Today (Friday 24th May) the Victims and Prisoners Bill was granted Royal Assent, creating a new arm’s length body called the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
Before the IBCA can make final payments, the Government will need to make the regulations to enact the compensation scheme for victims of the Infected Blood scandal. The legislation also means that the final regulations must be made by the Government – within three months, so by 24 August 2024.
The Prime Minister delivered a state apology on the 20th of May, in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office outlined the Government’s commitment to deliver compensation on the 21st of May in the House, alongside a proposed compensation scheme.
The Government will continue to deliver interim payments, including the £210,000 announced on the 21st of May, to those living with an infection, starting in this summer, and within 90 days as of the 20th of May as announced by the Government.
The Department for Health and Social Care has received the advance of £837 million to fund the interim payments. These payments will be made by the NHS Business Services Authority and equivalent organisations.
Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)
The IBCA is led by Interim Chair Sir Robert Francis KC. Sir Robert will continue engagement with the Infected Blood community in the coming weeks. The interim CEO of the IBCA has been in place for some weeks.
The Lord’s amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill were considered in the House of Commons today as part of the ‘wash up’ process ahead of the general election period starting on Saturday 25 May.
In addition, a statutory duty to review candour laws by the 1st of January 2025 has been included in the Act. The Inquiry recommended that due consideration be made of a duty of candour across Government.
Sir Robert Francis, Interim Chair of the IBCA, said:
I am very pleased to see that today Parliament has passed the legislation bringing the Authority into existence and to be formally confirmed as its Interim Chair.
I fully understand the urgency for the infected and affected community to enable the Authority to start to receive applications and make awards in the shortest possible time, and we are already working very hard to achieve that.
I will publish a more detailed statement about our work in the very near future.
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