Written question asked by Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party) on Monday, 13 January 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 January 2020. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Monday, 27 January 2020 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Libya: IRA

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have lodged a claim with the government of Libya on behalf of those UK citizens who suffered losses resulting from Libya’s support for IRA terrorists during the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Answer: The Libyan Government has a responsibility to deal with the legacy of the Qadhafi regime, as part of a broad process of national and international reconciliation and justice. We have a longstanding position of not pursuing government-to-government negotiations with Libya on behalf of victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, but we continue to provide facilitation support to victims, their representatives and campaign groups. Ministers and our diplomats continue to press the Libyan authorities to engage constructively. The Government takes this issue extremely seriously, which is why on 6 March 2019, the Foreign Secretary appointed William Shawcross as Special Representative on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored terrorism.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL302
Session: 2019-21
Subjects: Compensation Arms trade IRA Northern Ireland Terrorism Victims Libya
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk