§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the application of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to injuries caused by children or insane persons.
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§ Mr. Roy JenkinsIt has not been the Government's intention that injuries should be outside the scheme solely because they were caused by someone who, because of age or insanity or other condition, could not be held responsible under the criminal law. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have informed the Board that the scheme should be operated accordingly.
We have said that in these or other cases where the Board are satisfied of the bona fides of the application, they should feel free to waive the requirement that the circumstances of the injury should have been reported to the police without delay or have been the subject of criminal proceedings in the courts.