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Infected Blood Inquiry
15 December 2022
Lead MP
Jeremy Quin
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementDefenceEmploymentBenefits & Welfare
Other Contributors: 16
At a Glance
Jeremy Quin raised concerns about infected blood inquiry in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, Jeremy Quin, provided an update on preparations for the infected blood inquiry. He acknowledged the gravity and scale of the issue affecting victims and their families. The minister highlighted the work done by the all-party parliamentary group on haemophilia and contaminated blood and praised Sir Robert Francis's recommendations to ensure a fair compensation framework. In July 2017, Theresa May established the Langstaff inquiry chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff, with interim payments of £100,000 recommended for those infected and bereaved partners registered in UK support schemes. The Government accepted this recommendation and worked across departments and devolved administrations to implement it without delay. Quin stated that interim compensation is just one part of the overall response but was crucial given its urgent nature. He committed to ongoing work on Sir Robert's other recommendations, with a cross-Government working group coordinating efforts. The minister stressed the moral case for compensation and promised user-friendly support while ensuring fraud protection measures are in place. Quin assured that final compensation will be tax-free and disregarded for benefits purposes as recommended.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab/Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
Will you provide a detailed timetable for compensation payments? What measures will be taken to work with the infected blood community on developing the framework, and when will there be more regular updates on this issue?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the shadow's concerns about providing a clear timeline but noted that significant progress had been made. He committed to working closely with affected communities and promised to provide further updates as work progresses.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
The hon. Member thanked the Minister for the statement but expressed disappointment that it was long overdue. She highlighted the deaths of over 3,000 victims since this issue started being raised and noted that one person dies every four days due to delays. She asked if the Minister can commit to publishing a timetable for compensation framework and working with the infected blood community.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady's point was noted. The Minister thanked her for her remarks and committed to update the House regularly on progress, though he could not give a specific timetable due to the complexity of the steps needed.
Question
Welcoming the Minister's statement, the hon. Member asked if those not yet registered for compensation can preregister and what protections will be in place against scams and financial advisers. He also questioned whether payments would be exempt from inheritance tax.
Minister reply
The Minister appreciated the time spent with the Father of the House. Regarding preregistration, he acknowledged its importance but noted that there are issues such as lost medical records to consider. On compensation protections, the Minister shared his concern and recognised the need for timely advice alongside the scheme. Inheritance tax exemption was under consideration.
Question
The SNP Member expressed welcome but disappointment over the lack of commitment to a date for publishing a response to Sir Robert Francis’s report. She asked about an arm’s length body and whether the interim scheme would be extended to families and carers.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged recommendation 16 on independence for an ALB, although they were not yet ready to commit fully. He agreed that it is a key area and welcomed updating the hon. Lady as work progresses.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
The hon. Member commended the Minister’s statement, asking about the impact of interim payments on families and what victims or their families should do if they have not been disregarded for benefits or tax purposes.
Minister reply
People should receive those payments disregarded from tax and benefits. If there are issues, constituents can take them up with relevant support schemes. The Minister is considering the implications of carers receiving compensation.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
The disappointment is absolutely tangible. Time after time, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson), the Father of the House and many other colleagues have asked about the Government response to the report, which was published eight months ago. That it is being kicked into the grass until next summer is deeply disappointing. Will the Minister confirm that the compensation scheme will include children who lost parents—often both parents, as the person who was infected was not told and so infected their partner—as well as the parents of the 300-plus children who died of AIDS, and that they will receive payments? Will he elaborate on the preparations being made and reassure us that they include IT systems, secondment and recruitment of staff, training of staff and, most importantly, the identification of all of those who may be entitled to payments, especially given the stigma that still surrounds contaminated blood?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady makes a series of excellent points. I want to assure her on one point: as shown by the fact that I am here today, we want to talk about this. We want to make certain that we are making progress, and I will continue to do so. It was always the intention, with the study under Sir Robert, that there would be help to prepare us to be ready for Sir Brian’s report, and that remains the case. Both Sir Robert and Sir Brian are absolutely clear about the moral case for compensation of children affected by the loss of parents. How that is arranged is deeply complex, as Sir Robert said himself, so Sir Brian Langstaff had to do specific work on that.
Question
Will the Minister please clarify whether all of those eligible for interim compensation received their payments on time?
Minister reply
I believe that that is absolutely the case, and I am pleased to reassure my hon. Friend on that. It is also the case that, under the recommendations, there is still room for people to apply, if they have not applied to date.
Question
One of my constituents has been deeply affected by this issue. She has endured a long, upsetting and depressing process. The strain on her and her family has been enormous. The Hepatitis C Trust has warned that people affected by the infected blood scandal are falling through the gaps in the present frameworks for financial assistance and compensation, including those whose medical records have been lost and destroyed, which the Minister touched on—I would like him to expand on that—and people who were born abroad. What assessment have the Government made of the number of people who fit into that category, or when can we expect to receive such an assessment? What will he do to put things right?
