Parliamentary activity

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

In May, the Infected Blood Inquiry produced its final report and the country heard the full extent to which thousands of men, women, and children had their lives overturned by the use of infected blood and blood products in the NHS. The infected blood scandal is a shameful mark on our national history. I would like to pay tribute to the courage and determination of every single person that has suffered because of the use of infected blood and to those who have taken tireless action to ensure their community is heard. Every death that results from the infected blood scandal is a tragedy, and this Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry to ensure swift resolution for all of those impacted.

The principal recommendation from the Infected Blood Inquiry was that the Government compensation scheme for victims of infected blood should be established ‘now’. The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme was legally established for people who are infected and claiming compensation through the Core Route in regulations laid on 23 August. We expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments to people who are infected by the end of this year, and last week the Infected Blood Compensation Authority reached out to the very first claimants under the Scheme. However there is still more to do. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government is aiming for a second set of regulations to be in force by 31 March 2025. This will support our shared aim to begin payments to people who are affected in 2025.

The Government also recognises that people have waited far too long for compensation payments. That’s why interim payments are crucial for supporting people until the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is up and running. In October 2022, interim payments of £100,000 were made to living infected beneficiaries or bereaved partners registered with the Infected Blood Support Schemes. In June this year, further interim payments of £210,000 were made to living infected victims of infected blood. Through these interim payments, over £1 billion has been paid to people who are infected or their bereaved partners.

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 placed a statutory duty on the Government to deliver interim payments of £100,000 to estates for deaths not yet recognised through financial compensation. This followed the recommendation in Sir Robert Francis’ Compensation Framework Study that interim payments should be made to “to recognise the deaths of people to date unrecognised and thereby alleviate immediate suffering” and achieves the spirit of recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Second Interim Report in the most practicable way.

On 26 July, I informed the House that the applications for interim payments due to be made to estates of deceased infected persons were scheduled to open in October, and that further details were to follow. Today, I can announce that the process under which estates can apply for interim compensation payments has now opened. For many people, this is the first substantial compensation payment they will benefit from to recognise the lives of people they have lost as a result of the use of infected blood and blood products.

This is a £100,000 interim payment, and as with any compensation payment related to infected blood, it will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax and disregarded from means tested benefit assessments.

As with the previous interim payments, these payments will be delivered through the existing Infected Blood Support Schemes. These payments are to be made to the estates of deceased infected persons, where interim payments have not already been received, in those cases where the deceased infected person was registered with an existing or predecessor scheme on or before 17 April 2024.

Those who were not registered with an existing or predecessor scheme on or before this date may still be eligible for compensation. For these cases, estate representatives will need to apply to claim compensation with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, once applications open. I will provide a further update on this in due course.

Where an interim compensation payment has already been made directly to the infected person, to their bereaved partner, or their estate, an estate will be ineligible for this interim payment.

Only the personal representative of the estate is able to make the application. Applicants will need a grant of probate, letters of administration, or a grant of confirmation (specific to Scotland) to evidence entitlement to claim interim compensation on behalf of the estate. To assist the legal process of obtaining this evidence as quickly as possible (for those that do not already have it), applicants can claim back their exact legal costs up to £1,500.

The application form is available to download online at gov.uk, together with full guidance on how to apply. Applicants may request a hard copy of the application form from the UK Infected Blood Support Scheme operating in the nation of the UK where the deceased infected person was infected. The completed form and supporting documents should be sent to the relevant Infected Blood Support Scheme.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

My Right Honourable friend the Pay Master General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, has today made the following statement:

"In May, the Infected Blood Inquiry produced its final report and the country heard the full extent to which thousands of men, women, and children had their lives overturned by the use of infected blood and blood products in the NHS. The infected blood scandal is a shameful mark on our national history. I would like to pay tribute to the courage and determination of every single person that has suffered because of the use of infected blood and to those who have taken tireless action to ensure their community is heard. Every death that results from the infected blood scandal is a tragedy, and this Government is committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry to ensure swift resolution for all of those impacted.

The principal recommendation from the Infected Blood Inquiry was that the Government compensation scheme for victims of infected blood should be established ‘now’. The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme was legally established for people who are infected and claiming compensation through the Core Route in regulations laid on 23 August. We expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments to people who are infected by the end of this year, and last week the Infected Blood Compensation Authority reached out to the very first claimants under the Scheme. However there is still more to do. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government is aiming for a second set of regulations to be in force by 31 March 2025. This will support our shared aim to begin payments to people who are affected in 2025.

The Government also recognises that people have waited far too long for compensation payments. That’s why interim payments are crucial for supporting people until the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is up and running. In October 2022, interim payments of £100,000 were made to living infected beneficiaries or bereaved partners registered with the Infected Blood Support Schemes. In June this year, further interim payments of £210,000 were made to living infected victims of infected blood. Through these interim payments, over £1 billion has been paid to people who are infected or their bereaved partners.

