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Historical Inquiries

Volume 463: debated on Monday 23 July 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the historical inquiries which (a) are being undertaken and (b) are about to be commenced in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. (151718)

The Historic Enquiry Team (HET) is tasked with re-examining all 3,268 murders related to the security situation during the period from 1968 until the signing of the Belfast Agreement. The HET generally examines cases in chronological order and is currently working on cases from 1972.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was set up following a resolution of the House on 29 January 1998 to inquire into the events on 30 January 1972 which led to loss of life in connection with a procession in Londonderry.

The Robert Hamill Inquiry, the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry and the Billy Wright Inquiry were established to inquire into the deaths of these individuals. The inquiries’ terms of reference were announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) in a written statement on 16 November 2004, Official Report, columns 83-84WS. My right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen announced on 23 September 2004 that steps would be taken to enable the establishment of an inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane, which would be held on the basis of new legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by (a) the police and (b) other agencies on historical inquiries in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. (151719)

The Historic Enquires Team project has been allocated £34 million over six years, this is a significant sum. Estimated expenditure to 31 March 2007 is £9.9 million. This project involves the PSNI, Police Ombudsman, Forensic Science Agency and PPS. Government are committed to ensuring that this work is adequately resourced.

The expenditure by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, the Robert Hamill Inquiry, the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry and the Billy Wright Inquiry is set out in the following table:

Rounded expenditure to end April2007 (£ million)

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

1178.264

Robert Hamill Inquiry

10.41

Billy Wright Inquiry

7.21

Rosemary Nelson Inquiry

15.17

1 Of this total cost (rounded) £143.1 million falls to the NIO, the remaining £35.2 million falls to the MOD

The estimated cost to PSNI of providing information to historic inquires other than investigations being carried out by HET is £7.17 million. This includes £1.9 million to investigate ‘cold’ non-terrorist murder cases, as well as £1-1.5 million for legal cost in respect of all historic inquires work.