HC Deb 18 February 1971 vol 811 cc2099-101
7. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the workings of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

20. Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment if he will give early consideration to reviewing the procedures of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Mr. Carlisle

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is in general working satisfactorily, but my right hon. Friend has well in mind the need for a comprehensive review of this experiment in due course.

Mr. Davidson

When the comprehensive review begins to operate, will the hon. Gentleman consider holding the hearings of the Board in public so that members of the public who are victims of criminals and are unaware of their rights become aware of them because of the publicity given to the hearings?

Mr. Carlisle

I agree that wide publicity should be given to the existence of the scheme. I am not sure whether I agree that that need would be met by having public hearings in connection with a scheme under which the form of hearing has the advantage of being reasonably informal.

Mr. Finsberg

When my hon. Friend reviews the procedure, will he see whether it is possible to give a right of appeal to the Committee on Tribunals or to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary so that we may have an assurance that appeals are properly conducted?

Mr. Carlisle

We will consider that point. At the moment the Board's decisions are not subject to Ministerial review but anyone whose claim to one member of the Board is unsuccessful is entitled to appeal to a meeting, of the full Board.

Mr. Edward Lyons

First, will the hon. Gentleman consider extending the powers of the Board to include a case in which a man is injured seeking to apprehend a criminal—for example, when he is pursuing a bank robber in his car which crashes and he is injured? At the moment such a person can receive no compensation. Secondly, will the hon. Gentleman consider enabling the Board to pay compensation to victims of mistaken identity who have been wrongly committed, charged or convicted of criminal offences and the true culprit is subsequently found and convicted?

Mr. Carlisle

I think that the hon. Gentleman is wrong on the first part of his supplementary question. The scheme compensates direct victims of crimes of violence and people hurt in trying to prevent crimes of violence or to arrest those who have committed them. The example which the hon. Gentleman gave is covered. He knows that the second part of his supplementary question is nothing to do with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and does not arise out of this Question.

33. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will amend the terms of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme so that persons who suffer injury as a direct result of going to the aid of a victim of a crime of violence can receive compensation.

Mr. Carlisle

The existing Scheme includes persons who sustain personal injury directly attributable to the prevention of an offence. My right hon. Friend has no present plans for an extension of the Scheme to other situations where injury is sustained as a result of going to the aid of a victim of a crime of violence.

Miss Fookes

Will my hon. Friend not accept that there is grave injustice, and may I draw his attention to the plight of my constituent, Mr. Knaggs, who is in such a position? Will my hon. Friend undertake to investigate the matter?

Mr. Carlisle

I am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend refers. However, the Board's decisions are not open to Ministerial review, and clearly it acted in accordance with the scheme on that occasion.