Legal Framework: Troubles-related incident Victims Payment Scheme
Detail of outcome
Findings of victims payments consultation
The Government has published its consultation response and laid regulations to establish the victims payments scheme.
The Government has made legislation to acknowledge those living with serious and continuing disablement from physical and/or psychological injuries due to a Troubles-related incident. The scheme will be open to people who were injured through no fault of their own living with the effects of either physical or psychological injury. This follows a public consultation in the Autumn and the Government’s response to that consultation can be viewed here. The scheme, which is expected to open at the end of May, will be administered by a Board with practical support from the NICS.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The UK Government has today published a consultation paper, A legal framework for a Troubles-related incident Victims Payment Scheme
The consultation will run for five weeks and the UK Government would welcome comments from anyone with an interest or view, to inform the shape of legislation to be introduced by end-January 2020.
In his foreword to the consultation, Rt Hon Julian Smith MP (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) said:
As a society we have a moral duty to acknowledge and recognise the unacceptable suffering of those seriously injured in the Troubles as part of wider efforts to support Northern Ireland in building its future by doing more to address its past.
For too long this matter has stalled on the question of who should and who should not benefit from it.
While it will always be the preference of this Government that such provision is made by a Northern Ireland Executive, in its absence we are publishing this proposal for how a scheme could be delivered. This is a crucial element of the Stormont House Agreement’s proposals to help address the legacy of the Troubles, and it is vital that we make progress across this and related matters. We are committed to delivering better outcomes for all those affected by the Troubles and to continuing to play our part in promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Documents
Updates to this page
Published 22 October 2019Last updated 31 January 2020 + show all updates
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The Government has published its consultation response and laid regulations to establish the victims payments scheme.
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Inclusion of a Questionnaire form for responses on Victims' pension.
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First published.