Hull MP questions government on infected blood scandal

Dame Johnson leads the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood

A Labour MP has questioned "what the government is actually doing" about the infected blood scandal.

Dame Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North, challenged the paymaster general on the topic in the Commons.

An estimated 1,820 people died in the UK after being given contaminated blood transfusions between 1970 and 1991.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said the government was "working very hard" and MPs would "not have to wait long" for an update.

Mel McKay from Bridlington was among at least 3,650 patients who were infected with hepatitis and HIV in the 1970s and 80s

Dame Johnson leads the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Haemophilia and Contaminated Blood.

She is one of several MPs and peers who share an interest in bleeding disorders and the contaminated blood scandal.

Victims of the scandal urged the government to set out a compensation scheme for those affected during a demonstration in Westminster in February.

'Time for a statement'

The MP told the Commons: "Can we please now have a statement from the paymaster general (John Glen) as to exactly what he is doing?

"He's not talking to those infected or affected, he's not taking soundings from any of the campaign groups, he's appointing people - and we're not allowed to know their names - to advise him.

"It's time for a statement, it's time to know what the government is actually doing."

Ms Mordaunt replied: "It is not the intention to kick the can down the road on this. The paymaster general and I have a weekly update on this. He is working very hard."

"I think that the House will not have to wait long before it is updated by the paymaster general, and I already know that he is planning a tour across the UK to meet with particular groups," she added.