§ 27. Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the report published by Justice on the question of compensation for victims of crimes of violence, a copy of which has been sent to him; what other views have been submitted to him on this question; and if he will make a statement on Government policy on this matter.
§ Mr. BrookeI am studying this important question of compensation for victims of crimes of violence in the light of the report to which the hon. Member refers and also of reports by a Committee of the Conservative Party, by the Bow Group, and by the Police Subcommittee of the Association of Municipal Corporations. I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but I hope to be able to do so before long.
§ Mr. JohnsonThe right hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware that his immediate predecessor gave an undertaking some time ago that when the report referred to in the Question was published he would give it serious and sympathetic consideration? May we take it that the right hon. Gentleman will do this in so far as the report has been prepared by an all-party, widely representative Committee?
§ Mr. BrookeCertainly, Sir. My task would have been easier if these four responsible bodies had come to the same conclusion as to the scheme which was desirable. Unfortunately, they have come to four different conclusions, and I now have to do some thinking to decide which is the best scheme.
§ Miss BaconIs the Minister aware that this has been considered now for a considerable number of years, and that there seems to be general agreement outside the House, and on both sides in it, that something should be done? Will he now treat this as a matter of urgency?
§ Mr. BrookeI do treat it as a matter of urgency, and, as I have said in public, I hope that it may fall to me to introduce legislation on this subject, but we have first to decide which of these 1147 various different schemes which have been recommended by responsible bodies is the best solution as a whole.