HC Deb 25 June 1979 vol 969 cc59-61W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the working of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he has plans to extend the criminal injuries compensation scheme;

(3) if he is satisfied with the present scope of the criminal injuries compensation scheme;

(4) if he will consider extending the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board scheme to include persons injured or killed by drivers of stolen vehicles.

(5) what plans there are for putting the criminal injuries compensation scheme on a statutory basis.

Mr. Whitelaw

I am considering all these matters in the light of the recommendations of the working party on the review of the criminal injuries compensation scheme, whose report was published last year. I shall make a statement when the Government have decided what action to take on this report.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total number of claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date;

(2) what is the total amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date.

(3) what is the number of claims made to the Criminal Injuries Board still pending to the latest available date;

(4) how many claims have been rejected on a yearly basis by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date.

Mr. Whitelaw

All the information requested is given on pages 26 and 27 of the fourteenth report of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (Cmnd 7396).

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest available date.

Mr. Whitelaw

£74,714.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board from Liverpool, Merseyside, and the North-West region, respectively, to the latest available date;

(2) what is the total amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to claimants in Liverpool, Merseyside and the North-West region, respectively;

(3) what is the highest amount paid to a claimant by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Liverpool, Merseyside and the North-West region, respectively;

(4) what is the average waiting time for claims to be settled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Liverpool, Merseyside and the North-West region.

Mr. Whitelaw

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if provision is made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for additional payments following an initial settlement to take into account unforeseen aggravation to an injury.

Mr. Whitelaw

The board has power to make, and does make, interim payments before making a final award where a firm medical prognosis cannot be obtained immediately. Where there is a remote but specific risk of more serious effects resulting at a later date—for example, epilepsy or sympathetic ophthalmia—the board notes the case specially and is prepared to reconsider it if the specific deterioration occurs. One of the recommendations currently under consideration is that the board should have limited discretion to reopen cases where an unforeseen serious deterioration in the medical condition of the applicant occurs.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board takes into account inflation and rising costs when determining awards for compensation.

Mr. Whitelaw

The board assesses compensation on the basis of common law damages and, like the courts, does not take account of future inflation or rising costs.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average waiting time for claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board -to be settled;

(2) what is the cost of administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on an annual basis since the scheme commenced to the latest available date.

Mr. Whitelaw

The costs of administration of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the average waiting time for each year are given in the reports of the board, which are published annually as Command Papers.