Infected Blood Compensation body and Victims and Prisoners Bill become law
An update on the Infected Blood Compensation body and Victims and Prisoners Bill.
Today (Friday 24th May) the Victims and Prisoners Bill was granted Royal Assent, creating a new arm鈥檚 length body called the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
听
Before the IBCA can make听final听payments, the Government will need to make the regulations to enact the compensation scheme for victims of the Infected Blood scandal.听The legislation also means that the final regulations must be made by the Government - within three months, so by 24听August 2024.听
The Prime Minister delivered a state听apology听on the 20th听of May, in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry report.听
The Minister for the Cabinet Office outlined the Government鈥檚 commitment to deliver compensation on the 21st听of May in the听House, alongside a proposed compensation scheme. 听听
The Government will continue to deliver interim payments,听including the听拢210,000听announced on the 21st听of May,听to听those living with an infection,听starting in this summer, and within 90 days as of the 20th of May as announced by the Government.
听
The Department for Health听and Social Care听has received the advance of 拢837 million to fund the interim payments.听These payments will be made by the NHS Business Services Authority and听equivalent organisations.听
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.听The听interim听CEO of the IBCA has been in place for some weeks.听
The Lord鈥檚 amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill were considered in the House of Commons today as part of the 鈥榳ash up鈥� process ahead of the general election period starting on Saturday 25 May.听
听
In addition, a statutory duty to review candour laws by the 1st听of January 2025 has been included in the Act. The Inquiry recommended that due consideration be made of a duty of candour across Government.
听
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.听
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.
Ends