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<p>The Prison Service robustly defends all cases as far as practicable and over the
last three years, has managed to successfully defend two thirds of prisoners’ claims.</p><p>As
announced recently, we have ordered an independent audit into concluded personal injury
claims against the Prison Service. This will identify ways of cutting payouts and
legal costs, so taxpayer money can be focused on protecting the public and reforming
offenders.</p><p> </p><p>The National Offender Management Service publishes in its
Annual Report and Accounts the total special payments made which includes all compensation
payments paid out to prisoners, staff and third parties and all other associated costs,
including any legal costs and compensation payments made under the Civil Service Injury
Benefits Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>For financial year 2014-15, the total special payments
made for all groups and costs mentioned above was £28.9m, as published in the Annual
Report and Accounts. This can be found in Note 25 Losses and Special Payments on page
128 at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/noms-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-2015"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/noms-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-2015</a></p><p>
</p><p>Payments of compensation by NOMS fluctuates throughout the year and is dependent
on facts of each individual case, the legal advice received and decisions of the court.
As a result, future estimations cannot be produced.</p><p> </p><p>The total amount
of special payments paid for the 9 months up to 31 December 2015 for the financial
year 2015-16 was £19.5m. This is the latest information available and will be subject
to audit.</p><p> </p><p>As part of further measures to reduce the amount of compensation
payments we pay out, the Ministry of Justice has commissioned a specialist law firm
to carry out a review of recent claims so as to advise what steps can be taken to
make sure that payments are justified and proportionate and that future costs are
kept to a minimum in respect of pay outs and legal costs.</p>
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