Backbench Business

The debate highlights the need for just compensation and recognition of those affected by contaminated blood products. Clive Efford emphasises that the community demands more changes in the current scheme, including addressing unethical testing on children and ensuring proper financial support for carers and victims' families. He also calls for an ongoing dialogue between the Government and the affected community to build trust and ensure timely compensation.

Commends Clive Efford's speech and highlights the need for a timescale for payments, ensuring that those who have experienced delays will know the timeframe. Suggests regular updates from the Minister to address concerns.

Asks about lessons learned from different compensation schemes and whether there are broader applications for such mechanisms in future Government actions. Discusses the importance of involving Select Committees in overseeing public inquiry recommendations.

Stresses the distress caused by requiring documented evidence for claims, highlighting the additional burden on families and victims.

Supports the idea of working with colleagues in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to address concerns about timelines and drive forward the final compensation scheme.

Calls for a national oversight mechanism to monitor and intervene when recommendations from public inquiries are ignored or misapplied. Emphasises the importance of statutory and self-resourced monitoring in ensuring fair and timely compensation.

Recalls the thalidomide scandal and emphasises the need for a system that allows Government to act as an insurer of last resort, making claims against those who are culpable.

Paid tribute to the work of Clive Efford in securing the debate. Mentioned Treloar’s school and college as a significant location where many victims were affected by unethical research practices. Highlighted the loss of lives, stigma, interrupted education, long-term mental scarring for individuals and families, and trauma lasting decades. Raised questions about bereaved parents whose child was over 18 and those whose child was younger. Inquired about the lack of parity in compensation awards, the administration of the scheme needing to accelerate, and the possibility of a criminal investigation. Emphasised the need for timely and effective compensation.

Expressed anger at the contaminated blood scandal and raised concerns about inheritance tax on compensation money passed from parents to children after a loss of life. Inquired if measures could be taken to ensure that compensation does not incur inheritance tax when it passes to family members.

Paid tribute to the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood. Highlighted the need for faster delivery in the compensation scheme, especially for those who have been waiting to be invited to apply for compensation. Raised concerns about the stress endured by families due to the slow pace of the scheme's delivery. Urged the Minister to increase the speed of the scheme’s delivery and prioritise elderly and terminally ill individuals.

Pays tribute to the work of Clive Efford. Mentions his own involvement since 2015 highlighting cases like Lesley and Stephen, both victims of contaminated blood who suffered significantly over decades before receiving a diagnosis or treatment. Discusses the thalassaemia condition which also leaves sufferers at high risk for hepatitis C infections due to regular transfusions. Critiques the use of interferon in treatments noting its harmful side effects. Advocates for fair compensation, calling on IBCA to expedite claims processing and address delays affecting elderly or seriously ill individuals waiting for compensation. Calls for a review of the two-tier system where those who died earlier receive less financial recognition than those who lived longer.

The MP reiterates his concern about the compensation scheme's shortcomings, including inadequate recognition of interferon treatment and its associated harm. He also points out inequities in estate claims that unfairly penalize families based on when their loved one died. Additionally, he calls for better recognition of carers' contributions and advocates for faster progress in compensating all categories of claimants.

Raises concerns on behalf of Josie and her father, Andrew Quin, who is an infected blood victim. Criticises the core route for not qualifying victims with severe health conditions for higher severity levels, despite their illness being directly caused by contaminated blood treatment. Also criticises the supplementary route as it does not address the discrimination faced by those too ill to undergo 12 weeks of Interferon treatment.

Thanking her colleague for securing the debate, Nia Griffith expressed deep frustration over the slow roll-out of the infected blood compensation scheme. She highlighted the immense suffering caused by the scandal and paid tribute to campaigners who have fought tirelessly for justice. Griffith detailed specific cases involving constituents, emphasising the long-term psychological trauma experienced by families and individuals affected by infected blood products. She criticised delays in payments, inadequate recognition, and disparities between how living and deceased victims are treated under the scheme. Griffith urged the Minister to expedite the process, avoid unnecessary duplication of work for clinical staff, and allow claimants to apply without being invited formally.

