An MP has called the Government's continued failure to provide interim compensation to victims of the contaminated blood scandal "a disgrace".
Ian Lavery, MP for Wansbeck, has slammed the Government's lack of progress on the matter - especially as an report from independent QC Sir Robert Francis highlighted in June that there was a "strong moral case" for compensation, and that there was nothing to stop interim payments being made before the end of the ongoing Infected Blood Inquiry.
The contaminated blood scandal saw thousands infected with lethal viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C through NHS treatment - many for haemophilia. Thousands died and many more have suffered debilitating health problems over many years. The ongoing Infected Blood Inquiry has been investigating the circumstances which led to this and how successive governments have handled the fallout over decades.
Read more: 'Don't treat us with disdain' - Blood scandal victims demand publication of compensation report
Last week, speaking at the Inquiry, former Health Secretary Andy Burnham repeated his claim that there had been a "criminal cover-up" over decades. The chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry - Sir Brian Langstaff - also set a deadline of July 25 for representations from Government over where he ought to make a recommendation immediately with regard to the award of interim compensation.
Mr Lavery, speaking in response to an Urgent Question tabled by Dame Diana Johnson in parliament this week drew attention to the human cost of delays. He said: "The way the victims of the contaminated blood scandal are being treated by this Government is frankly a disgrace. Since the inquiry began back in 2017 still no compensation package has been agreed and paid out to those living with the consequences of horrific failures made elsewhere.
"On average two victims of the contaminated blood scandal die each week, and since the beginning of the inquiry over 400 have died. These people need to be taken seriously and deserve better than the Government’s bluster and rhetoric that they have had for years without any meaningful results."
During the debate on Tuesday Mr Lavery - along with colleagues from across parties and including Richard Holden, Tory MP for North West Durham - questioned Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis on progress towards paying interim compensation. Mr Lavery told the House of Commons how victims of the scandal were "entitled to be fed up to the back teeth with bluster, delay and dithering from the Government".
In answer to questioning, Mr Ellis said it was complex to consider Sir Robert's 19 recommendations, but MPs said at this point it was just one of these that needed to be implemented.
In response, Mr Ellis said "officials across Whitehall" were working hard on the issue, but he wouldn't say when any interim payments might be made or whether the measure had been costed. He added: "Officials across Government are making haste to address this as quickly and thoroughly as possible. However, responsible government requires proper and careful consideration of how complex and important schemes can and should work, and it will take a little more time for the work to be completed.
"The Government will need to reflect carefully on the very detailed evidence that Sir Robert gave only last week in two days of evidence. That forensic detail included issues such as scope, the types of benefit, the legal issues and the legislative issues. There is a great deal of complexity and interconnectedness in this matter, and we want to get it right."
One Northumberland victim, Sean Cavens who was infected with hepatitis C as a child and is a constituent of Mr Lavery, criticised Mr Ellis's answers as "evasive". He said: "If this is Government’s version of openness and transparency - as they said they would be during this inquiry - then God help us!"
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