Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised to pay “comprehensive compensation”. The total cost is expected to run into billions.
However, it remains unclear exactly how many people will get compensation and how much they will receive, BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said.
Outlining the scheme, Cabinet Office Minister John Glen said payments will be made to those who were directly infected, as well as others affected by the scandal, including partners and children.
In cases where people who would be entitled to compensation have died, the money will go to their estate.
Mr Glen said payments – which the government expects to start before the end of the year – would be exempt from tax and would not affect benefits.
Before final compensation is delivered, he said interim payments of £210,000 will be made, starting from the summer.
The government is establishing an Infected Blood Compensation Authority to deliver compensation.
It had been criticised for waiting until after the publication of the final report to announce what compensation will be offered.
Bereaved families heckled the prime minister in July 2023 when he told inquiry that the government would act as “quickly as possible”.
In late 2022, following advice from the inquiry, the government made interim payments of £100,000 each to around 4,000 surviving victims and some bereaved partners.
Source Agencies
