The Infected Blood Inquiry will hold hearings on 7-8 May 2025 about the timeliness and adequacy of the Government’s response to compensation. The timetable is below.
The Inquiry is today publishing further evidence. This includes statements from people infected and affected, and recognised legal representatives who have been significantly involved with compensation, as well as additional statements from the senior official leading the response to the Inquiry at the Cabinet Office and the interim chief executive of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. The Inquiry is also publishing a letter from four members of the House of Lords. The new witness statements and letter can be read here.
Sir Brian Langstaff said:
“The decision to hold hearings has not been taken lightly. It reflects the gravity of the concerns expressed consistently, and repeatedly, to the Inquiry. These merit exploration in public. People infected and affected do not have time on their side. Our goal is to be constructive and to identify what actions can be taken by the Government and Infected Blood Compensation Authority to address the concerns, and help them gain the trust of those who have had to wait many decades for recognition and compensation.”
We are asking that Inquiry participants and recognised legal representatives who would like to attend the hearings should complete the registration form by Monday 14 April at 10am. Media representatives who wish to attend should contact the Inquiry’s media team. The factsheet for the hearings is here. The hearings will be streamed on YouTube.
Before the hearings, the Inquiry will also publish a Note from Counsel to the Inquiry outlining the issues likely to be explored at the hearings. This will be followed by a written presentation about the evidence received from people infected and affected, organisations and recognised legal representatives, which Counsel to the Inquiry will draw on to question witnesses during the hearings.
The timetable is:
| Please note timings are provisional and subject to change | |
| Wednesday 7 May | |
| 1000 | Evidence from a panel of people infected and affected, campaigners and organisations: Alan Burgess, The Birchgrove Group Carolyn Challis, core participant Andrew Evans, Tainted Blood Nigel Hamilton, Haemophilia Northern Ireland Nicola Leahey, unrepresented core participant Gary Webster, former Treloar's pupil William Wright, Haemophilia Scotland Kate Burt, Haemophilia Society Lynne Kelly, Haemophilia Wales Samantha May, The Hepatitis C Trust |
| 1430 | Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General |
| Thursday 8 May | |
| 1000 | Sir Robert Francis KC, IBCA Interim Chair and David Foley, IBCA Interim Chief Executive |
| 1400 | James Quinault, Director General, Public Inquiry Response, Cabinet Office |
Following the hearings, core participants to the Inquiry will be invited to make written submissions (through their recognised legal representatives where they are represented), by 23 May 2025. These submissions will help to inform the Chair’s Additional Report, which will examine the timeliness and adequacy of the Government’s response on compensation.