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 placed a statutory duty on the Government to deliver interim payments of £100,000 to estates for deaths not yet recognised through financial compensation. This followed the recommendation in Sir Robert Francis’ Compensation Framework Study that interim payments should be made to “to recognise the deaths of people to date unrecognised and thereby alleviate immediate suffering” and achieves the spirit of recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Second Interim Report in the most practicable way.

On 26 July, I informed the House that the applications for interim payments due to be made to estates of deceased infected persons were scheduled to open in October, and that further details were to follow. Today, I can announce that the process under which estates can apply for interim compensation payments has now opened. For many people, this is the first substantial compensation payment they will benefit from to recognise the lives of people they have lost as a result of the use of infected blood and blood products.

This is a £100,000 interim payment, and as with any compensation payment related to infected blood, it will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax and disregarded from means tested benefit assessments.

As with the previous interim payments, these payments will be delivered through the existing Infected Blood Support Schemes. These payments are to be made to the estates of deceased infected persons, where interim payments have not already been received, in those cases where the deceased infected person was registered with an existing or predecessor scheme on or before 17 April 2024.

Those who were not registered with an existing or predecessor scheme on or before this date may still be eligible for compensation. For these cases, estate representatives will need to apply to claim compensation with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, once applications open. I will provide a further update on this in due course.

Where an interim compensation payment has already been made directly to the infected person, to their bereaved partner, or their estate, an estate will be ineligible for this interim payment.

Only the personal representative of the estate is able to make the application. Applicants will need a grant of probate, letters of administration, or a grant of confirmation (specific to Scotland) to evidence entitlement to claim interim compensation on behalf of the estate. To assist the legal process of obtaining this evidence as quickly as possible (for those that do not already have it), applicants can claim back their exact legal costs up to £1,500.

The application form is available to download online at gov.uk, together with full guidance on how to apply. Applicants may request a hard copy of the application form from the UK Infected Blood Support Scheme operating in the nation of the UK where the deceased infected person was infected. The completed form and supporting documents should be sent to the relevant Infected Blood Support Scheme."

Answering body: Cabinet Office

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

I should like to inform the House that I have appointed three interim Non-Executive Board Members to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority under Part 3 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024:

Russell Frith, appointed as an Interim Audit and Risk Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025;

Deborah Harris-Ugbomah, appointed as an Interim Commercial Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025; and

Paula Sussex, appointed as an Interim Digital and Data Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025.

Sir Robert Francis KC, the interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, has also appointed three interim Non-Executive Board Members:

Sir Robert Behrens, appointed as an Interim Community Engagement Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025;

Helen Parker, appointed as an Interim Community Engagement Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025; and

Gillian Fairfield, appointed as an Interim Medical Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025.

These short term appointments will support the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to deliver compensation to people who are infected and affected in a timely manner. An open and fair recruitment process will commence in 2025 to fill these posts substantively.

The Government is absolutely committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry and today’s announcement is progress towards that collective aim. I will continue to update the House as we progress work to deliver long overdue compensation to people infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

I should like to inform the House that I have appointed three interim Non-Executive Board Members to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority under Part 3 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024:

Russell Frith, appointed as an Interim Audit and Risk Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025;

Deborah Harris-Ugbomah, appointed as an Interim Commercial Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025; and

Paula Sussex, appointed as an Interim Digital and Data Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025.

Sir Robert Francis KC, the interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, has also appointed three interim Non-Executive Board Members:

Sir Robert Behrens, appointed as an Interim Community Engagement Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025;

Helen Parker, appointed as an Interim Community Engagement Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025; and

Gillian Fairfield, appointed as an Interim Medical Board Member, effective from 1st October 2024 until 1 October 2025.

These short term appointments will support the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to deliver compensation to people who are infected and affected in a timely manner. An open and fair recruitment process will commence in 2025 to fill these posts substantively.

The Government is absolutely committed to acting on the findings of the Infected Blood Inquiry and today’s announcement is progress towards that collective aim. I will continue to update the House as we progress work to deliver long overdue compensation to people infected and affected as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

Today, Sir Brian Langstaff has published the final report of the independent Infected Blood Inquiry. I am authorising a copy of the report to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

I am very grateful to Sir Brian for his forensic and detailed report, his team’s diligent work over the six years of the Inquiry, and for the sensitivity and care with which he has ensured that the people directly and indirectly impacted by the infected blood scandal have been front and centre of his Inquiry’s work. His report is a very substantial document, and it will be impossible for anyone reading it not to be deeply affected by its content. The report lays bare the devastating consequences of the use of infected blood and blood products, and I hope it answers the questions that the infected and affected have been asking for so long.

I have listened to the strongly held views of those members of the infected blood community that I have spoken with; this day is about the truth, the community, and a time for reflection about those they have lost, and the suffering which they have endured over decades.

It is right that the Government should formally recognise this significant report on the day of publication, and so the Prime Minister will give a short statement to Parliament later today. There will be a further statement tomorrow in the Commons regarding compensation.

The Government will look to provide the House with a further opportunity to debate the Infected Blood Inquiry's final report.