Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to deploy staff with training on supporting people affected by terrorism within the Criminal Injuries and Compensation Authority.

While no amount of compensation can make up for the ordeal suffered by victims of terrorism, it is right survivors get the support they need including through the publicly funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that has paid out more than £173 million to victims of violent crime in the last year alone.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), who also administer the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme (VOCTS), have a designated team to handle applications made due to terrorist incidents, and the team works with relevant authorities to gather the information required to establish eligibility and assess the claims made, as quickly as possible after they are received.

All staff have the right level of scheme training to manage applications from victims and their loved ones. It has invested in trauma-informed training and practice and continues to work with specialist organisations who work closely with victims to ensure victims get the support needed.