Andrew Humphrey
Live reporter

We're wrapping up our coverage of Rishi Sunak's evidence session before the Infected Blood Inquiry now, thanks for joining us.

If you'd like to read more about what the PM had to say, here's a full write up of his remarks from our colleagues in the health team.

This page was edited by myself and Sam Hancock. It was written by Emily Atkinson, Adam Durbin, Jennifer McKiernan and Malu Cursino, with video produced by James Harness.

In the closing moments of today's session the inquiry's head summed up his thoughts on delays in compensating patients who received infected blood.

Sir Brian Langstaff urged Rishi Sunak to take action as soon as possible, because it must "trouble the conscious of a caring government, which is what you said you wish to be".

His plea to the PM received a loud applause from people in the room who have been watching Sunak's evidence.

Image source, PA Media

Some more reaction now, this time from the Haemophilia Society, which describes Sunak's refusal to set out a timeline for compensation payments to victims a "betrayal".

Three hours of questioning later, Rishi Sunak's appearance at the Infected Blood Inquiry has come to an end.

The main takeaway, arguably, is that he said the government plans to wait for the inquiry's final report to be published - due in the autumn - before setting out how much victims will be compensated.

But here's a round-up of other key moments:

• Sunak told the inquiry hat he understands victims' hurt "isn't historic and is continuing today"

• One said they feared they would be dead before receiving their compensation
• The PM told the inquiry he'd been "enormously moved" by what those infected and affected by the scandal said in their testimonies
• He also condemned newspaper reports, quoting unnamed "government officials" as putting the total bill for compensation between £5bn and £25bn
• The crowd, filled with victims and their families, heckled Sunak at some points - and applauded the inquiry's chair when he called for the government to be "caring"

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

It's safe to say that was a lengthy evidence session, thanks for following along with us.

We're working on a round-up of the key moments to bring you.

In the meantime, here's one of a few moments where Rishi Sunak was interrupted by the hundreds of people watching him give evidence.

The crowd, filled with some victims and their families, were reacting to answers he gave about when they can expect compensation payments.

The evidence session ends with some remarks by the inquiry's head Sir Brian Langstaff.

He tells the prime minister he made the unusual step to release a second interim report - which called for swift compensation - because he couldn't justify any further delay on his part.

And he says says his recommendations could be put into effect before the end of the year with sufficient "political will".

Langstaff says he is "glad" the PM has made the inquiry a priority "because not everything can be a priority". He also urges Sunak to take action, because it must "trouble the conscious of a caring government, which is what you said you wish to be".

These final words are met with a thunderous round of applause from the hundreds of people watching Suank's evidence, including some victims and their families.

Sunak, asked if he has anything else to add, says he will conclude where he started - with an acknowledgement that the infected blood disaster has been an "appalling scandal".

The PM says he recognises the layers of injustice that victims have been up against - and that he has been "enormously moved" by what those infected and affected have said.

He concludes: "Whilst the wait has been long, people can hopefully see that there has been forward movement since I've been PM."

Asked if legislation for the victims' compensation could be laid out during the next fourth parliamentary session, Sunak says he can't speak to the King's speech - but repeats that it's a priority for him generally.

A decision on fourth session legislation has not yet been made, though, the PM adds.

And with that, Jenni Richards KC's questions come to an end.

Next, Sunak is asked whether the government is using the Infected Bloody Inquiry's timeline to delay making payments to victims and their families.

He insists this is not the case and points, once again, to the "ongoing work" being done by ministers in advance of the report's publication later this year.

As a matter of general and historical principle, good policy-making relies on the government having access to the full facts, Sunak tells the inquiry.

The PM's asked if any work has been done to work out the cost of the recommendations in Sir Robert Francis's compensation report, external.

The report was given to the Treasury in March 2022, when Sunak was still chancellor.

He says not he's not aware of any work but he imagines it was carried out.

We're back once again. Rishi Sunak is in front of the Infected Blood Inquiry, being asked the last of Jenni Richards KC's questions.

Once again, you can follow our live text updates right here or tune in by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

Hugh Pym
Health editor

While the inquiry breaks, campaigners have been putting out reaction to the prime minister’s evidence.

Jason Evans, whose father died after he contracted HIV and hepatitis C during treatment, says:

Jenni Richards KC has finished her questioning now - but has requested time for participants of the inquiry to suggest further questions to be put to Sunak, based on his evidence.

The hearing will resume at around 16:35, we're told.

Stay with us until then.

