Observations

Declares that people who received infected blood and who have suffered as a consequence have, along with their families, waited for too long for redress.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to implement the recommendations in the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry without delay.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Christine Jardine, Official Report, 15 May 2024; Vol. 750, c. 394.]

[P002985]

Petitions in the same terms were presented by the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith (Deidre Brock) [P002987], the hon. Member for Aberavon (Stephen Kinnock) [P002986], the hon. Member for Bradford South (Judith Cummins) [P002988], and the hon. Member for York Outer (Julian Sturdy) [P002989].

The Government are grateful to the hon. Members for Edinburgh West, for Edinburgh North and Leith, for Aberavon, and for Bradford South, and my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer, for submitting petitions on behalf of their constituents concerning the Government’s response to the infected blood inquiry, and particularly the issue of final compensation recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff.

The Government acknowledge that victims of infected blood have been waiting far too long to see justice, and we are progressing this work with urgency. The Government have accepted the moral case for compensation and, starting in October 2022, made interim payments of £100,000 available to chronic infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with existing support schemes. These payments continue to be made to eligible beneficiaries upon their being accepted on to the schemes.

However, we recognise there is more still to be done. On 30 April, Government amendments were added to the Victims and Prisoners Bill. The Government amendments impose a duty on the Government to establish an infected blood compensation scheme. It also establishes a new arm’s length body, named the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, to deliver the compensation scheme. The authority will operate on a UK-wide basis to ensure parity and consistency. The Government also agreed to deliver the regulations establishing an infected blood compensation scheme within three months of Royal Assent. This demonstrates our absolute commitment to paying compensation to those infected and affected by infected blood.

Additionally, in order to progress this work as swiftly as possible, a shadow body will be established by 20 May, led by an interim chief executive. This will be critical to getting the practical work in place to ensure the Infected Blood Compensation Authority can be fully operational as soon as possible. The shadow body will be able to begin work, such as implementing IT systems and appointing staff who are needed for assessing and delivering compensation payments, as quickly as possible.

The Government amendment includes a statutory duty to make interim payments of £100,000 to estates of deceased infected people who were registered with existing or former support schemes, where previous interim payments have not already been made to infected individuals or their bereaved partners. This is an important step forward to get substantial compensation into the hands of families of victims of infected blood.

The Government will make a substantive update to Parliament, responding to the infected blood inquiry’s recommendations on compensation, as soon as possible following 20 May. It is important that the Government await the findings of the inquiry’s final report, but Ministers are clear that the inquiry’s recommendations should form the basis of any response.

Declares that the rising incidence of illegal knife carrying in public poses a significant threat to public safety and calls for urgent intervention; further declares that such incidents contribute to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in our communities; further that preventative measures are necessary to address this issue effectively; further that the petitioners are of the opinion that a mandatory prison sentence for those caught carrying a knife illegally in public, coupled with a mandatory 6-month knife awareness course for rehabilitation, will act as a deterrent to contribute to the reduction of knife-related crimes; and further that the rehabilitation program should aim to address the root causes of such behaviour and facilitate the offender’s reintegration into society as law-abiding citizens.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider introducing measures which contribute to public safety and help address the root causes of illegal knife carrying, including introducing mandatory prison sentences for individuals caught carrying a knife illegally in public and implementing a mandatory 6-month knife awareness course for rehabilitation as part of the sentencing process.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Matt Hancock, Official Report, 22 April 2024; Vol. 748, c. 769.]

[P002947]