§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on out-of-court payments made to ex-residents of the Kincora boys' home.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 15 January 1990]: The manner in which claims for compensation are finally settled is entirely a matter for agreement between the parties. Out-of-court settlements are, however, quite usual in civil actions and are to the advantage of all parties.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what compensation payments have been made to ex-residents of the Kincora boys' home; on what dates they were made; how many cases are still to be processed; and on what dates he expects further cases to be settled.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 15 January 1990]: To date, compensation payments have been made to five ex-residents, as follows: £5,000 on 31/3/88; £10,000 on 26/5/89; £7,500 on 26/5/89; £2,500 on 19/7/89; £6,000 on 10/8/89. Eight further claims remain to be processed, but it is not possible to give any indication of when they will be settled.
In my reply of 23 June 1989, Official Report, column 265, I stated that one of the claims had been settled on 15 April 1988. This date was incorrect and should have been 23 March 1988. I regret this error. The claim settled on 23 March was paid on 31 March as indicated above.