That ends our live coverage of the first minister's statement on the Infected Blood Inquiry. Here's the headlines:

• John Swinney formally apologised to everyone affected by the infected blood scandal in Scotland
• The first minister said "unimaginable suffering" had been endured by around 3,000 Scots who were infected by contaminated blood products and transfusions between the 1970s and 1991
• More than 30,000 people across the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis due to contaminated blood products over a period of more than 20 years
• The inquiry's damning report concluded that a catalogue of failures in government and the NHS had exposed patients to "unacceptable risks"
• The first minister today followed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in apologising to those affected, saying families had endured decades of unnecessary heartbreak
• He said governments would work together on a compensation scheme, and that he was determined that lessons would be learned so that a tragedy like this could never happen again

You can read more about this story here.

The editor was Paul O'Hare. Katy Scott and Craig Hutchison were the writers. Thank you for joining us.

Earlier, a victim of the infected blood scandal told how she lost her teaching career after her delayed diagnosis with hepatitis C.

Gill Fyffe, 65, said compensation would make a massive difference to her family's life after years of financial "firefighting" which included having to sell their home.

Ms Fyffe received a transfusion after the birth of her daughter in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, in 1988.

She later struggled to understand why she was so tired that she once fell asleep while driving and crashed her car with her two children in the back.

But it was seven years before she finally learned that the blood she was given was contaminated.

The UK compensation scheme comes after a public inquiry found authorities had exposed victims to unacceptable risks and covered up the NHS's biggest treatment disaster.

Some 30,000 people were infected and around 3,000 have died so far.

Read more here.

Liam McArthur, of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, echoes the heartfelt tributes and apology expressed by the first minister.

He also thanks Sir Brian Longstaff and his staff for the painstaking work that went into the report.

McArthur asks the first minister when he expects payments to be made and what will be done to follow the report's recommendations.

The first minister says, in terms of compensation, he is "rather in the hands of the United Kingdom government" but he expects the first payments will be made before the end of the year.

Swinney says there are a number of recommendations in relation to culture and practice within the NHS in Scotland.

He adds that he expects them to be considered and responded to quickly.

Gillian Mackay, from the Scottish Greens, pays her condolences to those who lost a loved one in the blood scandal and thanks the campaigners for justice.

She then asks if the first minister will ensure that the Scottish government does everything it can to ensure compensation is easy to access.

The first minister says ministers will engage with MSPs to ensure they are adequately supported and briefed so that their constituents can access compensation easily.

Swinney says he is optimistic about engaging with the UK government on compensation.

But he urges MSPs to highlight any issues that may emerge.

Swinney says that the Scottish parliament created a platform that allows, through the petitions committee process, issues like the scandal not to be swept aside.

However he says it took the tenacity of campaigners to press ministers to act and take their points forward.

He acknowledges the Scottish Labour leader's point about organisations protecting themselves and their reputations over anyone they may have failed.

The first minister says: “We cannot have cultures of this type in our public organisations, we have to be open about where there are failings.”

Swinney commits to presiding over an approach of that nature and doing all he can to ensure public services are transparent.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar joins the first minister by apologising to victims and their families for the government's failings.

He calls Sir Brian Langstaff's report "damning" and acknowledges the thousands that have died and continue to die as a result of the scandal.

He asks if the first minister will accept that too many institutions still "look inwards and seek to protect themselves" rather than deliver justice and support victims.

Sarwar asks the first minister what steps he will take to end that culture of secrecy, and offers the support of the Scottish Labour party.

The first minister says Douglas Ross is "absolutely right" that today and tomorrow must be an absolute vindication for campaigners.

John Swinney also agrees that "trust must be repaired".

He calls for cross-party co-operation and for the next steps to be taken urgently, which he commits to doing.

Douglas Ross says the report delivered "complete and absolute vindication for the campaigners who have fought for truth and justice for far too long".

The Scottish Conservative leader points out that the scandal has ruined lives and many people died before the report was published.

He adds: "This was a devastating and appalling failure by the British state."

Ross says the actions over decades "are a stain on our nation" and a "disgusting betrayal".

He commits his party to doing everything it can to support the Scottish government deliver compensation.

Ross concludes by paying tribute to Bill Wright and his fellow campaigners.

If you are just joining us First Minister John Swinney has formally apologised on behalf of the government to everyone affected by the infected blood scandal.

Yesterday, the Infected Blood Inquiry Chair Sir Brian Langstaff said the situation was a result of "systemic, collective, and individual failures".

The first minister told MSPs: "Those infected and impacted by this tragedy have worked tirelessly to ensure that its impact, and their suffering, is not ignored – and to ensure that what they have endured is never repeated."

He added people infected with HIV or hepatitis as a result of NHS treatment had "endured unimaginable suffering".

And while the report would not heal wounds or bring back those who had died, Mr Swinney said he hoped it would offer a step forward "towards a semblance of justice and a better future".

