To ask His Majesty's Government how many public inquiries chaired by a judge since 2015 (1) had within their terms of reference the power to recommend individual compensation payments, and did so; (2) did not have the power within their terms of reference to recommend compensation payments, but did so.
Government answer
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.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many public inquiries with a non-judicial chair since 2015 (1) had within their terms of reference the power to recommend individual compensation payments, and did so; (2) did not have the power within their terms of reference to recommend compensation payments, but did so.
Government answer
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.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many departmental reviews since 2015 (1) had within their terms of reference the power to recommend individual compensation payments, and did so; (2) did not have the power within their terms of reference to recommend compensation payments, but did so.
Government answer
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.
Ian Sollom · Liberal DemocratAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that Infected Blood compensation payments to the estates of deceased infected people are the same as those for living infected people.
Government answer
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.
Ian Sollom · Liberal DemocratAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that affected (a) siblings, (b) children and (c) parents of deceased infected people receive the same Infected Blood compensation payments as affected partners of deceased people.
Government answer
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.
Earl Howe · ConservativeAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask His Majesty's Government how they interpret the phrase "where clinically appropriate" in recommendation 9(e) of the Infected Blood Inquiry report, and how this will preserve patient choice and clinical judgement based on the latest clinical evidence.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
I recognise that the findings of the inquiry’s final report are deeply shocking, and the Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
The Government is considering Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations, and will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations by the end of the year, as the inquiry recommends.
Earl Howe · ConservativeAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the recommendations in the Infected Blood Inquiry report, what assessment they have made of the safety and efficacy of modern plasma-derived therapies.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
The Government is considering Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations, including recommendation 9 that relates to the use of alternatives to plasma-derived medicines. We will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making by the end of the year, as the Inquiry recommends.
In April 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviewed the latest scientific evidence available on the safety of donor plasma from the United Kingdom and was able to lift the ban on its use for immunoglobulin-based medicines; the ban had been in place since the mid-1990s due to concerns about over the potential spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD) disease. This was followed by a review of and lifting of the ban on albumins, also derived from UK donor plasma.
Both immunoglobulin and albumin are critical medicines for the National Health Service, with approximately 17,000 patients in England relying on immunoglobulins each year but these products are in short supply globally. Following the MHRA view that UK plasma is safe, the Department set up the Plasma for Medicines programme to increase our self-sufficiency and to protect vulnerable patients from the risk of global supply shocks. The first UK donor plasma was shipped for manufacture into medicines in August 2024 and these will be available to NHS patients from January 2025.
Earl Howe · ConservativeAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to implement recommendation 9(e) of the Infected Blood Inquiry report while maintaining consistency with existing NHS England commissioning guidelines, continuing to improve standards of care and quality of life, and promoting confidence in the safety and efficacy of all licensed medicines for people with rare bleeding disorders.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
I recognise that the findings of the inquiry’s final report are deeply shocking, and the Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
The Government is considering Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations, and will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations by the end of the year, as the inquiry recommends.
Earl Howe · ConservativeAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the recommendations in the Infected Blood Inquiry report for the MHRA as regulator of medicines in the UK.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
I recognise that the findings of the inquiry’s final report are deeply shocking, and the Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
The Government is considering Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations, and will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations by the end of the year, as the inquiry recommends.
Seamus Logan · Scottish National PartyAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to (a) respond to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and (b) involve people affected by infected blood.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Government is working closely with DHSC and other relevant departments and organisations to give the recommendations full consideration. We will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the Inquiry’s recommendations by the end of the year, as the Inquiry recommends. The Government will pay compensation to infected and affected victims of infected blood.
The Government asked Sir Robert Francis KC to hold an engagement exercise with the infected blood community to give recommendations on the composition of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is committed to engaging with the infected and affected community in an open and transparent way so that it can deliver the compensation scheme as quickly as possible, and in a way that meets the needs of the community.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the representation of people with hepatitis B in the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Inquiry is independent of Government and the conduct of the Inquiry is a matter for the Chair. Since it began, the Inquiry sat to hear evidence for 290 days from 374 witnesses, including people with hepatitis B. In total, the Inquiry has received 5,570 witness statements, including 4,265 statements from people infected and affected.
Jim Shannon · Democratic Unionist PartyAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has data on the number of people awaiting infected blood compensation in Northern Ireland; and if he will take steps to ensure that compensation is received as a matter of urgency.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to working with Devolved Administrations and delivering compensation to people who are infected and affected as soon as possible.
As of 30 June 2024, 109 individuals in Northern Ireland have received interim compensation payments. This comprises 85 individuals infected with contaminated blood or blood products, and 24 bereaved partners of infected individuals who have sadly passed away. While 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. Due to the nature of the Infected Blood scandal there is uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible for compensation. The final number of eligible people will ultimately depend on the number of victims who come forward. The Government will compensate people who have been infected and affected by the infected blood scandal, and we expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments by the end of the year.
