Select Committee · Home Affairs Committee

The Windrush Compensation Scheme

Status: Closed Opened: 18 Nov 2020 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 15 recommendations 73 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will examine the design and implementation of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and the support that is provided to individuals through the ‘Windrush Scheme: support in exceptional circumstances’ policy. It aims to understand whether these schemes are operating effectively for people who apply and whether changes are needed so that people who apply feel …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensation Scheme HC 204 24 Nov 2021 88 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
50 Conclusion Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensatio… Accepted in Part

Claimants should be able to request expert medical advice for higher 'impact on life' awards.

Given that the Home Office has yet to use its capacity to seek expert medical advice to support determinations on these complex awards, it should be open to claimants to be able to request expert medical advice if they are seeking a higher level award and in particular as part …

Government response. The government uses medical evidence provided by or on behalf of applicants but does not routinely seek its own expert medical advice; however, it commits to setting out a process for claimants to obtain expert medical evidence on their own …
Home Office
62 Conclusion Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensatio… Accepted in Part

Basis for drafting discretionary award rules and guidance lacks sufficient clarity.

The Home Office should clarify the basis upon which it drafted the rules and guidance on the discretionary award. (Paragraph 213) The Windrush Compensation Scheme 97

Government response. The government clarifies that the discretionary category was designed to cover financial losses not captured elsewhere, and states the scheme will be reviewed with updates provided, partially addressing the request for clarification on its drafting basis.
Home Office
67 Recommendation Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensatio… Accepted in Part

Explain award determination for individuals unable to return to UK and introduce specific tariff payment.

We call on the Home Office to explain how awards across all categories of claim are determined for individuals who were unable to return to the UK, including those unable to return for multiple decades, and to introduce a tariff payment specifically to compensate individuals who were unable to return …

Government response. The government explained that awards for individuals unable to return to the UK are determined using existing scheme rules and guidance, primarily through the Impact on Life category, and confirmed such compensation has been paid. However, it did not commit …
Home Office
75 Conclusion Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensatio… Accepted in Part

Home Office apologies for Windrush failings have not translated into adequate compensation.

The Home Office and consecutive Home Secretaries have acknowledged and apologised for the losses faced by the Windrush generation as a result of failings within the Department, yet that acceptance has not translated into quick and adequate compensation, even where individuals are facing urgent or exceptional hardship. In order to …

Government response. The government outlines its existing process for urgent financial support, describes it as light-touch, and commits to providing further training for caseworkers and the Help Team to improve clarity for claimants in providing information for faster support.
Home Office
80 Recommendation Fifth Report - The Windrush Compensatio… Accepted in Part

Publish routine data and review operations of the Vulnerable Persons Team.

We are disappointed that the Home Office has yet to resume routine publication of data relating to the support in urgent and exceptional circumstances policy and the work of the Vulnerable Persons Team. This information must be published regularly. We also recommend that adequate feedback processes are put in place …

Government response. The government commits to publishing Urgent and Exceptional Payment and Vulnerable Persons Team data. However, it states it will only consider formalising customer feedback processes and does not address the calls for the Home Secretary, Permanent Secretary, or Wendy Williams …
Home Office

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
9 Dec 2020 Holly Stow · North Kensington Law Centre, Jacqueline McKenzie · Leigh Day, Martin Forde QC · Windrush Compensation Scheme View ↗

Correspondence

15 letters
DateDirectionTitle
25 Apr 2023 To cttee Letter from the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 20 A…
25 Apr 2023 From cttee Letter to the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 28 Marc…
22 Feb 2023 To cttee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on the Windrush Lessons …
1 Feb 2023 To cttee Letter from the Home Secretary on the Windrush Lessons Learned Review (WLLR) R…
7 Sep 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration on changes to the …
23 Feb 2022 From cttee Letter to the Home Secretary on the Government’s response to the Committee’s Re…
23 Feb 2022 From cttee Letter to the Minister for Safe and Legal Migration on changes to the Windrush …
2 Feb 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Safe and Legal Immigration on changes to the Windr…
27 Oct 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration on the Windrush Com…
14 Sep 2021 From cttee Letter to the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 8 Septe…
21 Jul 2021 To cttee Letter from the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 20 Ju…
20 Apr 2021 To cttee Letter from the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 29 Ma…
10 Mar 2021 From cttee Letter to the Home Secretary on the Windrush Compensation Scheme, dated 4 March…
24 Feb 2021 To cttee Letter from the Home Secretary on changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, …
28 Jan 2021 From cttee Letter to the Home Secretary on changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme in …