Sunak is read a handful of quotes by some of the victims of the infected blood scandal, who fear compensation will be "lost in the complexities of a general election".

"What's the use - I could be dead soon and will never have got my compensation," says one. Another is cited as saying: "We've waited long enough for this to be settled."

Sunak says he hopes people will feel reassured that - despite waiting "decades and decades" for action - since he took office, interim payments have been made to thousands of people.

"I understand people have been waiting for redress for a long time," he says. "I want to see it happen as quickly as possible."

Richards now addresses a speech - made in April 2017 - by former health secretary Andy Burnham, now mayor of Manchester.

It was his last address to Parliament before stepping down as an MP, during which he chose to reflect on the infected blood scandal.

Burnham said, at the time, that victims had been "led to the top of the hill, only to be let down again" due to lack of announcement on compensation.

Is the same happening now, Richards asks Sunak.

Sunak says that following accusations like this, and a subsequent debate, the Infected Blood Inquiry was set up. And though it has taken longer than some anticipated, he notes, "things are progressing, as the interim payments have shown".

Jim Reed
Health reporter, at the Infected Blood Inquiry

Image source, PA Media

Sunak is being put under pressure by Jenni Richards KC to go further than he has so far and make specific new commitments to compensation in the future.

Richards suggests it might "reassure" those infected and affected amid fears the government may try and backtrack on its promises after the inquiry ends its work and publishes a final report.

The prime minister is playing a straight bat - repeating that there is a "right and proper" way to deal with the issue.

He is asked about a series of newspaper stories this year quoting "officials" which put the total bill for compensation at between £5bn and £25bn.

Campaigners in the hall are suspicious that stories like that may be used to justify the slow pace of work towards a final compensation deal.

Sunak replies that while he would "love" to be able to control the leaking of information in government, that is not something he can do. Leaking is not something he would ever condone or authorise, he adds.

The prime minister is now asked about media coverage, which claimed compensations could cost the government "up to £10bn", or even double that, and quotes unnamed government officials saying they're worried about the cost.

The inquiry asks if it's right that those affected should learn about compensation and government decision-making through media reports.

Sunak says Parliament is the right place for these announcements to be made.

He adds that he'd "love to be able to control whether anyone's leaking information from government", but its difficult and he didn't authorise any of that coverage.

Questions will now focus on transparency and openness, Sunak is told.

Jenni Richards KC, questioning the PM, says victims felt - and still feel - they have been kept in the dark about what led to the NHS using contaminated blood, and notes their "fragile" trust in government.

Sunak responds by accepting that victims were lied to for many years and were rebuffed from having a inquiry for many years.

"I understand the hurt isn't historic and is continuing today," the PM adds.

Sunak is read powerful testimony about the deaths of Brian, Stephen and Colin - some of the victims of the infected blood scandal - explaining the grief and loss of their families and how they cannot move on with their lives.

Four months after the inquiry's recommendation that these families receive compensation, there has been no government action, the PM is told.

"Is there any good reason for the government delaying in taking a decision on interim payments to these people?" the PM is asked.

He says it's "heartbreaking" to hear these testimonies but he cannot speculate on ongoing work or decisions that haven't yet been made.

A history of compensation in this casepublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 26 July 2023

15:44 BST 26 July 2023

Jim Reed
Health reporter, at the Infected Blood Inquiry

Those infected as a result of contaminated blood, and some bereaved partners, are already entitled to annual support payments to cover living expenses.

But until last year, no form of actual compensation had ever been paid in the UK.

That changed last summer when the Inquiry’s chair Sir Brian Langstaff recommended £100,000 should be paid to around 4,000 victims and widows as part of a first interim settlement., external

The government agreed and the payments were made in October.

In April this year Langstaff then went much further. He recommended those interim payments should be extended to the children and parents of those who had lost their lives - but only if the £100,000 hadn’t already been paid out in some other way.

This would mean orphans who had lost both parents to HIV/Aids, for example, would now be eligible.

But crucially he also recommended that full compensation should be paid to all those individuals infected or affected by the scandal.

Image source, PA Media

That would mean many survivors would be able to claim more than the initial £100,000 they have already received, while others - including partner, parents, children and siblings - could also claim a separate lump sum.

The amount would be different for each individual and depend not just on their health but other factors including emotional distress, stigma, loss of education and earnings, care costs and the effect on relationships and family life.

Langstaff called for a framework to be set up by the end of this year to allow this to happen.

The government though has not formally replied to this second recommendation - saying work is ongoing and it will respond in full after the Inquiry’s final report is published in the autumn.