Request

Please find attached a sheet of data obtained by the inquiry from a rule 9 request. I would like to make a Freedom of Information Request to secure a more detailed definition of the term ‘other' used in the category of beneficiary as this seems to contradict the policy document and the stated position of the government relating to interim payments that you sent to me on the 10th of August below. That might still be correct, but can you answer the following questions under the Freedom of Information Act? I request that each scheme answers the questions relating to their specific scheme such as the Scottish scheme explaining why people who receive counselling have received the award according to this document.

Please further define the term ‘other’ , in terms of the description on the document which is:

The ‘Others’ category includes: in England, carers and dependents as well as those who are both infected and bereaved; in Scotland, bereaved relatives registered to receive payment for counselling services; in Northern Ireland, estates where the infected beneficiary and their spouse/partner have died.

For example it say here that there were some categories of people who were registered for being infected and bereaved, which suggests a double payment should be an entitlement since the individual is registered for both bereavement and infection.

1. Can you clarify if any one person or persons who were both infected and bereaved received two interim payments and if the policy you sent me was adhered to in all cases?

It says that there were some dependant who received the interim payment:

1. Can you clarify how many actual dependants were paid an interim payment and provide a breakdown of the definition of dependancy for the purposes of each interim payment paid to a dependant so that we can see a break down of what that refers to specifically?

It implies that relatives in Scotland who receive counselling and who were registered should receive an interim payment

1. Can you clarify if this was the case, if any family carers who receive counselling received an award?

2. Please also explain since my sister and I as family carers receive funding for counselling, why no one has given our family or other family carers an interim payment given that we are registered and we have been defined as eligible by the inquiry?

Then there are some strange data relating to the numbers:

1. Can you explain why only in England did ‘others’ receive an interim payment in in the last column set of 27, but not in any other region?

2. Can you provide a detailed break down of the 27 people and under what category these 27 received the award for example if their loved one died between the end of July and the end of October last year.

Response

Question 1

The EIBSS can confirm that zero people have received two interim payments. The table ‘Number of Interim payments made’ shows a category of ‘others’ as these people cannot be included in any one category, as they are both infected and bereaved. This does not mean that they have received two interim payments.

Question 2

The EIBSS can confirm that zero dependents were paid an interim payment. Therefore, we do not have a breakdown to provide.

Please note:

We note the table footnote for the table entitled ‘Number of registrants’ within the supporting document you provided entitled ‘Note on the Interim Payments’ is incorrect. The EIBSS advised the Infected Blood Inquiry of this inaccuracy at the end of July 2023, and they have confirmed it will be corrected.

The footnote will be updated to read: Infected persons- includes those who are infected and bereaved.

Question 3

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority.

However it is possible that NHS National Services Scotland may hold some or all of the information you require. They can be contacted at:

NHS National Services Scotland

Gyle Square

1 South Gyle Crescent

Edinburgh

EH12 9EB

Email: nss.foi@nhs.scot

Question 4

The requested information does not fall under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it is asking a question, rather than recorded information that is held by the NHS Business Services Authority.

However, in the spirit of NHS openness and transparency, currently interim compensation payments are only payable to infected persons or their bereaved partner. All UK Infected Blood Support Schemes administer interim payments in accordance with the Cabinet Office policy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infected-blood-compensation-framework-study-terms-of-reference/infected-blood-interim-compensation-payment-scheme

Question 5

The requested information does not fall under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it is asking a question, rather than recorded information that is held by the NHS Business Services Authority.

However, in the spirit of NHS openness and transparency, as detailed above the note for table ‘Number of Interim payments made’ shows a category of ‘others’, as these people cannot be included in any one category, as they are both infected and bereaved. This does not mean that they have received two interim payments.

Each of the separate Infected Blood Support Schemes are responsible for capturing and reporting their own data. Any queries regarding other schemes will need to be confirmed with them individually.

Question 6

As detailed in our response to question five, the table which includes 27 people categorised as ‘Others’ identifies those people which cannot be solely placed in categories ‘Infected’ or ‘Bereaved’, as they’re both.

Consequently, the requested information is not held by NHSBSA as we cannot provide a detailed breakdown, as these beneficiaries are both infected and bereaved.

Please note:

The document provided in support of the FOI entitled ‘Note on Interim Payments’ appears to combine the data supplied by each separate Infected Blood Support Scheme. However, by combining this information opposed to looking at the separate statements and their more detailed, specific notes, increases the risk of misinterpretation of the data.

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2023” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.