Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people who suffered significant harm as a result of interferon treatment through contaminated blood products are compensated under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

The Government accepted the Inquiry’s recommendation to introduce a new, higher level of award for infected people who were treated with interferon. The new Level 2B infection severity band will provide more core compensation through the Financial Loss and Care awards for the full two years after treatment. This uplifted award will be available to anyone treated with interferon who would otherwise be receiving a Level 2 award. Following the public consultation on the infected blood compensation scheme, we will also ensure that people who received more than one round of interferon treatment will be properly compensated for each of these rounds.

The Technical Expert Group advised that where people do experience longer term impacts of interferon treatment, the scheme should compensate for the impact on a person’s life. That is why, if someone has experienced long-term impacts following interferon treatment that have affected their ability to work or their need for care, they may be eligible for additional compensation through the Special Category Mechanism Severe Health Condition award. This approach ensures that those with long term side effects receive additional financial support.

The Government has now laid the required legislation to enact these changes, and these are subject to Parliamentary approval.