The first minister added: “The Scottish government has already accepted the moral case for compensation for infected blood victims and we are committed to working with the UK government to ensure any compensation scheme builds on the interim compensation which was paid out in 2022 and works as well as possible for victims.

"We are determined to use the Inquiry’s report to ensure lessons have been learned so a tragedy like this can never happen again."

Swinney also said the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service had "extremely high standards of blood safety" and urged those who can to give blood.

Swinney tells the Scottish parliament how lessons have already been learned from the infected blood scandal and patient safety is the top priority.

He says there are now "extremely high standards of blood safety" in place and urges Scots to continue giving blood to help those in need.

The first minister says it is essential to have a "culture of transparency" in public services.

"It has taken over 50 years to get to this point," concludes Swinney.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure we learn the lessons from this report from the infected blood scandal and take all necessary steps so that no one else has to endure the heartbreak and suffering that so many families have had to face."

Swinney says the Scottish government has already accepted the moral case for compensation and says it is "long overdue".

He urges the UK government to implement the Victim and Prisoners Bill "as quickly as possible" to allow victims to access compensation.

He also commits to working alongside the UK government to ensure that the families of victims receive compensation payments as quickly as possible.

"We are steadfastly committed to using the inquiry’s report to ensure that lessons have been learned and that such a tragedy can never happen again," says the first minister.

The first minister acknowledges that the report "will not change what has happened, nor will it bring back those loved ones who have been lost, nor will it repair those lost moments of life that could have been".

He adds: "I do hope, however, that it is a step forward in the journey towards a semblance of justice and offers a sense of peace in their lives."

Swinney commits to considering the recommendations in full and to build on work with victims "as quickly as we can".

He tells MSPs people have already waited "far too long" for action.

The first minister says Mr Wright continues to face "acute health problems" and the scandal has had an "overwhelming effect on his life and the family who love him".

Swinney adds: "Without the leadership and unrelenting work from individuals like Bill, this report would not have happened.

“This truth would not have been exposed. This justice would never have been secured.”

And 27 years after they first met in his constituency office, Swinney says he is humbled to apologise on behalf of the Scottish government to Mr Wright and other victims.

He also acknowledges the "countless others" - including the Scottish Infected Blood Forum - who deserve recognition for their "tireless" campaigning.

The first minister pays tribute to Bill Wright, who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood products, and "with enormous dignity has campaigned tirelessly for justice on behalf of Haemophilia Scotland".

Swinney acknowledges and welcomes the apology from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday.

He also supports the two solemn promises.

Firstly, that comprehensive compensation would be paid to both the infected and affected.

And secondly that a fundamental rebalancing of the system will be required in any consideration of the recommendations.

He says the Scottish government will work collaboratively with the UK government on compensation and it will also take the necessary steps to rebalance the system.

The first minister tells the chamber 3,000 families in Scotland have faced "decades of unnecessary heartache and pain".

"The report states that governments and the health service failed both those with bleeding disorders and those who were transfused."

Swinney reminds the chamber former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon apologised to everyone infected and affected in 2015.

He adds: "On behalf of the Scottish government and as first minister of Scotland I apologise unreservedly to everyone who has been affected in any way by these events."

The report makes damning reading for governments, the NHS and others responsible for patient safety across the UK during the scandal, says the first minister.

He adds: "The allegations of deception and of hiding the truth are deeply alarming."

John Swinney opens his statement welcoming yesterday's report and he pays tribute to all those who have been infected and affected.

The first minister says: "It is a disgrace that those who've been affected have had to work so hard to achieve the outcome that was achieved yesterday."

So as we've been reporting UK government minister John Glen has set out details of the infected blood compensation scheme in the House of Commons.

He says interim payments of £210,000 will go to the most urgent cases, while the final scheme becomes operational.

The money will go to people who "may not live" to see the full scheme rolled out.

Martin Reid was infected with Hepatitis C in the early 1980's when he was a small child and was being treated for Haemophilia.

He tells Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live the compensation announcement is "another milestone in this journey to justice"

"The government has accepted that there's a need for compensation and the reason for that is because harms have been done.

"There are certain elements of it that need to be discussed and looked at in further detail, but I think overall on the whole it's just another massive positive step forward.

"I think the fact that there's been a number of different people affecte that have never been recognised up until now that were mentioned today, will hopefully give them some hope that justice will be available to them very, very soon."

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland health correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

It is estimated that about 3,000 people in Scotland were given infected blood in the 1970s and 80s.

Many had received blood transfusions on the NHS, while others were being treated for haemophilia.

Hundreds have now died.

One area where Scotland differed from the rest of the UK is that the vast majority of infections came from its own blood donations.

In the 1970s and 80s, the country was largely self-sufficient in blood products.

In addition to having adequate local donations for the population’s needs, the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh had the capacity to process blood plasma to manufacture treatments for haemophilia or certain forms of immune deficiencies.

Read more here.