I wholeheartedly congratulate the hon. Member for Eltham and Chislehurst on his customary forthright opening to the debate, agreeing with all points raised by him as deputy of the all-party parliamentary group. Acknowledging significant progress made since 20 years ago when campaigners were disregarded and lied to, we have now set up a compensation scheme for those affected by contaminated blood, which should be paid immediately. Praise is given to IBCA for their remarkable work in setting up this infrastructure quickly. Commending the community of campaigners who have fought tirelessly for justice despite being told there was nothing to see, highlighting specific cases like Tricia Titheridge who died without seeing progress made. Emphasising that people are still waiting years to start their claims and some are dying weekly due to delays in compensation, also mentioning concerns over eligibility requirements, ethical research cut-off dates, estate claims, and the need for a bespoke scheme similar to Scotland's severely affected category. Lastly, calling for accountability through statutory duty of candour and an independent oversight body.

Reiterates concern that even the updated compensation scheme does not adequately recognise long-term consequences of interferon treatment.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst, my constituent Susan and her family for their bravery in sharing their story, and express concern over the infected blood scandal which has affected more than 25,000 people, including over 380 children with HIV. I pay tribute to victims such as George who died due to contaminated blood products without his family ever being informed of the risks or given closure until years later. Susan's case exemplifies the need for a swift and transparent claims process. The compensation scheme must address psychological harm, reflect the losses suffered by deceased families, and expedite payments. A national oversight mechanism is crucial to ensure accountability in implementing public inquiry recommendations.

We find ourselves at a critical juncture as the final amendments to the infected blood compensation scheme are laid. The scandal has led to tens of thousands being infected with HIV, hepatitis B and C, claiming over 2,900 lives. Patients like John have struggled for decades searching for answers before discovering they were part of clinical trials without consent. Despite Government commitments and £13 billion set aside for compensation, only 3,000 out of 18,000 registered claims have received payment. The pace of delivery is glacial, causing despair among claimants, especially those near death or childless. The scheme's arbitrary cut-off date from 2017 and evidential barriers further exacerbate issues. I call for a central oversight body to address these challenges.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) for his speech and acknowledge the Minister's efforts. A constituent of mine contracted hepatitis C in 1977 after an operation but struggles to locate medical records, hindering their ability to engage with compensation schemes due to lost or destroyed records. Despite registering with the infected blood compensation scheme last October, they have received no correspondence and worry about not being registered for compensation. I seek assurance from the Minister that this case will be investigated and my constituent updated on progress and compensated if eligible.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst for securing this debate, and the many hon. Members who have given marvellous speeches this afternoon. In 1988, I was an ear, nose and throat registrar at the Royal Free hospital in London where we unknowingly infected patients with HIV through factor VIII derived from pooled blood donations from the United States. These patients started dying from AIDS and hepatitis due to unsafe treatments. We must go faster in addressing this issue as thousands have yet to start a claim and people are dying each week.

The infected blood scandal has affected 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis, including children subjected to unethical clinical testing. Although the Government have taken steps in progressing the compensation scheme, only 217 people received payments in the last two months, and at this rate far too many victims will not receive their compensation by 2029. The pace must increase, as there is a strength of feeling that the scheme still does not go far enough.

The infected blood scandal remains the most devastating treatment disaster in the history of our national health service. The establishment of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority represents a monumental milestone, with more than £2.1 billion paid out to over 3,200 victims. However, thousands of affected families are still waiting for their claims to be processed, and many fear they will die before receiving compensation. There is an urgent need to accelerate the timeline and relax the burden of proof to ensure that claimants do not face unnecessary administrative burdens.

The Minister emphasised that more than £2.7 billion has been offered in compensation, with over £2.1 billion paid out so far. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the infected blood community and committed to driving forward changes through the IBCA’s test-and-learn approach. He also addressed specific concerns raised during the debate regarding evidence requirements, psychiatric disorders, carers’ recognition, criminal prosecutions, eligibility for affected estates, interferon treatment compensation, inheritance tax issues, and duty of candour.

The Member asked how the Minister intends to implement changes suggested by the infected blood community into the compensation process before regulations are laid before the House. He emphasised the importance of addressing community concerns and ensuring effective implementation.

Thanked everyone who contributed to the debate, expressed a desire to meet with the Minister before regulations are laid, and hoped that the House had done justice to those concerned about the issue.

Asked for clarification on whether the Secretary of State for Transport intends to make an oral statement regarding the Heathrow expansion national policy statement (HENPS) and supporting documents, highlighting the significance of the decision for communities, climate commitments, and UK connectivity.

Responded to Claire Young's point of order by stating that she had received no notice from Ministers regarding an oral statement on Heathrow expansion. Emphasised the importance of significant announcements being made in the House first, as reiterated by Mr Speaker.