Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 5 March (HL13923), whether the remarks by that Minister on 30 October 2018 (HL Deb, col 1311) about the early provision of pensions for those who were severely physically injured in the Northern Ireland Troubles still stand, namely "That is not to put it into the long grass or put it away, but to recognise that it must be progressed" and "We will guarantee within six months. So, yes, we will be able to do it within six months and I hope that that will therefore give some comfort to noble Lords that we take this matter with the utmost seriousness and we will move it forward"; and from when the guarantee of “within six months” will apply.

The Noble Lord will recall that this answer was given in response to questions from Baroness O’Loan and Lord Cormack about how long the Victims Commissioner would take to produce her advice. The Victims Commissioner has indicated that she is on track to give us full advice by the end of March. As I have previously stated, the scope of that advice includes “a proposal for, or options for, the type of pension which should be provided including consideration of a two-phased approach to delivery with a physical injury pension being rolled out first followed by psychological (and any risks of this approach)”. As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated, the UK Government’s priority in Northern Ireland continues to be the restoration of the NI Executive. If, despite best efforts, the NI Executive has not been restored by the time updated advice on a pension has been provided by the Victims Commissioner, the Northern Ireland Office will consider how this matter can be progressed in the absence of NI Executive Ministers.