Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the concept of parity of esteem as outlined in the Belfast Agreement 1998 applies to those members of the security forces who live in Great Britain and are currently facing investigation of incidents that took place in the civil unrest in Northern Ireland.

First, I would like to make clear my admiration for the dedication, professionalism and courage shown by soldiers and police officers in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles. As we made clear in our 2015 Northern Ireland manifesto, this Government will never forget the debt of gratitude we owe them and will never accept any form of equivalence between those who upheld democracy and the rule of law, and those who engaged in terrorism or other forms of paramilitary activity.

This Government understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, as placing a general obligation on the UK Government to govern in the interests of the whole community and to treat people of different traditions fairly and with equal respect. In the Agreement it is clearly expressed and defined in relation to people living in Northern Ireland. As a general obligation there is no definition of particular circumstances in which it does or does not apply.

The vast majority of the more than 250,000 men and women who served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland during the Troubles carried out their duties with exemplary professionalism. However, everyone is equal under the law and, where there is evidence of wrongdoing, this should be investigated.

The current mechanisms for investigating the past do not reflect that 90 per cent of deaths in the Troubles were caused by terrorists and are disproportionately focussed on the actions of soldiers and police. That is why this Government supports the full and faithful implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to bring a new, balanced, proportionate and fair approach to dealing with Northern Ireland’s past.