Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Infected Blood Inquiry

Thursday 23 September 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government remains committed to supporting the infected blood inquiry, which made good progress during lockdown and is continuing with hearings.
  • The previous Paymaster General announced changes in March to national financial support schemes, including increases in annual payments and lump sums.
  • Sir Robert Francis QC is conducting a compensation study to consider options upon the inquiry's report, with the terms of reference to be published in a written ministerial statement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
NHS
Context

The Labour MP inquired about the progress of an ongoing investigation into contaminated blood supplies that affected many patients.

Question

What recent assessment has the Department made of the progress of the infected blood inquiry?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The Government remain committed to fully supporting the infected blood inquiry. The inquiry maintained pace throughout lockdown and is making good progress, with hearings restarting this week until the end of the year. I thank the right hon. Lady for her work in this area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details or statistics about the assessment were not provided

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Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
NHS
Context

The MP inquires about the status of compensation announced for families of those infected, focusing on inconsistencies affecting bereaved partners.

Question

I welcome the Minister to his new post. May I also join him in thanking the previous Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt), for all that she did to ensure that the cause of those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal was at the heart of her work? As the Paymaster General said, we are three years into the NHS infected blood inquiry, and at the start of a new review into compensation. Will he say something about what is happening to bereaved partner payments announced in March, and inconsistencies still applying to them?

Answer from Michael Ellis

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for her remarks about my predecessor. The previous Paymaster General announced changes in March to national financial support schemes, increasing annual payments and lump sums where necessary. Sir Robert Francis QC is conducting a compensation study considering options when the inquiry reports.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment or timeline was provided for addressing inconsistencies affecting bereaved partners.

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Q3 Philip Hollobone Con
NHS
Context

The MP inquires about the financial compensation provided for families of those affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

Question

How much compensation has been paid, and to how many families?

Answer from Michael Ellis

Sir Robert Francis QC is conducting a compensation study considering options when the inquiry reports. The terms of reference were signed off recently and will be published in a written ministerial statement later today.

Not addressed: No specific details on amounts or number of families compensated.

How: The Matter Is Currently Under Consideration.

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