Karen Bradley has insisted she is not delaying redress payments for victims of institutional abuse.
In a heated debate during Northern Ireland Questions in the House of Commons today, the secretary of state said she wants to introduce legislation to set up a redress scheme as quickly as possible.
“I am not delaying anything. I am determined to act for those people,” she said.
Mrs Bradley said the victims’ stories were “heart-rending”, adding "no one should have had to have suffered the way they did".
She said the redress scheme would be set up regardless of the success of talks aimed at restoring power-sharing at Stormont.
“I am not prepared to wait for restored devolution to make action in this matter,” she said. "I am determined that we will do everything that we can for those victims of historical abuse and that we will take measures forward as soon as possible and not wait for restored devolution."
DUP MP Nigel Dodds said people “are outraged” that survivors are still waiting for payments and criticised Mrs Bradley's approach.
"Frankly many people are saying that far too much time has elapsed already, given the fact that the secretary of state does have the ability to make this move faster," he said.
"People are outraged at the idea of having to wait another couple of years, as she appeared to indicate."
He asked why victims may have to wait for a further two years for payments, even after the scheme is established.
“I do not shy away from my responsibilities in this matter,” she said.
She added: "The two years he’s referred to is an estimate by the Civil Service of Northern Ireland."
"This is not an estimate I have put forward," he said.
"As he will know, following the end of the consultation that I asked the head of the civil service to conduct, a number of decisions need to be taken, decisions that require ministerial input. I have asked the five parties in Northern Ireland to assist me in getting a resolution to those questions as soon as possible so that I can act as soon as possible which I am determined to do.”
Mr Dodds accused Mrs Bradley of failing to act.
"This is one but probably the most terrible example of a whole series of decisions which have cross-community and cross-party support but which she has refused to do anything about even though this place and her government is responsible for the administration of Northern Ireland," he said.
He questioned why she had asked the main Stormont parties to answer a further 11 questions about the planned redress scheme.
“The head of the civil service and the executive office have put forward 15 questions that need a response,” she said.
"I have asked the parties in Northern Ireland to help me to get decisions on those questions."
She also said she was prepared to push forward legislation through Westminster to set up the scheme.
“I am prepared to do the legislation wherever it is quickest,” she said.
“There is an opportunity for us to make progress on this quickly but I can’t do it alone."
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