Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wrongdoing within public services is (a) identified and (b) sanctioned in the context of the infected blood inquiry.

The actions of Civil Servants and Ministers which were uncovered within the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report are extremely concerning and do not reflect the values we expect those who serve the public to uphold. The Prime Minister has committed to legislation on a Duty of Candour being delivered by this Government. The duty will apply to public authorities and public servants and will include criminal sanctions. Whether individuals are prosecuted as a result of the Inquiry’s findings is rightly a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service and is independent of Government. Last year I wrote to the National Police Chiefs’ Council to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to make any and all relevant information around the Infected Blood Inquiry available to the prosecuting authorities where requested.