§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received urging, and what plans he has to ensure, that when magistrates courts award sums in compensation to be paid to victims of assault by their assailants that those amounts are paid by the court and received from the assailant by them.
Mr. John M. TaylorRepresentations to this effect are received from time to time. However, if compensation were paid to compensatees directly from court funds, this would create a free loan for offenders at taxpayers' expense. If offenders defaulted, it would result in a new burden on the public purse. The proposal would also remove the element of restitution from the court's sentence. We believe that it is important for offenders to be required to repay their victims.