The government stated today that thousands of victims of the contaminated blood crisis would each receive an initial compensation payout of £10,000. (17 August).
By the end of October, the government plans to provide reimbursements to deceased partners and affected people in England. Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland will all get the same funds.
The promise to pay interim compensation fully complies with Sir Brian Langstaff, the inquiry’s chairman, who made the recommendations in his interim report last month.
In his thorough analysis of the problems, Sir Robert Francis QC’s research served as a foundation for that report. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Kit Malthouse made an announcement today.
Payments are supposed to be tax-free and unaffected by any financial aid that a person may be receiving.
The four UK-based contaminated blood support programmes that have enrolled sick people and bereaved partners will reimburse them.
They will soon get instructions on precisely how the interim payment will be paid.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
While nothing can make up for the pain and suffering endured by those affected by this tragic injustice, we are taking action to do right by victims and those who have tragically lost their partners by making sure they receive these interim payments as quickly as possible.
We will continue to stand by all those impacted by this horrific tragedy, and I want to personally pay tribute to all those who have so determinedly fought for justice.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Kit Malthouse said:
Those affected by the infected blood scandal have suffered terribly over many years and that heart-breaking and unimaginable pain has been compounded by the financial uncertainty many have faced.
These interim payments will start the process of securing that certainty. My priority is to get the money to those people as quickly as possible.
I am grateful to Sir Brian Langstaff for the work he has done to date on the inquiry, and Sir Robert Francis, for his work on compensation. Of course, no amount of money will compensate for the turmoil victims and their loved ones have faced, but I hope these payments help to show that we are on their side and will do everything in our power to support them.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:
The infected blood scandal should never have happened. In accepting Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations, today we are taking an important step in righting this historic wrong for the thousands of people infected and bereaved partners left behind.
Building on the ongoing support we are providing through the England Infected Blood Scheme, these new interim payments of £100,000 will ensure those impacted across the whole country by this injustice can access the compensation they need, right now.
I’m grateful to those who have campaigned extensively in support of these changes – we have listened and work is underway to ensure those impacted by this tragedy receive the support they rightly deserve.
The goal is to complete payments in England by the end of October.
Sir Brian Langstaff has been informed by the government that his suggestions have been adopted.
Editors’ Notes:
The appropriate devolved government is responsible for managing the programmes in the devolved administrations.
It is expected that the total cost of these interim compensation payments for existing recipients would be about £400 million in the UK.