On 20th May 2021, the government announced that Sir Robert Francis QC had been appointed to “carry out a study which will look at options for a framework for compensation, and to report back to the Paymaster General with recommendations, before the independent Infected Blood Inquiry reports”.

These developments are the latest and the most significant step towards making reparations to the recipients of blood products contaminated with Hepatitis C and HIV viruses from NHS treatment. Since 1987, the Government has set up a series of support schemes offering ex-gratia payments without any admission of liability.

I recently attended a meeting with Sir Robert Francis who explained the process of his study. I am hopeful that the Government seem to be committed to paying due compensation to people who have been infected and so affected by this huge scandal, if recommended to do so when the inquiry reports.

The study is running alongside the Inquiry on why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and/or infected blood products; the impact on their families and how the authorities (including government) responded.

You may have read in the news earlier this month that Ken Clarke who was a health Minister and then Health Secretary during the 1980s was reluctant to answer questions at the Inquiry.

My colleague, Diana Johnson MP, who is the Chair of the APPG on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood recently wrote an article about that meeting which shows how disappointing it was for the Inquiry to receive evasive answers from Mr Clarke https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/ken-clarkes-tineared-approach-at-the-infected-blood-inquiry-shows-why-its-still-needed-40-years-on

I am committed to continuing to support those affected by the infected blood scandal until those affected receive reparations.

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