Royal Ulster Constabulary: Trust Fund (Hansard, 14 November 2000)

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton

As I announced in the House on 27 July prior to Second Reading, the Government asked Mr John Steele to carry out a review into the proposed fund. The Government received the report from John Steele on 27 October. It was published on 7 November 2000, and copies have been placed in the Library of both Houses. Copies are also being sent to all those parties with whom Mr Steele had meetings.

The Government are extremely grateful to Mr Steele for taking on this sensitive review of the recommendation (Recommendation 87) by the Independent Commission on Policing and for concluding his review so promptly. It welcomes his comprehensive and thorough report. The Government are undertaking a detailed assessment of each of the specific proposals and these will form the basis on which the Government take forward implementation of this very important Patten recommendation.

In particular, the Government agree that a new fund should be established covering in scope deaths and injuries caused directly by terrorist violence against members of the police in Northern Ireland. The fund would help seriously injured police officers, and retired officers and their families, as well as police widows.

The Government will establish a trust to administer the fund, on the basis proposed, as soon as possible.

The Government also accept the key recommendation that widows of police officers who were killed as a result of terrorist activity prior to 25 November 1982 should receive lump sum payments. They will look to see how these payments, along the lines proposed in Mr Steele's report, can be made without undue delay.

The Government have already implemented the related recommendation, Recommendation 88, that the Widows' Association should be given premises and a regular source of finance to run their organisation. The Widows' Association moved into new premises, and funding began, in September.