§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government intend to provide additional funding to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund for Victims; and if he will make a statement. [156119]
§ Angela SmithSince 1998, the Government have allocated more than £20 million to victims' issues. More than £7 million of this has been allocated to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund (NIMF). A number of other initiatives have also been funded. More than £8 million has been allocated for core and project funding to groups working in support of victims. Trauma centres have been established in Belfast and Omagh and Trauma Advisory Panels have been established in each Health Board Area. We are also raising awareness across the public sector about victims' needs, and the special sensitivities required when dealing with those who have experienced traumatic events.
Significant progress has been made in a relatively short period of time but more needs to be done. That is why I am currently working to develop the next generation of victims' policy. As part of this work I am engaged in a consultation process with victims and survivors and with experts and practitioners in the field to find out more about: victims' needs; to what extent existing initiatives, including the NIMF, are meeting these needs; what are the unmet needs; and where the priorities lie. The outcome of this process, which is ongoing, will inform decisions on future policy and funding.