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<p>I refer you to my response to PQ 14436 on the appointment process for the Chair.
The same process was followed for appointing the clinical experts. Browne Jacobson
LLP secured the contract to provide legal advice via Direct Award. Details of the
legal firm contract award were published on Contracts Finder on 7 February.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>The Government has moved as quickly as possible to ensure that it
has access to the technical expertise necessary to inform its decision-making in relation
to the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation. The expert group formally
began work on 22 January. The names of the other members of the expert group will
not be disclosed to safeguard their privacy and ability to continue their frontline
work while advising on Government policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As their
work relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice,
evidence and methodologies as well as the minutes and agendas of their meetings will
not be published.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is considering all
recommendations of the Second Interim Report alongside the recommendations of Sir
Robert Francis’s Compensation Framework Study, and the advice from the expert group
will inform this. The purpose of the expert group is to provide technical assistance
in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. The Government
is committed to engaging with the community and updating Parliament on progress of
the Government response to the Infected Blood Inquiry as appropriate.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>The Government has committed to responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry’s
Final Report and this response will be informed by the advice of the expert group.</p><p><strong>
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