Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether payments from the Skipton Fund for people infected with hepatitis B will vary between Scotland and England; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for the infected blood payment schemes in the United Kingdom is a matter for each devolved administration. Scotland has made different choices in relation to their payment schemes.

As announced in the consultation response the annual payment from the Skipton Fund for those registered with the English scheme is £3,535 for those with hepatitis C stage 1 and £15,655 for those with hepatitis C stage 2. In 2017/18 the annual payment will rise to £4,500 for those with hepatitis C stage 1 and £18,500 for those with hepatitis C stage 2.

A new single scheme administrator, NHS Business Services Authority, will be implemented in England, from 1 November 2017. NHS Business Services Authority will replace the five current ex-gratia payment schemes, including the Skipton Fund.