Asked by: Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will meet the Leader of the House to discuss when the Government will next convene the Northern Ireland Grand Committee.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I would be happy to meet my Rt hon Friend the Leader of the House to discuss convening a meeting of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee if there is cross-party support for me doing so.
Asked by: Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of her powers contained in the Stormont House Agreement to determine what can be disclosed to victims' families.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The UK Government has made clear that it is committed to providing full disclosure to the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) for the purpose of its investigations. This will give the HIU access to very sensitive information, including information which would, if disclosed generally, damage the UK’s national security and put lives at risk.
As acknowledged in the Stormont House Agreement, the UK Government has a duty to ensure that sensitive information is not released publicly where to do so would put lives or national security at risk.
Asked by: Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which victims' groups she plans to meet to discuss legacy issues over the next 12 months.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I met the Victims Commissioner and the Victims and Survivors Forum this week. This Government has made greater progress on legacy issues than any of our predecessors and we remain committed to the delivery of the new bodies under the Stormont House Agreement. We will continue to engage with the political parties, Northern Ireland Executive and victims groups to achieve the consensus needed to bring forward legislation.
Asked by: Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding is being made available to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to investigate ongoing legacy issues.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The UK Government has agreed to provide up to £150m over five years (£30m a year) to support the work of the new legacy bodies proposed in the Stormont House Agreement. We remain committed to establishing the new bodies and I will continue to work with the political parties, Northern Ireland Executive and victims groups to achieve broad consensus for the legislation needed to do this.