Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether the statutory advisory group that will provide an opportunity for the voices of victims and survivors of the Troubles to be heard will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill requires appointments to the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group to be made following consultation with relevant individuals, in order to inform the appointments process. I will publish details of who will be consulted. I have already committed to a publicly advertised application process for members of the Advisory Group.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish a list of inquests that could be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill those inquests that had started and were halted by the Legacy Act, of which there are 9, will be able to resume.
All other cases which were in the coronial system but had not commenced (24 in total) will be subject to a decision by the Solicitor General having regard to the statutory criteria as to whether they progress via the coronial system or within the Commission.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of civil cases expected to be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The 2023 Legacy Act did not prohibit Troubles-related civil cases from proceeding, meaning that over 700 cases remain in the judicial system. The Legacy Act’s retrospective bar on new civil cases was found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations, and is being removed via a Remedial Order under the Human Rights Act. It is impossible to predict future proceedings.