Victims' Commissioner Appointment

Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement in response to the criticisms made of his Departments by Mr. Justice Girvan.

Mr. Hain
The Attorney General has announced that the issues raised by Mr. Justice Girvan in his judgment will be inquired into. There will be full co-operation with that inquiry. I absolutely reject any suggestion that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the court in relation to the appointment of Bertha McDougall to undertake important preparatory work prior to the appointment of a Victims’ Commissioner, including providing me with a report on Justice for Victims.