MP warns of '4,500 infected blood claims in limbo' and hits out at slow progress for victims

There are "4,500 claims in limbo" when it comes to those waiting for compensation for the contaminated blood scandal, a Northumberland MP warned.

Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington Ian Lavery spoke in a debate about the Infected Blood Inquiry in the House of Commons on Tuesday and told how he - and people like his constituent Sean Cavens - were unconvinced that progress in paying out compensation was happening quickly enough. He told the Commons how "progress has been painfully, painfully slow".

The scandal saw thousands of haemophiliacs given blood products tainted by viruses like HIV and hepatitis C beginning in the 1970s. Others were infected through transfusions and many passed on lethal viruses to their loved ones. Often described as the NHS's worst ever treatment disaster, upwards of 3,000 people have died and continue to do so on a weekly basis..

In August, the new Labour Government confirmed it would honour its predecessor's promise to pay compensation and address the extensive recommendations made by Sir Brian Langstaff KC in the 2,500-page report published following the independent public Infected Blood Inquiry.

And in the Budget last month, Rachel Reeves promised £11.8bn for compensation to those infected and affected. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is to make the first compensation payments before the end of this year - but this is likely to see only a a small cohort of people paid initially, ministers said..

Mr Lavery, who has long supported constituent Sean - one of the youngest haemophiliacs to be infected with hepatitis C - said: "I've got to say progress has been painfully, painfully slow."

He added: "There is much anger. There's frustration and mistrust and that's an issue we need to deal with and which hasn't gone away and hasn't been diluted as a result of a General Election. People are genuinely - and rightly so - very angry and have a mistrust of anyone who is dealing with compensation for contaminated blood."

The MP continued: "The victims continue to die at the rate of roughly about one every two days. I wouldn't like to calculate the number of people to have died in the time since I have spoken 10 times in the House. Many who have died simply waiting for justice. At the current rate of settling claims, another huge issue, those victims are concerned many others will die without even seeing a ha'penny in compensation. The question is whether the Government is acting quickly enough."

Mr Lavery said he feared that with only a small number of claims as yet being dealt with - there were "4,500 claims in limbo". "I'm not sure if it's good enough at all," he said.

When the £11.8bn was announced, Carol Grayson - the Jesmond campaigner whose husband Peter died of HIV he contracted through treatment for haemophilia - said she feared the sum would not be enough. She added: "Back in 2010 it was thought that it might take around £4 billion at the time and that was just for the haemophiliac community. Bearing in mind the figures that have been floated around in the media of around 30,000 [people given contaminated blood products], this does not sound like enough to me.."

Speaking at the conclusion of the debate, public health minister Andrew Gwynne MP said: "The selection of who has been contacted for the first payments was a decision for the IBCA."

He added: "Today I hope the House has heard how we are starting to deliver compensation and starting to respond to the inquiry recommendations. Admittedly they are still small steps - but they are ones in the right direction. We owe it to the victims and their families to see it through."

Earlier, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds MP said: "I expect the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to be making the first payments to infected people by the end of the year and start making payments to affected people next year."