Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates his department has made of the cost to the public purse of the compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal.

As the Minister for the Cabinet Office set out in his statement of 19 April, the Government welcome the publication of the infected blood inquiry’s second interim report, and is considering its recommendations carefully.

HM Treasury officials are working closely with colleagues in the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health and Social Care, among others, who are leading on the consideration and analysis of the recommendations.

As the Minister for the Cabinet Office set out in his answer to your question of 20 April, Ministers and officials at all levels meet regularly to discuss this issue. My officials and I are involved in those discussions, and will continue to be so.