Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of clauses 79 to 83 of the National Security Bill on the ability of victims of (a) torture and (b) other crimes to seek redress for alleged actions by the UK contributing to that treatment.

The Government is satisfied the measures in these clauses of the National Security Bill are justified, will help improve public protection and are proportionate in nature.

They will enable the UK’s security services to apply for:

1. A reduction in civil damages in national security proceedings where a claimant has been involved in wrongdoing associated with terrorism;

2. A court order that would freeze or forfeit damages payable where the court is satisfied that there is a real risk of a claimant using their award to fund acts of terror.

All applications will be subject to the independent determination of the courts on an assessment of the evidence in individual cases.