Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if her Department will (a) respond to feedback received by the Northern Ireland Executive Office's consultation on Historical Institutional Abuse and (b) take steps to implement the recommendations of the Hart Report in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly; and if she will make a statement.

Victims of historical institutional abuse have shown huge courage and dignity in their fight for truth and redress and publishing this consultation is an important step for them. I urge anyone who has been affected or has an interest to contribute to this consultation and put forward their views.

The UK Government’s priority in Northern Ireland continues to be the restoration of the NI Executive. If, despite best efforts, the NI Executive has not been restored by the time the consultation process ends we will consider what the next steps are in the absence of NI Executive Ministers.