§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review staffing levels at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [52506]
§ Mr. MichaelStaffing and other resources required for the operation of the 1990 scheme under the aegis of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and of the tariff-based scheme by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) are reviewed regularly, as shown in CICA' s business plans. Copies of the plan for 1998–99 should shortly be available in the Library.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeal cases against decisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are pending; and what assessment he has made of the total capacity of the Board to process decisions annually. [52505]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Board advises that there are currently some 16,800 appeals and other hearings cases pending under the 1990 scheme. The plan for clearing such cases at an annual rate of 10,000 was set against the overall target for this year of clearing over 90,000 claims under both the 1990 scheme and the new, tariff-based one (effective for claims made on or after 1 April 1996). That will result in payments of over £200 million, thereby giving victims of violent crime a high degree of priority in the allocation of finite resources.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the withholding of benefit payable by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board where a complainant appeals against a reduction; and if he will make a statement. [52507]
§ Mr. MichaelI have no plans to review the withholding of an award in these circumstances. The position under the schemes is that a claimant has no title to any award offered until he accepts it in full and final settlement. Where he appeals, any earlier decision260W falls; the case must be examined completely afresh and a new decision made upon it. That may be a full award, a reduced award, or no award at all.