§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a final financial compensation offer to Judith Ward, wrongly convicted of the 1973 M62 coach bombing. [181]
§ Mr. MichaelJudith Ward's final claim for compensation was only received in the Home Office in April 1997. The next stage involves reaching agreement with Ms Ward on the terms of a memorandum setting out the details of her claim, which will then be forwarded to the independent assessor who is responsible for determining the amount of compensation to be offered. In the circumstances, it is not possible to say precisely when the final offer will be made.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for financial compensation in the case of individuals who were found by the Court of Appeal to have been wrongfully convicted were settled in 1996–97; and on what dates their convictions were quashed. [183]
§ Mr. MichaelSixty-five compensation claims were settled during 1996–97, including 50 stemming from the quashing of a high number of drink-driving convictions in Greater Manchester following possible contamination of blood samples. No central record is maintained of the dates on which the convictions were quashed in those cases involving wrongful conviction.