Priti Patel

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out clearly that local planning authorities should consider all the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, when making plans or taking decisions on new development proposals. Where significant development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, planning authorities should seek to use poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality. Planning Practice Guidance also sets out a preference for the use of lower quality agricultural land.

In the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published in December 2022, the government consulted on a change that will ensure that food production on high value farmland is adequately weighted in the planning process. Government will respond to the consultation in due course.

The Government announced in March 2020 that the amount invested in flood and coastal erosion schemes would be doubled in England to £5.2 billion. This current six-year programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) projects runs from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2027.

At the end of March 2023, the Environment Agency (EA) estimates approximately £1.5 billion of this funding has been invested, with around 60,000 properties better protected from flooding and coastal erosion by over 200 completed schemes.

In the first year of this programme, between April 2021 and March 2022, the EA worked with other risk management authorities (RMAs) to complete around 120 FCERM projects. A list of capital schemes protecting properties, completed between April 2021 and March 2022 is available from Asset Information and Maintenance Programme (data.gov.uk). More details on investment in FCERM work can also be found in the EA’s recently published Flood and coastal erosion risk management report: for 2021/22. This annual report describes the extensive work undertaken by all RMAs to: manage the risks from flooding and coastal erosion; achieve the objectives of the National FCERM Strategy for England; and plan for future flood and coastal erosion risk.

We are aware that the current unprecedented outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) has created challenges for poultry and egg producers. We are working with the industry to support continued business activities.

In October 2022 we announced new support for the poultry industry to assist farmers and producers with the impacts of AI. This includes a change to the existing AI compensation scheme allowing us to provide swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures and give earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation. Any other compensation available to producers would come from the payout of private AI insurance policies and we are working with the industry to support continued access to insurance for those that require it.

We have also introduced market support measures to assist businesses impacted by AI. These included:

• Allowing seasonal poultry producers to slaughter birds, freeze them and then sell them as defrosted products during the period 28 November to 31 December 2022.
• Concessions to the labelling of free-range eggs from poultry housed under AI mandatory housing measures for longer than the 16-week period for which an automatic derogation applies.

Following a reduction in the risk levels, the lifting of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone mandatory housing measures on the 18 April 2023 will come as welcome news to producers. This means that from 18 April, eggs laid by birds with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as ‘free range’ eggs.

We continue to monitor the impacts of Avian Influenza on the poultry and egg sectors.

During the 2022/2023 avian influenza outbreak season starting on 1^st October 2022 up to 15^th November 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in poultry and captive birds at six premises in Essex, of which three have been in the Witham constituency. During the same period of time, HPAI has been confirmed in poultry and captive birds at 121 premises in the UK (111 cases in England, six cases in Scotland, three cases in Wales and one case in Northern Ireland).

Since 1^st October 2022, at premises in Essex where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, approximately 48,500 birds have died or been humanely culled and disposed by HM Government for avian influenza control purposes. Of those, approximately 7,600 birds have been at infected premises in the Witham constituency. During the same period, approximately 3.4 million birds have died or are being culled and disposed by HM Government for avian influenza control purposes in the UK. This is a small proportion of overall poultry production (approximately 20 million birds slaughtered for human consumption per week).

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge, on 21 November 2022, PQ UIN 87857.

Bespoke guidance on the cleansing and disinfection (C&D) requirements are provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) directly to the keeper of flocks affected by avian influenza. A written plan for the work is completed by the keeper and agreed with APHA, setting out in detail how the various actions will be carried out and which approved disinfectants will be used. The full process involves actively cleansing, degreasing, and disinfecting the premises, and then repeating the process one week later. Once 21 days have elapsed since the date APHA have agreed they are satisfied with the secondary C&D work undertaken at the premises, restocking of birds can begin under a licence issued by APHA. How quickly the process is completed, and therefore when business activity can resume is a commercial decision by the keeper.

