Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether legacy practitioners applying on behalf of a family member of a victim to the proposed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery requesting a review of a Troubles death or serious injury will be eligible for legal aid; what annual estimate they have made of the likely cost of such legal aid; and which Northern Ireland department will fund it.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which is continuing its passage through Parliament, places a duty on the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to carry out reviews of Troubles-related deaths and cases of specified serious injury when requested.

The Bill clearly defines which individuals will be able to request a review into a death or serious injury.

Requesting a review will not involve entering into a legal process. Legal Aid - which is devolved and delivered by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland - will therefore not be required when requesting a review.