Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd September 2020 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon Lewis)]

I will answer the substantive and supplementary questions together and just repeat what I said a few moments ago—there will be no new infrastructure in Northern Ireland for borders.

[Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

What assessment he has made of the timescale for the implementation of the pension scheme payments for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

What assessment he has made of progress on implementing the payment scheme for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon Lewis)]

We welcome the formal designation of the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland to provide administrative support for the scheme. Victims should never have had to go to court to see such progress. The Executive must now move to ensure that the scheme can be opened as soon as is practical, so that applications can be processed and payments made to victims who have already waited too long. The implementation of the scheme, including timescales for delivery, is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, but I look forward to seeing them progress this issue as quickly as possible.

[Julian Smith]

Paddy Cassidy and Raymond Trimble have died since the pension and payment scheme became law, and many other victims are extremely ill. I urge my right hon. Friend to do whatever he can to provide the Executive with confidence that money will be forthcoming in the usual way through the block grant. Will he also do everything possible to dispel the horrendous myths that have been peddled about the payment scheme over the past few weeks? The scheme will primarily benefit civilians on both sides of the community who are desperate to have the recognition that they have been promised.