Keepers at infected premises where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds have a choice to either wait 12 months before restocking birds or undertake secondary cleansing and disinfection to enable them to restock earlier. During the current outbreak on average keepers who chose to undertake secondary cleansing and disinfection and restock have been able to complete this process within 184 days. Decisions around whether to undertake secondary cleansing and disinfection, and how quickly the process is completed, and therefore when business activity can resume is a commercial decision by the keeper.

A trunk road is classified as special if are restrictions on the types of vehicles which can use them, for example a Motorway. The Government has no plans to alter this definition.

Under Section 86 of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) any transfer of litter clearance responsibility would need to be requested by National Highways after consultations with relevant Local Authorities. It is important to take a proportionate, evidence-based approach which recognises the pressures on Local Authority resources and costs associated with roadside litter clearance. The Government expects National Highways to work collaboratively with Local Authorities to solve local issues and keep roadsides clear of litter and refuse as far as is practicable.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and this includes decisions on road schemes which charge users including the Ultra-Low EmissionZone(ULEZ).

It is for the Mayor to determine the impact on all people and firms that do business in the capital, wherever they are based. This includes the impact on freight and logistics businesses, other businesses, and commuters who need to drive into Greater London as part of his impact assessment on the expansion

ULEZ expansion was not the Government’s decision and the Mayor had no legal obligation to consult local or central Government.

As a scheme that applies in London, this is the Mayor’s decision, and he is accountable for the impact of it.

The Government have been clear that grant funding, via the longer-term funding settlement, cannot be used to cover the estimated £250 million cost of implementation.

The Mayor and TfL must cover the cost of his scheme through alternative sources available to them if they wish to proceed with imposing the ULEZ charge.

We are currently assessing nominations for the next round of Access for All, including Marks Tey station. I expect to make an announcement regarding successful schemes in 2023.

No date has been set for the upgrade of Witham station. Greater Anglia, the operator of the station, continues to explore opportunities to progress with the redevelopment, which is subject to wider affordability constraints.

National Highways submitted its application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate in August 2022 and the application has been published on the Inspectorate’s website:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/a12On 12-chelmsford-to-a120-widening-scheme/.

National Highways has assessed the potential impact of the current proposal for Junction 24 of the A12 Widening Scheme on traffic in Inworth. This is set out in the Environmental Statement, Appendix 3.3, Junction 24, Inworth Road and Community Bypass Technical Report on the Inspectorate’s website.

An independent examining authority will carry out an examination of the proposal, including public hearings, and in due course will make a recommendation on whether to grant development consent order. It would not be appropriate to comment further while this application is under consideration.

Schemes to be taken forward as part of the third Road Investment Strategy (2025-2030) are expected to be announced in 2024.

The information requested is not held. There are primary care codes (SNOMED CT) that can be used by primary care teams to record the physical and mental symptoms associated with dependence and withdrawal from prescribed drugs, although there are challenges in linking symptom and diagnostic data with prescribed medicines use.

However, in March 2023, NHS England published ‘Optimising personalised care for adults prescribed medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: framework for action’. The framework sets out the scale of and change to prescribing of five medicines associated with dependence over time. Other sources of data such as Openprescribing also enable variation and comparisons in prescribing to be reviewed at different system levels, such as integrated care board, primary care network or practice level.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 30 March 2023, in 2023/24 the Government will maintain a range of capabilities to protect those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Given the continued effectiveness of vaccines and improved treatments, for most people there is a much lower risk of severe illness compared to earlier in the pandemic.

Appropriate levels of testing will remain to support diagnosis for clinical care and treatment and to protect very high-risk individuals and settings. Those who are at highest risk and immunocompromised are part of the group who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments in the community enabling them easy access to anti-viral treatments. High risk individuals are also part of the priority cohort in line for booster vaccines. The Government will continue to consider the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on future vaccine selection and booster programmes for those at greatest risk. The Government will also maintain essential COVID-19 surveillance activities in the community, primary and secondary care, and in high-risk settings.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent, expert body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE is responsible for the processes it uses in developing its recommendations.

New medicines for COVID-19 that are referred to NICE will be evaluated through NICE’s technology appraisal process. NICE aims to publish guidance within 90 days of marketing authorisation being issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency wherever possible and works with stakeholders to align its appraisal timelines with the regulatory process.

