Image source, Infected Blood Inquiry

Alan Burgess, of The Birchgrove Group, says the Cabinet Office were "condescending" and "talked down" to him and representatives of his campaign group.

He says victims had "shocking" mental health problems due to the compensation scheme.

"The elderly are dying - without seeing this compensation paid," he says. "I didn't expect sympathy, but we didn't even get any empathy."

The BBC spoke with Burgess, who was 27 when he was given blood infected with HIV and hepatitis C while being treated for haemophilia, last year. He said his diagnosis completely changed his life.

William Wright is outlining why the inquiry is happening, and says there are "two fundamental flaws" in the process.

"A lack of trust and confidence" has meant victims of the scandal do not trust government, but the government also do not trust us, he says.

He adds there are many people in the room that could have helped the process for compensation.

"It is a reasonable assumption that the government panicked," he adds.

Ahead of the election, the legislation around compensation was rushed, he says, adding that MPs "went on their holidays" before it was passed.

Let's look at who is speaking on the panel, who include many people who were given contaminated blood.

Among them is:

• Alan Burgess, a haemophiliac who was infected with HIV and Hep C
• Mary Grindley, an independent campaigner of 45 years
• Gary Webster who is representing pupils from Treloar school who were infected
• William Wright, a founder of Haemophilia Scotland and Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia society

Jim Reed
Reporting from the inquiry

The inquiry’s chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, has started by explaining why - a year after his final report - hundreds of people are back in Church House in central London, where some of the inquiry’s first preliminary hearings took place in 2019.

He said, since his findings were published, he has received “letter after letter, call after call” expressing worries and concerns about how compensation for the scandal is being delivered.

He then handed over to his chief counsel, Jenni Richards KC, who will be leading the questioning of witnesses over the next two days.

There was a ripple of laughter through the crowd of around 300 when she said she tries not to interrupt witnesses “with the possible exception of the health minister from the 1980s”.

That was a reference to the former MP Ken Clarke - now Lord Clarke - who gave evidence to the inquiry in 2021 in a bad-tempered session that was heavily criticised at the time by victims and campaign groups.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the inquiry

A round of applause has just echoed around the Assembly Hall after comments from Nigel Hamilton - one of those giving evidence on the panel today.

He thanks Sir Brian and the inquiry for the new hearings. "We are entitled to justice and we will have justice."

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the inquiry

Today's hearing is being held in the Church House in Westminster.

We're currently sitting in the Assembly Hall - with media seated on a balcony around the outside of the hall and members of the public watching below.

Almost every seat has been taken.

A panel of campaigners, those infected and affected, and organisations are sitting at a table at the front of the hall - they will be the first to give evidence and are currently being sworn in.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the inquiry

Image source, Infected Blood Inquiry

Sir Brian Langstaff is delivering his opening comments.

He reflects on previous inquiry hearings which heard "deeply personal stories" - describing accounts that were given with "dignity", openness" and "often palpable feeling".

He describes the publication of the inquiry report last May as a "watershed moment" - followed by apologies in Parliament and the announcement of compensation.

"Surely at that time none of us wanted to be back here again," he adds, but explains the inquiry has received "letter after letter" and "email after email" expressing concerns about the delivery of compensation.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Infected Blood Inquiry

Good morning from the inquiry in Westminster where I'll be reporting throughout the day along with my colleagues.

There was a queue to sign in this morning and plenty of people milling around chatting before the inquiry begins.

The hearings seem to have attracted a lot of media attention too - I've seen quite a few journalists getting ready for the day in the press room.

As a reminder, the new hearings today come after the publication of the inquiry's final report last May.

The special sessions are being held due to concerns raised about the government's compensation scheme.

You follow the proceedings by clicking Watch Live at the top of this page at 10:00 BST.

Jim Reed
Health reporter

Image source, PA Media

More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

As many as 140,000 bereaved parents, children and siblings of victims may also be able to claim compensation in their own right.

In October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government had set aside £11.8bn to pay compensation to victims.

• a person infected with HIV could expect to get compensation of between £2.2m and £2.6m
• those with a chronic hepatitis C infection, defined as lasting more than six months, could expect to receive between £665,000 and £810,000
• the partner of someone infected with HIV who is still alive today could expect to receive about £110,000, while a child could get £55,000

Read more: What is the infected blood scandal and how much compensation will victims get?

Image source, PA Media

"People infected and affected do not have time on their side," inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff said when he announced new hearings to consider how the government has handled the compensation scheme.

Over the next two days, the inquiry will hear evidence to inform an additional report on the "timeliness and adequacy" of the government’s response regarding compensation.

In May 2024, following the inquiry’s final report, the then-PM Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons "comprehensive" compensation will be paid to the infected and affected.

The inquiry has since received a number of communications detailing "distrust, distress and frustration" around the implementation of the compensation scheme, it said.

Victims and their lawyers have said the process is taking too long - describing "shambolic" and "chaotic" meetings, citing problems both before and after July's election.

The government has said over £96m has been paid in compensation so far - with £11.8bn set aside for the scheme.

Cachella Smith
Reporting from the Infected Blood Inquiry

When the infected blood compensation scheme was announced by the government last May, it was met with some trepidation.

There were already concerns about the pace of delivery - criticism the government had waited too long and that those eligible to receive compensation may not live long enough to receive it.

Following months of new evidence, the inquiry chair has said these concerns “merit exploration in public” - which brings us to today.

New hearings across the next two days will hear from campaigners, government representatives and those infected and affected in a bid to identify what the government can do to better deliver compensation.

Those representing victims have said they are “losing faith,” the government has stressed it is “fully-committed” to cooperating with the inquiry.

Over the coming hours, we’ll be bringing you the latest lines from the inquiry as well as the voices of those impacted by the scandal - follow along with us or, once it begins at 10:00 BST, you can Watch live above.