The Infected Blood Inquiry published its second interim report on 5 April 2023. This report included the inquiry’s recommendations for compensation and redress for people infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
Until now, no government has accepted liability, but over the past year we have seen great progress with the inquiry and parliamentary review panel looking into the scandal and avenues for necessary compensation.
The chair of the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff has taken the unusual step to publish this report on redress now, rather than waiting and including these recommendations in the final report.
This is because he has concluded that “wrongs were done at an individual, collective and systemic levels” and he “could not in conscience add to the decades-long delays” that people have already experienced.
The key recommendation in the interim report is that a compensation scheme should be set up now and begin work this year.
I join with Dame Diana Johnson on calling on the Government to move swiftly to accept all the recommendations from the report in full and expedite work on delivering the required compensation and redress, so that it is operational this year.
For several years, we have been vocal in calling for the Government to grant an inquiry into the scandal and to bring justice to the sufferers and the families and loved ones of those who sadly passed away.
There must not be any further delay in implementing a compensation scheme in line with the report’s recommendations.
Too much time has passed, too many innocent lives have been lost. The Government must act with necessary speed to deliver justice for the individuals and families affected by this failure of the British State.
You can view my contribution in the House of Commons, here: https://www.facebook.com/sirpeterbottomleyofficial/posts/642931157648058
