The Government has given it's latest update on the infected blood inquiry, during a statement to the House of Commons.
The Inquiry was setup to examine why men, women and children in the UK were given infected blood and/or infected blood products; the impact on their families; how the authorities (including government) responded; the nature of any support provided following infection; questions of consent; and whether there was a cover-up.
The Chair of the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, made it clear in his report that the Government has everything it needs to implement the compensation framework now.
The Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Steve Brine, highlighted Sir Brian's comment; "time without redress is harmful", going on to say himself : "I would suggest that is rather underplaying it, time without redress people are passing away."
The Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP also asked : "Currently these infected blood support schemes make regular ex gratia payments to those who were infected and bereaved partners. Will the Government make this provision statutory?"
The Paymaster General, Jeremy Quinn, responded : We want to see progress on this which is why we are working at pace to deliver it. Sir Brian makes a specific recommendation that the ongoing ex gratia payments should be put on a statutory basis or receive a similarly strong government commitment.
I'm not in a position to respond to recommendations today, it's been eight working days since the report landed, but all of these recommendations will be taken very seriously "
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