Found: Correspondence from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Our current inquiries include legislative scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and thematic

Found: This will remain the case if the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, currently before Parliament, is enacted

Found: Correspondence to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: everything it can, including through the important reforms set out in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (first reading 12th November 2025), Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: include: replacing the 2023 Legacy Act through successfully delivering the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: NITB0020 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner

Found: NITB0019 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill The Special Air Service Regimental Association

Found: Joint Committee on Human Rights Uncorrected oral evidence: Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: NITB0018 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Professor Kieran McEvoy Written Evidence

Found: Q199 Gavin Robinson: Secretary of State, I have three quick questions on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: NITB0017 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Oliver Sanders KC Written Evidence

Found: In deciding to lay a Remedial Order alongside the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, I reflected carefully

Found: I want to go back to David and something rather delicate that you raised— the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: I am very happy to continue to assist the Committee as the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill progresses

Found: Joint Committee on Human Rights Uncorrected oral evidence: Legislative scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Joint Committee on Human Rights Uncorrected oral evidence: Legislative scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: NITB0011 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 33 Bedford Row chambers Written Evidence

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland about the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since the publication of the Joint Framework in September 2025.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government meets regularly with the government of the Republic of Ireland to discuss the progress made in implementing the two Governments’ respective commitments set out in the Joint Framework.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the proposed legislative timetable for Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will help victims and families to obtain the information and accountability they have long sought, whilst ensuring our veterans are treated with fairness and respect. The legislation will have its committee stage as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they assess clauses 89 and 90 of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, in light of sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 being found incompatible by the Northern Ireland High Court in Dillon and others.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The High Court found the provisions which concerned Interim Custody Orders in sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 to be incompatible with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

As set out in the written ministerial statement [HCWS1063] made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 18 November 2025, we have carefully considered the High Court ruling and have tabled an alternative approach with clauses 89 and 90 to address the erroneous interpretation made in Adams regarding the application of the Carltona principle.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to proceed with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Yes. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will establish a reformed, human rights compliant and wholly independent Legacy Commission, which will carry out investigations and provide family reports to give victims and their families the answers they deserve. The Bill will proceed to Committee stage as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, which military cohorts (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have met with to discuss the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, which associations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have met with to discuss the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in response to the question from the hon. Member for South Suffolk during the Urgent Question on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Armed Forces Recruitment and Retention of 5 January 2026, Official Report, column 63, if he will provide a list of the veterans groups that (a) he and (b) Ministers have met to discuss the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 104231 on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 104230 on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 103365 on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Al Carns

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions.

It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussed the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on recruitment and retention with the (a) Chief of the Defence Staff, (b) Chief of the General Staff, (c) First Sea Lord, (d) Chief of the Air Staff, and (e) Commander Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.

Answered by Al Carns

My Ministerial colleagues and I routinely meet with the Single Service Chiefs, where we discuss a range of priority Defence matters.

The hon. Member will understand that it would be inappropriate to comment further on these discussions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussed the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill with any members of the armed forces senior command.

Answered by Al Carns

My Ministerial colleagues and I routinely meet with the Single Service Chiefs, where we discuss a range of priority Defence matters.

The hon. Member will understand that it would be inappropriate to comment further on these discussions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister for the Armed Forces answer to an Urgent Question on 5 January 2026 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, whether any current members of the armed forces senior command have raised the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on recruitment and retention.

Answered by Al Carns

My Ministerial colleagues and I routinely meet with the Single Service Chiefs, where we discuss a range of priority Defence matters.

The hon. Member will understand that it would be inappropriate to comment further on these discussions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 103813 on Veterans: Northern Ireland, whether any of the universal protections will apply to alleged paramilitaries.

Answered by Al Carns

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill introduces five protections that have been specifically designed for veterans. They will apply to all those required to give evidence to the Legacy Commission.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 103813 on Veterans: Northern Ireland, if he will specify which of the five protections will apply universally.

Answered by Al Carns

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill introduces five protections that have been specifically designed for veterans. They will apply to all those required to give evidence to the Legacy Commission.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 103813 on Veterans: Northern Ireland, how many of the five protections will apply universally.

Answered by Al Carns

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill introduces five protections that have been specifically designed for veterans. They will apply to all those required to give evidence to the Legacy Commission.

Found: ....................................................... 6 2.2 What changes would the Northern Ireland Troubles bill

Found: 202532 National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contribution) Bill 2024–26 Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: It also underlines the Government’s commitment to delivering the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. 

Found: can, including through the important reforms set out in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, will make significant reforms

Found: recommendations which will support a smooth transition to the arrangements set out under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: ..................................................................................86 Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: .................................................................................. 86 Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: ................................................................................. 86 Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: recommendations which will support a smooth transition to the arrangements set out under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Bill 31/10/2025 Consent not recommended Sentencing Bill 26/11/2025 Consent recommended Northern Ireland Troubles Bill