Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As the sponsor Minister for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, I stand ready to help and assist in any way I can to speed up the payments. I am restless for the speed of delivery to increase, including considering what data could be identified to help process claims quickly, while always respecting IBCA’s operational independence and the need to prevent fraud.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Government is committed to continuing to drive forward the implementation of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s 2024 recommendations, and the progress made on responding to these recommendations will be publicly available via a dashboard which is due to be published before summer recess.

For progress specifically on the delivery of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is responsible for the delivery of compensation and publishes the latest compensation figures on its website every two weeks.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As I said in my oral evidence to the Inquiry, I am open to considering a number of areas of the Scheme where doing so does not cause undue delay to the delivery of compensation. The Inquiry will be producing a further report and the Government will respond to this report when it is published

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group provided advice on the design of infection severity bands for the core route. They considered the health impacts and treatments that applicants are likely to have experienced. This includes many side effects of treatments, including interferon, and conditions such as chronic fatigue. The core route tariffs therefore already take into account conditions that infected people are likely to experience as a result of their infection or treatment.

The supplementary route, as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, provides additional awards for applicants whose circumstances necessitate a higher compensation payment. As a result, the eligibility criteria for the Severe Health Condition award reflects the conditions and impacts the Expert Group identified as not being addressed in other aspects of the scheme, including the core route or Exceptional Loss award.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings.

The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers.

As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As I said in my oral evidence to the Inquiry, I am open to considering a number of areas of the Scheme where doing so does not cause undue delay to the delivery of compensation. The Inquiry will be producing a further report and the Government will respond to this report when it is published.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The actions of Civil Servants and Ministers which were uncovered within the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report are extremely concerning and do not reflect the values we expect those who serve the public to uphold. The Prime Minister has committed to legislation on a Duty of Candour being delivered by this Government. The duty will apply to public authorities and public servants and will include criminal sanctions. Whether individuals are prosecuted as a result of the Inquiry’s findings is rightly a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service and is independent of Government. Last year I wrote to the National Police Chiefs’ Council to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to make any and all relevant information around the Infected Blood Inquiry available to the prosecuting authorities where requested.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

As recommended by the Inquiry, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed as a tariff-based framework. The proposed tariffs were developed on the advice of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group, which included clinical and legal advisors assisted by social care specialists. You can find more information about the work of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infected-blood-inquiry-response-expert-group-summary-report

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry Report highlights many ethical failings that happened as part of the Infected Blood Scandal. The impact of these ethical failings on infected people has been recognised in the compensation scheme's core autonomy award.

In his summer 2024 report Sir Robert Francis recommended that an additional autonomy award be made available specifically to infected people subjected to unethical research. The Government accepted this recommendation, which led to the development of the Unethical Research Practices award as part of the Compensation Scheme's supplementary route. The award focuses specifically on research that has failed to meet established ethical standards.

Specifically, the eligibility for the award is determined by the presence of documented unethical research. This includes a lack of informed consent, inadequate oversight, and other breaches of ethical obligations in research settings.

In December last year, the Government engaged with key representatives and organisations in the community on the particular eligibility criteria for the Unethical Research Practices Award. The Government was grateful for the submissions and feedback it received from key stakeholders and considered the evidence provided in each one carefully. The Regulations which became law on 31 March 2025, detailed, specifically the criteria and centres that will be covered as part of this award. The Government is able, through further secondary legislation, to add additional centres or studies to the list if new evidence is presented. The Government wants to ensure that those who were subject to unethical research are provided with the additional autonomy award.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Due to the nature of the Infected Blood scandal there is uncertainty over the number of people who might be eligible for compensation. The final number of eligible people will ultimately depend on the number of victims who come forward. While there is no way of knowing exactly how many people were infected as a result of this scandal, the findings of the Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991. The central estimates approximately total 30,000, which includes both living and deceased victims. This information is not available on a constituency basis.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

In March, Parliament approved the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, which established the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in full and gave the Infected Blood Compensation Authority the powers it needs to begin making payments to all people eligible for compensation under the Scheme.

In line with the recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry’s second interim report and Sir Robert’s compensation framework study, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme takes a tariff based approach to compensation based on infection severity bands. The Government sought advice on the infection severity bandings and consequent tariffs from the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group.

