Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent of 8 June (HL446), whether eligibility for the unethical research award extends to deceased people impacted by infected blood who were not themselves infected, such as carers of infected people.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The supplementary autonomy award for victims of unethical research is only available for infected people. This includes claims from living infected people or estates of deceased infected people.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether deceased people impacted by infected blood are entitled to the Level 2B award, as set out in their response to the consultation on changes to the infected blood compensation scheme, published on 14 April.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Yes, deceased infected people will be eligible. As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation, the Government will introduce a Level 2B banding to recognise the harms caused by treatment with interferon. Anyone who can evidence treatment with interferon (with or without other drugs, such as ribavirin) will automatically qualify for Level 2B, without having to prove the duration of their treatment, side effects, financial loss or care needs. This includes the estates of deceased infected people.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether deceased people impacted by infected blood are entitled to the Unethical Research award, as set out in their response to the consultation on changes to the infected blood compensation scheme, published on 14 April.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

Yes, deceased infected people will be eligible. As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation, every eligible infected person treated for a bleeding disorder within a specific time period will receive an unethical research award. Additionally, people who were treated for a bleeding disorder in childhood will receive a higher Unethical Research award than those who were treated in adulthood. The amounts available through these awards do not change based on whether the infected person is living or has died.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many claims for compensation via the Infected Blood Compensation Authority have been paid so far, including how many claims have been paid to (1) people who have been infected but not previously registered with a support scheme, (2) estates of people who were infected but have since died, and (3) affected people.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The delivery of compensation is a matter for the independent Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).

IBCA publishes updated statistics every fortnight on its website. As of 19 May 2026, a total of 3,272 people have had their compensation paid. This includes:

• 3,198 living infected people registered with an existing support scheme;

• 21 living infected people who have never been compensated;

• 23 people acting on behalf of a deceased infected person;

• 30 affected people.

The latest update can be found here: https://ibca.org.uk/statistics/registration-and-compensation-progress-update-21-may-2026/.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis supported their decision to not to award enhanced core injury awards to bereaved parents whose infected child died over the age of 18, in their response to the consultation on changes to the infected blood compensation scheme, published on 14 April.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

As part of the public consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme, the Government sought views on whether, and how, an expanded supplementary route for affected people could be constructed whilst continuing to allow for timely delivery of compensation within a tariff-based scheme.

It was clear from the consultation that respondents felt some specific groups had suffered significant harms and losses, and deserved more compensation in recognition of this. Many suggested parents who sadly lost their child to infected blood where the child was under 18. Respondents thought the emotional toll of providing care and supporting their child through a traumatic period should be specifically recognised, in addition to the financial losses they may have faced as a result of missing work to provide care, or when they were prevented from working due to grief.

The new 50% uplift to the core Injury award for parents of children that passed away under 18 is therefore intended to recognise the very specific, additional trauma associated with the loss of a child during their formative years. By using a clear age-based threshold the Government can provide this extra compensation, honouring the clear preference expressed in the consultation for an award that avoids intrusive individual assessments or the requirement for new clinical evidence.

The decisions made on this award were based directly on what the Government heard in the consultation.