Victims of the Infected Blood Scandal will see further action
today taken by the Government as it accepts the recommendations
made by the Inquiry.
The Government accepts in full or in principle all of the
Inquiry's recommendations, with work already completed or
underway to implement many of them. Among these is the
establishment of a compensation scheme, backed by £11.8 billion
in the Budget, which has begun to make payments to the first
group of infected victims.
It also includes the Inquiry's recommendation of implementing a
duty of candour for public servants, which was a commitment in
the Government's manifesto and in the King's Speech.
Where recommendations have been accepted in principle, the
Government agrees with the spirit of the recommendations, but is
assessing how best to implement them.
The Infected Blood Inquiry's final report published in May this
year made twelve recommendations to ensure a disaster of this
nature never happens again.
The UK Government and the Devolved Governments have worked
together on the Government's response to ensure we have as
consistent an approach as possible across the whole country.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, MP, said:
“The victims of this scandal have suffered appallingly.
“Since taking office this Government has been determined to
deliver action. That is why we committed £11.8 billion in the
Budget for the compensation scheme, which we have begun to pay
out to infected individuals.
“The recommendations in this important Inquiry are wide-ranging,
well considered, and necessarily complex. I hope that this update
provides assurance that we are taking these recommendations
seriously and acting on the mistakes of the past.”
As well as accepting in full or in principle all of the Inquiry's
recommendations, today the Government has also extended its
eligibility criteria for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme,
so more siblings of infected individuals can receive payment.
Previously, siblings were able to claim compensation if they were
under the age of 18, and lived in the same household as an
infected person for at least 2 years after the onset of the
infection.
Now, all siblings who lived with an infected person, or were
expected to live in the same household as an infected person were
it not for the impact of the infection, for at least two years
whilst they were under the age of 18 are also able to claim
compensation. This is the case even if that was prior to the
infection, including if the infection happened during adulthood.
It takes into account the fact that some siblings were kept apart
while growing up.
This change comes after Sir Brian Langstaff KC, chair of the
Infected Blood Inquiry, recently clarified the Inquiry's
recommendation around eligibility of siblings. The Government has
acted to ensure that it continues to follow the Inquiry's
recommendations on compensation.
On eligibility of siblings, said:
“I hope this change shows the Government's intention to provide
fair compensation to those who have been impacted by the infected
blood scandal.”
The Government will be providing a further update on the progress
made on the Inquiry's recommendations by May 2025, as recommended
by the Inquiry.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Links
Read the Government's full response here.
Read the Written Ministerial Statement here.
Eligibility of siblings
Under the new definition, all siblings of infected people will be
eligible for compensation as long as they lived with the infected
person for two years when they were under the age of 18
(regardless of whether the infection occurred during this
period), or would have done so were it not for the impact of the
infection.
Specifically:
-
All siblings who meet the above criteria will receive an
injury impact award in line with the severity of their
infected sibling's infection
-
Siblings who lived with an infected person whilst the
affected sibling was under the age of 18 and for at least two
years after the infection date (or who would have expected to
do this if it wasn't for impact of the infection), will
receive a higher social impact award (£12,000) than other
siblings, in recognition of the impact the infection will
have had on their childhood
-
All other siblings, including adult siblings, will receive an
£8,000 social impact award as long as they lived with the
infected person for two years when the affected sibling
was under the age of 18 (or would have expected to do this
were it not for the impact of the infection). This mirrors
the Social Impact award available to carers, parents (where
onset of child's infection began after age 18); and children
(where onset of parent's infection began after child turned
18)
