CONCERNS have been raised that legislation to compensate victims of abuse in Northern Ireland will not be approved before parliament is dissolved for an early general election.
The new law would set up a redress board to administer a compensation scheme and aims to create a commissioner to advocate for survivors of institutional childhood abuse.
Victims have been lobbying for compensation since it was recommended by the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in early 2017, around the time of Stormont's collapse.
In an exchange with Labour MP Kate Hoey in the Commons yesterday, independent unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon warned of the impact of a December election on the passage of the legislation.
"If we were to dissolve on November 6, the honourable lady knows perfectly well that those victims of historical institutional abuse, who waited so patiently with such dignity for so long, will not be able to have that legislation through this house in time for them to have that compensation," the North Down MP said.
Ms Hoey agreed that it was a "hugely important issue" but said she believed the bill "could be put through this week".
Earlier this week, House of Lords members expressed their hopes that the new laws could be rushed through parliament before an election.
Northern Ireland minister Lord Duncan of Springbank said the victims of historical abuse had been "left hanging" for too long.
Other planned legislation could also fail to be approved before an election is called, such as the Domestic Abuse Bill.
The legislation would apply across the UK, but was also due to extend the offence of 'coercive control' to Northern Ireland.
