James Sunderland asks the Northern Ireland Secretary when the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will be debated in the Commons and asks about a review of moral equivalence and terminology.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
When might we see the legacy Bill back in this place, and will there be a necessary review of moral equivalence and terminology?
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chris Heaton-Harris)
The Government are clear that we will never accept any moral equivalence between those who upheld the law in Northern Ireland and those on all sides who sought to destroy it. The legislation seeks to deliver better outcomes for all those most affected by the troubles. It is important to remember that that includes the families of service personnel, more than 1,000 of whom were killed during the troubles. The Government will continue to engage with those most directly impacted by the legislation about their concerns and how these might be addressed. The Second Reading of the legacy Bill in the House of Lords will take place in a couple of weeks’ time.