Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Charlie Caulfield received a letter of comfort.

In September 2014, the Government set out its position in relation to the ‘on the runs’ administrative scheme fully in a statement to the House of Commons. In the statement, the Government was clear that the scheme was at an end and that there was no basis for any reliance on letters received by so-called “On The Runs” under the scheme that was introduced by the previous Labour Government.

I have said on a number of occasions there is no amnesty, immunity or exemption from prosecution. This was confirmed by Lady Justice Hallett in her review of the scheme published in July 2014. This Government’s position is very clear. Those who received letters under the scheme should be in no doubt: if there is considered to be sufficient evidence of their involvement in any crime, they will be investigated by the police and prosecuting authorities.

This Government’s position with regards to publishing the names of individuals in receipt of letters under the OTR scheme is unchanged. We do not consider it appropriate to publish the names for a number of reasons including because it could jeopardise future prosecutions or increase the risk of an abuse of process argument being successfully run.