Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with representative groups of the Windrush generation on the compensation process.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Last year, the Government reiterated its renewed commitment to ensuring everyone who was affected by the Home Office Windrush scandal receives every penny of the compensation to which they are entitled at the earliest point possible and members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve swiftly and with dignity. The Scheme has since taken forward several actions to honour that commitment.
The Home Office continues to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders to ensure that the Scheme is operating effectively for those affected. The changes made to the Scheme in December 2020, August 2022 and October 2025, mean people receive significantly more money more quickly. We have significantly accelerated our claims processing and continue to reduce waiting times. Our ongoing improvements are aimed at ensuring claimants receive timely outcomes. These significant and positive policy changes were made following consultation with claimants and stakeholders. Detailed information on the changes was shared in the Written Ministerial Statement by Lord Hanson, published on 27 October 2025.
Information on the progress made by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of September 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: September 2025 - GOV.UK
Since announcing the Government’s commitment to deliver on its manifesto promises to the Windrush Generations in October 2024, Ministers have also been determined to hear directly from impacted communities and individuals. Reverend Clive Foster MBE was appointed as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025, fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role ensures that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change. Furthermore, over the past 12 months, the Windrush Compensation Scheme has attended over 95 engagement events, including the Windrush National Organisation Conference, to promote awareness of the scheme. The Home Office has also worked closely with organisations through the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund to improve access to advocacy and support for claimants. Home Office Ministers have held one to one meetings, attended Windrush events and exhibits, and on three occasions the Home Office has opened its doors to host Windrush events.
All staff undertake a training programme which includes a module providing a history of Windrush and what happened prior to the launch of the Compensation Scheme. It includes clips of people from the Windrush generation, as well as case studies, to provide insights into the way people have been affected. Once staff have completed this programme, they follow a structured mentoring programme which further develops Decision Makers’ skills and knowledge.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department has used as a basis for its assessment of the effectiveness changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Last year, the Government reiterated its renewed commitment to ensuring everyone who was affected by the Home Office Windrush scandal receives every penny of the compensation to which they are entitled at the earliest point possible and members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve swiftly and with dignity. The Scheme has since taken forward several actions to honour that commitment.
The Home Office continues to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders to ensure that the Scheme is operating effectively for those affected. The changes made to the Scheme in December 2020, August 2022 and October 2025, mean people receive significantly more money more quickly. We have significantly accelerated our claims processing and continue to reduce waiting times. Our ongoing improvements are aimed at ensuring claimants receive timely outcomes. These significant and positive policy changes were made following consultation with claimants and stakeholders. Detailed information on the changes was shared in the Written Ministerial Statement by Lord Hanson, published on 27 October 2025.
Information on the progress made by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of September 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: September 2025 - GOV.UK
Since announcing the Government’s commitment to deliver on its manifesto promises to the Windrush Generations in October 2024, Ministers have also been determined to hear directly from impacted communities and individuals. Reverend Clive Foster MBE was appointed as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025, fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role ensures that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change. Furthermore, over the past 12 months, the Windrush Compensation Scheme has attended over 95 engagement events, including the Windrush National Organisation Conference, to promote awareness of the scheme. The Home Office has also worked closely with organisations through the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund to improve access to advocacy and support for claimants. Home Office Ministers have held one to one meetings, attended Windrush events and exhibits, and on three occasions the Home Office has opened its doors to host Windrush events.
All staff undertake a training programme which includes a module providing a history of Windrush and what happened prior to the launch of the Compensation Scheme. It includes clips of people from the Windrush generation, as well as case studies, to provide insights into the way people have been affected. Once staff have completed this programme, they follow a structured mentoring programme which further develops Decision Makers’ skills and knowledge.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent training has been provided to staff administering the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Last year, the Government reiterated its renewed commitment to ensuring everyone who was affected by the Home Office Windrush scandal receives every penny of the compensation to which they are entitled at the earliest point possible and members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve swiftly and with dignity. The Scheme has since taken forward several actions to honour that commitment.
The Home Office continues to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders to ensure that the Scheme is operating effectively for those affected. The changes made to the Scheme in December 2020, August 2022 and October 2025, mean people receive significantly more money more quickly. We have significantly accelerated our claims processing and continue to reduce waiting times. Our ongoing improvements are aimed at ensuring claimants receive timely outcomes. These significant and positive policy changes were made following consultation with claimants and stakeholders. Detailed information on the changes was shared in the Written Ministerial Statement by Lord Hanson, published on 27 October 2025.
Information on the progress made by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of September 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: September 2025 - GOV.UK
Since announcing the Government’s commitment to deliver on its manifesto promises to the Windrush Generations in October 2024, Ministers have also been determined to hear directly from impacted communities and individuals. Reverend Clive Foster MBE was appointed as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025, fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role ensures that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change. Furthermore, over the past 12 months, the Windrush Compensation Scheme has attended over 95 engagement events, including the Windrush National Organisation Conference, to promote awareness of the scheme. The Home Office has also worked closely with organisations through the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund to improve access to advocacy and support for claimants. Home Office Ministers have held one to one meetings, attended Windrush events and exhibits, and on three occasions the Home Office has opened its doors to host Windrush events.
All staff undertake a training programme which includes a module providing a history of Windrush and what happened prior to the launch of the Compensation Scheme. It includes clips of people from the Windrush generation, as well as case studies, to provide insights into the way people have been affected. Once staff have completed this programme, they follow a structured mentoring programme which further develops Decision Makers’ skills and knowledge.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to report on the progress of the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Last year, the Government reiterated its renewed commitment to ensuring everyone who was affected by the Home Office Windrush scandal receives every penny of the compensation to which they are entitled at the earliest point possible and members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve swiftly and with dignity. The Scheme has since taken forward several actions to honour that commitment.
