§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the claim of Mr. and Mrs. D. N. Eastwood, who used to live at 33 Buxton road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, was first registered with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; when he expects the board to come to a conclusion on the claim; and what is the average length of time the board now takes to settle claims.
§ Mr. John PattenThe administration of the criminal injuries compensation scheme and the determination of individual applications is entirely a matter for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. I am accordingly asking the board to reply directly to the hon. Member about this case.
The board does not produce statistics on the average time taken to settle claims. But percentages of cases resolved within certain periods of registration are given in the board's annual report, copies of which are in the Library.