We know that more than 3,000 people have already died in the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Another 680 have died since the public inquiry started in 2018. With two people dying on average every week, 100 people have died since Sir Brian made his final recommendations on paying compensation in April 2023. He said that “wrongs were done at individual, collective and systemic levels.” He also said that in all conscience he could not wait until his final report was published to tell the Government to start paying compensation. Last week, Hugh Pym of the BBC produced shocking evidence about children, even babies, being experimented on in the 1970s and 1980s without their parents’ consent. These disturbing revelations raise serious criminal and ethical issues for the NHS and the medical profession. There are possible breaches of the 1947 Nuremberg code. Alongside that, The Sunday Times, and Caroline Wheeler, in particular launched a campaign at the weekend for compensation to be paid now to those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal. So far, more than 160 MPs have backed the campaign, and 10 parties are represented, including six leaders. Last week, the Government finally laid those amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill in the other place after this House forced the Government to act in December last year. This weekend, Ministers confirmed that even when Sir Brian produces his final report on 20 May, the Government may not respond until as late as 3 July 2024. Meanwhile, there has been no announcement on compensation funding or on any compensation scheme, despite the Government having accepted the moral case for compensation. What action are the Government taking following last week’s BBC story on the experiments on children? When will Sir Brian’s recommendations on compensation be implemented in full? On what date will payments be made to those infected and affected? Why have the interim payments not been made, as Sir Brian recommended last April? How will those infected and affected be involved in the whole scheme? Why are Ministers rejecting the three-month timeframe for setting up a compensation body that this House agreed to in December last year, and Sir Brian’s recommendation that it should be judge-led? On all sides of the House, Members know that when people are dying, justice delayed is justice denied. The time to act is now.

The MP paid tribute to Dame Diana Johnson's work on the issue. He asked about registering for compensation, involvement of different departments, and when victims can expect their names to be registered.

The MP congratulated the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North and highlighted the need for urgent action due to high mortality rates among victims. She criticised the Government’s amendment tabled last week, which could delay compensation.

When will those affected be able to start applying for compensation?

The MP paid tribute to those campaigning for years, including victims' parents who felt responsible. She asked when all infected individuals would receive compensation and an apology from the Government.

The MP pushed for urgency in delivering the Langstaff recommendations and acknowledged the Minister's efforts, urging him to balance speed with getting it right.

A constituent of Paulette Hamilton’s believes the Government is delaying compensation for victims, asking if this is true.

The MP asked how many people are still living who were infected, how many applied for interim payments, and what proportion received them. He requested the Minister write back with specific figures.

Congratulates the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North on her work to date and highlights the stigma faced by HIV-infected individuals; asks about interim payments for those affected, seeking clarity on the process.

Asks about the reasoning behind giving payments to deceased people’s estates instead of named individuals; seeks assurance that compensation will go quickly to correct recipients.

Highlights the testimonies from Treloar’s school pupils and asks why compensation has been delayed since the interim report; questions what more the Government needs to know.

Presents a petition on behalf of his constituent Andrew Evans, urging the Minister to meet with groups like Tainted Blood and ensure clear communication.

Critiques delays in compensation and urges for change in speed and urgency; highlights that two people die each week due to the scandal.

Compliments efforts but seeks a clear timeline for compensation applications and payments as recommended by Sir Brian Langstaff.

Asks for a clear timeline regarding when compensation applications can be made and payments will be issued.

Discusses the painful testimonies from Treloar School pupils and asks about clear communication with affected families.

Does the Minister recognise that many people feel that the state, with all its delays in delivering justice to the victims of this scandal and their families, has utterly failed to recognise adequately the egregious harm that has been inflicted and continues to be inflicted on those impacted, leaving tens of thousands of victims and their families in great suffering as they continue to wait for compensation?

May I also give my thanks to my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson) for securing this urgent question? It gives me the opportunity to raise the case of my constituent Mark Fox, who contracted hepatitis C from infected blood when he was given a transfusion at four years old and received contaminated factor VIII for his haemophilia. He has been living with health consequences for over 40 years and is seeking either interim payment or full and fair compensation.

It has been seven years and we have had four Prime Ministers since this public inquiry was set up, and there have been many decades waited before then. Surely the Minister will agree that the stories of children being impacted are tantamount to state-sponsored abuse—abuse similar to that suffered by my constituents Linda Cannon and Vera Gaskin. When will the victims get compensation and justice? It is not good enough.

I too am speaking on behalf of a constituent who lost a brother, sister-in-law, and whose nephew was left to be brought up by the family. I want to raise the urgency of this issue. If this was a priority for the Government, it would have been done in that year since Sir Brian Langstaff’s report last April 2023. Where is the block?

Building trust and confidence requires the support of the infected and affected community. Can the Minister confirm that the independent body’s executive will include representation from infected and affected people’s groups who can make decisions on processes, eligibility, and decision making in order to build trust and confidence?

My caseworker Paula was left bereaved as a teenager after her father was killed by HIV and hepatitis from infected blood products. She has suffered enormously since, including being bullied at school as a result of the stigma around HIV. Despite Sir Brian Langstaff’s inquiry recommending that children who lost parents should be awarded interim compensation last April 2023, she has yet to receive a penny. How much longer will the Government keep victims such as Paula waiting?

Does the Minister think that the Prime Minister and senior Ministers will be attending the launch of the report on 20 May?

Does he not agree that reading some of the information supplied by the BBC feels more like reading about a national regime’s atrocities than reading about action by our own healthcare professionals in the 1980s? It is quite distressing. How does the Minister believe that we can ever restore confidence in a process and procedures that allowed this to happen, and what assurances can the general public have that it could never happen again?