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

Found: NITB0010 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill NI Human Rights Commission Written Evidence

Found: We will however undertake legislative scrutiny of the related Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Found: In the latest Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, schedule 4 mirrors, from what I can see, schedule 8.

Found: NITB0014 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) Written

Found: NITB0013 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Newcastle University, and Queen's University

Found: NITB0012 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill University of Bristol Written Evidence

Found: NITB0008 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Sidley Austin LLP Written Evidence

Found: NITB0007 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Human Rights First Written Evidence

Found: NITB0007 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Human Rights First Written Evidence

Found: NITB0006 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Committee on the Administration of Justice

Found: NITB0006 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Committee on the Administration of Justice

Found: NITB0005 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Relatives for Justice Written Evidence

Found: NITB0004 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Pat Finucane Centre Written Evidence

Found: NITB0003 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Amnesty International UK Written Evidence

Found: NITB0001 - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill FairGo CIC Written Evidence

Found: with the Committee since September, including the briefing I gave on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: laid the Draft Remedial Order on 14 October 2025, the same day as it introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: announcement was finally made in September, and was followed by the introduction of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Irish governments in September 2025,2 and the UK governments publication of the new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: and Irish governments in September 2025, and the UK governments publication of the new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the

Found: of legacy Following the announcement of the formation of the Legacy Commission in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland published on September 19, 2025, and the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: to implement the Joint Framework into the UK Parliament on the 14 October 2025 (the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Consequently, in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland had

Found: in light of the Irish and UK Governments’ Joint Framework and the publication of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Amend part 4 via the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill – a few short clauses, no new bodies.Confronting

Found: Ireland Affairs Committee on the new Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles and the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: l Affairs Committee on the Joint Framework on the Led the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Supplementary

Found: recently agreed Joint Framework between the UK and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Framework proposals on new Legacy provisions should be read as an initial view of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: Initial Thoughts on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Introduced on 14 October 2025 7.

Found: Executive summary While the government presents it as a solution for reconciliation, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: in Northern Ireland inquiry [LPNI0068] NIHRC initial commentary on key clauses of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: This is an updated version in the light of the publication of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Found: This submission provides observations on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Bill 310), which repeals

Found: Government’s new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland [LPNI0071] Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: replace; a large launch in September of a joint framework; and now a Legacy Bill—a Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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 - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

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, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, what the evidential basis is that recruitment and retention to the armed forces has not been impacted by the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

UK Regular Armed Forces intake is now greater than outflow at the Tri-Service level and strength has remained stable. We are pleased to be reversing the trend of decline, with more people joining our Armed Forces than leaving for the first time in four years. The evidential basis for this has come from the latest Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics, published on 1 October 2025.

The statistics show that in the past 12 months (1 October 2024 - 30 September 2025), 14,100 people joined the Regular Armed Forces, an increase of 1,650 (13 per cent) compared with the previous 12-month period. In the same period, 13,860 people left the Regular Armed Forces a decrease of 1,220 (8 per cent) compared with the previous 12-month period.

This information can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-october-2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has received representations on the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on military operational capability.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 is being repealed and replaced by new legislation. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will deliver new safeguards specifically designed for veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The Ministry of Defence continues to consult with veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.

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, whether the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will prevent former members of paramilitary organisations from sitting on the Legacy Commission.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, at the Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent), on 24 November 2025 to Question HL11718 in the House of Lords.

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, how many of the five protections for veterans in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will apply to (a) coronial inquests and (b) subsequent criminal investigations.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Government has worked closely with veterans’ groups to develop protections that apply both to Coronial Inquests and the Legacy Commission, so that veterans giving evidence as witnesses are protected regardless of which legacy mechanism they engage with.

The presumption in favour of remote evidence will apply across Coronial Inquests and Legacy Commission Inquisitorial Proceedings. The Troubles Bill also extends the right to request anonymity, currently applicable to inquests, to Legacy Commission Inquisitorial Proceedings.

The duty not to duplicate any aspect of previous investigations unless essential, the highest legal bar, will apply to all investigations and Inquisitorial Proceedings conducted by the Legacy Commission, and to coronial inquests.

As for witness welfare, the Legacy Commission is required to have regard to this in all investigations, while coroners must adhere to witness management protocols that dictate consideration of welfare. Finally, the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group, which can include representation from the armed forces, will provide advice to the Legacy Commission and the Secretary of State. It will have no role in relation to inquests.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether veterans groups were consulted on the six lawful and deliverable protections in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has announced new protections and safeguards designed specifically for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Legacy Act, and that respond directly to the views expressed by veterans during engagements that the Government has undertaken.

All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

The Government continues to engage closely with veterans and their representatives at both ministerial and official level, and to listen to their views. This includes meetings with the UK Veterans Commissioners, the Royal British Legion, and specific regimental associations.