NICE is developing a new review process to update its recommendations on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 treatments so they can be made available more quickly to patients if they show promise against new variants and are found to be cost-effective. NICE recently ran a four week public consultation on proposals for the new rapid update process, which will apply to recommendations NICE has already published on COVID-19 treatments.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 January 2023 to Question 122453.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 January 2023 to Question 122453.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 January 2023 to Question 122453.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 January 2023 to Question 122453.

This is an independent inquiry, which is ongoing. No assessment has been made of the level of evidence provided by current or former staff. The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has assured the Department of the trust’s support for the inquiry and the trust CEO will provide confirmation to Ministers of additional steps to support greater staff participation in the Inquiry.

The Department is also working closely with the inquiry, the trust and NHS England to look at what more can be done to encourage staff to engage with the Inquiry. Ministers will continue to give careful consideration to the progress of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry, and whether or not it should remain on a non-statutory footing.

This is an independent inquiry, which is ongoing. No assessment has been made of the level of evidence provided by current or former staff. The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has assured the Department of the trust’s support for the inquiry and the trust CEO will provide confirmation to Ministers of additional steps to support greater staff participation in the Inquiry.

The Department is also working closely with the inquiry, the trust and NHS England to look at what more can be done to encourage staff to engage with the Inquiry. Ministers will continue to give careful consideration to the progress of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry, and whether or not it should remain on a non-statutory footing.

This is an independent inquiry, which is ongoing. No assessment has been made of the level of evidence provided by current or former staff. The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has assured the Department of the trust’s support for the inquiry and the trust CEO will provide confirmation to Ministers of additional steps to support greater staff participation in the Inquiry.

The Department is also working closely with the inquiry, the trust and NHS England to look at what more can be done to encourage staff to engage with the Inquiry. Ministers will continue to give careful consideration to the progress of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry, and whether or not it should remain on a non-statutory footing.

‘A five-year framework for GP contract reform to implement The NHS Long Term Plan’ was agreed with the British Medical Association and provides clarity on funding for practices until 2023/24. This was updated in 2020 to invest and an additional £1.5 billion to create a further 50 million general practice appointments by 2024 through increasing and diversifying the workforce.

The current framework ends in April 2024 and future funding for general practice, including to support capacity, will be considered in due course.

We will consider the progress of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry and whether it should remain on a non-statutory footing.

Future locations for community diagnostic centres (CDCs) are currently under review. NHS England is working with integrated care systems, diagnostic networks and primary care services to assess and determine the location and configuration of services for future CDCs, based on the needs of the local population. This review will consider a number of sites in Mid and South Essex.

The information requested is not collected at constituency or county level. In England, 68.1% of appointments were conducted face-to-face in September 2022, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations.

Data on the number of patients per full time equivalent general practitioner in each Primary Care Network and integrated care board is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/general-and-personal-medical-services/30-september-2022

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle.

The government sets the AMAP rates to minimise administrative burdens.

Employees can claim up to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and the 25p per mile for subsequent miles. The mileage thresholds reflect that the AMAP rates are designed to cover both a proportion of fixed costs, such as insurance and VED, as well as ongoing costs such as fuel.

Employers are not required to use the AMAPs rates. Instead, they can agree to reimburse a different amount that better reflects their employees’ circumstances. If an employee is paid less than the AMAP rate, they can claim Mileage Allowance Relief (MAR) on the shortfall. However, where payments exceed the relevant AMAP rate, there may be a tax and National Insurance charge on the difference.

Self-employed people can choose to use the simplified mileage rate, or they can claim tax relief using capital allowances and actual expenses.

As with all taxes, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review and any changes are considered and announced at fiscal events.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is publicly consulting on tax certainty in the pillar 2 rules, covering dispute prevention and dispute resolution mechanisms, until 3 February 2023. This includes options for legal instruments to implement the dispute resolution process.

The public consultation can be accessed online at https://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/oecd-invites-comments-on-compliance-and-tax-certainty-aspects-of-global-minimum-tax.htm.

