Summary

  • Scotland's First Minister apologised 'unreservedly' to all who were affected by the infected blood scandal

  • John Swinney was updating Holyrood on his government's reaction to the Infected Blood Inquiry report

  • The UK government has set out details of the infected blood compensation scheme

  • Swinney says the government has accepted the moral case for compensation for victims and it is committed to working with the UK government on the scheme

  • 30,000 people were infected with hepatitis and HIV while receiving NHS treatment between the 1970s and 1990s - and 3,000 have since died

  • Scottish patients who were infected with life-threatening diseases after being given contaminated blood were studied without their knowledge

  • The Infected Blood Inquiry looked at services across the UK and found that many Scottish patients being treated for haemophilia were used for Aids research without their consent.

Live Reporting

  1. What we know about the new UK compensation scheme

    Here's what we know so far about the compensation scheme, following Paymaster General John Glen's statement:

    • The government expects thefirst final payments will be made before the end of 2024
    • Furtherinterim payments of £210,000 will be made within 90 days
    • Those eligible for interim payments are: living infected beneficiaries, people registered with existing support schemes, those who register with the support scheme before the final compensation scheme becomes operational, and the estates of those who pass away between now and payments being made
    • Those who have beeninfected or affected as a result of the scandal are eligible for the final compensation scheme
    • They include people directly or indirectly infected by NHS blood, blood products or tissue contaminated with HIV or hepatitis C, or those who have developed chronic infection from blood contaminated with hepatitis B
    • Where aninfected person has died, compensation will be paid to their estate
    • Anew arm's length body- the Infected Blood Compensation Authority - has been set up by the government to administer the compensation scheme
    • Barrister Sir Robert Francis will be interim chair of the body

  2. Good afternoon

    Campaigners have been calling for the UK government to provide compensation for victimsPA Media

    Campaigners have been calling for the UK government to provide compensation for victims

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister John Swinney's reaction to the damning Infected Blood Inquiry report.

    We'll bring you reports and analysis throughout and you can watch his statement by clicking on the play icon at the top of this page.