and other discussions may follow.

The Inquiry’s focus is on events and circumstances within the United Kingdom. As such, I do not expect the UK’s exit from the EU to have any effect on the Inquiry’s work.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office became aware of this issue at the beginning of October, and took

immediate steps to ascertain what had happened and why, and to seek reassurance from

departments that they had received the notification when it was resent on 11 June, and

that they had not destroyed any records relevant to the Inquiry during the period 3 April

to 11 June.

All relevant departments and relevant areas within departments worked urgently to

confirm that they have not destroyed any records relevant to the Inquiry during the

period between 3rd April and 11th June, and have provided confirmation.

The Department of Health and Social Care put in place a moratorium on the destruction of historical records as soon as the Inquiry was announced in July 2017.

Because of their size and the complexity of some of the records they hold, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the Legal Aid Agency are continuing to work to provide this assurance and have committed to doing so as urgently as possible. All other relevant departments and agencies have already been able to provide assurances that no information relevant to the inquiry was destroyed during that period.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

On 24th September, I attended the commemoration that preceded the preliminary hearings of the Infected Blood Inquiry, and watched the moving and powerful testimony from those infected and affected by the infected blood scandal. The commemoration brought home the terrible human cost of this tragedy, and emphasised to me the importance of this Inquiry, to get to the truth of what happened, and provide the answers that the people infected and affected so desperately need.

When the public Inquiry was launched in July this year, I deferred making a decision on whether to appoint a panel to sit with Sir Brian until he was able to take the view of core participants. Sir Brian Langstaff wrote to me this week following the preliminary hearings, and has advised me that he has now done so, and there has been no demand for a panel. In the place of single experts, sitting as panellists, Sir Brian is establishing expert groups to provide openness and transparency across a range of truly expert opinion. He recommended that I should not appoint co-determining panel members. I accept his recommendation.

In his letter Sir Brian also called for action in relation to financial and psychological support for the affected and infected. The Government will consider those comments and Sir Brian’s recommendations carefully and will respond as soon as possible.

The Cabinet Office takes seriously its role as sponsor to the Infected Blood Inquiry and is determined to do all it can to support the Inquiry with its work. Regrettably, an administrative error earlier this year has come to light, which had delayed the circulation of an instruction to government departments about the retention of records. I can reassure the public that this has resulted in no actual harm, but it is an error for which I apologise to the Inquiry, and most importantly, to the people infected and affected.

The facts are these: Cabinet Office official circulated a Government-wide notice on 3rd April this year, instructing departments to preserve all information relevant to the Infected Blood Inquiry. A further, more comprehensive message was issued to departments by Cabinet Office on 11th June.

However, following a query from the Inquiry about the notice, Cabinet Office officials discovered that the 3rd April email containing the retention notice did not reach its recipients, due to the failure of the collective IT address used. My officials have provided a detailed explanation to the Inquiry which will be published on the Inquiry’s website.

Since the error was discovered, all relevant departments and relevant areas within departments have worked urgently to confirm that they have not destroyed any documents relevant to the Inquiry during the period between 3rd April and 11th June. Because of their size and the complexity of some of the records they hold, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the Legal Aid Agency are continuing to work to provide this assurance and have committed to doing so as urgently as possible.

The Department of Health and Social Care put in place a moratorium on the destruction of historical records as soon as the Inquiry was announced in July 2017. No material damage has resulted from this administrative error, but I am very sorry it occurred, and I would like to reassure the public that the Cabinet Office will learn the lessons from this to avoid such an error occurring in future.