§ Sir John HuntTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is currently the waiting time for those applying for an oral hearing by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; [20639]
(2) how many cases are currently awaiting an oral hearing by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and what was the number at 1 March 1995; [20638]
(3) what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time for those applying for an oral hearing by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [20637]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Board advises that the average waiting time for an oral hearing is currently 14 months, although almost 50 per cent. of applications for, or referrals to, a hearing are resolved within 12 months.
The number of appeals cases awaiting resolution rose from some 18,000 on 1 March 1995 to 22,800 on 1 March 1996 by reason of the significant increase in the volume 716W of initial decisions issued—93,000—since the first tariff scheme was withdrawn on 5 April 1995, requiring all the previous year's applications to be reprocessed.
The board has expanded its hearing programme to meet this demand and, at the request of its chairman, Lord Carlisle QC, my right hon. and learned Friend recently made additional appointments to the board for this purpose. From 1 April 1996, under the new tariff scheme approved by Parliament in December, there are procedures designed to help contain the number of cases where such hearings are necessary and to enable cases which do require a hearing to be resolved more quickly.