VICTIM SUPPORT

leave out from 'House' to end and add 'notes that last year the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board paid out the highest ever annual amount of compensation, a 50 per cent. increase over the previous record year; welcomes improvements in efficiency which last year enabled 38 per cent. more cases to be resolved; further notes that the scheme was introduced under a Conservative government and under successive Conservative governments has developed into the most generous in the world; recognises that support through the criminal injuries compensation scheme constitutes only part of the wide range of assistance now available to the victims of crime, including through the Victim's Charter and victim support schemes, which last year received a Home Office grant of ú7.3 million, a 28 per cent. real term increase over the previous year; contrasts this level of support with the indifference to victims displayed under previous Labour Governments; and notes that even now the Labour Party seems more concerned about making excuses for criminals than addressing the concerns of victims.'.