§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average period of time taken to settle claims dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in each of the last three years. [135334]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
There are no meaningful average times applicable to claims for criminal injuries compensation. Applications range from the very straightforward ones in which a decision may be issued within a few weeks, through to exceptionally complicated cases in which it may take a number of years for the injury to be fully assessed.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has, however, been able to provide some information about the percentage of cases settled within various time frames under both the current (tariff) scheme and the former (common law damages) scheme. This is summarised in the table.
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Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme1 1996 (Tariff) Scheme time period Number Percentage Cumulative (Percentage) 1997–98 Up to 2 months 4,523 6 6 Over 2, under 4 months 9,933 14 21 Over 4, under 6 months 13,709 20 40 Over 6, under 8 months 15,844 23 63 Over 8, under 10 months 10,925 16 78 Over 10, under 12 months 7,021 10 88 Over 12 months 8,154 12 100 Total 70,109 100 1998–99 Up to 2 months 4,835 6 6 Over 2, under 4 months 11,983 15 21 Over 4, under 6 months 15,236 19 40 Over 6, under 8 months 16,013 20 60 Over 8, under 10 months 12,112 15 75 Over 10, under 12 months 7,157 9 84 Over 12 months 12,378 16 100 Total 79,714 100 1999–2000 Up to 2 months 6,812 9 9 Over 2, under 4 months 14,151 20 29 Over 4, under 6 months 16,040 22 52 Over 6, under 8 months 11,988 17 68 Over 8, under 10 months 7,416 10 79 Over 10, under 12 months 5,161 7 86 Over 12 months 10,171 14 100 Total 71,739 100 1 Time taken to process applications (from receipt to issue of decision)
1990 (Old) Scheme Time to resolve hearings (appeals) Percentage 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Up to 12 months 21 6 4 Over 12 months 79 94 96