Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent each year since 2010-11 on ensuring that Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme claimaints have been able to obtain the evidence required for their claim.

Under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (the Scheme), the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) will meet the reasonable cost of obtaining medical evidence incurred in connection with an application when certain criteria are satisfied.

The table shows the CICA’s expenditure on medical evidence per financial year. Medical evidence includes doctor reports, dental reports, and special reports commissioned on behalf of CICA.

In 2017/18, CICA directly employed a number of clinical psychologists which contributed to a reduction in expenditure on special reports and reduced the need for some victims to attend face-to-face medical examinations.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) 2008 was superseded by the CICS 2012 from 27 November 2012. The new Scheme changed the eligibility criteria to receive an award of compensation. Under this Scheme, applicants are expected to meet the costs of providing initial medical evidence up to a maximum cost of £50, unless they cannot afford to do so.

The data is unavailable for 2011-12 due a change in how this type of expenditure was recorded in CICA’s annual report and accounts.