His department said Friday it will give extra payments to people hit by the scandal, following a series of recommendations by Robert Francis — the interim chair of the U.K.’s Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
Among the approved recommendations is a £10,000 payment to those who were infected due to “unethical research” — and a £15,000 payment for anyone involved in trials at the Lord Mayor Treloar College, a boarding school which was accused of treating hemophiliacs like “guinea pigs.”
It was also announced that the approximately 4,000 people already receiving compensation through a series of ad hoc schemes will continue to receive these payments, as well as the new compensation payments.
This was not the intention of the previous government and will therefore create extra cost pressures.
Family members and friends of those infected are also in line for compensation. However, this is expected to be a more drawn-out process.
‘Do what it takes’
The scheme is now likely to put extra strain on government finances just as Chancellor Rachel Reeves — who has tried to paint the Conservatives as reckless on public spending — mulls spending cuts and tax rises in her Budget later this year.
