Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has urged the Government to ensure that the bill to provide compensation payments for victims of Historical Institutional Abuse, is passed by the House of Commons before Parliament is dissolved on Wednesday.
Lord Empey said:
“The next two days, being the last of this Parliament, are absolutely crucial for the victims of Historical Institutional Abuse.
“Last week saw parties in both Houses of Parliament coming together to pressure the Government to include the necessary legislation among the list of Bills that need to be agreed before dissolution on Wednesday.
“I said last week that it would be cruel if, having come this far, the victims saw this Legislation, which provides for compensation payments, snatched away from them at the last moment. This would mean months of further delay.
“The pressure must be maintained for the next 48 hours, as Tuesday is going to be the last opportunity to get this Bill passed into law by the House of Commons. It has already been passed by the House of Lords. The indications are that, at long last, the Government has got the message, so I am more hopeful than I was last week.
“At least, in its dying moments, this Parliament could go out showing a degree of humanitarian concern for a long term victimised community.”