HC Deb 11 March 1998 vol 308 cc245-6W
Mr. Garnier

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the sums recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit from(a) legally aided claimants and (b) defendants in the case concerned in England and Wales in the last 10 years for which figures are available. [33633]

Mr. Denham

The administration of the Compensation Recovery Unit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. and learned Member.

Letter from David Riggs to Mr. Edward Gamier, dated 10 March 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for a list of the sums recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit from (a) legally aided claimants or (b) defendants in the case concerned in England and Wales in the last 10 years for which figures are available. As Mr. Mathison is away from the office on leave, I am replying. The information is not available in the format required. The Compensation Recovery Unit is not advised of the situation of the plaintiff and whether or not they are "legally-aided". As the Compensation Recovery scheme applies to compensation payments made on or after 3 September 1990, there were no monies recovered during the 1989–90 financial year. Details of the amounts recovered in each financial year since 1990 are given in the table below:

Financial year Amount recovered £ million
1990–91 3.7
1991–92 25.3
1992–93 51.3
1993–94 81.9
1994–95 110.1
1995–96 135.1
1996–97 145.5
1997–8 (to 28.2.98) 153.0

Note:

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

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