Hansard

Interim Victims Commissioner

Volume 453: debated on Thursday 23 November 2006

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Lady Hermon

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Northern Ireland High Court judgment of 9 November 2006 by Mr. Justice Girvan in the matter of an application by Brenda Downes for judicial review of the appointment of Interim Victims Commissioner; (102532)

(2) on how many occasions since 2005 a Cabinet Minister has been held by a court in judicial review proceedings of a ministerial decision to have (a) been motivated by an improper purpose and (b) acted with a lack of candour;

(3) what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with the Ministerial Code following the Northern Ireland High Court judgment of 9 November 2006 by Mr. Justice Girvan in the matter of an application by Brenda Downes for judicial review of the appointment of the Interim Victims Commissioner.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Prime Minister whether he was consulted in line with the provisions of section 53(d) of the Ministerial Code on the proposed appointment of the Interim Victims Commissioner for Northern Ireland. (102380)

The Prime Minister

Mr. Justice Girvan has asked the Attorney-General to investigate certain matters relating to the appointment of the Interim Victims Commissioner. The Attorney-General will reply in due course.