Thank you for your email received on the 26th of April 2026, in which you made a request for access to certain information which may be held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
As you may be aware, the purpose of 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.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Finance and Commercial teams of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. We can confirm that the information you have requested is held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
You asked the following
Please provide:
- Details of the fee structure used by the IBCA to remunerate solicitors providing legal support to claimants, including whether fees are: fixed, staged, hourly, or otherwise structured.
- Any standard fee rates, caps, or guidance used when paying solicitors under the scheme.
- The total amount paid (or budgeted to be paid) to legal representatives under the scheme to date.
- Any procurement or panel arrangements used to appoint solicitors to provide IBCA-funded legal support.
Our response
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and have provided a response for your attention below.
- The contract terms set out the fixed fee payable for the legal support service, based on the specification of the service provision to the person claiming compensation.
- The fee is based on the contractual specification of the service to be delivered by the supplier, to the person claiming compensation and relevant to the type of claim.
Living infected not compensated:
- All chronic infections: £5,400 including VAT
- Acute infections where the person died of their infection: £5,400 including VAT
- Acute infections: £1,000 including VAT
Affected:
- All cohort, minus dependents: £1,000 including VAT
- Dependents: £5,400 including VAT (equal to living infected)
Deceased infected:
- All chronic infections: £5,400 including VAT (equal to living infected)
- Acute infections where the person died of their infection: £5,400 including VAT (equal to living infected)
- Acute infections: £1,000 including VAT
3. Since inception to the 31st March 2026, IBCA has recognised costs of providing legal support of £8.9m.
4. IBCA has procured legal support services from law firms involved with the Infected Blood Inquiry and law firms nominated by persons claiming compensation. This aligns to the Inquiry Recommendations.
We have established a "cab-rank" structure involving six law firms. Under this arrangement, the firms are appointed to a case on a rotational basis.