§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to encourage speedier responses to claims by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; [55150]
(2) what is the current average time that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board takes to deal with a claim. [55149]
1210W
§ Mr. MichaelThere are no meaningful average waiting times applicable to criminal injuries compensation claims. Applications range from the very straightforward ones, in which a decision may be issued within weeks, through to exceptionally complex cases where it may take a number of years for the injury to be fairly assessed. It is sometimes impossible to assess fully the level of permanent injury for some considerable time, and this can contribute to delay. Interim payments are usually made in such cases to assist the victim return in the shorter term.
The work of the board is confined to the clearance of cases outstanding under the 1990 common law damages scheme at 31 March 1996. There were then some 110,000 such cases. By 30 September 1998 the board had reduced this figure to 17,500, most awaiting an appeal or other hearing. The aim is to clear these cases by 31 March 2000.
The tariff-based scheme, effective for all claims received on or after 1 April 1996, is operated by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), with appeals being dealt with by the independent Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel (CICAP). The new scheme was designed to be simpler and faster. CICA' s target is to issue a first decision in 90 per cent. of claims within 12 months of receipt. In 1997–98, achievement was 86 per cent. CICAP' s target is to resolve appeals in 80 per cent. of cases within six months. In 1997–98, achievement was 82 per cent.