HC Deb 23 October 1990 vol 178 cc118-20W
Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff are currently employed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board;

(2) what staff increases have occurred in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board since its inception.

Mr. John Patten

The numbers of staff in post each year since the board's inception are given in the table:

Number
1964–65 11
1965–66 30
1966–67 40
1967–68 58
1968–69 58
1969–70 65
1970–71 65
1971–72 79
1972–73 99
1973–74 99
1974–75 106.5
1975–76 119.5
1976–77 116.5
1977–78 126
1978–79 132.5
1979–80 156.5
1980–81 155
1981–82 163
1982–83 163
1983–84 182
1984–85 189
1985–86 203.5
1986–87 214.5
1987–88 267
1988–89 312
1989–90 332
Present 380.5

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the rate at which the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board resolves cases.

Mr. John Patten

The measures being taken to improve the board's position and performance are fully described in the Government reply (Cm 1153) to the second report from the Home Affairs Committee Session 1989–90 (HC 92).

In summary, the 60 extra staff requested by the board have been recruited to the board's Glasgow office; the scheme has been amended to allow for more streamlined decision taking; a major computer project was started in March, and a thorough review of the board's staffing and procedures is under way.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time it takes for a case to be considered and resolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and what was the equivalent time in 1984.

Mr. John Patten

Information in this form is not available. Percentages of cases resolved by the board within certain periods of registration are shown in its annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were referred to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in the last 12 months for which records are available and for each of the preceding years going back to 1984.

Mr. John Patten

Applications received by the board in each year ended 31 March since 1984 are as follows:

Year
1984–85 34,900
1985–86 39,700
1986–87 42,300

Year
1987–88 43,000
1988–89 43,385
1989–90 53,655

Mr. Pawsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Mr. John Patten

The administrative cost of the board in 1989–90 was £9 million.