In regards to an additional award for haemophiliacs, the scope of the scheme’s supplementary route is in line with the recommendations Sir Robert Francis KC made to the Government in August 2024. The Government accepted Sir Robert’s recommendation that, with the exception of autonomy awards to victims of unethical research, supplementary route awards should only be available for care and financial loss.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Yesterday, the Infected Blood Inquiry set out its intention to publish an additional report. The Inquiry also published a number of witness statements, including ones provided by the Cabinet Office, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and a number of people directly impacted by the Infected Blood scandal and their representatives.

The victims of the Infected Blood scandal have suffered unspeakably and their needs continue to remain at the forefront of our work. The Government will give careful consideration to the statements published by the Inquiry. I am committed to continuing to build trust with people who are impacted by this scandal, and to engage further with representatives of the infected blood community on the Government’s response. We will continue to cooperate with the Inquiry over the coming months.

The Government is determined to deliver justice for people who are infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal. That is why, in the Autumn Budget, we set aside £11.8 billion to compensate victims of the Infected Blood scandal. This is one of the biggest compensation schemes in our country’s history - and that is entirely right given the scale of this injustice. In line with our commitment, in December last year the Infected Blood Compensation Authority began delivering this compensation. As of Friday 21 February, 204 people have been invited to start their claim, and IBCA is on track to meet its commitment for 250 people to start their claim by the end of March.

Before the end of March, both Houses will have the opportunity to debate the draft regulations for people who are affected including partners, parents, children, siblings and, in some instances, carers. Once in force, the draft Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 will provide IBCA with the powers it needs to begin making payments to eligible affected people. We have committed that payments to affected people will start by the end of 2025.

The Government also recognises that delivering justice is much more than financial compensation. I am continuing to work with the Department of Health and Social Care, taking forward the Inquiry’s recommendations to ensure that everything is done to prevent further such tragedies in the future.

My personal commitment to this work, and the people impacted by it, remains steadfast. The Government is acting on the findings of the Inquiry. We will continue to work with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to ensure compensation is delivered as swiftly and compassionately as possible to everyone who so greatly deserves it.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

My Right Honourable friend the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, has today made the following statement:

Yesterday, the Infected Blood Inquiry set out its intention to publish an additional report. The Inquiry also published a number of witness statements, including ones provided by the Cabinet Office, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and a number of people directly impacted by the Infected Blood scandal and their representatives.

The victims of the Infected Blood scandal have suffered unspeakably and their needs continue to remain at the forefront of our work. The Government will give careful consideration to the statements published by the Inquiry. I am committed to continuing to build trust with people who are impacted by this scandal, and to engage further with representatives of the infected blood community on the Government’s response. We will continue to cooperate with the Inquiry over the coming months.

The Government is determined to deliver justice for people who are infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal. That is why, in the Autumn Budget, we set aside £11.8 billion to compensate victims of the Infected Blood scandal. This is one of the biggest compensation schemes in our country’s history - and that is entirely right given the scale of this injustice. In line with our commitment, in December last year the Infected Blood Compensation Authority began delivering this compensation. As of Friday 21 February, 204 people have been invited to start their claim, and IBCA is on track to meet its commitment for 250 people to start their claim by the end of March.

Before the end of March, both Houses will have the opportunity to debate the draft regulations for people who are affected including partners, parents, children, siblings and, in some instances, carers. Once in force, the draft Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 will provide IBCA with the powers it needs to begin making payments to eligible affected people. We have committed that payments to affected people will start by the end of 2025.

The Government also recognises that delivering justice is much more than financial compensation. I am continuing to work with the Department of Health and Social Care, taking forward the Inquiry’s recommendations to ensure that everything is done to prevent further such tragedies in the future.

My personal commitment to this work, and the people impacted by it, remains steadfast. The Government is acting on the findings of the Inquiry. We will continue to work with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to ensure compensation is delivered as swiftly and compassionately as possible to everyone who so greatly deserves it.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of patients that became infected after the year 1980, although we have estimates for infections occurring in a wider timeframe. The Department used the principle number presented by the Infected Blood Inquiry, in its Statistics Expert Reports, which has identified the infected individuals for the period between 1970 and 1991; the number of those infected because of a bleeding disorder with hepatitis C is between 2,400 and 5,000, and those infected with HIV approximately 1,250. The inquiry further estimates that those infected with hepatitis C via blood transfusion ranges between 21,300 and 38,800, and between 80 and 100 with HIV.

Since November 2017, 3,553 individuals, who were infected because of contaminated blood, are currently registered with one of the United Kingdom Infected Blood Support Schemes. However, there may be others who were infected and are still alive but have not yet come forward.

Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of patients that became infected after the year 1980, although we have estimates for infections occurring in a wider timeframe. The Department used the principle number presented by the Infected Blood Inquiry, in its Statistics Expert Reports, which has identified the infected individuals for the period between 1970 and 1991; the number of those infected because of a bleeding disorder with hepatitis C is between 2,400 and 5,000, and those infected with HIV approximately 1,250. The inquiry further estimates that those infected with hepatitis C via blood transfusion ranges between 21,300 and 38,800, and between 80 and 100 with HIV.

Since November 2017, 3,553 individuals, who were infected because of contaminated blood, are currently registered with one of the United Kingdom Infected Blood Support Schemes. However, there may be others who were infected and are still alive but have not yet come forward.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The terms of reference for a public inquiry determine an inquiry’s scope. Since 2015, none of the terms of reference for public inquiries (whether or not led by a judicial chair) have specifically required an inquiry to make recommendations related to compensation. We do not hold data centrally on departmental reviews.

The Infected Blood Inquiry - a judge-led inquiry - specifically recommended the provision of compensation payments. The Inquiry did so in response to Sir Robert Francis’ framework into compensation payments for victims of infected blood which was commissioned by the Cabinet Office. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) - an inquiry with a non-judicial chair - made a recommendation for a redress scheme for victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

We are not aware of any other inquiry since 2015 which made recommendations for compensation.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The terms of reference for a public inquiry determine an inquiry’s scope. Since 2015, none of the terms of reference for public inquiries (whether or not led by a judicial chair) have specifically required an inquiry to make recommendations related to compensation. We do not hold data centrally on departmental reviews.

The Infected Blood Inquiry - a judge-led inquiry - specifically recommended the provision of compensation payments. The Inquiry did so in response to Sir Robert Francis’ framework into compensation payments for victims of infected blood which was commissioned by the Cabinet Office. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) - an inquiry with a non-judicial chair - made a recommendation for a redress scheme for victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

We are not aware of any other inquiry since 2015 which made recommendations for compensation.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The terms of reference for a public inquiry determine an inquiry’s scope. Since 2015, none of the terms of reference for public inquiries (whether or not led by a judicial chair) have specifically required an inquiry to make recommendations related to compensation. We do not hold data centrally on departmental reviews.

The Infected Blood Inquiry - a judge-led inquiry - specifically recommended the provision of compensation payments. The Inquiry did so in response to Sir Robert Francis’ framework into compensation payments for victims of infected blood which was commissioned by the Cabinet Office. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) - an inquiry with a non-judicial chair - made a recommendation for a redress scheme for victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

We are not aware of any other inquiry since 2015 which made recommendations for compensation.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

My Right Honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, has today
made the following statement:

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report was published on 20 May 2024 and made 12 recommendations. The recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff are wide-ranging, well considered, and necessarily complex.

In the months since the publication of the Inquiry’s report, Parliament has come together a number of times to discuss the infected blood scandal. In the course of those debates, I committed to providing an update on the Government’s response to the recommendations by the end of this year. This update fulfils that commitment. Alongside this statement, I am publishing a command paper detailing the full update on gov.uk, and I have requested that copies be deposited in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

The Government accepts in full or accepts in principle all of the recommendations made. Where recommendations are accepted in principle, we have sought to explain the rationale for doing so. Many of the recommendations are wide-reaching, and proper implementation needs time to be delivered effectively. The Government has worked to progress implementation and assess the deliverability of each of the recommendations. We are committed to making meaningful change. As per Recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry, I will provide a further final update on the progress made on Inquiry's recommendations by May 2025.

I am grateful to my ministerial colleagues for their co-operation, and in particular my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention at the Department of Health and Social Care for his leadership on the recommendations for which his department is responsible. I am also grateful to Ministers in the devolved governments, in particular the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health in Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Wales and the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland. Their engagement has been invaluable in ensuring that we have as consistent an approach as possible across the whole United Kingdom.

The victims of this scandal have suffered immeasurably. It is my utmost intention to deliver what justice and compensation the Government can as quickly as possible. This government is taking concrete action to deliver on the compensation scheme. The Chancellor announced £11.8bn of funding in the Autumn Budget, and I am pleased to update that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has been able to make the first payments to the victims of this scandal in the last few days.

Furthermore, I can also confirm today that the Government has also extended its eligibility criteria for siblings for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to ensure that the Scheme provides fair compensation to those who have been devastatingly impacted as a result of their sibling’s infection.

