Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many outstanding pre-1998 legacy cases in the form of civil suits and re-opened inquests are in train at present; and what have been (1) the costs involved in settlements or damages paid in such cases in each of the past five complete years and (2) the legal costs, both incurred by the Northern Ireland Office and paid out to claimants' and victims' lawyers.

There are over a thousand ongoing legacy civil claims against the Northern Ireland Office and other state agencies.

Damages paid by the Northern Ireland Office in such cases must remain confidential as per the terms of the settlements, and the Northern Ireland Office does not hold information on the settlement of legacy civil claims faced by other Government departments.

The Northern Ireland Office’s spend on legal costs is included within our Annual Report and Accounts, although we do not differentiate between legal costs we incur and costs we pay to claimants’ lawyers:

22/23

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/650825884cd3c3000d68cb7d/E02862920_NIO_Annual_Report___Accounts_2022-23_Web_Accessible.pdf

21/22

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62bd7aa98fa8f535a857851d/E02726214_NIO_ARA_21-22_Accessible.pdf

20/21

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60dc57b28fa8f50ab2f55b13/Northern_Ireland_Office_Annual_Report_and_Accounts.pdf

19/20

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f7ee413e90e077418bbba00/NIO_Annual_Report_and_Account_2019-20.pdf

18/19

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5db1b51640f0b609d7507fd1/NIO_Annual_Report_and_Account_for_laying_on_2410191_-_certified_by_C_AG_on_231019__2_.pdf