FOI 0054 - Infected-Affected Claims

Thank you for your emails received on the 2nd and 5th of June 2025, in which you made a request for access to certain information which may be held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("the Act") is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Infected Blood Compensation Authority), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and we provide a response for your attention.

You asked the following:

• 1. Can you mail us the amount of infected and affected that are registered under each nation Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales?
• 2. We do not ask for individuals' personal data we ask that you show us how many claims have been invited,( infected-affected) how many claims are being processed,(infected -affected) and how many claims have been settled from each nation state.(infected-affected).

Our response:

We have established that the information you requested pertaining to infected people for each devolved nation is held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. The information you have requested is being withheld as it is exempt under section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act ("the Act").

Section 22 Freedom of Information Act

Section 22(1) protects information intended for future publication. We think it is appropriate in all the circumstances to ask you to wait for this information to be published so as to not mislead you or the wider public by disclosing these figures prematurely.

Section 22(1) is a qualified exemption and we have considered whether the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption in section 22(1) or disclosing the information. We recognise the public interest in demonstrating transparency by releasing information to the public. We also appreciate that this increases public trust and that the public benefits from being kept informed about matters affecting them. However, there is a public interest in making sure that information put into the public domain is accurate, especially with regard to the serious and sensitive subject matter IBCA's work relates to.

Section 22(1) acknowledges that public authorities must have freedom to be able to determine their own publication timetables. This allows them to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publication. It is a part of the effective conduct of public affairs that the general publication of information is a conveniently planned and managed activity within the reasonable control of public authorities.

As there is a commitment to publish, we are reasonably entitled to make our own arrangements to do so. After weighing up the competing public interest considerations, we consider it is reasonable, in all the circumstances, that the information held should be withheld from disclosure until the future date of publication (section 22(1)(c)) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this time.

Information not held

The information you have requested about registered affected people is not held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.