Involve your MP in the fight for compensation

Written by Jessica Bomford, November 8, 2022

The Infected Blood Inquiry and compensation will be discussed in Parliament on 24 November 2022 and we want you to help us get as many MPs involved as possible.

The 90-minute debate will be held at 1.30pm in Westminster Hall, a committee room within the Palace of Westminster in London. It has been initiated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood and will allow MPs to raise key issues about compensation and the inquiry. At the end of the debate a government minister will respond to the points made.

Raise awareness

We want to use the debate as a way of raising awareness about the need for full compensation for all those infected and affected. Although interim compensation has been paid to those infected and bereaved partners currently registered on a UK support scheme, many people affected by the contaminated blood scandal have been left out, such as bereaved parents and children.

The Haemophilia Society believes the government must:

  • Publish its response to Sir Robert Francis’ report on a compensation framework
  • Set out its plans for full compensation for those infected and affected
  • Accept responsibility for what happened
  • Establish legal and medical panels to begin work on compensation administration
  • Ensure that any compensation payments to estates would be exempt from Inheritance Tax
  • Set up the independent, arms-length body which would administer compensation.

Contact your MP

We are appealing to you, our members, to contact your MP to explain to them why the fight for full compensation is so important and to encourage them to attend the debate. We know that when MPs hear the personal experiences of those infected and affected they are far more likely to get involved. To help, we’ve put together a draft letter here outlining some of the key points which you can use or amend as you see fit. You can find your MP here.

Attending the debate

Members of the public can attend the debate in Westminster Hall but it is not possible to book a place in advance, even through your MP, as admittance is on a first come, first served basis. There is space for 35 people to watch the debate. There is lift access to the hall and ramps at the Cromwell Green entrance to the Palace of Westminster and you will go through airport-style security on arrival. The debate will be streamed on Parliamentlive TV.

Please let us know if your MP will be attending the debate. Contact our Public Inquiry Team on 0207 939 0780 or [email protected] if you need more information.