Speeches by Benn.

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his service. If he looks at the nearly 100 cases that the commission is currently investigating, he will find that they include the Guilford pub bombing, the M62 coach bombing and the Kingsmill massacre. The commission has the powers it needs—in this respect, I pay tribute to the previous…”

“I say to the hon. and learned Gentleman that we can remain stuck in the past and think of a thousand reasons why, “This isn’t good enough,” and, “We shouldn’t do this,” or, “We shouldn’t do the other.” The responsibility on the House is to try to find a way of moving forward, because the fact that so many families do n…”

“The Government do not wish to see anybody hounded. We have put these protections in place precisely because we have listened to the concerns that veterans have expressed to me, to the Defence Secretary and to the Minister for the Armed Forces. I gave one example of a veteran welcoming the fact that we were putting the …”

“The aim of the remedial order is to remove from the statute book provisions in the previous legislation that have been found to be incompatible with our obligations. I would just say that the letters of comfort did not offer immunity. That has been quite clear from Lady Justice Hallett’s review and what the Chief Const…”

“When the hon. Gentleman sees the legislation, he will see that the protections that we have said will be backed by legislation are in the legislation. In addition to that, there are the provisions relating to cold calling and on not requiring veterans to rehearse the historical context when it is possible for someone f…”

“I would say two things to right hon. Gentleman. First, I would not be quite so light with the importance of that commitment to allow our veterans to give evidence remotely. The Minister for the Armed Forces and I have both spoken to veterans for whom having to go back to Northern Ireland would bring back memories that …”

“I will write to the hon. Gentleman in response to his last question, if I may. What the hon. Member describes is exactly what the commission is there to do. I am making a number of changes in the commission to create greater confidence on the part of families to come forward. I have great respect for Sir Declan Morgan …”

“The hon. Gentleman has spoken before most powerfully and movingly about the impact that the death of family members has had upon him. He exemplifies, if I may say so, what so many people in Northern Ireland say when they meet us and talk to us: some will open up and some will weep, and some will not be able to open the…”

“I suppose I should take that praise from the right hon. Gentleman at face value. The fact is that sections 46 and 47 were found to be incompatible, but I have listened, and I hope Members of the House will find me willing to listen. I must, however, correct him, because when it comes to the immunity provisions, they we…”

“When they introduced immunity, the previous Government said that it would apply not just to veterans but to others, including terrorists, and that is what the legislation did in those circumstances. There are provisions that apply to witnesses, but the reason for the package is the determination of the Government to pr…”

“I am very happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. We have made these commitments because we want them to work, and the Government are determined to ensure that that is the case.”

“I am grateful to the hon. Member for his point. Support is available for veterans through the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces Minister is very committed to making sure that veterans get all the support they need, which is in part reflected in the package we have announced. On disclosure, we are making a numbe…”

“The Minister for the Armed Forces, the Defence Secretary and I have had many such discussions. The measures that I have announced that will be contained in the Bill and the other non-legislative measures are the result of those discussions. We have listened very carefully to the concerns expressed by veterans and we ha…”

“I recognise the pressures on all Governments in the current circumstances all around the world. Northern Ireland receives 24% additional funding compared to England. It is slightly above 24%. That is a record settlement for a three-year spending review. In a separate context, I have always said that all Governments als…”

“Funding had already been identified within Northern Ireland for those cases. I grant you that funding had not been identified in relation to the 20 that the Attorney General for Northern Ireland referred in just before the deadline when the portcullis came down. What happens to those will be subject to the process, whi…”

“The first thing I would say is that funding was identified—that is my clear understanding—within the Northern Ireland Executive for the five-year programme. Has that been taken away? The funding was identified from within Northern Ireland’s resources, and therefore I would presume it is still available for the cases th…”

“When the five-year plan was put in place by Declan Morgan before he became involved in leading ICRIR, funding was identified for those inquests. If funding was identified for those inquests, it is there. Going back to Mr Robertson’s question, how it will pan out in respect of the other inquests depends on the outcome o…”

“People have already had a chance to see the shape of that and it was considered by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Other people have commented upon it. It is my intention to lay the draft remedial order, which is the second part of the process, at the same time as the draft legislation is published.”

“Indeed, yes. There is great merit in laying out the whole picture at one moment. That is why I am telling the Committee that it is my intention to lay the draft remedial order. I have published the proposed draft remedial order. I did that in December or January.”

“It is my intention to lay it alongside the draft legislation. We have been giving careful consideration to the Joint Committee on Human Rights.”