Written questions by Eastwood.

What plans the Government has to update (a) digital systems and (b) guidance to reflect Northern Ireland’s trading position under the Windsor Framework.

The Government has announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain. A comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service will help businesses trade across the UK and EU markets and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access. The service will provide tailored advice to businesses on the rules they need to follow and the facilitations available to them.

What plans the Government has to update digital systems and guidance to reflect Northern Ireland’s trading position under the Windsor Framework.

The Government has announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain. A comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service will help businesses trade across the UK and EU markets and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access. The service will provide tailored advice to businesses on the rules they need to follow and the facilitations available to them.

Whether his Department will engage in public consultation prior to the rollout of the digital ID system.

We have committed to a public consultation, and work is already underway to engage with key stakeholder groups. We will work closely with employers, trade unions, civil society groups and other stakeholders, to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible..

Whether (a) exemptions of (b) alternative arrangements for the digital ID system will be offered to people resident in Northern Ireland.

We will design this system to ensure everyone who has a right to live and work in any part of the UK can do so easily and securely. We have already prioritised meetings with senior figures in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government to ensure any new systems work for people on both sides of the border in line with the Good Friday Agreement and Common Travel Area.

Whether there will be an option for company directors to (a) defer or (b) opt out of enrolment of the digital ID system.

There will be no requirement to enrol in Digital ID. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks by the end of this Parliament. There is a requirement upon directors and individuals with significant control over companies to prove their identity with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. This is currently voluntary but will be mandatory from 18 November 2025. This requirement is not connected to the introduction of the Digital ID.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact the digital ID system on (a) business operations, (b) online security and (c) personal privacy in Northern Ireland.

The government will launch a public consultation on the design of the new digital ID, and have already started to engage with a range of expert organisations. Stakeholder and public views, including those in feedback to future consultation, will inform ongoing policy development and assessments of impacts. We will design this system to help ensure everyone who has a right to live and work in any part of the UK can do so more easily and securely. We will ensure our commitments in the Good Friday Agreement, the Windsor Framework and the Common Travel Area are respected. People’s privacy and data will be protected using the most advanced security and encryption, just like banking apps. We will be following best practices for creating a secure digital service and the new digital identity will be designed in accordance with high standards of security and privacy. The scheme will have robust cyber security and resilience safeguards, and it will comply with all the applicable data protection requirements.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed mandatory enrolment in a digital ID system on the rights of (a) individuals and (b) business under the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

The Government will launch a public consultation on the design of the new digital ID which will inform ongoing policy development and assessments of impacts.We have been in touch with the Devolved Government in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government and will continue to engage with them to ensure systems work for people on both sides of the border, as committed to in the Good Friday Agreement and across the Common Travel Area.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty on the work of his Department.

The extension of the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty will require the Cabinet Office to have due regard to the principles of the Covenant across a wide range of new policy areas. A full assessment of the impact of the extension on the Cabinet Office will take place once the necessary legislation is progressing through Parliament.

What his planned timetable is for establishing the Ethics and Integrity Commission.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 31 July 2024, Official Report, PQ 1251.

If he will have discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential impact of the proposed Hillsborough Law on public services in Northern Ireland.

As the Prime Minister announced recently, the Hillsborough Law is a priority for this Government. Discussions have already begun between officials in the Cabinet Office and those in the devolved governments. I will continue to ensure that Ministerial colleagues in the devolved governments are engaged on this policy.

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) claims under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme can be inherited by the families of deceased claimants and (b) people who are unable to receive their payments due to health issues do not lose their right to compensation upon passing.

Where a person who would have been eligible to apply to the Scheme as an infected person has tragically died, the personal representatives of the deceased person’s estate can apply for compensation on behalf of the estate of the deceased infected person. Where compensation is payable to someone who lacks capacity, including due to health issues, the award will be paid to the person with power of attorney or other legal authority to act on the person’s behalf. In both cases, the acting representative must make the application to the Scheme. In line with the Inquiry’s recommendation, where an affected person has died it is not possible for the personal representatives of their estate to apply for compensation.

