Parliamentary Question - Sex Abuse Claims
Posted by News Editor
Thursday, October 20, 2005

On the 19th October 2005 Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby, Lab) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department
  1. if he will make a statement on the validation process for individual claims for compensation from claimants alleging historical sex abuse;
  2. whether the validation process for claimants of compensation alleging historical sex abuse include(a) proof under oath, affirmation or equivalent, (b) the opportunity to challenge the account given by the claimant and (c) the opportunity for parties to tender witnesses and documents supporting or challenging the claimant's account.

Fiona Mactaggart (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Race Equality, Community Policy and Civil Renewal), Home Office) replied

Claims for compensation from victims of sexual abuse are considered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. It is for the claimant to make out their case, and CICA determine applications on the balance of probabilities after having made appropriate inquiries of the police, medical and any other relevant authorities.

Applicants are required to sign an application form declaring, among other things, that the information given in the form is true.

Applications to CICA are confidential and details of the application, including whether any application has been made, are not disclosed to any third party without the consent of the applicant

Hansard reference
Acknowledgement,