Parliamentary activity

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 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

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

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

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: Department of Health and Social Care

The Infected Blood Inquiry is a statutory inquiry, independent of Government, with powers to require the production of evidence. The Department is committed to being fully transparent and cooperative with the Inquiry and all requests for disclosure, including those organisations or bodies for which the Department was responsible. We are resourcing dedicated policy and legal teams to ensure the Department delivers against this commitment and will coordinate across Government as appropriate.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Sir Brian Langstaff, the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, wrote to me on 7 June with his recommendations for the Inquiry’s terms of reference. I will announce the terms of reference as soon as possible, following consultation with the Devolved Administrations.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As Minister for the Cabinet Office’s statement of 8 February made clear, the Chair will be consulting on the terms of reference for the Inquiry, and will be seeking views of those affected on whether panel members should sit alongside him. Ministers will then return to Parliament with the final terms of reference, including on the composition of a Panel, as soon as this process has been completed.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office am responsible for the Infected Blood Inquiry. I made a written statement on Thursday 8 February, announcing the appointment of Sir Brian Langstaff to head the public Inquiry.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office am responsible for the Infected Blood Inquiry. I made a written statement on Thursday 8 February, announcing the appointment of Sir Brian Langstaff to head the public Inquiry.