Last Wednesday, the chairs of Haemophilia Scotland and the Haemophilia Society sent a second letter to the Paymaster General John Glen MP, urging him to address the matter of compensation for individuals infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
This letter reiterates the request for information regarding the progress so far in establishing a compensation scheme and seeks transparency on the government’s actions to expedite the process. It underscores the urgency for Mr. Glen to fulfil his commitment to involve representatives in the scheme’s creation, a pledge made during the debate on amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill concerning the compensation scheme in December.
The Victims and Prisoners Bill is currently at the Committee stage in the House of Lords, allowing for potential further amendments or changes that will be subject to approval through voting in early February. If successful without substantial alterations, this legislation could be enacted and become law before the release of the Inquiry’s final report. The report’s publication has unfortunately been postponed to Monday the 20th of May due to the necessary work for the warning letter process. The government persists in its refusal to provide an official response to any recommendations until the final report is published, contributing to ongoing uncertainty for all those involved.
Co-Chair of Haemophilia Scotland, Bill Wright, and the Chair of the Haemophilia Society, Clive Smith, also shared the unfortunate news of the recent death of Simon Hamilton. Simon, the Chair of Haemophilia NI and a signatory on seven previous joint letters with the societies, sadly passed away on Christmas Day. Regrettably, like many others, he did not live to witness the outcomes of the Inquiry and the long-awaited response from the government.
The letter sent to the Paymaster General on the 19th of January 2024 can be found here.