Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect the British Army from vexatious claims made by terrorists or their families relating to its actions during the Troubles.

Civil litigation plays an important role in enabling facts to be uncovered, as well as enabling victims to feel that they have achieved some measure of justice even where they have not been able to achieve that through the criminal justice process.

For example, four individuals were found responsible for the Omagh bombing in the civil courts in 2009. The Judge in that case ordered £1.6m damages to the Omagh families as a result of this.

Civil claims are always decided on their merit by independent courts and in the vast majority of cases, civil claims are taken against the State, not against individuals.

This Government’s commitment to our Operation Banner veterans is unshakeable and that is why the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill puts in place the strongest possible safeguards, which were not included in the Legacy Act.