Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Debate between Baroness Finlay of Llandaff and Baroness Brinton

Thursday 11th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (CB)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for bringing this to the House and going through things so comprehensively. I also thank her for being open to having conversations about the whole scheme at other times, without necessarily requiring us to book an appointment with her.

I have a couple of questions on areas that require clarification. First, is it correct that the compensation scheme does not pay specific damages to people infected as children up to the age of 16, other than a £10,000 unethical research award if the family of the deceased can prove that they were a victim—which is the same for adults? Is it correct that, if the infected child dies, there is no compensation for a lost life? As parents are not classed as dependants, can the Minister clarify what they are eligible for, having lost their child, and how that changes if their child died after the age of 16 or 18?

[Baroness Brinton (LD)]

My Lords, I am grateful that the Minister is keeping in touch about the regulations, not just today but from when we last debated this in November. She will not be surprised to know that most of the concerns from these Benches are about the practicalities. The main concern remains the slowness of progress of the compensation arrangements. Clearly, there is some movement, and I am grateful for the increase in the amount of money that has now been agreed for compensation. That is good news. However, it is still very slow even for some infected victims, because they have not even got to first base. The proposed arrangements for affected victims just seem to drift longer and longer into the future.

The Minister knows that the real problems emerging at the moment actually relate to the detail of the compensation scheme, and specifically to changes that are being made at the moment. I apologise to her that I have a series of questions and some are quite technical. If she cannot reply today, please will she write to me? I do not think that this is the first time I have said that.