§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total amounts of compensation due to victims of bomb damage in Northern Ireland at the end of each of the last eight quarters.
§ Mr. ConcannonSeparate records are not maintained of the total amounts of compensation paid under the Northern Ireland Criminal Injuries Acts 1956–70, the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 and the Criminal Injuries to Property (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) Act 1971 to victims of bomb damage as distinct from any other type of injury.
Payments for compensation under these Acts have been made as follows:
Year Persons Property 1974–75 £6,022,556 £40,209,285 1975–76 £7,937,751 £45,844,522 1976–77 £2,861,619 £16,099,510 (to 30th September)
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is now the average delay between receipt of a damage claim and payment thereof.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe average period between receipt of a notice of intention to apply for compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Property (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and payment thereof in respect of claims settled in the second quarter of this year, the latest period for which figures are available, was 61 weeks.
607W
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from Northern Ireland traders suffering as a result of delays in payment of compensation claims.
§ Mr. ConcannonFrom time to time individual traders have made representations to my right hon. Friend either direct or through their Members of Parliament about alleged delays in having their compensation claims settled. My right hon. Friend has also received similar representations of a more general nature from trade associations. Each case is investigated fully and every effort is made to settle claims expeditiously. Substantial amounts of public money are involved, and in the administration of the Act each claim must be properly scrutinised. The administration of compensation cannot, therefore, be an instant process. As soon as legal entitlement and a minimum level of quantum are established interim payments may be made in appropriate cases to enable a claimant, for example,
Body Chartered Accountants Fee£ Financial year ended Northern Ireland Electricity Service Messrs. Atkinson and Boyd 23,240 31st March 1975 Queen's University Messrs. Cooper and Lybrand 5,439 31st July 1975 New University of Ulster Messrs. Bell, Gray, Stewart, Madill & Co. 2,700 31st July 1975 Ulster College (Northern Ireland) Polytechnic. Messrs. J. H. R. Adams & Co. 5,022 31st March 1975 The Arts Council Messrs. Price, Waterhouse & Co. 1,800 31st March 1976 St. Mary's College Messrs. Magee and Hillan 540 31st March 1975 St. Joseph's College Messrs. Magee and Hillan 932 31st March 1975 The above information relates to the appointment of chartered accountants for
608Wto restock, rebuild, or find alternate accommodation.