To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the total current annual remuneration is of (a) the Chairman and (b) the Chief Executive of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels; [111092](2) what the total annual remuneration is of

In the financial year ending 31 March 2003 the total taxable pay of the relevant officials was:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria are for appointment as (a) a member and (b) a chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels; if he will list the qualifications of those currently appointed; and if he will make a statement. [111093]

Recruitment to the Appeals Panel is by open competition. Whenever recruitment exercises are undertaken, the fact is advertised widely in the national press. The advertisements make it clear that candidates' suitability for the posts will be indicated by their high level of achievement, for example, through a successful senior career in law, medicine, commerce, management or public service. The advertisements make it clear that candidates will need well-developed skills of analysis and judgment, and to have good communications skills. All short-listed candidates are interviewed by a selection panel in accordance with guidelines issues by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.All panel members are given the opportunity to apply for the post of chair when it falls vacant. The successful candidate must demonstrate to the selection board that he or she possesses the range of qualities and competencies needed for such a position.Brief CVs of all panel members, summarising their qualifications and experience, are given in an annex to the panel's annual report, copies of which are placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels (CICAP) was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the budget for the CICAP has been in each of the last five financial years. [111094]

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel does not itself pay awards of compensation, and does not therefore have a separate budget for such expenditure. All awards of compensation, whether made by the Compensation Authority or the Appeals Panel, are paid by the Compensation Authority, which controls the compensation budget.The table accordingly details the average value of awards which the Appeals Panel has authorised the Authority to pay under the tariff-based scheme in the five years to 31 March 2003. The figures for the final year are provisional, and subject to audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was (a) the average award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) the total sum paid in criminal injuries compensation in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [111096]

The table shows the average award made by Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) under the tariff-based scheme effective for all applications lodged on or after 1 April 1996, the average award paid by CICA under both that tariff-based and the former common law damages based scheme which it superseded, and the total amount of compensation paid under both schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total budget allocated for criminal injuries compensation was in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [111097]

The table shows the budget estimate figure for compensation as recorded in the spring supplementary estimates. The figures for the first three years are cash-based; those for the last two are resource-based.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will commission and publish an independent review of the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; [111099](2) if he will commission and publish an independent review of the work of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panels. [111091]

The Comptroller and Auditor General published a report on "Compensating Victims of Violent Crime" on 14 April 2000, covering the work of the Compensation Agency and Appeals Panel.Although Ministers do not get involved in the day to day running of these bodies, we do maintain regular contact with them, and keep their overall performance under review on a continuing basis. We see no value in commissioning any special independent reviews at this juncture.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compensation rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority were referred to the CIC Appeals Panel in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many of these were successful. [111100]

The data in the attached table have been provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).