§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations he has had with the chief constable of North Wales concerning compensation payments to alleged victims of child abuse at North Wales children's homes in circumstances where no proceedings have been taken against those allegedly guilty of the abuse; [27624]
(2) how many alleged victims of child abuse in North Wales children's homes have been paid compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and how many such payments involved victims allegedly abused by persons against whom no police proceedings have taken place. [27627]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 8 May 1996]: I have not had any consultations with the chief constable of the North Wales police on this matter.
I understand that to date the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board has made 27 awards of compensation and refused 14 applications. The number of 260W payments made where no prosecution resulted is not readily available. However, the standard of proof required under the compensation scheme is that obtaining in the civil courts, namely "the balance of probabilities", not the stricter standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" required in the criminal courts. It is accordingly within the board's discretion to make awards in cases where no prosecution is brought.