Thank you for your email received on the 4 June 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 Governance Directorate 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
The Independent Review of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, published in October 2025, made Recommendation 16:
“Develop a balanced scorecard of key performance measures for transparent reporting to the IBCA Board and Cabinet Office Sponsor.”
Please provide:
- The current status of Recommendation 16, including whether it has been accepted, implemented, partially implemented, or remains outstanding.
- Copies of any documents, reports, plans, presentations, board papers, briefing papers, dashboards, scorecards or other records that set out:
- IBCA’s response to Recommendation 16;
- actions taken to implement Recommendation 16; and
- any key performance indicators, service standards, balanced scorecards, performance dashboards or delivery targets developed as a result of Recommendation 16.
3. If Recommendation 16 has been implemented, please confirm whether the resulting performance measures are publicly available and, if so, provide details of where they can be accessed.
4. If Recommendation 16 has not yet been fully implemented, please provide any target date or implementation timetable currently held by IBCA for its completion.
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 current status of Recommendation 16, including whether it has been accepted, implemented, partially implemented, or remains outstanding.
We can confirm that IBCA fully accepts the recommendation, and is committed to transparency not only to the Board and our Cabinet Office Sponsor but also to the Infected Blood community and the public at large. IBCA regularly reports on its performance publicly, and is in the process of developing measures that give the Board, the Cabinet Office and the community the most useful information. - Copies of any documents, reports, plans, presentations, board papers, briefing papers, dashboards, scorecards or other records that set out:
We have established that the information you requested is held by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. Information you have requested is exempt under section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act.)
Information is being withheld because it is exempt under section 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because, in the opinion of a qualified person, its disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. Section 36 is a qualified exemption and we have considered whether the balance of the public interest favours our release of this material.
Section 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) - factors in favour of disclosure
There is a public interest in citizens being confident that decisions are taken on the basis of the best available information. There is a public interest in transparency so as to allow public scrutiny of the manner in which the Infected Blood Compensation Authority develops a balanced scorecard of key performance measures. There is a public interest in accountability so as to allow the public to determine whether the performance measures are of public benefit.
Section 36(2)(b)(i) - factors against disclosure
The public interest in favour of withholding the information is that Infected Blood Compensation Authority officials need to be able to think through all the implications of particular options. In particular, they need to be able to undertake rigorous and candid assessments of the risks involved. If this information were to be published, this would or at least would be likely to have a detrimental effect on the quality of the advice and the way in which it is given.
Section 36(2)(b)(ii) - factors against disclosure
The public interest arguments in favour of withholding the information are that in this case the ability of officials to discuss options freely and frankly would be adversely affected by the disclosure of this information. If this information were to be published, this would or at least would be likely to have a detrimental effect on the way in which discussions take place.
Taking into account all the circumstances of this case, we have concluded that the balance of the public interest favours withholding this information. - If Recommendation 16 has been implemented, please confirm whether the resulting performance measures are publicly available and, if so, provide details of where they can be accessed.
This information is not held. IBCA does not currently have a dashboard for monitoring performance as the Key Performance Indicators have not yet been agreed. - If Recommendation 16 has not yet been fully implemented, please provide any target date or implementation timetable currently held by IBCA for its completion.
Though IBCA is mindful of the Review's warning against 'inappropriate target setting', particularly during its 'test and learn' approach to ascertaining how best to approach different case types and complexity, it also accepts that internal KPIs can help drive productivity and improvement. It has recently therefore established a "Quality, Finance and Performance Committee" (QFPC) the terms of reference for which have been published as part of the May 6, 2026 Board papers (https://ibca.org.uk/media/documents/board-agenda-updated-6-may-2026.pdf).
The minutes of this Board meeting will be published on IBCA's website before its meeting on July 7, noting that QFPC will work to agree metrics and KPIs that align with IBCA's Strategic Objectives and provide stretch when the service leaves Private Beta. It is intended that these will be in place for agreement at November's Board meeting.