§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the impact on the criminal injuries compensation scheme of the decision in Rv. CICAP ex parte August and ex parte Brown; and if he will make a statement. [12969]
§ Mr. DenhamThe handling of individual cases, or groups of case, is entirely a matter for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the independent appellate body, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel. Ministers do not get involved in or comment on those bodies' handling of individual applications or their interpretation of the scheme rules.
However, I understand that in the light of the outcome of this judicial review, the claims officers of the Compensation Authority and the Adjudicators of the Appeals Panel will continue to determine whether an applicant was a non-consenting victim of a sexual offence by considering each case on its facts and circumstances.