Cabinet Office

Debate between John Glen and Jessica Morden

Monday 5th February 2024 Ministerial Corrections

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

T7. As others have said this morning, every week victims of the contaminated blood scandal will die as we wait for the final report. We know the will of the House on this. Why do constituents have to wait any longer for the compensation scheme? Yes, it is complex, but the Government have been repeatedly challenged on getting on with this and they are still not doing it. We need it urgently.

[John Glen]

As I have said, if the House of Commons has indicated its will by the amendment, that piece of legislation moves to the House of Lords and the Government will respond at that point. That is the week after next. That is the process of the House. I have recognised the need to ensure that we get the clinical, legal and care experts in place. They are in place, and they are working on some of the complex issues the hon. Lady alludes to. The psychological support is now in place, but I am doing everything I can in every dimension of this complicated problem to deliver as quickly as I can.

[Official Report, 18 January 2024, Vol. 743, c. 1015.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General:

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Newport East (Jessica Morden) in Topical Questions. The correct response should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Glen and Jessica Morden

Thursday 18th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

T7. As others have said this morning, every week victims of the contaminated blood scandal will die as we wait for the final report. We know the will of the House on this. Why do constituents have to wait any longer for the compensation scheme? Yes, it is complex, but the Government have been repeatedly challenged on getting on with this and they are still not doing it. We need it urgently.

[John Glen]

As I have said, if the House of Commons has indicated its will by the amendment, that piece of legislation moves to the House of Lords and the Government will respond at that point. That is the week after next. That is the process of the House. I have recognised the need to ensure that we get the clinical, legal and care experts in place. They are in place, and they are working on some of the complex issues the hon. Lady alludes to. The psychological support is now in place, but I am doing everything I can in every dimension of this complicated problem to deliver as quickly as I can.

Infected Blood Inquiry: Government Response

Debate between John Glen and Jessica Morden

Monday 18th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[John Glen]

I do not think that I can be expected to respond to individual cases here, but I have ensured that we have the right range of professional expertise—the very best available in this country—so that all those different cases of infected and affected, going off quite a range of experiences over a very long period, are properly interrogated as the details of the scheme are worked through.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

The Government had to make this statement after losing the vote two weeks ago, but there is little in it for families like the Smiths, who—please know this, Minister—finally saw hope in that vote. Campaigners have called for months and months for the preparatory work to be done. How long will victims now have to wait for what the House has asked for?

[John Glen]

As I said, it will be 25 sittings days after the publication of the report. That is when the Government’s comprehensive reply will be given.