Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-10-28.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had, or are having, with the government of Libya about compensation for people killed or wounded by explosives and guns supplied to the IRA by that country, in a manner similar to compensation for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing, and when those discussions will be completed.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The last significant discussion with the Libyan government on the resolution of legacy issues was in June 2014, when the then National Security Adviser, Sir Kim Darroch, visited Libya.
The subsequent violence and political instability in Libya, which resulted in the closure of our Embassy in Tripoli in August 2014, effectively stalled further discussions with the authorities. Under the current circumstances we need to be realistic about what the Libyan authorities can deliver, but we remain determined to make progress. Once stability returns, and our Embassy re-opens, we will again encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with UK victims and their legal representatives seeking redress, including those seeking compensation.
