Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to make interim payments to bereaved parents and children as part of the Infected Blood Interim Compensation Payment Scheme.

First, and most importantly, the suffering of the victims must be recognised. The Government understands that no measures can fully compensate for the losses and hardships that they have suffered. The priority here must be to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. We are actively looking at the recommendations of the Inquiry, including the recommendation for more interim payments. The Government will respond to the recommendations of the final report following its publication on 20 May.