Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) claims under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme can be inherited by the families of deceased claimants and (b) people who are unable to receive their payments due to health issues do not lose their right to compensation upon passing.

Where a person who would have been eligible to apply to the Scheme as an infected person has tragically died, the personal representatives of the deceased person’s estate can apply for compensation on behalf of the estate of the deceased infected person. Where compensation is payable to someone who lacks capacity, including due to health issues, the award will be paid to the person with power of attorney or other legal authority to act on the person’s behalf. In both cases, the acting representative must make the application to the Scheme. In line with the Inquiry’s recommendation, where an affected person has died it is not possible for the personal representatives of their estate to apply for compensation.