People Affected by Contaminated Blood Products: Compensation

Ian Lavery, the Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, asked the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, how many people affected by contaminated blood products have received compensation. In response, Nick Thomas-Symonds acknowledged the infected blood scandal as one of the gravest injustices in the country's history, and stated that the government has paid more than £1 billion in interim compensation to 4,606 people infected with contaminated blood products and bereaved partners registered with existing support schemes. Lavery thanked the Minister for the answer but criticised the previous government for delaying action on this issue, noting that two people per week are dying without receiving full compensation. He asked when the latest report from Sir Robert Francis on the compensation recommendations will be published. The Minister paid tribute to Lavery's campaigning on this matter and committed to publishing Sir Robert Francis's report ahead of laying regulations before the House. He reiterated the government's commitment to providing comprehensive compensation to the victims of the scandal, as stated by the Prime Minister on his second day in office. John Glen, the Conservative MP for Salisbury, offered his congratulations to the Paymaster General and expressed his desire to support the Minister while fulfilling his constitutional responsibility. Glen noted that it was a privilege of his ministerial life to accelerate and deliver the legislation to set up the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. He asked the Minister to outline the progress made and whether the government is on track to meet the expectations of Sir Brian Langstaff and Sir Robert Francis. The Minister thanked Glen for his welcome and paid tribute to the work he had done in government to push this agenda forward. He stated that the government's aim is still to begin making final compensation payments by the end of this year, and that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is established in law, with the team working hard to put the operational systems in place. Glen then reminded the Minister that he had previously described the commitment to set out a clear timetable as "another important victory" for the victims in delivering the compensation scheme. In that spirit, he asked the Minister to reassure the House that the regulations he had committed to by Act of Parliament on 24 May will be laid by the three-month legal deadline of 24 August, and to report to the House at the earliest opportunity on when he will respond to the inquiry's report, which is intended by the end of the year. The Minister gave the commitment to meet the statutory deadline of 24 August and stated that he hopes to update the House sooner than that on the ongoing work.