§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JohnWe have no reason to be dissatisfied with the general working of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. But if my hon. Friend knows of any particular case which might give grounds for disquiet and cares to supply me with the details I shall look into it.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to put the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on a statutory basis.
§ Mr. JohnThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is at present under review to see what changes, if any, are necessary if the scheme is to be placed on a statutory footing. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will consider the need for legislation when the report of the working party which is conducting the review is received.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have received awards from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to date.
§ Mr. JohnFrom 1st August 1964, when the scheme was started, to 31st March 1976, 70,402 applicants received awards of compensation.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the most recent available date.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will pub 338W lish in theOfficial Report the total amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the most recent available date.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have arisen from the death of a person.
§ Mr. JohnFrom 1st August 1964 to 31st March 1976, 1,409 applications arose from the death of the victim.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been disallowed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to date.
§ Mr. JohnBetween 1st August 1964 and 31st March 1976, 10,769 applications were refused by the board.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average waiting time for cases to be dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
§ Mr. JohnThe average figure is not available, but the time taken to investigate cases in the year ended 31st March 1976 was as follows:
per cent. Not more than three months 28 More than three months, not more than six months 46 More than six months, not more than nine months 16 More than nine months, not more than 12 months 6 More than 12 months 4 100
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of the administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date.
§ Mr. JohnFrom 1st August 1964 to 31st March 1976 the total cost of administration of the scheme was £3,542,499.
For the year ended 31st March 1976 the cost of administration was £911,165, which constituted 12.3 per cent. of the total expenditure.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claimants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been represented at tribunals to date.
§ Mr. JohnThe information is not available in the form requested, but representation at hearings during the year ended 31st March 1976 was as follows:
Appearance by Number Percentage Counsel 111 13 Solicitors 366 42 Trades union representatives 37 4 Applicant in person 353 41 867 100
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the payment to claimants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board of their costs for legal representatives at tribunals.
§ Mr. JohnThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme does not at present provide for the costs of legal representation at hearings to be met by the board; this is one of the matters under consideration by the working party which is reviewing the scheme.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the annual report of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to be sent to hon. Members and other interested bodies.
§ Mr. JohnThe annual report and accounts of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are presented to Parliament by command of Her Majesty by my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The report for the year ended 31st March 1976 is expected to be presented in November, and will be available on publication from the Vote Office.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases have been dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board involving claimants from Liverpool;
(2) what is the highest amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to a claimant from Liverpool;
340W(3) what is the total amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to claimants from Liverpool;
(4) how many claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been disallowed to claimants from Liverpool.
§ Mr. JohnInformation about applications for compensation from residents of particular areas is, I regret, not available, and could not be assembled without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases are pending with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date.
§ Mr. JohnThe number of unresolved cases at 31st March 1976 was as follows:
Cases where an interim award had been made but where a final assessment was not yet possible 3,472 Cases awaiting hearings or in which hearings had been adjourned 566 Cases awaiting the decision of the applicant 889 Cases under investigation 9,013 13,940