Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Today, Sir Brian Langstaff has published the final report of the independent Infected Blood Inquiry. I am authorising a copy of the report to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

I am very grateful to Sir Brian for his forensic and detailed report, his team’s diligent work over the six years of the Inquiry, and for the sensitivity and care with which he has ensured that the people directly and indirectly impacted by the infected blood scandal have been front and centre of his Inquiry’s work. His report is a very substantial document, and it will be impossible for anyone reading it not to be deeply affected by its content. The report lays bare the devastating consequences of the use of infected blood and blood products, and I hope it answers the questions that the infected and affected have been asking for so long.

I have listened to the strongly held views of those members of the infected blood community that I have spoken with; this day is about the truth, the community, and a time for reflection about those they have lost, and the suffering which they have endured over decades.

It is right that the Government should formally recognise this significant report on the day of publication, and so the Prime Minister will give a short statement to Parliament later today. There will be a further statement tomorrow in the Commons regarding compensation.

The Government will look to provide the House with a further opportunity to debate the Infected Blood Inquiry's final report.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

On 18 December 2023 I updated the House that the Government would appoint a group of clinical, legal and social care experts to advise the Cabinet Office on detailed technical considerations of responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendations on compensation.

Further to my December update, I am today pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery as Chair of this expert group. Sir Jonathan will lead the expert group to provide me, the responsible Minister for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry, technical advice on compensation.

Both my Right Honourable Friend Earl Howe GBE and I have met separately with Sir Jonathan to discuss the technical advice the expert group will provide and are reassured that the group is working as quickly as possible to advise the Government in responding to the Inquiry’s recommendations following the publication of the final report.

Sir Jonathan is an experienced healthcare law scholar who has played a leading role in UK public bioethics for many years, having previously chaired the Human Genetics Commission (2009-2012), the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2012-2017) and the Health Research Authority (2012-2019). Sir Jonathan is currently the Chair of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Healthcare Law at University College London. Sir Jonathan received a knighthood in 2019 for his services to bioethics and Healthcare Law.

Ensuring the victims of the infected blood scandal receive the justice and recognition they deserve remains my top priority and I look forward to working with Sir Jonathan and the expert advisory group to ensure that the Government has the relevant expertise to make informed choices in responding to the inquiry’s recommendations on compensation.