Issued by: Cabinet Office

Government reaches a historic milestone as the first compensation payments are accepted by victims of infected blood scandal.

• Ten people offered compensation totalling over £13 million, with 25 more people invited to claim

• Payments are being made by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) as part of new compensation service

• Delivering on commitments to deliver compensation after allocating £11.8bn in the Budget

Victims of the infected blood scandal are due to receive their first compensation payments this week, in a historical milestone reached by the government.

Ten people have been offered compensation totalling over £13 million. The first few people have accepted their offers and are due to receive payment in the coming days. These individuals, whose identities are being kept private, were infected with illnesses as a result of receiving infected blood and infected blood products.

25 more people have recently been invited to make their claim for compensation and once doing so, will also receive offers. This follows commitments to deliver compensation after allocating £11.8bn in the Budget.

Compensation is being delivered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, which the government established as an independent organisation in May this year on recommendation from the Infected Blood Inquiry. IBCA is led by interim chair Sir Robert Francis KC, who contributed to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

IBCA continues to work with the infected blood community to improve and grow the compensation service. It is aiming to open up the compensation service wider in the New Year.

The government designed a comprehensive, government-funded compensation scheme for infected and affected victims of infected blood earlier this year. The UK-wide scheme is based on recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry, Sir Robert Francis KC, and a group of independent legal, healthcare and financial experts.

The compensation scheme was updated in August following further recommendations from Sir Robert Francis, based on his engagement with the community.

Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:

"This government promised to deliver action on infected blood compensation, and today is a vital step towards delivering justice for people who have waited far too long for compensation.

"No amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a result of this scandal, but I hope this shows that we are doing everything possible to deliver significant compensation to people infected and affected. That is why this government set aside £11.8 billion for this scheme in the Budget.

"After so many years of injustice, I hope that this brings some reassurance to a community who have suffered immeasurably that action is being taken."

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