HC Deb 01 December 1992 vol 215 cc133-4W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many owner-occupiers have now submitted claims for compensations as a result of damage caused by the IRA bomb at the forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda on 23 September; in how many of these claims authorisation has been given to issue interim payments; and how many interim payments of more than £2,000 have now been made.

Mr. Mates

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive Mr. J. Robinson. I have asked him for a reply to be given.

Letter from J. Robinson to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 30 November 1992: I refer to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the criminal damage resulting from the bombing of the Forensic Science Laboratory at Newtownbreda on 23 September. The Secretary of State has asked me to respond. In total 727 applications for compensation have been lodged in connection with this incident and 179 interim payments made. Of the total number of applications received 490 are in respect of owner/occupiers and to date interim payments have been authorised in 122 of these cases. Twenty-two of the interim payments to owner/occupiers have been above £2,000. In addition 56 offers of settlement have been made to owner/occupiers three of whom had already received interim payments. As you may appreciate, many of the claimants are covered by household insurance policies and the Compensation Agency has to take account of this and other interests before making interim payments or settling claims.