The UK is a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/Group of Twenty (G20) Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), which is collaborating on 15 actions to address tax avoidance.

The OECD sets out the 15 BEPS actions at https://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/beps-actions/.

The recent focus of developments in international tax has been the Two-Pillar Solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy.

The OECD published the two-pillar agreement in 2021, so far signed by 138 countries including the UK, which can be accessed at https://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/statement-on-a-two-pillar-solution-to-address-the-tax-challenges-arising-from-the-digitalisation-of-the-economy-october-2021.htm.

As part of the tax policy making process, the Government routinely holds public consultations on tax policy ahead of implementation.

Since international agreement on the BEPS project in 2015, the Government has consulted ahead of the introduction of new rules in accordance with the BEPS actions. This includes on hybrid mismatch rules, the tax deductibility on corporate interest expense and country by country reporting.

The Government has recently demonstrated its commitment to consultation. In 2022, the Government consulted on the implementation of Pillar 2 in the UK and published a response in July 2022 which can be accessed on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/oecd-pillar-2-consultation-on-implementation.

In July 2022, the Government also led a technical consultation on Income Inclusion Rule draft legislation published on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-the-new-multinational-top-up-tax.

Following consultation, the Government confirmed at Autumn Statement 2022 that it will implement the OECD Pillar 2 rules for accounting periods beginning on or after 31 December 2023.

There is an urgent need to reduce reliance on hotels to accommodate asylum seekers, to reduce cost to taxpayer and to better manage community impacts.

As per standard practice, audited costs for large accommodation sites will be published through the Home Office annual report and accounts.

There is an urgent need to reduce reliance on hotels to accommodate asylum seekers, to reduce cost to taxpayer and to better manage community impacts.

As per standard practice, audited costs for large accommodation sites will be published through the Home Office annual report and accounts.

For each of the sites announced on 29 March 2023, the Home Office will deploy the established dispersal processes for moving service users out of the site, based on need and the current operational capacity across the accommodation estate.

There is already an established procedure in place at Western Jet Foil for performing age assessment on all new arrivals as part of screening.

The initial age decision, based on physical appearance and demeanour, is conducted as soon as practicable. It serves as a first step to ensure individuals are routed into the correct process and avoids unnecessarily subjecting individuals who are clearly adults or clearly children to a comprehensive Merton-compliant age assessment. The threshold is set deliberately high in recognition of the difficulty in assessing an individual’s age based on physical appearance and demeanour.

If doubt remains about whether the claimant is an adult or a child, they are referred for further consideration of their age and treated as a child for immigration purposes until further assessment of their age has been completed. We have placed specific mitigations for large sites which sets the threshold deliberately higher than for other contingency accommodation to ensure the impact on the local community is as minimal as possible

The Home Secretary will take steps to ensure that at the end of the 12 month period, the use of the land for asylum accommodation will cease. It will either be restored to its original condition or planning permission will be alternatively obtained to regularise the development.

The Home Office has committed substantial funding to help minimise the impact on local communities and services. This includes 24/7 security to reduce the need for police patrols, on-site catering, healthcare and transport provision for those housed on site. Discussions regarding the specific funding arrangements for local authorities and the NHS are ongoing, and a grant policy for police forces impacted by new large sites, including Wethersfield, has been published. The government currently provides £3,500 to local authorities for new and occupied dispersal beds. This £3,500 funding for local authorities will be extended to the sites at Wethersfield.

Ministers have also committed to a health funding package for large sites this financial year. This will cover initial set-up costs for Wethersfield against defined parameters and a tariff will be applied for each occupied bed at the end of the financial year as agreed following consultation with health stakeholders.

The Home Office has committed substantial funding to help minimise the impact on local communities and services. This includes 24/7 security, on-site catering, basic healthcare and transport provision for those accomodated on site. Discussions regarding the specific funding arrangements for local authorities and the NHS are ongoing, and a grant policy for police forces impacted by new large sites, including Wethersfield, has been published. The government currently provides £3,500 to local authorities for new and occupied dispersal beds. This £3,500 funding for local authorities will be extended to the sites at Wethersfield.