The Home Office continues to listen and respond to feedback from affected communities and stakeholders to ensure that the Scheme is operating effectively for those affected. The changes made to the Scheme in December 2020, August 2022 and October 2025, mean people receive significantly more money more quickly. We have significantly accelerated our claims processing and continue to reduce waiting times. Our ongoing improvements are aimed at ensuring claimants receive timely outcomes. These significant and positive policy changes were made following consultation with claimants and stakeholders. Detailed information on the changes was shared in the Written Ministerial Statement by Lord Hanson, published on 27 October 2025.
Information on the progress made by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of September 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: September 2025 - GOV.UK
Since announcing the Government’s commitment to deliver on its manifesto promises to the Windrush Generations in October 2024, Ministers have also been determined to hear directly from impacted communities and individuals. Reverend Clive Foster MBE was appointed as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025, fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role ensures that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change. Furthermore, over the past 12 months, the Windrush Compensation Scheme has attended over 95 engagement events, including the Windrush National Organisation Conference, to promote awareness of the scheme. The Home Office has also worked closely with organisations through the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund to improve access to advocacy and support for claimants. Home Office Ministers have held one to one meetings, attended Windrush events and exhibits, and on three occasions the Home Office has opened its doors to host Windrush events.
All staff undertake a training programme which includes a module providing a history of Windrush and what happened prior to the launch of the Compensation Scheme. It includes clips of people from the Windrush generation, as well as case studies, to provide insights into the way people have been affected. Once staff have completed this programme, they follow a structured mentoring programme which further develops Decision Makers’ skills and knowledge.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for compensation her Department has received for the Windrush Compensation Scheme since that scheme began; and how many and what proportion of those claims were (a) rejected and (b) successful.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Information on the number of claims received by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of May 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: May 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Windrush Compensation Scheme will (a) deal with outstanding claims and (b) be closed.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our priority is to ensure people receive the compensation they are due as quickly as possible. We have reduced the time to allocate a claim for a substantive casework consideration, from four months a year ago to less than six weeks now. The six-week period includes all essential eligibility checks, together with a Preliminary Assessment to make an initial payment of £10,000 wherever possible.
The department does not impose time limit targets for concluding claims, as each person’s claim is deeply personal and deserves to be processed with the utmost care and sensitivity. This holistic approach necessarily takes time but is ultimately beneficial to individuals.
There is no cap on the amount of compensation that can be paid by the WCS overall, and the Scheme has no end date – ensuring that no one is prevented from applying for compensation.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for compensation have been made under the Windrush Scheme from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Information on the number of people who have received documentation confirming their status and the number of people who have been granted British citizenship under the Windrush Scheme is published as part of the quarterly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of Quarter 1 2025, is available here: Windrush Status Scheme data: Q1 2025.
Information on the number of claims received by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of May 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: May 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people received documentation confirming (a) their status and (b) British Citizenship under the Windrush Scheme between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Information on the number of people who have received documentation confirming their status and the number of people who have been granted British citizenship under the Windrush Scheme is published as part of the quarterly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of Quarter 1 2025, is available here: Windrush Status Scheme data: Q1 2025.
Information on the number of claims received by the Windrush Compensation Scheme is published as part of the monthly Transparency Data release. The latest published data, covering the period up to the end of May 2025, is available here: Windrush Compensation Scheme data: May 2025 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Windrush Commissioner will have access to departmental data relating to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 18 June we announced Rev Clive Foster MBE as the new Windrush Commissioner. Rev Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham with deep personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated from Jamaica in 1959, so brings both lived experience and professional expertise to this crucial role.
Once the Commissioner formally starts his role, we will work with him as he establishes his office, sets his priorities, agrees the mechanisms by which he will interact with both the Home Office and wider government.
It is expected that the Commissioner’s reporting arrangements will mirror those already in place for existing Home Office appointed Commissioners.
Asked by: Liam Conlon (Labour - Beckenham and Penge)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support victims of the Windrush scandal.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This government is determined to put right the appalling injustices caused by the Home Office’s treatment of members of the Windrush community, making sure that those affected receive the compensation they deserve quickly and ensuring cultural change is embedded permanently into the fabric of the department.
We are committed to engaging directly with the communities most affected to understand their views and priorities, and to ensure their voices are heard. Both I and the Home Secretary have met, and will continue to listen to, those directly affected by the scandal and representatives of groups advocating for them.
In February, we launched the recruitment for a Windrush Commissioner, which marks a vital step in resetting the government’s response to the Home Office Windrush scandal. The Commissioner will serve as an independent advocate for those affected, assure delivery of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and hold the department to account as we learn the lessons of the past to drive improvements. The immediate priority is to appoint the right person into the role and ensure they engage swiftly with impacted communities to truly understand what they need and identify how the Commissioner can deliver meaningful change through their role.
We have injected £1.5 into a programme of grant funding for organisations to provide support for Compensation Scheme applicants who need additional help with the application process, ensuring claimants feel supported. We invited applications for funding on 11th April 2025, with successful organisations expected to be announced by summer 2025.
Financial compensation cannot make up for what has been lost but we are committed to giving the maximum amount at the earliest point possible and doing so with compassion and understanding.
This is why we introduced a new single named caseworker process in July so the individuals who apply for compensation are better supported and have increased transparency on the progress of their claim. The time taken to allocate claims has also been reduced significantly, down to six weeks from 3 months a year ago. The time taken to finalise a claim has similarly reduced significantly now down to approximately 3 months compared to 6-7 months a year ago.
We also have a dedicated Vulnerable Persons Team who provide trusted help and advice to vulnerable people in urgent need. The Vulnerable Persons Team also administers the Urgent and Exceptional Payments policy, which provides immediate financial support to people in urgent need.