Infected Blood Inquiry

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Baroness Twycross

Tuesday 30th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I reassure the noble Baroness that the Government are absolutely committed to paying comprehensive compensation to infected and affected victims of the blood scandal. This is such a priority for the Prime Minister that he stated this publicly on his second day in office. I hope the noble Baroness can take some reassurance from that.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend to the Front Bench. The Statement says:

“The Cabinet Office is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, the devolved Governments and the administrators of the existing infected blood support schemes to establish the process for making interim payments of £100,000 to the estates of deceased people who were infected with contaminated blood or blood products”.


Can my noble friend further elaborate on this issue and say at what stage the devolved Administrations will be ready to make such payments? As others know only too well, both victims and their families have waited a considerable time for due compensation. They also want to know whether support schemes will continue in some format.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for her question. On the urgency of ensuring that those affected and infected receive compensation, it is difficult to talk about urgency when people have quite clearly waited decades, in some cases, to get justice. A lot of dialogue is going on at official level with the devolved Administrations, and this will be taking place at ministerial level as well. Applications for interim payments will start in October and it is a matter of absolute urgency that that goes smoothly. Those discussions will continue to take place over the summer, in advance of 24 August, when the “made affirmative” procedure will go through. It is vital that those continue to proceed. Applications for payments will open across the piece in October and the compensation scheme will be a priority for this Government. As I said, the Prime Minister made it a priority and reaffirmed this on his second day in office.

Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries

Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Baroness Twycross

Monday 29th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Shall I just say yes? My understanding was that there were arrangements in place to facilitate the movement of racehorses around Europe. I will double check the facts on that and write to the noble Lord.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, considering the issues that have been raised today, would my noble friend—whom I welcome to the Front Bench—consider meeting her ministerial equivalent in the Irish Government? Would she also encourage the British Horseracing Authority and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board—which is all-Ireland—to meet to discuss the various industries? In my own area, we have a racecourse, and it is vital to the local economy and the tourism industry.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I would be delighted to meet my equivalent in the Irish Government, and I thank the noble Baroness for her question.