Today there is a much-needed backbench debate on the Contaminated Blood Scandal in Parliament. This debate can’t be yet another example of government dragging its feet.

Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'Today is the day for the government to finally start being clear and transparent with the infected blood community and to set out its timetable for delivering compensation for the victims of the Contaminated Blood Scandal. That includes fully engaging with this community to finally build their confidence in the Cabinet Office’s work on this. 

'Despite the government’s claim of working at pace, there has been shockingly little information about what is going on around compensation – other than in response to freedom of information requests. That shouldn’t be the case as people die waiting for the justice they deserve. 

'The more the Government delays communicating and acting on the crystal clear recommendations of both Sir Robert Francis KC and inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff, the more damage they do to the victims of the biggest scandal in the history of the NHS. 

'We need to know that they will make the outstanding interim payments to the affected community and when that will happen. We need to know when they will appoint a chair to deliver the compensation framework and get it up and running. We need to know when they will bring forward legislation to secure infected blood support schemes to reassure those who rely on this money to survive. And, as with everything, it needs to be fast. 

'We also urge The Paymaster General to put on record his confirmation back in March that they would find the money to pay compensation to the victims this year. 

'The Government has everything it needs from The Infected Blood Inquiry to have the compensation scheme structure in place by the time the inquiry reports. Delaying until the inquiry reports is a political choice – not because there is any lack of information for the cabinet office to deliver in the time frame Sir Brian recommended. 

'We need to see urgent action for the people whose lives have been damaged by the impact of infected blood products administered to them by the state and the subsequent cover ups of why that happened for 40 years.'