HL Deb 22 April 2002 vol 634 c18WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recommendation of the Victims Commissioner (Sir Kenneth Bloomfield) that organisations meeting the needs of victims require more funding has been implemented; and if so, what progress there has been. [HL3575]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Since 1998 Government have committed £18.25 million to support victims of the Troubles. Of this, £3.1 million was initially allocated to core fund victims and survivors of groups. This scheme was introduced in January 2000 for a period of two years and is administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust. In December 2001, Des Browne, Victims Minister, announced the allocation of a further £3 million to extend the core funding scheme. An evaluation of the scheme has recently been completed and decisions on the criteria and arrangements for administering this further allocation will be guided by the findings of the evaluation.

The Government have also funded a victims support grants scheme administered by the Community Relations Council. Initially £225,000 was allocated to the scheme, which assists community groups and voluntary organisations to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield report. In December 2001 a further allocation of £750,000 was announced to extend the scheme.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recommendation of the Victims Commissioner (Sir Kenneth Bloomfield) that some form of truth and reconciliation commission could benefit peace and reconciliation has been implemented; and, if so, what progress there has been. [HL3578]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

In his reportWe Will Remember Them (April 1998) Sir Kenneth Bloomfield gave careful consideration to the issue of a truth reconciliation commission. From his extensive dialogue throughout the community in Northern Ireland Sir Kenneth concluded that the time was not appropriate for the establishment of such a commission, noting that "if any such device were to have a place in the life of Northern Ireland, it could only be in the context of a wide-ranging political accord".

It is now four years since the Bloomfield report was published and government are currently reviewing their strategic approach to the needs of victims in the context of the on-going political process.