The current accommodation system is unsustainable and hugely unfair to taxpayers. We recently set out to the House our plans for a fairer asylum accommodation system. It is not appropriate during a cost of living crisis, that the Home Office should be spending around £6m a day housing asylum seekers in hotels.

For these sites, we will use a phased approach, increasing the number of asylum seekers accommodated at the site over time. We will continue to work closely with key local stakeholders to address their concerns and minimise any potential impacts on the local area. We are nearing go-live date and will continue to provide more details.

The site at Wethersfield is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible, in order to minimise the impact on local communities and services. This includes 24/7 security, on-site catering, basic healthcare and transport provision for those housed on site. The safety and security of the local communities, those resident on the sites and the sites themselves are of the utmost importance. The final funding arrangements will be communicated shortly.

Cost information is prospective and commercially sensitive, and as such is not available to be released.

Those arriving in small boats are first taken to facilities in Dover where searches and medical checks are undertaken.

Full border security checks are later completed at Manston before anyone leaves the site. We capture biometric data which is checked and compared against relevant Home Office systems and police databases, including international databases, so we can establish whether the person is a threat to public safety. If they fail, nobody proceeds further.

At Manston, all asylum seekers are offered diphtheria vaccines and antibiotics upon arrival. The Home Office provides 24/7 health facilities at Manston, including trained medical staff and a doctor for all those on site. All asylum seekers undergo a health check upon arrival and, if needed, people are taken to hospital for further care.

A specialist and experienced security provider will be working on site 24/7, with provisions such as mobile CCTV units. We have worked closely with local police forces and MoD teams to ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place.

The Home Office has committed substantial funding to help minimise the impact on local communities and services. This includes 24/7 security, on-site catering, basic healthcare and transport provision for those accommodated on site. The government currently provides £3,500 to local authorities for new and occupied dispersal beds. This £3,500 funding for local authorities will be extended to the sites at Wethersfield. The safety and security of the local communities, the staff and those accommodated on the site are of the utmost importance.

Government is steadfastly committed to tackling illegal migration and stopping dangerous small boat crossings. The broken asylum system is costing UK taxpayers over £1.5 billion a year. We continue to develop proposals for asylum accommodation centres which will help reduce our reliance on the use of hotels.

The first duty of the Government is to protect the public, and we are committed to improving the security of public places, to ensure the public can go about their lives freely and with confidence.

The commitment made to the ‘Protect Duty’ in the Queen’s Speech and the 2019 manifesto remains, and we are working hard to bring forward this important piece of legislation as soon as possible.

It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

This Government is driving down reoffending by investing in a wide range of rehabilitative interventions to help prison leavers secure accommodation, employment, and substance misuse treatment on release. The overall proven reoffending rate for England and Wales was 24.4% in 2020/21, down from 31.6% in 2010/11.

The Ministry of Justice will continue to publish quarterly proven reoffending rates, including breakdowns by non-custodial sentences. For those moved onto licence conditions before their automatic release point, robust licence conditions will apply in every case, with offenders supervised by probation officers. Breach of these licence conditions can result in recall.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

For parts (i) and (ii), details on whether an offence was firearms related or knife related may be held on court record but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate cost.

The below table shows the number of offenders sentenced for any offence type in each of the years 2001 to 2021^(1,2), with a) one prior conviction b) two prior convictions c) three or more convictions⁽²⁾ for previous sexual offences⁽³⁾ and previous rape⁽⁴⁾ offences

1) Offenders are counted once in each of the years in which they received a conviction, where the offender was sentenced in multiple years, they will appear more than once in the table

2) Figures for the years 2020 and 2021 will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

3) Previous convictions are counted based on the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a conviction for any offences recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where there were multiple offences on the same occasion, only the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.

4) Previous sexual offences will include previous rape offences, therefore the individuals counted in the previous rape convictions column, will also appear in the previous sexual offence columns.

Rape offences include attempted rape.

We do not hold the data requested.

We do not hold the data requested.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number and amount of compensation orders issued in courts on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022.

