Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timetable is for (a) interim and (b) final payment of compensation to individuals (i) infected and (ii) affected by infected blood.

The Chair of the Inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, published a first interim report on the subject of interim compensation for victims of infected blood.

In August 2022, the Government accepted the Inquiry recommendation to make interim compensation payments to those infected and bereaved partners currently registered on United Kingdom infected blood support schemes. Payments of £100,000 were made to eligible beneficiaries by the 28 October 2022. The commitment to pay interim compensation meets, in full, the recommendations set out by Sir Brian in his first interim report.

Sir Brian Langstaff published a further interim report on compensation 5 April. Work is underway across Government to consider the second report’s recommendations alongside the timetable for further interim compensation payments. We understand that time is of the essence for the infected and affected community, we are taking this matter seriously and consider it a high priority.