Under the new definition, siblings of infected people will be eligible if they, while under the age of 18, lived in the same household as an infected person for a period of at least 2 years after the onset of the infection, or would have been expected to live in the same household were it not for the impact of the infection. Siblings in this scenario will receive an Injury Impact Award in line with the severity of the infection, and a Social Impact award of £12,000.

Alternatively, siblings will also be eligible as long as they cohabited, or were expected to cohabit with the infected person were it not for the impact of the infection, for at least 2 years whilst the affected sibling was under the age of 18. This is the case even if that period was prior to the infection, including if the infection happened during adulthood. Siblings in this scenario will receive an Injury Impact Award in line with the severity of the infection, and a Social Impact Award of £8,000. This mirrors the Social Impact Award available to carers, parents (where the onset of a child’s infection began after age 18); and children (where the onset of a parent’s infection began after their child turned 18).

I hope that both these updates provide the infected blood community with some assurance that we are learning from and acting on the mistakes of the past.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report was published on 20 May 2024 and made 12 recommendations. The recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff are wide-ranging, well considered, and necessarily complex.

In the months since the publication of the Inquiry’s report, Parliament has come together a number of times to discuss the infected blood scandal. In the course of those debates, I committed to providing an update on the Government’s response to the recommendations by the end of this year. This update fulfils that commitment. Alongside this statement, I am publishing a command paper detailing the full update on gov.uk, and I have requested that copies be deposited in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

The Government accepts in full or accepts in principle all of the recommendations made. Where recommendations are accepted in principle, we have sought to explain the rationale for doing so. Many of the recommendations are wide-reaching, and proper implementation needs time to be delivered effectively. The Government has worked to progress implementation and assess the deliverability of each of the recommendations. We are committed to making meaningful change. As per Recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry, I will provide a further final update on the progress made on Inquiry's recommendations by May 2025.

I am grateful to my ministerial colleagues for their co-operation, and in particular my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention at the Department of Health and Social Care for his leadership on the recommendations for which his department is responsible. I am also grateful to Ministers in the devolved governments, in particular the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health in Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Wales and the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland. Their engagement has been invaluable in ensuring that we have as consistent an approach as possible across the whole United Kingdom.

The victims of this scandal have suffered immeasurably. It is my utmost intention to deliver what justice and compensation the Government can as quickly as possible. This government is taking concrete action to deliver on the compensation scheme. The Chancellor announced £11.8bn of funding in the Autumn Budget, and I am pleased to update that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has been able to make the first payments to the victims of this scandal in the last few days.

Furthermore, I can also confirm today that the Government has also extended its eligibility criteria for siblings for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to ensure that the Scheme provides fair compensation to those who have been devastatingly impacted as a result of their sibling’s infection.

Under the new definition, siblings of infected people will be eligible if they, while under the age of 18, lived in the same household as an infected person for a period of at least 2 years after the onset of the infection, or would have been expected to live in the same household were it not for the impact of the infection. Siblings in this scenario will receive an Injury Impact Award in line with the severity of the infection, and a Social Impact award of £12,000.

Alternatively, siblings will also be eligible as long as they cohabited, or were expected to cohabit with the infected person were it not for the impact of the infection, for at least 2 years whilst the affected sibling was under the age of 18. This is the case even if that period was prior to the infection, including if the infection happened during adulthood. Siblings in this scenario will receive an Injury Impact Award in line with the severity of the infection, and a Social Impact Award of £8,000. This mirrors the Social Impact Award available to carers, parents (where the onset of a child’s infection began after age 18); and children (where the onset of a parent’s infection began after their child turned 18).

I hope that both these updates provide the infected blood community with some assurance that we are learning from and acting on the mistakes of the past.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The compensation amounts available to people who are infected and affected differ depending on their circumstances. As recommended by the Inquiry, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed as a tariff-based framework. The proposed tariffs have been developed on the advice of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group, which included clinical and legal advisors assisted by social care specialists. The tariff for infected people will be based on the severity of their infection or infections. The proposed tariffs for affected people will similarly be based on the severity banding in relation to their loved one who was infected. The tariff-based approach means that the Scheme will award compensation that reflects personal circumstances while making payments quickly.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The compensation amounts available to people who are infected and affected differ depending on their circumstances. As recommended by the Inquiry, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed as a tariff-based framework. The proposed tariffs have been developed on the advice of the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group, which included clinical and legal advisors assisted by social care specialists. The tariff for infected people will be based on the severity of their infection or infections. The proposed tariffs for affected people will similarly be based on the severity banding in relation to their loved one who was infected. The tariff-based approach means that the Scheme will award compensation that reflects personal circumstances while making payments quickly.