Question
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, and I am sure the whole House echoes his sentiments. There is concern among claimants, particularly those claiming for the estates of those who have passed on, because under Government regulations, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is required to claw back overpayments. These are people who have been traumatised over many years, and those errors—Government errors, not errors on the part on the claimants—are causing distress and forcing people to relive their experiences. Can we ensure that Government and Treasury rules and regulations do not require IBCA to reclaim overpayments in this way?
Answer
My hon. Friend has been a campaigner in this House for almost the whole time he and I have been here—we were elected together in 1997—and he raises an important point. If overpayments happen, it is the responsibility of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to deal with them, and the IBCA appears to be reviewing a small number of cases. The Treasury has agreed that the authority can continue paying compensation under the scheme while it conducts those reviews. I have asked the authority to keep us updated on those reviews, and I will certainly do the same for my hon. Friend.
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply addresses part of the question. It explains that the IndependentBerthing... [no]
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Government ensure that Government and Treasury rules and regulations do not require the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to reclaim overpayments in the way currently required, including from the estates of deceased claimants? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply engages with overpayment handling by referring responsibility to IBCA, noting its small-scale reviews, and recording Treasury agreement that payments can continue during those reviews. It never says whether Government or Treasury rules will be changed so IBCA need not reclaim overpayments as now required, and it does not mention estates of deceased claimants, so the core of the question is left unanswered. |