§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the sums paid for(a) criminal injuries and (b) criminal damage, which arose as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available and the amount estimated for such payments in the appropriation orders for those years; how any shortfall in the estimates was funded; what other 602W Northern Ireland programmes were reduced as a result of transfers to pay for such damage; and whether payments were sought and received from the contingency fund to cover higher than expected compensation payments.
§ Mr. MatesThe available information on the amounts paid for criminal injuries and criminal damage resulting from terrorist activity is as follows:
Financial year Criminal damage £000 Criminal injuries £000 11988–89 11,766 3,466 1989–90 18,168 6,489 1990–91 18,756 7,965 1991–92 29,765 10,878 1 From 6 August 1988. The amounts exclude costs incurred by applicants in making their claims. In formulating estimates, no distinction is made between terrorist and non-terrorist compensation.
Within the Northern Ireland block, the Secretary of State has flexibility to reallocate any savings in order to meeting increased requirements. In recent years the amount of such savings has generally been sufficient to cover new demands, including compensation costs, without the need for imposed reductions or access to the reserve. In 1991–92, exceptionally, it was necessary to introduce a brief moratorium on certain—mainly capital —expenditure as a result of substantial increased demands: these arose primarily in education and health rather than solely or mainly in relation to compensation costs.