Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–13 of 13 · Northern Ireland Office
Whether he plans to proceed with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025.
On 22 January, the House of Commons approved the Remedial Order, which will remove the conditional immunity provided to terrorists by the previous Government’s immunity scheme. The scheduling of the debate in the House of Lords will be announced in the usual way.
Whether he plans to proceed with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Yes. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will establish a reformed, human rights compliant and wholly independent Legacy Commission, which will carry out investigations and provide family reports to give victims and their families the answers they deserve. The Bill will proceed to Committee stage as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702, whether it remains the case that 9 inquests will be able to resume.
The Northern Ireland Office has written to the families of 8 cases to inform them that those inquests will be able to resume under clause 84(3) of the Northern Ireland (Troubles) Bill. These cases are; Dillon, Duffy, McCord, Loughgall, Stalker-Sampson series, Moran, McDaid & Slane, and Patterson. The inquest into the death of Mr Joseph Campbell is included in the ‘9 cases’ allowed to resume as it was part of the ‘Five Year Plan’ for Legacy Inquests, and had started before the Legacy Act came into force. The Government is aware that the coroner in this case has provisionally determined that it can continue as a ‘non Troubles-related’ inquest.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82702 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, what information he holds on the nine cases that will be able to be resumed.
Clause 84(3) of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill sets out the criteria for resumption of inquests that had started and were halted by the Legacy Act. It is only right that these are discussed with the affected families in the first instance.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 82705 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, whether the right to anonymity is included in the other measures that will apply to non-veterans.
All of the measures that we have announced seek to directly benefit veterans who are asked to engage with legacy mechanisms, responding to discussions that the Government has undertaken. Some measures, including the protection from cold calling and protecting veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details, will apply only to veterans. Other measures - including the right to seek anonymity, which is already a feature of the Coronial System - will necessarily apply to everyone. This will ensure that other witnesses, including former police officers, are able to avail of these measures when giving witness evidence to both the reformed Legacy Commission and the small number of Inquests that will proceed.
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, which are the nine cases that will be able to resume.
The provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill set out the criteria for the restoration of a select number of inquests based on their progress through the coronial system at 1 May 2024. These criteria are set out at Clause 84.
What estimate he has made of the number of civil cases expected to be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.
The 2023 Legacy Act did not prohibit Troubles-related civil cases from proceeding, meaning that over 700 cases remain in the judicial system. The Legacy Act’s retrospective bar on new civil cases was found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations, and is being removed via a Remedial Order under the Human Rights Act. It is impossible to predict future proceedings.
If he will publish a list of inquests that could be reopened as a result of repealing the Northern Ireland Legacy Act 2023 and replacing it with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025.
Under the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill those inquests that had started and were halted by the Legacy Act, of which there are 9, will be able to resume. All other cases which were in the coronial system but had not commenced (24 in total) will be subject to a decision by the Solicitor General having regard to the statutory criteria as to whether they progress via the coronial system or within the Commission.
With reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether the statutory advisory group that will provide an opportunity for the voices of victims and survivors of the Troubles to be heard will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill requires appointments to the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group to be made following consultation with relevant individuals, in order to inform the appointments process. I will publish details of who will be consulted. I have already committed to a publicly advertised application process for members of the Advisory Group.
With reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether the requirement for the Legacy Commission and coroners to consider the welfare of witnesses when requesting or requiring them to give evidence will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details. Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.
With reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether seeking anonymity when giving evidence remotely to the Legacy Commission will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details. Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.
With reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether protection from repeated investigations will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. The Commission’s duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from having to unnecessarily provide information previously covered.
With reference to paragraph 20 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, whether right to give evidence remotely will include alleged members of paramilitary organisations.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details. Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.