Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer my Hon Friend to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I recognise the importance of the issue and the desire of the honourable Member to receive an update on Government work in relation to Sir Robert Francis’ recommendation. It is my intention to provide an update to the House as soon as possible.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Department does not currently hold the information requested. The Infected Blood Inquiry is reviewing the support provided to those infected and affected. It is expected to report in 2023 and we will consider its recommendations.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

In his interim report of 29 July, Sir Brian Langstaff recommended that the amount of interim compensation should be "no less than £100,000, as recommended by Sir Robert Francis QC." The Government made a commitment to accept in full the recommendations of Sir Brian's interim report.

I can confirm infected individuals and bereaved partners who are registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes will receive interim compensation payments of £100,000 by the end of October. The administrators of the four schemes are writing to beneficiaries this week confirming the £100,000 alongside details of how the money will be paid.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I can confirm infected individuals and bereaved partners who are registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes will receive interim compensation payments of £100,000 by the end of October. The administrators of the four schemes are writing to beneficiaries this week confirming the £100,000 alongside details of how the money will be paid.

This meets a key government commitment to meet, in full, the recommendations set out by Infected Blood Inquiry Chair Sir Brian Langstaff in his interim report.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

On 16 August 2022, the former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry confirming that the Government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national infected blood support schemes.

Officials are continuing to work hard to meet this commitment.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

On 16 August 2022, the former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry confirming that the Government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national infected blood support schemes.

Officials are continuing to work hard to meet this commitment.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

My Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General (Michael Ellis QC MP) has today made the following statement:

The Infected Blood Inquiry has heard first hand details of the terrible suffering experienced by the victims of infected blood over many years, and the urgent need to address the financial uncertainty faced by many.

This Government commissioned Sir Robert Francis QC to produce an independent study with options for a workable and fair framework of compensation for those infected and affected by the tragedy. A copy of Sir Robert’s report is in the Library of this House.

Following Sir Robert’s detailed evidence given to the Inquiry in July, the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff delivered an interim report to the government. In accordance with section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005, a copy of Sir Brian’s interim report has been laid before Parliament. In his report, Sir Brian made the following recommendations:

“(1) An interim payment should be paid, without delay, to all those infected and all bereaved partners currently registered on UK infected blood support schemes, and those who register between now and the inception of any future scheme;

(2) The amount should be no less than £100,000, as recommended by Sir Robert Francis QC.”

On 16 August, I wrote to Sir Brian to confirm that the government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national support schemes. The date of effect of the recommendation is 29 July 2022, the date that Sir Brian delivered his report. Any infected person or bereaved partner registered with one of the four schemes operating in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland on that date will be eligible to receive the payments. Sir Brian’s recommendation - which this government accepts - was careful not to exclude any eligible person who, for whatever reason, may have not registered themselves with their relevant national support scheme. Should they do so in future, before the inception of any future scheme, they will also be eligible for such a payment, subject to successful application to the scheme.

The intention is that payments will be tax-free and will not affect any financial benefits support an individual is receiving. In advance of the payments, the four support schemes will write to beneficiaries, confirming tax exemptions and benefit disregards, and provide practical details about how the payments will be made. The UK Government will provide the funding to ensure that those eligible, wherever they are living in the United Kingdom, will receive the payment.

As recognised by Sir Robert Francis and Sir Brian Langstaff, this group of victims is the immediate priority for the government because we recognise that, tragically, many of these individuals will not see the conclusion of the Inquiry.

However, I am mindful that there will be people deeply affected by this tragedy who will not benefit from these payments. Sir Robert’s detailed Compensation Framework Study makes carefully considered recommendations about the further scope of compensation, including that carers and bereaved relatives (a cohort of affected people not currently supported by financial support schemes) should be compensated. In his interim report, Sir Brian makes specific reference to bereaved parents and children but notes the complexities in determining the approach to their compensation.

To those individuals and others who are out of scope of these payments, I would like to emphasise that the interim payments the government has announced are the start of the process and not the end. Sir Robert’s study has been warmly welcomed by the Inquiry and, without prejudging the findings of the independent Inquiry, I fully expect his wider recommendations to inform the Inquiry’s final report when it is published in mid-2023. Until that time, the government will continue work in consideration of the broader recommendations in the Compensation Framework Study so that we are ready to respond promptly when the Inquiry concludes its work.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry has heard first hand details of the terrible suffering experienced by the victims of infected blood over many years, and the urgent need to address the financial uncertainty faced by many.

This Government commissioned Sir Robert Francis QC to produce an independent study with options for a workable and fair framework of compensation for those infected and affected by the tragedy. A copy of Sir Robert’s report is in the Library of this House.

Following Sir Robert’s detailed evidence given to the Inquiry in July, the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff delivered an interim report to the government. In accordance with section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005, a copy of Sir Brian’s interim report has been laid before Parliament. In his report, Sir Brian made the following recommendations:

“(1) An interim payment should be paid, without delay, to all those infected and all bereaved partners currently registered on UK infected blood support schemes, and those who register between now and the inception of any future scheme;

(2) The amount should be no less than £100,000, as recommended by Sir Robert Francis QC.”

On 16 August, I wrote to Sir Brian to confirm that the government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national support schemes. The date of effect of the recommendation is 29 July 2022, the date that Sir Brian delivered his report. Any infected person or bereaved partner registered with one of the four schemes operating in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland on that date will be eligible to receive the payments. Sir Brian’s recommendation - which this government accepts - was careful not to exclude any eligible person who, for whatever reason, may have not registered themselves with their relevant national support scheme. Should they do so in future, before the inception of any future scheme, they will also be eligible for such a payment, subject to successful application to the scheme.

The intention is that payments will be tax-free and will not affect any financial benefits support an individual is receiving. In advance of the payments, the four support schemes will write to beneficiaries, confirming tax exemptions and benefit disregards, and provide practical details about how the payments will be made. The UK Government will provide the funding to ensure that those eligible, wherever they are living in the United Kingdom, will receive the payment.

As recognised by Sir Robert Francis and Sir Brian Langstaff, this group of victims is the immediate priority for the government because we recognise that, tragically, many of these individuals will not see the conclusion of the Inquiry.

However, I am mindful that there will be people deeply affected by this tragedy who will not benefit from these payments. Sir Robert’s detailed Compensation Framework Study makes carefully considered recommendations about the further scope of compensation, including that carers and bereaved relatives (a cohort of affected people not currently supported by financial support schemes) should be compensated. In his interim report, Sir Brian makes specific reference to bereaved parents and children but notes the complexities in determining the approach to their compensation.

To those individuals and others who are out of scope of these payments, I would like to emphasise that the interim payments the government has announced are the start of the process and not the end. Sir Robert’s study has been warmly welcomed by the Inquiry and, without prejudging the findings of the independent Inquiry, I fully expect his wider recommendations to inform the Inquiry’s final report when it is published in mid-2023. Until that time, the government will continue work in consideration of the broader recommendations in the Compensation Framework Study so that we are ready to respond promptly when the Inquiry concludes its work.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 42184 on 6 September 2022.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 42184 on 6 September 2022.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

On 16 August 2022, I wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, confirming that the Government accepts his recommendation in full. These interim payments are the first step in addressing this historic wrong and recognise the urgent need of infected and affected people.

I have also made a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS279) that was released on Monday, 5th September on this matter.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 35990 on 18 July 2022.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 35990 on 18 July 2022.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 35990 on 18 July 2022.

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

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.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

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

Answering body: Cabinet Office

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