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, how many of the five protections for veterans in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will also apply to alleged paramilitaries.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill introduces five protections that have been specifically designed for veterans. Some of these protections apply universally, including to all other former members of the security forces, recognising their service. The Government has been clear that no former Paramilitaries may be part of the Legacy Commission’s Victim and Survivor Advisory Group.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702, whether it remains the case that 9 inquests will be able to resume.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office has written to the families of 8 cases to inform them that those inquests will be able to resume under clause 84(3) of the Northern Ireland (Troubles) Bill. These cases are; Dillon, Duffy, McCord, Loughgall, Stalker-Sampson series, Moran, McDaid & Slane, and Patterson.

The inquest into the death of Mr Joseph Campbell is included in the ‘9 cases’ allowed to resume as it was part of the ‘Five Year Plan’ for Legacy Inquests, and had started before the Legacy Act came into force. The Government is aware that the coroner in this case has provisionally determined that it can continue as a ‘non Troubles-related’ inquest.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the protective measures for veterans proposed in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to distinguish between veterans and those responsible for terrorist violence.

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

All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

Measures set out in the legislation, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

Some other non-legislative measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the safeguard that ensures veterans do not have to give unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the assurances he gave during his opening speech at the Second Reading of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, that nobody who had taken part in paramilitary activity would be able to participate in the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group, what clause within the Bill underpins those assurances.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Clause 8(3) of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill sets out that appointments to the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group are made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, following the consultation set out in Clause 9.

The Government will not appoint anyone who was previously involved in paramilitary activity to the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing immunity from prosecution of perpetrators of crimes during the Troubles on their likelihood of (a) giving and (b) withholding testimony about unsolved murders of which they have knowledge; and what the evidence basis is for that assessment.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The provisions in the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on immunity were found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations and never commenced. Those provisions were, in any case, opposed by political parties, by victims and survivors across communities in Northern Ireland, and by those veterans who saw immunity as an affront to the rule of law that they sought to protect, and as implying a moral equivalence between those who served the State in Northern Ireland and those who committed heinous terrorist crimes.

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will provide victims and families with the greatest possible opportunity to obtain the information they seek regarding Troubles-related incidents. The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery already has significant powers, including powers to require disclosure from state bodies (that will, of course, include significant records pertaining to the actions of terrorist organisations), and the power to compel witnesses.

It is using those powers as part of its ongoing investigations into cases such as the Guildford Pub Bombings, the M62 Coach Bombings, and the Warrenpoint attack. All of these incidents were perpetrated by the IRA, and the ICRIR is seeking to provide answers for bereaved families of service personnel who were brutally murdered in those attacks.

Building on these powers, the Troubles Bill introduces provisions to further enhance the Commission’s investigative functions, and to further strengthen the disclosure regime to ensure that it is fair and transparent, and allows the greatest possible amount of information to be published, within the necessary safeguards of national security. This will be supported by the Irish Government’s commitment to provide the fullest possible cooperation of the Irish authorities with a reformed Commission, giving access to information for families that would otherwise not be available.

Furthermore, the Troubles Bill sets out that the Government will establish, alongside the Irish Government and on a pilot basis, the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval. This will be an international body that will seek to give families an additional means to retrieve information about Troubles-related deaths. Any information disclosed by individuals to the ICIR will be inadmissible in criminal and civil proceedings. The work of the ICIR must not impinge on criminal investigations.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to appoint anyone with a paramilitary background to the proposed legacy commission.

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

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill already sets out that a person may not be appointed as a Commissioner, a Director of Investigations or a Judicial Panel member if they have been convicted of an offence. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland therefore cannot, and will not, appoint anyone to the Commission who has been convicted of an offence, related to paramilitary activity or otherwise.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will have the power to compel witnesses.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ICRIR currently has the power to require a person to provide information or produce any documents they have in their possession, for examination or testing. Failure to comply with this can result in a financial penalty of up to £5,000. This power will be carried forward into the new Legacy Commission (Clause 14 of the Northern Ireland (Troubles) Bill).

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the interstate case Ireland v UK II has been stayed by the European Court of Human Rights pending the Supreme Court's judgment in the case Dillon and Others vs Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and whether they intend to make representations to the government of Ireland to formally withdraw that legal action.

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

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, introduced last week, will give effect to the UK Government’s commitments in the Framework announced with the Irish Government on 19 September. This Framework reflects the principles of the Stormont House Agreement and contains sovereign commitments by both governments.

While the Interstate case is a matter for the Irish Government, we expect that the implementation of this Framework will result in the withdrawal of the case.

We believe the Troubles Bill contains provisions which current and former service personnel will find insulting and should not be proceeded with.

Found: The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill should be withdrawn

Found: Joint Framework / Northern Ireland Troubles Bill To deliver the commitment to repeal and replace the

Found: Joint Framework / Northern Ireland Troubles Bill To deliver the commitment to repeal and replace the

Found: received UK Government update: On 14 October 2025, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Found: The Secretary of State subsequently introduced legislation ("The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill") to

Found: Baroness Andrews of Stoke on Trent to Lord Dannatt regarding veterans' protections in Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

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