Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

People Affected by Contaminated Blood Products: Compensation

Thursday 25 July 2024 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have paid more than 1 billion in interim compensation to 4,606 recipients affected by contaminated blood products.
  • The Government will publish Sir Robert Francis's report ahead of laying regulations before the House.
  • The Paymaster General aims to start making final compensation payments by the end of the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
NHS
Context

The MP raises concern about the number of people affected by contaminated blood products who have received compensation.

Question

How many people affected by contaminated blood products have received compensation?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Government have paid more than £1 billion in interim compensation to those infected with infected blood products and bereaved partners registered with existing support schemes. The total number of recipients of interim payments across the United Kingdom is 4,606.

Answered
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Q2 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
NHS
Context

The MP criticises the previous government's handling of contaminated blood product compensation, noting that two people per week die without full compensation. He asks for a specific publication date for Sir Robert Francis' report.

Question

Can he tell the House when the latest report from Sir Robert Francis on the compensation recommendations will be published?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Government will publish his report ahead of laying regulations before this House. The aim is to pay comprehensive compensation to victims of the scandal as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timeline for publishing the Sir Robert Francis' report and the exact date for laying regulations in Parliament was not specified.

How: Under Review

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Q3 John Glen Con Salisbury
NHS
Context

The MP acknowledges the Paymaster General's work and inquires about the progress of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, stressing the need to meet deadlines set by Sir Brian Langstaff and Sir Robert Francis.

Question

Will the Paymaster General set out what progress has been made, given the urgency of this work? Is he on track to meet the expectations of Sir Brian Langstaff and Sir Robert Francis?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The aim is still that final compensation payments will begin to be made by the end of this year. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is established in law, and the team is working hard to put operational systems in place.

Answered
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Q4 John Glen Con Salisbury
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP seeks assurance that the Government will meet a three-month legal deadline for laying regulations in Parliament related to infected blood compensation, and asks when they will respond to Sir Robert Francis' inquiry report.

Question

Will he reassure the House that the regulations I committed to by Act of Parliament on 24 May will be laid by the three-month legal deadline of 24 August? Will he report to the House at the earliest opportunity on when he will respond to the inquiry's report?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

I give the shadow Minister that commitment about meeting the statutory deadline of 24 August. I hope to update this House sooner than that on the ongoing work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Exact timeline for responding to Sir Robert Francis' report was not specified.

How: Under Review

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