The Changing of the Guard: Who Now Holds Responsibility for Infected Blood Compensation?

By The Unheard Voice

A remarkable series of leadership changes is taking place around the institutions responsible for responding to the infected blood scandal.

Each change may have its own explanation. However, taken together—and occurring while thousands of infected and affected people are still waiting for compensation—they raise important questions about continuity, transparency and accountability.

On 8 September 2026, the Government announced that Cat Little had been appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Little is currently the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service. According to the official announcement, she will continue in her present role until a successor is appointed.

Her move matters to the infected blood community because the Cabinet Office sponsors the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and remains central to the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Little has also appeared before parliamentary committees to answer questions about government compensation schemes, including the operation of IBCA.

The most senior civil servant within the Cabinet Office is therefore preparing to leave at a particularly important stage in the compensation programme.

This follows the departure of Nick Thomas-Symonds from his position as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office in July 2026.

His ministerial responsibilities explicitly included the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry. Following the change of Prime Minister and government appointments, he is no longer the minister holding that responsibility.

The community deserves a clear explanation of where responsibility now sits and which minister is personally accountable for ensuring that the Inquiry’s recommendations are delivered.

Another significant transition is approaching within IBCA itself.

Sir Robert Francis KC, currently IBCA’s Interim Chair, is due to leave at the end of November when his contract concludes as part of his retirement plans.

The Government advertised for a permanent IBCA Chair in June, but no appointment has yet been publicly announced.

The next Chair will inherit an organisation facing considerable pressure. IBCA is expected to bring thousands of additional claims into its system while people already progressing through the process continue to report delays, unanswered questions and uncertainty.

Leadership continuity will be essential if IBCA is to increase the pace of compensation without sacrificing accuracy, fairness or support for vulnerable claimants.

There has also been a profound change in independent oversight.

The Infected Blood Inquiry formally ended its work on 31 March 2026 after concluding that it had fulfilled its terms of reference.

Sir Brian Langstaff and the Inquiry documented decades of institutional failure and the devastating consequences for infected and affected people. Its closure means that it can no longer provide the same active and visible point of scrutiny.

None of these leadership changes proves that anything improper is happening.

It would also be wrong to claim, without supporting evidence, that these departures explain every period of limited communication from the Cabinet Office.

But their combined effect cannot simply be ignored.

The minister previously responsible for the infected blood response has left that role. The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary is moving to another department. IBCA’s Interim Chair is preparing to retire. The public inquiry has formally closed.

At the same time, thousands of victims and families are still waiting for compensation, answers and confidence that their cases will be handled properly.

This is precisely when clear leadership and public accountability matter most.

Who now holds direct ministerial responsibility for the Government’s infected blood response?

Who will replace Cat Little at the Cabinet Office?

Who will become the permanent Chair of IBCA—and when will that appointment be announced?

What safeguards are in place to ensure that knowledge, responsibility and unresolved community concerns are not lost during these transitions?

Who will now provide the sustained independent scrutiny previously associated with the Inquiry?

The Inquiry documented institutional failures spanning decades. That history makes clear and continuing lines of responsibility essential.

Victims and families should not have to search departmental websites or follow changes in government personnel to discover who is responsible for delivering justice.

The Government and IBCA should now publish a clear account of the current leadership arrangements, explain how continuity will be protected and identify exactly who can be held accountable for future decisions and delays.

People have already waited far too long.

Leadership may change—but responsibility for delivering justice must not.

— The Unheard Voice