If he will take steps to expedite the payment process for (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people eligible for compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is responsible for making payments to those eligible under the scheme, and they are carefully considering all options around payments, including the prioritisation of any payments. For those who are infected, the Government expects the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments before the end of 2024. The Authority is working on developing a service that balances speed with ease of use.

How the infected blood compensation scheme will account for the additional financial burdens experienced by (a) carers and (b) bereaved partners.

Compensation paid through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be calculated in line with tariffs and based on the severity of infection and negative impacts suffered by victims - both infected and affected - in different aspects of their lives. All eligible affected persons will be able to claim in their own right under the Injury Impact and Social Impact categories of award. The care award is not available for affected persons to claim in their own right, as the care awards will be paid to infected persons. However, this can be paid directly to affected persons at the request of an infected person or their estate representative. Where the infected person has very sadly died, the financial loss awards will be paid to affected dependents, which may include bereaved partners.

How the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will determine the date of infection for individuals where no definitive medical records are available; and what criteria will be used to make these determinations.

Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024, eligibility for the Scheme will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will provide assistance to those who believe their medical records have been lost or destroyed.

Whether the option for individual assessment of claims will be made to victims of the infected blood scandal.

The Government expects the majority of claims will be made via the tariff-based Core Route. In some exceptional cases however, the level of compensation awarded through the Core Route may not be sufficiently reflective of the financial loss and care costs that a person has experienced as a result of infected blood. This may be the case where, for example, the person had particularly high earnings prior to their infection and therefore suffered greater financial loss, or where they have suffered a particular associated health condition that has necessitated increased levels of care. Where an applicant can demonstrate that their defined circumstances necessitate a higher compensation payment for care and financial loss, they will be able to apply for additional compensation awards through the Supplementary Route.

Whether the infected blood compensation scheme will deliver compensation in the event of an infected person's death to (a) their surviving partner and (b) their estate.

Where a person who would have been eligible to apply to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme as an infected person has died, the personal representatives of the deceased person’s estate may apply for compensation on behalf of their estate. People who are affected, such as bereaved partners, can claim compensation in their own right in addition to any claims on behalf of the estate.

Whether his Department plans to support the provision of (a) legal advice and (b) advocacy services to potential claimants under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will aim to ensure that appropriate advice and support is available to assist people with managing their compensation awards, accessing financial services, and accessing benefits advice where relevant. Sir Robert Francis KC recommended in his report that legal support is available to people who want to claim compensation. The Government accepted this recommendation and is working with IBCA to develop a package of support services.

Whether people with hepatitis B are eligible to claim through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme for financial loss due to (a) the inability to work full time and (b) not receiving regular support scheme payments.

Anyone with an eligible Hepatitis B infection will be able to claim compensation calculated under five categories of award including a financial loss award. The financial loss award recognises the past and future financial losses suffered as a result of infection. This includes both financial loss and loss of services. Financial Loss award calculations take into account a person’s average loss of earnings in the years prior to the establishment of the Compensation Scheme, as well as future loss of earnings up to healthy life expectancy and will disregard whether or not an individual received Infected Blood Support Scheme payments prior to 31 March 2025.

Whether people with hepatitis B who have not received (a) a lump sum and (b) regular payments from a support scheme will be entitled to an award under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

People who received contaminated blood or blood products which resulted in a chronic Hepatitis B infection will be eligible to claim compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The estates of those who died from an acute Hepatitis B infection during the acute period will also be eligible to claim compensation. The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be delivered by the UK-wide delivery body, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, which is separate to the current support schemes.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the representation of people with hepatitis B in the Infected Blood Inquiry.

The Inquiry is independent of Government and the conduct of the Inquiry is a matter for the Chair. Since it began, the Inquiry sat to hear evidence for 290 days from 374 witnesses, including people with hepatitis B. In total, the Inquiry has received 5,570 witness statements, including 4,265 statements from people infected and affected.