Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Wednesday 21st May 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

1. If he will take steps to ensure that compensation is not paid to people detained using interim custody orders during the troubles in Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

This issue arose following the Supreme Court judgment in 2020, which found certain custody orders to be unlawful. The amendment to the legacy Act to try to deal with that has also been found unlawful by the Northern Ireland courts, so the Government are carefully exploring how to lawfully address this complex issue, alongside our commitment to implement legacy mechanisms that are fully compliant with human rights. I will, of course, keep the House updated.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Will the Secretary of State withhold the remedial order until he is certain that he can deliver the Prime Minister’s pledge to prevent Gerry Adams from receiving compensation?

[Hilary Benn]

The Government are currently considering the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the representations made to it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Wednesday 24th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Hilary Benn]

I discussed the matter with Micheál Martin when I saw him early after my appointment, and he has expressed the hope that a way forward can be found that might lead to the withdrawal of the interstate case that Ireland has brought. I will certainly engage with victims’ organisations—I met a number of them during my time as shadow Secretary of State—because I am committed to trying to find a way forward. In the end, if this is to work, it must work for the victims’ families, because they are the people who say, “What went before hasn’t given us what we were looking for.”

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

6. Whether he plans to review the Windsor framework agreement.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

No. We are committed to implementing the Windsor framework in good faith in partnership with the EU, and to taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market. We are also looking to negotiate a sanitary and phytosanitary veterinary agreement with the EU, which could help.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Will the Secretary of State commit to all the provisions of the “Safeguarding the Union” agreement?

[Hilary Benn]

I already set out my answer to that in response to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Alex Burghart). We are taking forward those commitments, but we can make progress by working in partnership with the European Union. What was achieved recently on dental amalgam is a good example of precisely that.