Yesterday evening, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, delivered a statement to the House of Commons outlining the Government’s response to the recommendations set out in the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Additional Report, published on 9 July 2025. The Minister also sent a letter to Haemophilia Scotland, as a representative of the infected blood community, providing further details of the Government’s response. The letter can be read here.
The Inquiry Additional Report set out nine key areas of recommendations, broken down into 26 individual points. Of these, 11 relate directly to the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) and focus on how compensation should be delivered, including the speed, method, and overall process of claims.
Earlier the same day, IBCA issued a statement confirming that it accepts all the recommendations from the Inquiry on its processes and have begun making the changes necessary to implement them.
Of the remaining 15 recommendations, the Government has accepted seven in full with the minimum possible delay. Some of the changes will require further legislation which they intend to bring forward as soon as possible. For the other eight, it has agreed that changes are needed but will carry out further consultation before deciding on the best way forward.
Haemophilia Scotland had previously written to the Minister to emphasise the need for meaningful engagement with the community and our willingness to contribute to the consultation process as needed.
In his statement, the Minister also announced that the Government intends to make a further interim payment of £210,000 to the eligible estates of deceased infected individuals. This will be in addition to the £100,000 interim payment made available in October last year.
Haemophilia Scotland welcomed the appointment of Clive Smith, President and former Chair of the UK Haemophilia Society, as the Chair of the newly established Memorial Committee which will oversee the installation of memorials and commemorative events throughout the UK.
We will provide a further update on the implications of the Government’s response and share more details about the interim payment once additional information becomes available.