§ Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of cases being dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; what is the average time spent on each case in the past 12 months; and if he will take steps to enable cases to be dealt with more rapidly.
§ Mr. BrittanOn 30 April 1980 there were 26,599 cases at various stages of consideration. Complete statistics are not yet available for 1979–80, but in 1978–79 3.5 per cent, of cases were resolved in fewer than three months, 29 per cent in three to six months, 37.3 per cent, in six to nine months, 17.4 per cent, in nine to 12 months and 12.8 per cent, took more than 12 months.
Additional temporary staff have been provided to help reduce the accumulated arrears of unresolved cases, but the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board has to operate within cash limits, which will involve staff reductions. We are afraid, therefore, that we cannot undertake to eliminate delays.