Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (Hansard, 13 July 1990)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to recruit and train more staff for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. John Patten
Most of the 60 extra staff requested by the chairman of the board and recommended by the Home346W Affairs Select Committee in January (Second Report: Session 1989–90—HC92) are in post and have completed their basic training. The rest are expected to be in post by the end of July.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when working conditions and staff accommodation in the offices of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are to be reviewed and modernised.

§ Mr. John Patten
I understand that the office in Glasgow, where most of the board's staff are based, is already decorated and furnished to a good standard. The board's London offices, which are modern and suit the board's needs, are to be redecorated shortly.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from organisations concerning the figures used to assess new allocations of staff to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

§ Mr. John Patten
We have received no outside representations, but officials have discussed with the Home Office trade union side concerns about the level of output expected now that the board has been given more staff.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allocate a larger percentage of the staff of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to London.

§ Mr. John Patten
The relocation of posts from London to Glasgow was based on our assessment that the board could work more economically and efficiently if as much of its administrative work was transferred to Glasgow as could practically and conveniently be done there. This remains our approach, which is why the 60 new staff have been recruited predominantly in Glasgow. The board, which is responsible for managing its own operations, keeps check of the balance of staff and work between the two offices.