Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance HM Courts and Tribunals Service provides to victims seeking updates on the enforcement of compensation orders; and what service standards apply to responding to such enquiries.

Victims can be informed about the amount of compensation awarded, payments received, and any outstanding balance. HMCTS may also explain the enforcement options available where payment has not been made. However, specific enforcement activity and personal information relating to the defendant cannot be disclosed due to legal and operational requirements including the administration of justice and data protection compliance.

There are currently no formal service standards or published guidelines setting out response times for general enquiries. However, the expectation is that enquiries will normally receive a response within five working days. Where a matter is submitted as a formal complaint, a defined service standard applies and a response should be issued within ten working days.