Oral Answers to Questions

Lindsay Roy Excerpts

Tuesday 28th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Djanogly]

I think the hon. Gentleman misunderstands the present system. At the moment, perpetrators rarely receive legal aid; it is the victims of domestic violence who receive it. That means that in the current system the victims face the perpetrators of the crime. The reality is that on a day-to-day basis the judiciary are having to deal with this and have set procedures that they go through to make the process as good as possible for the victims.

[Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes) (Lab)]

10. What the reason is for the time taken to implement agreements on the compensation of victims of terrorism overseas.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Crispin Blunt)]

We are examining this issue in tandem with the domestic criminal injuries scheme and will publish our proposals on victims in the coming weeks.

[Lindsay Roy]

I thank the Minister for his response. Has he made an assessment of how other countries, such as France and Australia, have been able to implement promptly the agreements on compensation for such victims outwith their natural boundaries?

[Mr Blunt]

As the hon. Gentleman will know, the House decided when we passed the Crime and Security Act 2010 that it was likely that the forward-looking scheme would relate to the criminal injuries compensation scheme. We are coming forward with proposals on the criminal injuries compensation scheme and are taking these things in tandem.