Steve Brine, who Chairs the Health and Social Care Committee, spoke in the Commons yesterday responding to the Paymaster Generals statement updating the House on the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Mr Brine raised concerns that updates on the inquiry had become a pre-recess tradition that must end. He also went on to explain that people are dying without seeing justice.
The MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford highlighted that the Paymaster General said that Government are urgently appointing clinical, legal and social care experts to advise the Cabinet Office on detailed technical considerations early in the new year, so that the Government have the relevant expertise to make informed choices in responding to the inquiry’s recommendations on compensation.
Steve asked the Paymaster General, ‘if he could clarify when this would be in the New Year?’ Steve also asked, ’how much can they do to pave the way for serious progress and payments when the Government and the Treasury are in a position to move?'
The Paymaster General responded stating that, ‘the appointment of the clinical, legal and social care experts was something he discussed in the first week of his appointment in November this year.’ He confirmed that the Government have communicated with the individuals that have been identified.
He reassured Steve that the Government wants to onboard them into this piece of work in the early days of the New Year so that work can happen as quickly as possible.
The Paymaster General explained that he wanted to avoid a situation where people were competing for roles and that they would be appointing the best people across those specialisms so that the work can make urgent progress.
Finally, the Paymaster General assured Steve that the Government intends to respond substantively later in 2024.
More information
Watch Steve’s question via SBTV