This information, split by court type, is available in the Magistrates' court data tool: 2021 and the Crown Court data tool: 2021. This information for the calendar year of 2022 is due for publication in May.

Please see the accompanying tables for:

• Total value of compensation orders issued;
• The number of defendants issued with a compensation order, by principal sentence outcome and by offence group;
• The 20 largest compensation orders issued in each of the last 5 years, and the offence this was given as a sentence outcome for; and
• Minimum and maximum value of compensation orders issued, by court type.

Compensation is presented in these tables on an all-disposal basis; this is where compensation is recorded in the four most severe disposals. Data in these tables relate to the years ending June 2018 to June 2022 in England and Wales.

Figures on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, are held on HMCTS data systems and presented in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication. These will differ from the court outcomes figures, which record where the compensation was in the four most serious sentences delivered by the court for the defendant.

Figures on the amount of compensation orders issued is published in the HMCTS trust statements for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021-22.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender. Courts are required to strike a balance between seeking reparation and not imposing debts that are unrealistic or unenforceable.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number and amount of compensation orders issued in courts on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022.

This information, split by court type, is available in the Magistrates' court data tool: 2021 and the Crown Court data tool: 2021. This information for the calendar year of 2022 is due for publication in May.

Please see the accompanying tables for:

• Total value of compensation orders issued;
• The number of defendants issued with a compensation order, by principal sentence outcome and by offence group;
• The 20 largest compensation orders issued in each of the last 5 years, and the offence this was given as a sentence outcome for; and
• Minimum and maximum value of compensation orders issued, by court type.

Compensation is presented in these tables on an all-disposal basis; this is where compensation is recorded in the four most severe disposals. Data in these tables relate to the years ending June 2018 to June 2022 in England and Wales.

Figures on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, are held on HMCTS data systems and presented in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication. These will differ from the court outcomes figures, which record where the compensation was in the four most serious sentences delivered by the court for the defendant.

Figures on the amount of compensation orders issued is published in the HMCTS trust statements for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021-22.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender. Courts are required to strike a balance between seeking reparation and not imposing debts that are unrealistic or unenforceable.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number and amount of compensation orders issued in courts on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022.

This information, split by court type, is available in the Magistrates' court data tool: 2021 and the Crown Court data tool: 2021. This information for the calendar year of 2022 is due for publication in May.

Please see the accompanying tables for:

• Total value of compensation orders issued;
• The number of defendants issued with a compensation order, by principal sentence outcome and by offence group;
• The 20 largest compensation orders issued in each of the last 5 years, and the offence this was given as a sentence outcome for; and
• Minimum and maximum value of compensation orders issued, by court type.

Compensation is presented in these tables on an all-disposal basis; this is where compensation is recorded in the four most severe disposals. Data in these tables relate to the years ending June 2018 to June 2022 in England and Wales.

Figures on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, are held on HMCTS data systems and presented in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication. These will differ from the court outcomes figures, which record where the compensation was in the four most serious sentences delivered by the court for the defendant.

Figures on the amount of compensation orders issued is published in the HMCTS trust statements for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021-22.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender. Courts are required to strike a balance between seeking reparation and not imposing debts that are unrealistic or unenforceable.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number and amount of compensation orders issued in courts on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022.

This information, split by court type, is available in the Magistrates' court data tool: 2021 and the Crown Court data tool: 2021. This information for the calendar year of 2022 is due for publication in May.

Please see the accompanying tables for:

• Total value of compensation orders issued;
• The number of defendants issued with a compensation order, by principal sentence outcome and by offence group;
• The 20 largest compensation orders issued in each of the last 5 years, and the offence this was given as a sentence outcome for; and
• Minimum and maximum value of compensation orders issued, by court type.

Compensation is presented in these tables on an all-disposal basis; this is where compensation is recorded in the four most severe disposals. Data in these tables relate to the years ending June 2018 to June 2022 in England and Wales.

Figures on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, are held on HMCTS data systems and presented in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication. These will differ from the court outcomes figures, which record where the compensation was in the four most serious sentences delivered by the court for the defendant.

