Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when applications for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will open; and what estimate he has made of (a) what the average waiting time will be for a claim to be processed and (b) when successful applicants will receive payment.

As the Minister responsible, I stand ready to provide all the support I can to speed up payments. I am restless for that speed to increase, while also respecting the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s (IBCA) operational independence going forward. In terms of the speed of processing and paying claimants, each case is different and some progress quicker than others, but so far IBCA have invited 275 people to start a claim, with 69 people having accepted their offer and received payment.