Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to simplify the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme for bereaved families and ensure that medical records previously reviewed and compensation payments previously made are take into account.

The Government recognises that bereaved families and affected people have suffered profound losses. It was clear from the Government consultation, which ended on 22 January, that respondents felt some specific groups of affected people had suffered significant harms and losses, and deserved more compensation in recognition of this. The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) 2026 Regulations introduce a 50% uplift to the core Injury award for some affected people, including eligible bereaved partners and eligible bereaved parents. These regulations were approved by the House of Commons on 6 July.

Regarding medical records, the Government wants the claims process to be as unburdensome to the applicant as possible. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority, or IBCA, who deliver the compensation scheme, ensure that claim managers seek official documentation to support a person’s claim, including from GPs. If a person is registered with an existing support scheme, IBCA will use all this existing information to handle the person’s claim. Someone will only be asked for additional information if there is anything missing that is needed to progress their claim, for example how severe their infection is or when they were diagnosed with their condition.

No past support or ex-gratia payments received through the Infected Blood Support Schemes or Alliance House Organisation schemes will be deducted from the final payments made through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (“the Scheme”). Any support payments paid from 1 April 2025 will be taken into account when IBCA calculates the amount of compensation that an infected person is entitled to for the awards relating to their future financial loss and future care costs. Where people have previously received interim compensation payments, these will be deducted from compensation awards through the Scheme. Similarly, any past or future compensation awarded through the courts will be deducted from compensation awards through the Scheme.