Immediate Establishment of Scheme
I recommend that a compensation scheme should be set up now and it should begin work this year.
- IBCA was established in August 2024 and began processing claims (Establishing the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in Regulations, Cabinet Office, August 2024).
- The Government stated in December 2024 that the scheme was established and operational, with over £1 billion paid in interim compensation (Government Response to the Infected Blood Inquiry, Cabinet Office, December 2024).
- IBCA confirmed that as of 13 January 2026, 2,861 people had been paid totalling £1.89 billion (IBCA Community Update, January 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedRecommendation 18 of the Second Interim Report recommended that the Government set up the compensation scheme upon publication of the Second Interim Report in April 2023, and that it should begin work as soon as possible in that year. The then Government was clear that it would respond to the Second Interim Report following the publication of the Inquiry's May 2024 report, and has done so in the establishment of the compensation scheme.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 established the legal basis for the compensation scheme. IBCA was established and began accepting claims in 2024, with first payments made in December 2024.
Progress Timeline
Scheme established and operational. As of 7 April 2026, 3,273 offers of compensation totalling over £2.6bn had been made, with 3,161 offers accepted, in addition to £1.4bn already paid in interim payments; IBCA had contacted 3,942 people and 3,754 had started the claim process. On 14 April 2026 the Government published its response to the public consultation on proposed changes to the Scheme (CP 1565), announcing approximately £1 billion in additional compensation payments on top of the £11.8 billion allocated in the 2024 Autumn Budget. Regulations to implement the further changes will be brought forward later in 2026. Sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-infected-blood-compensation-scheme-will-improve-support-for-victims; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69ddf5fd7e2086c62da2f152/Government_response_to_consultation_on_proposed_changes_to_the_infected_blood_compensation_scheme__PDF_.pdf
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
As of 13 January 2026: 3,721 people asked to start claims, 3,546 begun process, 3,074 received offers totalling £2.47bn, 2,861 paid totalling £1.89bn. Third compensation regulations in force 31 December 2025.
View detailed findings
IBCA exceeded initial expectations. Three sets of regulations now in force covering infected persons, affected persons, and supplementary routes. £11.8bn committed in October 2024 Budget. Independent review found "very creditable progress."
Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 established IBCA. Three sets of scheme regulations in force (Aug 2024, Mar 2025, Dec 2025). First payments December 2024. £1.89bn paid to 2,861 people by January 2026.
IBCA has contacted 2,215 people to begin compensation claims; 1,934 started process. £812m+ paid via Horizon Shortfall Scheme. £11.8bn committed in Autumn Budget.
View detailed findings
IBCA exceeded expectations for first cohort and established operational service with "compassionate ethos." Target: bulk of infected payments by 2027, affected by 2029. Third compensation scheme regulations came into law 31 December 2025.
Infected Blood Compensation Authority established August 2024. First claims for deceased infected/affected opened December 2025. IBCA accepted all 11 recommendations directed to them.