Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Uncertainty persists regarding purpose and membership of victims and survivors advisory group.
Conclusion
While the principle of establishing a victims and survivors advisory group has been broadly welcomed, there is still uncertainty regarding its purpose, its relationship with existing forums, and whether the Government will act decisively, by way of amendment to the Bill, to prohibit participation or representation by the perpetrators of terrorism, crime or paramilitary activity. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that the VSAG membership will not include individuals involved in paramilitary violence and states that further information on its composition and terms of reference will be published under the Troubles Bill, addressing uncertainties about its purpose and representation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
It is vital that the VSAG is able to command the confidence of victims and survivors across communities. The perspectives of victims will, of course, be an integral part of the consultation on appointments to the VSAG. The Government has also been very clear that membership of the VSAG will not include any individual who has previously been involved in paramilitary violence. The VSAG has a specific role as part of the governance and oversight arrangements for the reformed Legacy Commission, learning from processes like the Operation Kenova Victims Focus Group, which families have indicated was helpful in this regard. The VSAG will complement the work of other well established representative groups to ensure the Commission exercises its functions in a way that meets the needs of victims and survivors. Further information regarding the composition of VSAG will be published as part of the Secretary of State’s duties to consult on appointments under Clause 9 of the Bill. The specific operation of the VSAG will be a matter for its members, once appointed, though Clause 8(7) requires the Secretary of State to publish its terms of reference following consultation with members of the VSAG.