HC Deb 12 December 1977 vol 941 cc21-2W
Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State to the Home Department to what extent criminal injuries compensation was paid to men and women, respectively, during 1975–76, and up to the last date for which the information is available; and whether these payments or awards take into consideration the effect of inflation, or the reduced real value of money.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Statistics relating to compensation paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board do not distinguish between male and female applicants and the figures requested could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. Awards made by the Board are normally in the form of lump sum payments assessed on the basis of common law damages. The Board follows the practice of the civil courts in analogous cases, which has been to award the value set upon the injury at the time the award is made.

Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of meeting claims for criminal injuries compensation on behalf of wives who sustained serious injuries as a result of attacks on them by their spouses; and whether the guilty party is made to meet the cost of compensation.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme precludes the payment of compensation where the victim and the assailant were living together at the time of the incident as members of the same family. Compensation under the scheme may be payable in cases where a wife who was living apart from her husband permanently was injured by him, but such cases could not be identified without disproportionate expense. Where a court has made a compensation order against an assailant, any compensation paid to the victim by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board takes account of payments made by the assailant under the order, but the Board itself has no power to order an assailant to pay compensation.