# Pay comprehensive infected blood compensation

> “First, we will pay comprehensive compensation to those infected and those affected by this scandal”
>
> — Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Conservative Party; Commons statement on the Infected Blood Inquiry report, 20 May 2024

- **Status:** Delivering
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health)
- **Speaker:** [Rishi Sunak](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/rishi-sunak), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Conservative Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/conservatives)
- **Made on:** 20 May 2024
- **Where:** Commons statement on the Infected Blood Inquiry report
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** People infected through NHS blood and blood products, and people affected: their partners, parents, children, siblings and unpaid carers
- **When:** Not stated
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-the-infected-blood-inquiry-20-may-2024 (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 21 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-infected-blood-compensation-2024

## Where it stands

Compensation is being paid and not yet complete. The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, law since 24 May 2024, provides for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and the compensation scheme (Part 3). The authority made its first payment to a living infected person in December 2024; by 31 March 2026 it had paid £2.05 billion to 3,153 people, while 17,970 had registered their intent to claim (its annual report for 2025 to 2026).

## Timeline

- 20 May 2024, Promised: On the day the Infected Blood Inquiry reports, the Prime Minister tells the Commons the government will pay comprehensive compensation
- 24 May 2024, Legislated: The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 becomes law, providing for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and the compensation scheme ([evidence](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21/part/3))
- 14 September 2026, Delivering: The compensation authority's annual report: first payment in December 2024; £2.05 billion paid to 3,153 people by 31 March 2026 ([evidence](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ibca-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-to-2026))

## About the cost

No figure in the statement, which said: "Whatever it costs to deliver this scheme, we will pay it."

## Sources

- [Prime Minister's Office: PM statement on the Infected Blood Inquiry, 20 May 2024](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-the-infected-blood-inquiry-20-may-2024)
- [Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, Part 3: Infected blood compensation (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/21/part/3)
- [Infected Blood Compensation Authority: Annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026 (14 Sep 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ibca-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-to-2026)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 21 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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