"And hopefully, while the wait has been long, people can see there has been forward movement since the time I was prime minister, and that should give them some encouragement and hope that we will get this done." He praises those who have come forward to talk about their own personal experiences, saying: "It's not easy to talk about, for example, the social stigma that was attached to all of these things in years gone by, which I can't imagine what that was like to live with."Ĭoncluding, he says he is pleased to have been there today participating in the "important work" being undertaken, and reiterates his determination to "deliver the appropriate redress and recognition that people need and deserve as quickly as thoroughness allows. He adds that he recognises that the "layers of injustice" have continued to this day, and says it's "hard not be enormously moved" by the testimony from those affected.
He says: "I would just, I think, conclude where I started really, which is to acknowledge that this is and has been an appalling scandal." That completes the final questions, and Mr Sunak is given an opportunity to make any final remarks. "I was talking more generally about this being a priority of mine," he says and adds he hopes the actions his government has taken so far demonstrate that. The PM replies that at the time the interim report was public, it was acknowledged that it making recommendations was an "unusual step", or words to that effect, and adds that the recommendations were acted on.īut he reiterated that on a general basis, ministers should have the final report before making decisions.Īsked if it is one of his priorities "to introduce legislation on the compensation scheme" later this year, Mr Sunak replies that he cannot say what will be in the King's Speech, due to take place in November, because such decisions have not yet been made. Mr Richards's next question is to ask what the purpose is of the Inquiries Act (the legislation that governs public inquiries) providing for an interim report to be published if the government does not then act on it, even if the final report is some way away. He repeats his position that it is entirely normal to wait for an inquiry to publish its final report before making decisions, and says: "There is no desire not to do this and take this forward." The PM replies: "Happy to provide reassurance - of course it's not an excuse." Mr Sunak is then asked directly if he is using the timeline of the inquiry "as an excuse not to provide compensation for victims", and also if the government does not want to compensate victims based on the evidence that is already public. Ms Richards says in March 2022 when Mr Suank was Chancellor, the compensation study was completed, and he is asked if he knows if the Treasury did any work to cost it, to which he replies: "I'm not aware, to best of my recollection." The evidence session with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the infected blood inquiry has now returned, with Jenni Richards KC saying she has just a "handful of further questions".
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