HC Deb 22 July 1986 vol 102 cc151-2W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of staff in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, dealing with applicants for the criminal injuries award, for each of the years from 1978–79 to 1985–86.

Mr. Mellor

The number of staff in post at the board on 1 April of each year from 1978 to 1985 was as follows (part-time staff being each counted as one-half):

Date Staff in post
April 1978 126
April 1979 132.5
April 1980 156.5
April 1981 155
April 1982 163
April 1983 163
April 1984 182
April 1985 189

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year from 197879 to 1985–86.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested was published in respect of the financial years 1978–79 to 1984–85 in the 17th and 21st reports of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (Cmnd. 8401 and Cmnd. 9684). The provisional figure for applications to the board in 1985–86 is about 39,700.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much money was set aside for compensation in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year from 1978–79 to 1985–86.

(2) how much money was set aside for administration in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year from 1978–79 to 1985–86.

Mr. Mellor

The amounts included in Budget estimates and supplementary estimates for grant-in-aid to the board were:

Financial year Compensation Administration
£ £
1978–79 13,761,000 1,674,000
1979–80 20,691,000 2,234,000
1980–81 27,244,000 3,000,000
1981–82 23,400,000 3,662,000
1982–83 29,000,000 3,689,000
1983–84 33,000,000 3,955,000
1984–85 38,000,000 4,747,000
1985–86 41,497,000 5,000,000

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of applications which have been unresolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board after (a) one year, (b) five years and (c) over five years.

Mr. Mellor

The precise information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. As stated in the most recent annual report of the board (Cmnd. 9684, paragraph 5), three quarters of the cases resolved in the financial year 1984–85 were resolved within a year of receipt.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of time for compensation claims to be fully assessed in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year from 1978–79 to 1985–86.

Mr. Mellor

Information is not available about the average length of time taken to deal with applications.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of applications dealing with assaults on public transport staff to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year from 1978–79 to 1985–86.

Mr. Mellor

Statistics are no longer kept on the categories of applicants to the board. The latest available figures are for 1978–79 and 1979–80. In these years, 455 and 421 applications respectively were made to the board in respect of assaults on public transport staff in the course of their duties.