Figures on the amount of compensation orders issued is published in the HMCTS trust statements for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021-22.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender. Courts are required to strike a balance between seeking reparation and not imposing debts that are unrealistic or unenforceable.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number and amount of compensation orders issued in courts on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022.

This information, split by court type, is available in the Magistrates' court data tool: 2021 and the Crown Court data tool: 2021. This information for the calendar year of 2022 is due for publication in May.

Please see the accompanying tables for:

• Total value of compensation orders issued;
• The number of defendants issued with a compensation order, by principal sentence outcome and by offence group;
• The 20 largest compensation orders issued in each of the last 5 years, and the offence this was given as a sentence outcome for; and
• Minimum and maximum value of compensation orders issued, by court type.

Compensation is presented in these tables on an all-disposal basis; this is where compensation is recorded in the four most severe disposals. Data in these tables relate to the years ending June 2018 to June 2022 in England and Wales.

Figures on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, are held on HMCTS data systems and presented in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication. These will differ from the court outcomes figures, which record where the compensation was in the four most serious sentences delivered by the court for the defendant.

Figures on the amount of compensation orders issued is published in the HMCTS trust statements for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021-22.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender. Courts are required to strike a balance between seeking reparation and not imposing debts that are unrealistic or unenforceable.

The Government is committed to supporting bereaved families after public disasters, including their participation in any inquests and inquiries. Proposals to introduce an Independent Public Advocate were the subject of a public consultation in 2018 and we are carefully considering the best way forward in light of the responses received and recent work.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on total compensation and amount paid, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, which can be found in Table A2 in Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: June 2022 publication.

Information on the average value of compensation orders, on an all-disposal basis, by offence type, in England and Wales, for year ending December 2015 up to year ending December 2017 is available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2020 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 6.04 MB)

and for year ending June 2018 up to year ending June 2022 is available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 83.2 MB).

The ten largest compensation orders issued by the courts between 2015 and June 2022 are listed in the attached spreadsheet.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender.

The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number of compensation orders, on a principal and all-disposal basis, by offence type, in England and Wales. For figures for year ending December 2015 up to year ending December 2017 the information is available in Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2020 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 6.04 MB) and for figures between year ending June 2018 up to year ending June 2022 the information is available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2022 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 83.2 MB). For number of compensation orders issued, on a principal disposal basis (most severe disposal offender received) see the ‘Sentencing Outcomes’ worksheet and for an all-disposal basis see the ‘Compensation’ worksheet.

Courts may impose a compensation order on an offender requiring them to make financial reparation to the victim for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence. Compensation may be ordered for such amount as the court considers appropriate having regard to any evidence including any representations made by the offender or prosecutor. There is no limit on the value of a single compensation order handed down to an adult offender. However, in determining whether to make a compensation order, and the amount to be paid under such an order, the court must take into account the financial circumstances of the offender.

The government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) exists to compensate for serious physical or psychological injury attributable to being a direct victim of a crime of violence. It provides an important avenue of redress for such victims and is part of the wider package of general and specialist support available to victims of crime.

In our Victims Strategy published in September 2018, we announced a review of the Scheme. The review examined whether the Scheme remains fit for purpose, reflects the changing nature of violent crime and effectively support victims in their recovery. In 2020, we held a public consultation on proposals to make claiming compensation simpler and more accessible for victims of violent crime. This was followed by a supplementary consultation in summer 2022 on whether the unspent convictions eligibility rule should be revised. Our conclusions will be shared in due course.

The campaign to appoint a Victims’ Commissioner concluded in July without an appointment being made. A new campaign is currently underway and we expect to identify a new Victims’ Commissioner in early 2023.

Both officials and ministers meet regularly with the sector (for example, via the Victim and Witness Sector Engagement Group) to ensure that the voices of victims and witnesses continue to be heard.

The campaign to appoint a Victims’ Commissioner concluded in July without an appointment being made. A new campaign is currently underway and we expect to identify a new Victims’ Commissioner in early 2023.

Both officials and ministers meet regularly with the sector (for example, via the Victim and Witness Sector Engagement Group) to ensure that the voices of victims and witnesses continue to be heard.