Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his Oral Statement of 14 October 2025 on Northern Ireland Troubles, Official Report, column 247 and his Department's press release entitled Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to repeal and replace Legacy Act, published on 14 October 2025, if he will confirm that the proposed protections for veterans in (a) that Bill and (b) forthcoming protocols will not extend to alleged paramilitaries.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes new protections and safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the views expressed by veterans during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.
Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans do not have to give unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.
Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.
The Commission will be under a duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential which will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from needlessly having to provide information previously covered.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department will publish an impact assessment for the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Cabinet Office’s Guide to Making Legislation makes clear that “Impact Assessments are generally required for all UK government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector and/or civil society organisation or public services”.
As the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial Order) 2025 does not regulate the private sector, civil society organisations or public services, no Impact Assessment has been produced. Parliament will have the ability to debate the impact of the Remedial Order in the usual way.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of potential claims against former UK armed forces personnel that could be eligible for judicial consideration under the proposals in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act. The Government is, by way of a Remedial Order, repealing the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which has been found to be incompatible with our legal obligations. It is not possible to predict potential future proceedings.
As is currently the case with the ICRIR, the Legacy Commission will be able to investigate, on request, Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries that occurred between 1 January 1966 and 10 April 1998. While it is not possible to predict its future caseload, the vast majority of the Troubles-related deaths, some 90%, were at the hands of paramilitaries.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70331 on Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, if he will set out his planned timetable for (a) responding to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ recommendations regarding the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order and (b) laying the final Order.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to reform and strengthen the independent Commission to ensure it is fully human rights compliant. As I stated at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 3rd September, I intend to lay the draft Remedial Order and the Government’s response to the JCHR at the same time as introducing primary legislation.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70329 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on the jurisdiction in which the trial (a) is taking place for the person awaiting trial and (b) was taking place for the person who died before legal proceedings were concluded.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In reference to my previous Written Answer, the Northern Ireland Office is aware of at least one individual who has received a so-called 'on-the-run letter’ and is currently awaiting trial in Northern Ireland.
We are also aware, through publicly available information, of another individual in receipt of a letter, whose legal proceedings in Northern Ireland were discontinued upon that individual’s death.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on the number of people who had previously received an on-the-run letter that have since been (a) charged with and (b) prosecuted for terrorist offences.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This is a matter which falls within the devolved competence of policing and justice, with the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland being the authority responsible for making determinations on bringing criminal charges against individuals.
The Northern Ireland Office is, however, aware through publicly available information of two individuals who received ‘On the Run’ letters and who were subsequently charged with terrorist offences. One individual died before legal proceedings were concluded and the other is currently awaiting trial.
The 2014 Hallett Review, led by Lady Justice Hallett, found that the letters do not prevent investigation or prosecution. This position has subsequently been confirmed by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as recently as March 2024.
The Government is fully committed to ensuring that all individuals are treated equally under the law, and that any framework addressing the legacy of the Troubles must be both fair and balanced.