Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 64
64
Accepted
Paragraph: 214
Require Home Office transparency on discretionary award compensation types and consistency in decision-making.
Recommendation
The Home Office should be more transparent about the types of loss it is prepared to compensate through a discretionary award and should set out what types of claim under this category have previously been accepted. The Home Office should also provide assurances as to how consistency in decision-making is maintained both within this category and across the compensation scheme.
Government Response Summary
The government confirmed policy and operational teams are reviewing the discretionary category, provided examples of previously accepted awards (travel, medical, legal advice reimbursement), and stated consistency is maintained through technical specialist sign-off.
Paragraph Reference:
214
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Policy and Operational teams are working together, looking closely at the Discretionary category. Regarding consistency, any proposal to award in this category is discussed and signed off by a technical specialist. Previous awards in this category have been in respect of travel costs (both internationally and within the UK), medical invoices (submitted as part of an application to the HO), and the reimbursement monies paid in respect of legal advice.