Hillsborough and Stephen Lawrence Inquiries (Hansard, 21 May 1998)

HC Deb 21 May 1998 vol 312 cc452-3W 452W

§ Maria Eagle
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of public money disbursed to assist families and relatives of victims was provided(a) to individual victims and families, (b) family support groups and (c) collectively in respect of (i) the Hillsborough disaster and (ii) Stephen Lawrence's murder; and by what method the allocations were determined. [42983]

§ Mr. Michael
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board advise that injuries sustained in the Hillsborough disaster were not regarded as the result of a crime of violence for the purposes of the criminal injuries compensation scheme, and that, accordingly, no compensation in respect of that disaster was awarded under the scheme.
As regards the Stephen Lawrence murder, in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not the practice of the Board, or the new Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (which deals with applications lodged on or 453W after 1 April 1996), to disclose details about individual applications, including whether applications have been made.

§ Maria Eagle
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions were made out of public funds in respect of costs to(a) commission expert evidence and (b) challenge expert evidence put by another party at the public inquiries into (i) the Hillsborough disaster and (ii) Stephen Lawrence's murder; what was the outturn cost to public funds of such assistance for each inquiry; and how costs were agreed, verified and disbursed. [42981]

§ Mr. Michael
The original papers relating to the Taylor inquiry into the Hillsborough Stadium disaster are being examined to see what information was kept on costs. I will reply to my hon. Friend when that has been done.
The Stephen Lawrence inquiry is still in progress. The Chairman of the inquiry, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, has been asked to recommend how the costs of the inquiry should be met. The inquiry was called under section 49 of the Police Act 1996. There is power under section 49 to defray any costs of the inquiry out of the police fund.