To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the report by Sir Robert Francis QC on Compensation and Redress for the Victims of Infected Blood - Recommendations for a Framework, published in March 2022, if he will take steps to implement
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the report by Sir Robert Francis entitled, Compensation and Redress for the Victims of Infected Blood, Recommendations for a Framework, published on 7 June 2022, what discussions he has had wit
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the Infected Blood Inquiry to publish its final findings and recommendations; and what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of awarding interim payments as soon as possible
Cabinet Office
The timing of the independent Inquiry is a matter for Sir Brian Langstaff, the Chair of the Inquiry. Sir Brian has made clear his intention to complete his work as quickly as reasonable thoroughness allows.As the responsible Minister for the Infected Bloo...
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Infected Blood Inquiry on (a) ongoing funding for the support scheme payments and (b) financial settlements recommended in Sir Robert Francis' report.
Cabinet Office
The Government has committed to providing support for those infected and affected. Ex-gratia support has been provided to those affected by this issue since 1988. No policy discussions have taken place with the statutory Inquiry, that is independent. As t...
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will confirm that liabilities in respect of the UK Contaminated Blood Scandal will be covered directly and exclusively by the Government.
Cabinet Office
It is important that we wait for the conclusion of the independent Infected Blood Inquiry, chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff. The Government will consider Sir Brian’s findings and recommendations once the Inquiry has reported.
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infected Blood Inquiry report will be published (a) in full, and (b) directly after it is submitted to the Government.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has communicated the right to claim from the England Infected Blood Support scheme to veterans who were infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV in a British Military Hospital.
Department of Health and Social Care
There have been no specific communications. Information about the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS), including eligibility, is available on the NHS Business Service Authority’s website. The NHS Business Services Authority also works with a ran...
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will confirm that (a) Sir Robert Francis' Infected Blood Compensation Framework Study will be published soon after he has received it and (b) it will be given to the Infected Blood Inquiry soon after he ha
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has waived litigation privilege in respect of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Department of Health and Social Care
The Department has waived legal professional privilege in relation to relevant historic litigation and legal advice to the start of the Inquiry in July 2017.
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Department of Health and Social Care
The Department has waived legal professional privilege in relation to relevant historic litigation and legal advice to the start of the Inquiry in July 2017.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department will supply to the Infected Blood Inquiry all documents which were subject to claims of public interest immunity during the HIV haemophilia litigation in 1990.
Department of Health and Social Care
The Department supplied those documents requested by the Inquiry where these were retained in its archives.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of proposing a timeline to respond to Sir Robert Francis QC’s report in relation to the infected blood inq
Cabinet Office
Sir Robert Francis QC is conducting a study that looks at options for a framework for compensation for people infected and affected by infected blood. The study will report to the Paymaster General with its recommendations before the Infected Blood Inquir...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his planned timetable is for publication of the outcome of the infected blood inquiry compensation consultation.
Cabinet Office
I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 23 Sept 2021 - the consultation closed on 9 August 2021 and the Terms of Reference for the study have now been published online. I look forward to receiving Sir Robert's recommendations.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his expected timetable is for publication of the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Cabinet Office
The timetable for the Infected Blood Inquiry is a matter for Sir Brian Langstaff, the Chair of the independent statutory Inquiry. Sir Brian has said that the work of the Inquiry will be completed as quickly as reasonable thoroughness permits - recognising...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether people affected by contaminated blood products will have access to legal representation for the infected blood compensation framework review.
Cabinet Office
The compensation framework study will provide advice on potential compensation framework design and solutions to Government. It is important that Sir Robert Francis QC, the independent reviewer, is able to complete his work as quickly as thoroughness allo...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Government and (b) the other devolved administrations on implementing a framework for compensation for the victims of conta
Cabinet Office
Work is currently underway across the government on a number of infected blood issues. I will update the House shortly on progress.The (then) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 2 July 2018, approving l...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will introduce a full bereavement pension for people affected by the contaminated blood scandal in England.
Cabinet Office
Work is currently underway across the government on a number of infected blood issues. I will update the House shortly on progress.The (then) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 2 July 2018, approving l...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure individuals and families affected by the contaminated blood scandal are adequately compensated.
Cabinet Office
Work is currently underway across the government on a number of infected blood issues. I will update the House shortly on progress.The (then) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 2 July 2018, approving l...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure victims and their families involved in the contaminated blood scandal are able to access the necessary legal support require
Cabinet Office
Work is currently underway across the government on a number of infected blood issues. I will update the House shortly on progress.The (then) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry on 2 July 2018, approving l...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement in Budget 2021 that lifetime financial support will be provided for survivors of the Thalidomide scandal, whether the Government plans to provide lifetime financial support to the
Treasury
The Budget confirmed that the existing health grant for those affected by Thalidomide will continue when the existing funding commitment expires in 2022/23. Infected blood support schemes were established in 2017, following the publication of the Penrose ...
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will make additional funding available to the Department of Health to enable improvements in the infected blood support schemes.
Treasury
The Budget confirmed that the existing health grant for those affected by Thalidomide will continue when the existing funding commitment expires in 2022/23. Infected blood support schemes were established in 2017, following the publication of the Penrose ...
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people affected by the contaminated blood inquiry are kept fully informed on developments in that inquiry.
Department of Health and Social Care
The Infected Blood Inquiry is a statutory Inquiry sponsored by Cabinet Office. The Inquiry is independent of the Government, therefore we are unable to comment on the Inquiry's work.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to announce what progress has been made with the compensation framework review in relation to the contaminated blood inquiry.
Department of Health and Social Care
The Government remains committed to considering a potential framework for compensation, as well as actions to address disparities in financial and non-financial support for people infected and affected across the United Kingdom.Officials at the Cabinet Of...
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide assurance to people receiving regular support through the England Infected Blood Support Scheme that they will not be forced to leave that scheme afte
Department of Health and Social Care
We will consider any recommendations when the Infected Blood Inquiry reports, including any around financial support. There is no intention to reduce the amount of financial support given to beneficieries.
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