§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of claims for(a) damage caused by terrorists and (b) compensation for disturbance and so on by the security forces in each of the last four years; and what is the cost of claims approved so far during the current year. [34774]
§ Sir John WheelerResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. John Home Robertson, dated 18 July 1995:
The Minister of State, Sir John Wheeler, has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding claims for compensation for criminal damage caused by terrorists and for compensation paid as a result of disturbance related to the activities of the security forces in each of the last four years and so far during the current year.
Compensation paid under Criminal Damage Legislation £ million Year Criminal damage total expenditure Terrorist related expenditure 1991–92 33.1 32.4 (estimate) 1992–93 75.9 74.2 (estimate) 1993–94 67.9 65.9 1994–95 53.8 52.9 First quarter 1995–96 9.5 9.3 (estimate) 1384W
Figures for the amount of compensation which was solely related to criminal damage caused by terrorists are not readily available prior to 1993–94. The figures given for the two prior years are estimates based on percentages in the later years. The figure for terrorist related expenditure in the first quarter of 1995–96 is also an estimate which is subject to confirmation as claims are processed. It must also be noted that as criminal damage compensation is usually paid on a phased basis, consequent upon replacement or rebuilding work, expenditure each year includes compensation for damage which occurred in earlier years.
Compensation paid under emergency provision legislation £ million Year Emergency provisions total expenditure 1991–92 1.9 1992–93 2.8 1993–94 2.6 1994–95 1.7 First quarter 1995–96 0.3 The amounts under this heading relate to claims paid by the Compensation Agency under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991, mainly in respect of damage resulting from military search operations.
Compensation paid by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland £ million Common law total Year expenditure 1991–92 0.3 1992–93 0.3 1993–94 0.3 1994–95 0.3 First quarter 1995–96 0.02
The amounts under this heading relate to payments made by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland in respect of damage incurred during bomb disposal operations, plus other general property claims against the police.None of the amounts in this letter include payments which the Ministry of Defence might make in Northern Ireland, details of which would have to be sought from the Secretary of State for Defence.