§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many military service personnel have 175W received awards following injuries received in Northern Ireland from the Northern Ireland criminal injuries compensation scheme; how many cases have been reviewed after an award has been made; and how many awards were increased as a result of review. [37097]
§ 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. Jeff Rooker, dated 16 October 1995:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding the number of military service personnel who have received compensation under the Northern Ireland criminal injury compensation scheme.
Compensation is paid under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, which provides a right to compensation for injury or death caused by violent (including terrorist) offences in Northern Ireland. This scheme applies equally to civilians and members of the security forces.
The number of claims resulting in payment to military service personnel in each year since 1989–90 is set out in the table below. (Military service personnel has been taken to include members of the regular Army and both full-time and part-time members of the UDR/R Irish.)
Awards of Compensation to Military Service Personnel Financial Year Number of awards 1989–90 336 1990–91 375 1991–92 146 1992–93 382 1993–94 307 1994–95 295 Information about the number of awards prior to 1989–90 is not available.
It is not possible under the legislation to re-open cases or increase amounts once awards have formally been settled and the appeal period passed or where, in contested cases, awards are made by the Courts. Neither the Courts nor the Secretary of State can subsequently reinstate cases.
You may also wish to know that most applicants obtain the services of solicitors and will therefore have received legal advice before accepting offers of compensation in full and final settlement of their claims. Army Legal Services provide military personnel with advice at no cost to the individual and, in cases where outside solicitors are engaged, the Agency pays the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in making out and verifying successful claims, which normally includes the costs of such solicitors.
I trust this explains the position fully.