Oral Answers to Questions

Clive Efford Excerpts

Thursday 23rd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman’s work in providing a voice for the pupils who suffered such heinous medical experimentation at Treloar’s. On the issue of the evidence, generally speaking I have always said to IBCA that there needs to be a very sympathetic approach, because we are talking about not only events of a long time ago, but deliberate document destruction. On the specific issue of severe psychological harm under the special category mechanism, I will write to him very precisely about the position.

[Clive Efford (Eltham and Chislehurst) (Lab)]

First, I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend for the way he has handled this issue and for the way he has moved it on in the short time he has been in office. Everyone is very grateful for that. None the less, he knows that there are still widespread concerns among the community about the compensation process. Will he guarantee that those people will continue to be listened to and that their voices will not be dismissed, so we can adapt the process as it goes forward to address some of their concerns? I am grateful to him for coming to the all-party parliamentary group on haemophilia and contaminated blood to discuss this directly with the community. I would be grateful if he would do so again before the summer recess, so that people can talk to him directly about their concerns.

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

I look forward to an invitation from my hon. Friend and I pay tribute to his work as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group. What he says about the voice of the community going forward is absolutely right. That is why I have created, and announced to the House, a mechanism by which concerns that are expressed are appropriately elevated to where decisions need to be made. I was determined not to have some sort of glorified post box that people sent correspondence into. If concerns are raised, they must be dealt with at the appropriate level, whether that is the Infected Blood Compensation Authority board, or escalated to the Cabinet Office.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gregory Stafford]

In response to my question about Jonathan Powell’s security clearance, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister said:

“I do not have that information to hand.”

[Clive Efford (Eltham and Chislehurst) (Lab)]

Not a point of order!

[Mr Speaker]

Who was speaking then?

[Clive Efford]

Me.

[Mr Speaker]

Clive, I do not need any help from you. You have been here long enough, like me—leave it to me to do my job, and I will let you do yours.