Oral Answers to Questions

Adam Thompson Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab)]

7. What recent progress he has made on establishing the infected blood compensation scheme.

[Adam Thompson (Erewash) (Lab)]

13. What recent progress he has made on establishing the infected blood compensation scheme.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

17. What recent progress he has made on establishing the infected blood compensation scheme.

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[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s constituent Sharon Moore for all her campaigning. As I have said to the House, I have now given the instruction for interim payments to the estates of the deceased infected to open today, and I expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to make its first payments before the end of the year. Subject to the House’s processes, I would hope that regulations for those who are affected—the second set of regulations—will be completed by the end of March next year, and I expect that payments to the affected to begin next year as well.

[Adam Thompson]

I am very pleased to hear that the Minister has opened applications for interim payments. Will he elaborate on how those payments may be accessed, so that my constituents in Erewash can get their hands on them as fast as possible?

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I invite all right hon. and hon. Members to go on the gov.uk website, which gives the details for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. I urge people with an interest to register with the authority, which is already sending out newsletters. However, right hon. and hon. Members are also very welcome to write to me at the Cabinet Office about specific cases. I will of course look into those cases and ensure there is a response.

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[Pat McFadden]

These are operational decisions for the police, but I am glad that the person who is currently the biggest pop star in the world was able to play in London, particularly following the threat of a terrorist attack at her previous concerts in Austria. I am glad that the show went on.

[Adam Thompson (Erewash) (Lab)]

T7. It was fantastic to see senior officials from the UK’s closest allies in intelligence meet recently to co-ordinate the fight against fraud, which affects the most vulnerable members of my community in Erewash. What steps have the Government taken to support the Public Sector Fraud Authority to prevent, detect and recover fraud and error?

[Georgia Gould]

At the Five Eyes summit last month, I reiterated this Government’s firm commitment to tackling fraud and learning from our closest intelligence allies. Fraud does not respect international boundaries. This is a top priority for this Government, and we are taking action to build a wide anti-fraud coalition on advanced artificial intelligence and analytics, and to take further action on enforcement.