The funding for the compensation could top £10billion
Ministers are gearing up to make "significant announcements" about compensation for people affected by the infected blood scandal in the next few weeks, officials have said. Cabinet Office Minister John Glen told representatives from the Haemophilia Society that the funding pot to compensate people affected by the scandal could be more than £10billion.
An estimated 3,000 people have died as a result, while those who survived have lived with life-long health implications. Ministers have been accused of dragging their feet on compensation, but Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said that Mr Glen appears to be moving "at pace" to get a compensation scheme up and running.
Mr Smith added: "Our overall view is that things are happening quickly, lots of work is being done behind the scenes. It seems they are ready to make some significant announcements in the next few weeks." Mr Glen also reportedly said that the Government could be in a position to make an announcement on compensation on the day that the Infected Blood Inquiry publishes its final report on May 20, though Ms Burt said that charity officials had asked him to "give the community that day". The minister also told Ms Burt and Mr Smith that the Cabinet Office was working on a way to get people not already on support schemes registered as quickly as possible.
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