Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s terms of reference include the task to “ascertain, as far as practicable, the likely numbers of people who have been infected (directly or indirectly) in consequence of: a) the use of infected blood; and b) the use of infected blood products”.

To this end, the Inquiry’s Statistical Expert Group has published two reports. The first, published in September 2022, contains estimated numbers of people infected by blood and blood products as well as estimated numbers of those people who subsequently died; however, this excludes those with Hepatitis B and secondary infections. The second supplementary report, published in July 2023, updates the Committee’s estimates of the numbers of people who died because of their infection. Due to its size, a copy of the first report has been placed in the Library. A copy of the second report is attached.

In July, the Inquiry published a note on interim compensation payments made on behalf of the Government by the four national Infected Blood Support Schemes. The note shows the number of people registered and payments made as of July 2023; however, information on the numbers of eligible people is not available. A copy of the note is attached.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s terms of reference include the task to “ascertain, as far as practicable, the likely numbers of people who have been infected (directly or indirectly) in consequence of: a) the use of infected blood; and b) the use of infected blood products”.

To this end, the Inquiry’s Statistical Expert Group has published two reports. The first, published in September 2022, contains estimated numbers of people infected by blood and blood products as well as estimated numbers of those people who subsequently died; however, this excludes those with Hepatitis B and secondary infections. The second supplementary report, published in July 2023, updates the Committee’s estimates of the numbers of people who died because of their infection. Due to its size, a copy of the first report has been placed in the Library. A copy of the second report is attached.

In July, the Inquiry published a note on interim compensation payments made on behalf of the Government by the four national Infected Blood Support Schemes. The note shows the number of people registered and payments made as of July 2023; however, information on the numbers of eligible people is not available. A copy of the note is attached.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

A group claim has been brought on behalf of approximately 500 claimants or their dependants, in relation to Factor VIII and Factor IX products. This claim is stayed pending the outcome of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

This information is not held in the format requested. The Infected Blood Inquiry was established in July 2018. The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) is administered by the NHS Business Service Authority and began operation on 1 November 2017. In England, the EIBSS makes regular payments to beneficiaries, paid either monthly or quarterly, a winter fuel payment in Quarter 3 of each year and one-off lump sum and discretionary payments.

Data on the number of payments made between November 2017 and March 2018 is not held centrally. However, the following table shows the total payments made in each category between November 2017 and March 2018.

Regular payment £10,774,736

Lump sum payment £2,634,105

Discretionary £1,292,921

The following table shows number of payments and the total payments made in each category between April and July 2018.

Regular payment 9,701 payments £11,706,192

Lump sum payment 283 payments £3,247,498

Discretionary payment 2,352 payments £1,192,842

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The information requested on payments made between 1990 and the start of the Infected Blood Inquiry in 2017 is not held centrally.

Since 2017, support for those affected has been provided through four national infected blood support schemes. In England, the England Infected Blood Support Scheme is operated by the NHS Business Services Authority. Prior to the current scheme, support was provided by five independently operated schemes. These provided a range of lump sums, regular payments and smaller one-off payments to meet the immediate needs of individuals infected with hepatitis C or HIV, those who were co-infected and their families.