Open Letter to the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group (HTML)
Updated 21 July 2025
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Dear Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery,
I am writing to you regarding the recently published Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report released on 9 July 2025 and its recommendations. I welcome the Inquiry’s Report that proposes amendments to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to ensure that everyone who has been infected or affected receives the compensation they deserve.
As set out in my statement to Parliament today, some of the changes that the Inquiry has recommended can be implemented as soon as the relevant legislation is changed. On others, as the Inquiry has stated, we need to consult on the best way forward.
To work up proposals for consultation, the Government will require further expert clinical and legal advice. I will therefore be re-establishing an Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group to provide that advice and am asking you to chair that group. I should be clear that the role of this Expert Group will be to advise the Government on matters that will be the subject of consultation with the community, not to stand in place of that consultation.
Reflecting on the Inquiry’s report, the Government acknowledges the criticisms made by the Inquiry and the community regarding the transparency of the previous Expert Group’s appointment process under the previous Government, and its work to date. With this in mind, I will be taking steps to improve the transparency of the group going forwards, including publishing this Expert Group’s future work programme and meeting minutes.
Taking into account the Inquiry’s report regarding the group’s expertise, I will be expanding the membership of this Expert Group to include additional clinical expertise in bleeding disorders, transfusion medicine, and medical psychotherapy. A process will shortly commence to seek community views on these new appointments. These additional experts will be appointed alongside all members of the previous Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group.
I would like to express my gratitude to the individual members of the previous Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group for their advice thus far.
Providing timely, fair and full compensation to those infected and affected by the infected blood scandal remains a top priority for the Government. As the Inquiry notes “it is the time now to build constructively on the scheme as it is and as it operates”. Thank you for your support in taking this forward.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Nick Thomas Symonds MP
Minister for the Cabinet Office
His Majesty’s Paymaster General