Commentary on provisions of Act Claims for compensation Section 7: Decision on validity of claims
Subsection (1) imposes a primary obligation on the decision-maker to determine whether a claim for compensation is valid.
	Subsection (2) makes clear that this decision on validity will depend on whether the claim is in respect of riot damage as defined in section 1, and whether the claim is in respect of property as defined in sections 1 and 2.
	Compliance with procedural requirements, set out in regulations made under section 3, will be necessary to ensure a claim is valid. For example failure to comply with the time limits for submission of information could lead to the claim being held to be invalid.
	Subsection (3) states that the Secretary of State may issue guidance to decision-makers on matters that will be material to decisions as to validity of claims, such as whether the civil disturbance in which losses were sustained met the definition a riot.