Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on obtaining compensation from Libya for the UK victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

I have every sympathy for the victims of terrorist violence, for which there could be no possible justification.

My officials have been working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in relation to the Government’s response to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s report on support for UK victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied semtex and weapons, published on 2 May 2017.

The Government intends to submit its response to the report after the summer recess. My officials will continue to engage closely with the FCO on this issue.