Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted in Part
Publish indicative list of consultees and clarify the oversight board's membership and remit.
Recommendation
In the interests of transparency, we recommend that the Government publish an indicative list of these consultees. Additionally, the Government must explain the membership and remit of the oversight board more clearly to those stakeholders in whom it needs to build more confidence in its proposals, including what practicable steps it is taking to include international expertise, beyond the parties to the Joint Framework. There is also a case for ensuring that monitoring reviews of the commission take place annually. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, confirming that Clause 9 of the Troubles Bill requires the publication of a list of consultees and that Clause 4 mandates international expertise on the Oversight Board, whose remit is also explained. However, it rejects annual monitoring reviews, deeming existing biennial and quinquennial reviews sufficient and further obligations overly burdensome.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Troubles Bill, at Clause 9, requires the Secretary of State to publish a list of prospective consultees before they are consulted on relevant appointments. Where appropriate, for example for the Victims and Survivors Advisory Group (VSAG), this will of course include consultation with representatives of victims and survivors. The list of consultees will vary for each appointment process, to ensure that the consultation for each role includes the required expertise. I can assure the Committee that the Government will aim to publish a list of prospective consultees in good time ahead of any consultation process. The Oversight Board comprises the Commissioners (between two and five, appointed by the Secretary of State following consultation as set out in Clause 9 of the Bill) and the Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Commission. Clause 4 of the Bill explicitly obliges the Secretary of State to ensure that at least one of those Commissioners has relevant experience gained outside the United Kingdom. The Oversight Board’s principal remit is to set the Legacy Commission’s strategic priorities, scrutinise the exercise of all its functions, and oversee the work of its officers. The Legacy Commission is already required to publish a detailed Annual Report and a yearly Work Plan, which provides stakeholders with an annual public update on its performance, caseload, and finances. The Bill further mandates a robust, independent review of the Commission’s performance by an external person at specific intervals (2, 5 and 7 years after the Act is passed, under Clause 24). It is the Government’s view that these are appropriate arrangements, and placing further obligations of review would be overly burdensome.