Commentary on Sections Compensation of victims of overseas terrorism Section 54: Parliamentary control
235.Section 54 makes provision for the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme to be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. The first such Scheme, and any wholly new Scheme made thereafter, will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure (subsections (1) and (2)). The Parliamentary procedure applicable to any alterations to a Scheme will depend on the nature of the proposed changes to the Scheme. The affirmative resolution procedure will apply where the proposed alterations relate to the eligibility criteria for applicants, the determination of awards, the circumstances in which payments may be withheld or reduced, any maximum limit on the level of payments, and the review or appeals procedure (subsections (3) and (4)). In all other cases the negative resolution procedure will apply (subsections (5) to (7)). These provisions are analogous to those applicable to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995.