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Asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money raised from victims' surcharges levied by magistrates' courts has been allocated to organisations providing non-financial support to victims and witnesses of crime. [HL3617]
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which organisations funds from victims' surcharges levied by magistrates' courts have been allocated; and how much has been allocated to each organisation. [HL3618]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use money raised from victims' surcharges levied by magistrates' courts to refurbish witness waiting areas in magistrates' courts. [HL3619]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use money raised from victims' surcharges levied by magistrates' courts to provide enhanced expenses for witnesses. [HL3620]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use money raised from victims' surcharges levied by magistrates' courts to pay compensation immediately at the end of court proceedings to the victims of crime rather than after the money has been collected from those convicted. [HL3621]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The victims surcharge raised £3.8 million in 2007-08, the year of introduction, and £8 million in 2008-09.
All of the money raised from the surcharge contributed to direct non-financial support for victims and witnesses of crime. Funding was committed as follows:
£3 million/£2.6 million/£2.6 million to fund independent domestic violence adviser services.
£3 million/£2.6 million/£2.6 million to the Crown Prosecution Service as a contribution to the cost of providing Witness Care Units under the No Witness No Justice initiative.
£5.6 million/£7 million/£6.2 million to the Victim Support National Centre to fund enhanced services to victims and witnesses under the Victim Support Plus initiative.
Additionally, £1.75 million was allocated to the Victims Fund each year, which has contributed to the funding of the organisations shown in the table below.
Money raised from the surcharge has not been used to refurbish witness waiting areas in magistrates' courts, nor has it been used to pay witness expenses, and there are no present plans for it to be used in this way.
There are currently no plans to pay compensation to victims of crime from surcharge funds. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the enabling legislation for the victims surcharge makes it clear that surcharge money should be used to fund services helping victims of crime and witnesses.
Grants for 2009-10 from the Victims Fund to support victims of hate crime and homicide have not yet been allocated. We expect to be able to make an announcement about the allocations in June.
Victims Fund grants made towards support for victims of homicide | 2007-08 £ | 2008-09 £ |
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