Compensation costs may drop

The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has announced the publication of the Compensation Agency's corporate plan for 2000-2003 and business plan 2000-2001. The plan says the agency expects to receive about 12,000 claims for criminal injury this year and 1,200 for criminal damage. While noting that significant levels of terrorist violence would affect their assumptions, the agency nonetheless predicted compensation payments would decrease from £72.9 million this financial year to £64.8 million in 2002-03.