§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the proposal of "Justice" that an imprisonment compensation board should be established to assess the amount of compensation to be granted to those found to have been wrongfully imprisoned; and whether they will extend its function to compensate those imprisoned on remand in cases when they are subsequently found not guilty.
§ Lord EltonWe have studied the proposals contained in this report, including the proposals that an imprisonment compensation board should be established and that its functions should extend to cases in which a person has been remanded in custody and subsequently acquitted, with interest. However, we have not yet decided how to respond to them. As the noble Lord will be aware, the Select Committee on Home Affairs in another place are conducting an inquiry into procedures for the investigation of possible miscarriages of justice. This includes the way in which claims for compensation are dealt with, and we do not wish to anticipate their report.