Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the final compensation recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in 2023, what plans they have to make interim payments to bereaved parents and children.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
First, and most importantly, the suffering of the victims must be recognised. The Government understands that no measures can fully compensate for the losses and hardships that they have suffered. The priority here must be to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. We are actively looking at the recommendations of the Inquiry, including the recommendation for more interim payments. The Government will respond to the recommendations of the final report following its publication on 20 May.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the manufacturing output in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether steps are being taken to amend European Union procurement rules to ensure more United Kingdom companies' involvement in government projects.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The new EU Directive on Public Procurement was transposed in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which came into effect earlier this year. The Regulations implement a range of reforms, including offering flexibility for contracting authorities to take into account relevant wider social and economic considerations, where consistent with best value for money, in Government procurement activities. We have also published new Cabinet Office guidance which will help steel suppliers compete on a level playing field with international suppliers for major government contracts.