Lord Empey has called on the UK Government to make interim payments to victims of historic intuitional abuse in the forthcoming financial year. He made the call during a debate in the House of Lords.
Following the debate Lord Empey said:
“The Hart Inquiry reported two years ago and the public consultation on the legislation has now closed. Victims were let down before and they are being let down again.
“I appeal to the Minister to ensure that in the financial year about to begin, there is, at the very least, provision in that budget for interim payments to be made. These people are getting on in years and they are suffering again. There is unanimous support in the political parties for this matter to be resolved—not a single elected Member objects to this—yet we are still confronted by the fact that nothing has happened and these people have received nothing. It is inhuman and entirely unsatisfactory, and I appeal to the Minister to ensure that some progress is made in the financial year about to begin.”
Lord Empey’s full contribution during the debate can be found here https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2019-03-12/debates/11EDC5AB-D571-40CD-8905-47582319E86E/NorthernIreland(RegionalRatesAndEnergy)(No2)Bill