Minister reply
First, I absolutely sympathise with the hon. Lady’s constituent. However, I hope that, since 2017, with the statutory inquiry, the report and the payment of interim compensation, they have seen that we have got a direction of travel and that things are moving in the right direction. In relation to hep B, Sir Robert said that Sir Brian needed to take further medical evidence. It is one of the areas where, because of the absolute complexity, we may need to wait for the Langstaff report before we can be specific.
Question
I pay tribute to my constituent who lost her beloved husband to this scandal and who recently wrote to me about the sort of disinformation that often is out there about this scandal, sometimes even from official sources. The Minister said that 'time is of the essence'. Does he understand why, to many of the victims, it does not feel that way? Can he at least tell the House when he would expect this matter to be finally resolved, even if that is not immediately an exact date?
Minister reply
The direct answer is that finality will come only after Sir Brian has reported. That is expected during the course of next year, with the work to be completed by the end of next year. Our job as a Government is to make certain we are ready to respond to those recommendations.
Question
Sir Brian’s report will be published next year. Rather than the Minister simply saying that the recommendations will be acted upon, can he give a firm commitment that the recommendations will be accepted and implemented?
Minister reply
That is a sincerely asked question, and I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s sincerity. I trust that he will understand my sincerity when I say that I am not in a position to give a carte blanche acceptance. Have we accepted the moral case for compensation? We have. Are we keen to make certain we are in a position to respond effectively when the report is published? Absolutely, we will aim to do exactly that.
Question
I echo the calls from my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) that a way should be found to extend compensation payments to carers. That is particularly important to a constituent I have heard from. Can the Minister also say a bit more about exactly when and how he will engage with the devolved Administrations and also with survivors’ and families’ groups to ensure they are kept informed and consulted throughout this process?
Minister reply
First, I pay tribute to Sir Brian and Sir Robert for the work they have done to ensure that they are speaking to those affected in the communities. Contact is already ongoing with the devolved Administrations. We all had to work together on the interim compensation scheme, and it is critical that we do work together.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
I thank the Paymaster General for his statement. I know he is committed to this issue and will bring his personal commitment to ensuring it is resolved as soon as possible. One of my constituents lost four family members: her brother, sister-in-law, aunt and cousin. Her 10-year-old nephew was orphaned and left to be brought up by her mother on a state pension. They have received not a penny. I appreciate the complexities in working out the timetable, but he is now in his late 30s, and we cannot imagine the trauma he has gone through with losing his parents and the stigma of their deaths. He cannot wait any longer. These people need support and compensation now. If the Minister could come back in the new year with a timetable for next year—not necessarily a detailed one—that would be helpful.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady spoke for so many people in the House when she talked through that specific heart-rending example. Given the circumstances she refers to, it is no wonder that Sir Robert and Sir Brian have made clear their view on the moral case. I absolutely recognise what she would like me to do, which is to present a timetable. I will do my utmost in the new year to set out the steps we will be taking.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Aberafan Maesteg
Question
My constituent David Farrugia is part of what is called the fatherless generation. The scandal and the length of time it has taken to address these issues have had a profound effect on his mental health, as I am sure the Minister can imagine. Does he agree there is a clear and compelling moral case for compensation for the children of victims, which they are not currently eligible for? If he agrees that there is a clear and compelling moral case, can he set out when the compensation will be forthcoming?
Minister reply
The moral case for compensation for children was specifically referred to by Sir Robert and Sir Brian. The interim compensation payments were arranged in the way recommended by Sir Brian—we accepted that recommendation in full. They were, among other things, to be as swift as possible—that defined the terms of those payments.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Question
The stigma that is sadly still attached to diseases associated with contaminated blood makes it hard for victims to come forward. What are the Government doing to tackle that stigma and ensure that every victim of contaminated blood is found and receives support? May I take this opportunity to ask for reassurance that every victim across the United Kingdom and the devolved Administrations is found and given that support?
Minister reply
I absolutely recognise what the hon. Lady says. One of the most distressing things with this brief—it was only really when I got this brief that I worked through the implications—was the stigma and the fact that this was happening in an era when people were not enlightened on AIDS and HIV. The consequences for families were extraordinary, and I fear, as she does, that that stigma can still be retained today.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
There is a sense of urgency from Members who have spoken. The MP seeks reassurance that the route to compensation in Northern Ireland, as well as Scotland, Wales, and England, will be straightforward and not overly complex or costly for victims.
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that Sir Robert's recommendation is to create a simpler and easier-to-access scheme than alternatives such as the common-law approach used in the Irish Republic. The aim is to avoid complexities that would require expensive legal advice and add further stress to victims seeking compensation.
Shadow Comment
Florence Eshalomi
Shadow Comment
Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP, welcomed the statement but criticised its delay. She highlighted that over 3,000 people have died since the inquiry began in July 2017 due to contaminated blood products. The shadow minister expressed disappointment with the Government's response and urged for a timely compensation framework. She called on the Minister to provide a clear timetable for compensation payments and to engage proactively with victims' families. Eshalomi also questioned the lack of progress on Sir Robert’s other 18 recommendations, urging the Government to publish their full responses promptly.
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