§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the arrangements for compensating the victims of violent crimes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government are anxious to improve services to all victims of crime. For those seeking compensation under the criminal injuries compensation462W scheme we shall be making available an additional £180 million to meet compensation claims over the next three years. These resources are over and above the current substantial provision of £530 million. In addition we wish to improve and speed up the service to those making claims, especially in the light of the increasing volume of applications.
Some of the main barriers to progress in this area were outlined in last year's wide ranging management review of the CIB. Copies of the report entitled "Management Review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board—Home Office Management Advisory Services with Capita Management Consultancy: June 1991", were placed in the Library of the House. Against that background and after careful consideration we have decided that a simplified procedure based on a tariff structure offers the best prospect of providing quicker payments to claimants through a means that is fair, straightforward and understandable.
Further work is needed to develop the practical aspects of these new arrangements. This work should be completed by the first half of next year when a White Paper will be published setting out the details of the proposed new arrangements. We would expect these to come into operation early in 1994.
Claims already lodged, and those submitted before the new tariff scheme takes effect, will be dealt with by the board under the existing arrangements.