HC Deb 24 November 1997 vol 301 cc432-3W
22. Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. [15800]

Mr. Michael

The Great Britain criminal injuries compensation scheme is one of the most generous in the world. In 1996–97 it paid out over £210 million to some 47,000 victims of crime. We are currently looking at expenditure on victims of crime, including expenditure on the scheme, as part of the Government's comprehensive spending review initiated earlier this year. We shall consider whether any changes should be made to the scheme in the light of the findings that emerge from the review.