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.
