PM Rishi Sunak to Give Evidence at Infected Blood Inquiry

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to testify under oath before the Infected Blood Inquiry on Wednesday 26th July 2023.

This pivotal moment will see Sunak answer questions concerning compensation for those infected and bereaved families following the government's failure to promptly implement the Inquiry's recommendations on compensation, which were published in April 2023.

In the same week, ministers Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Quin and Jeremy Hunt will also give evidence concerning the government response to compensation.

These hearings were not initially planned; their announcement came following delay in the government's response to the Inquiry's compensation recommendations in April which recommended a compensation system be established and interim payments of £100k to be made in respect of death not yet recognised to alleviate immediate suffering. Neither of which has happened.

Jason Evans (Director of Factor 8) said: "The decision to call the Prime Minister to testify is a powerful indicator of the seriousness with which the Inquiry is treating this matter. The situation is urgent, and there is a pressing need for resolution and justice for those impacted.

The delay in implementing the Inquiry's compensation recommendations has raised significant concerns, leading to the unprecedented step of the Prime Minister himself being called to address these issues in front of the Inquiry."

The full Inquiry timetable for the upcoming hearings can be found here: https://www.infectedbloodinquiry.org.uk/public-hearings-timetable