This week, thousands of victims who were infected with contaminated blood have received a national apology from the Prime Minister for this historic scandal.
For decades, victims and their families have fought tirelessly for accountability and compensation. The Infected Blood Inquiry, led by Sir Brian Langstaff, has found conclusively that this scandal was not an accident and could have been prevented. The report sets out the devastating consequences of the use of infected blood and blood products, and I hope it can go some to bringing recognition to those people who have been affected and have fought for justice for so long.
The sadness and heartbreak of this scandal has been felt far and wide across the UK, including several of my constituents in Montgomeryshire who I have met with. As the Prime Minister said this week; “This is an apology from the state to every single person impacted by this scandal. It did not have to be this way. It should never have been this way.”
It is now time to deliver long overdue compensation for these families, as well as ensuring this can never happen again. Yesterday (21st May), HM Paymaster General Rt Hon John Glen MP announced a compensation package for those whose life has been impacted by this scandal. In line with the inquiry’s recommendations, the UK Government will compensate people who have been infected and affected by the infected blood scandal. This means that affected partners, parents, siblings, children and carers of a person infected will be eligible to claim compensation.
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will be formally established in law as soon as the Victims and Prisoners Bill receives Royal Ascent, but in the meantime interim payments will be made ahead of the full scheme being established. This will see interim payments of £210,000 to people living with an infection where they are registered with an Infected Blood Support Scheme, with payments being delivered within 90 days. The Government will also pay interim payments of £100,000 to estates of those who have sadly died and were registered with existing or former support schemes.