John Glen · ConservativeAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 20 May 2024, what steps he is taking to change the culture of the civil service.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The findings of the Inquiry’s report are deeply concerning. We are working closely with DHSC and other interested departments to give each recommendation full consideration. This Government will bring forward legislation to place a duty of candour on public servants and authorities. This will be an important step towards addressing a culture of defensiveness. I will update Parliament on the progress on all recommendations by the end of the year.
John Glen · ConservativeAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the final report of the Infected Blood inquiry (HC 569-I), published on 20 May 2024, what progress his Department has made on identifying potential locations for the permanent memorial to the infected blood victims since May 2024; and what his planned timetable is for consulting those (a) infected and (b) affected by the scandal.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
It is very important that we recognise what happened to people as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal and that we continue to remember these events for future generations. The Government is carefully considering Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations and we will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the Inquiry’s recommendations, including this recommendation on memorialisation, by the end of the year.
Clive Lewis · LabourAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be open.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Report and providing compensation to victims as quickly as possible. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is established in law and work is progressing to put the operational systems in place with the expectation of beginning payments by the end of this year. To date, over £1 billion has been paid in interim compensation to infected people who were registered with the existing Infected Blood Support Schemes and their bereaved partners.
Clive Lewis · LabourAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will replace the Infected Blood Support Scheme.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
There will be no immediate changes to the Infected Blood Support Schemes (IBSS). Under the current proposal published on 21 May by the previous Government, payments will continue to be made at the same level until 31 March 2025 and they will not be deducted from any compensation awards. From 1 April 2025, people who receive IBSS payments will continue to receive payments until such time that their case is assessed under the new Scheme by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. Once assessed under the Scheme, the applicant will be able to choose how to receive their compensation, either as a lump sum or periodic payments. I gave a statement to the House on Friday 26th July to update on the progress made on responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry and committed to providing regular updates on this work going forward.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Infected Blood Inquiry: The Report published on 20 May, when infected and affected people will receive new interim compensation payments; and when full compensation payments will be made.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
It is the Government’s intention for the first interim payments of £210,000 to the living infected to be delivered within 90 days, to begin in summer. Full Compensation Scheme payments will be made as quickly as possible and our aim is that payments will start before the end of the year.
Rachael Maskell · LabourAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 20 May 2024.
Rachael Maskell · LabourAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government has taken to (a) understand the potential risk of and (b) prevent future health system failures similar to those that led to the infected blood scandal.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
The final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry describes the many failings of successive governments, including historic failings in the Department and its predecessor departments. The Department will study the report to make sure the lessons of Sir Brian’s inquiry are learned, and that these mistakes can never be repeated.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to accept all recommendations of the second interim report of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Damien Moore · ConservativeAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The statement I made on 21st May to Parliament provided clarity on the Government response to the Inquiry’s second interim report. The Scheme responds directly to and is in line with the recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in its second interim report, which considered the earlier study into compensation by Sir Robert Francis KC.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect full compensation payments to have been made to the victims of the infected blood scandal and to family members of those victims who have already died.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Government has committed to update Parliament through an oral statement on next steps within 25 sitting days following 20 May. It is our intention to make this statement as soon as possible. Additionally, we have tabled a Government amendment ahead of Report Stage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill to fix technical deficiencies, whilst working in the spirit of Dame Diana Johnson’s amendment. The amendment has been tabled with the intention of speeding up the implementation of the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how often he has discussions with the Infected Blood Inquiry on the implementation of compensation recommendations.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
I, and my predecessors in this role, have not had formal discussions with members of the Infected Blood Inquiry team, to protect the Inquiry’s independence from Government. The Government has committed to update Parliament through an oral statement on next steps within 25 sitting days following the publication of the Inquiry’s final report on 20 May, and it is our intention to make this statement as soon as possible.
Drew Hendry · Scottish National PartyAnswering body: Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the Second interim report of the Infected Blood inquiry on psychological services.
Government answer
Answering body: Department of Health and Social Care
A bespoke psychological support service for infected blood victims, commissioned by NHS England, is currently being developed, and is planned to go live in early summer 2024.
Karl McCartney · ConservativeAnswering body: Cabinet Office
Parliamentary excerpt
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timeframe is for establishing the arms-length body that will manage the compensation payments stemming from the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Government answer
Answering body: Cabinet Office
The Government has committed to update Parliament through an oral statement on next steps within 25 sitting days following the publication of the final report on 20 May, and it is our intention to make this statement as soon as possible. Additionally, we will bring forward amendments at Report Stage of the Victims and Prisoners Bill in the Other Place with the intention of speeding up the implementation of the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.