§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to co-opt victims of the Troubles onto the Victims" Advisory Panel; [142755]
(2) how many people in Great Britain have made claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority as a result of the Northern Ireland Troubles; [142756]
104W(3) what representations he has received concerning the inclusion of the needs of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain within the remit of the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses; [142823]
(4) if he will establish an interdepartmental group in the Home Office Victims Unit to study the needs of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain; [142825]
(5) if he will set up an independent support network for victims of the Troubles. [142861]
§ Paul GogginsThe answers to the questions are as follows.
Any victim of a crime occurring in England and Wales can apply to be a member of the Victims Advisory Panel. The next recruitment campaign for lay members will take place in 2005. Civilian victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles who live in Great Britain can apply. None did so when we first advertised for members in 2002.
There are no centrally held statistics about claims for compensation from victims of terrorist crime before the introduction of the tariff-based scheme in April 1996. In the period between then and 11 September 2001, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority received 588 claims arising from incidents of terrorist bombings in Great Britain. There is no reliable way of giving a definitive breakdown between those related to the Troubles or to other terrorist incidents.
No specific representations have been received about including the needs of victims of the Troubles within the remit of the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses. The Commissioner, once appointed, will have a responsibility to promote and champion the needs of victims and witnesses of all crimes, who are resident in England and Wales.
The National Strategy for Victims and Witnesses published in July 2003 set out the Government"s plans for improving services to all victims. Although not specifically identified as a group separate from others who are bereaved or seriously injured as a result of crime, victims of terrorist incidents in England and Wales are included within the strategy. Work to implement the strategy has now begun, although there are no immediate plans to set up a group to study the needs of the victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain.
There are already a number of independent victims" organisations operating in England and Wales at both national and local level, most notably the voluntary organisation, Victim Support, which this year received a grant of £30 million from the Government. Victim Support provides practical advice and emotional support to victims of all types of crime, including terrorist crime. If people who have been affected by the Troubles wish to set up their own independent support network, they are free to do so.