asked the Minister for Justice the reasons for the long delay in having cases dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Tribunal; if he will ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the expeditious dealing with these serious personal matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Delays in Criminal Injuries Tribunal Cases.
123.
There is currently a delay of approximately two years in processing applications before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal.
As I told the House in reply to questions on 10 December, 1985 (Official Report, Vol. 362, No. 9, cols. 1679 and 1680) and on 22 May, 1986 (Official Report, Vol. 366, No. 10, cols. 2125-2128) the delay is partly due to the increase in recent years in the number of applications for compensation received by the tribunal and also the necessity to keep the amount of money which the tribunal may pay out in any one year within the allocation for that year. Everything possible is being done to process cases as quickly as possible but within these constraints.