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Woodward rules out Troubles cash Woodward rules out Troubles cash
(about 2 hours later)
The Secretary of State has ruled out a £12,000 payment to all families bereaved as a result of the Troubles.The Secretary of State has ruled out a £12,000 payment to all families bereaved as a result of the Troubles.
The proposal, from a group set up to advise on how to deal with the past, was strongly criticised by some victims' families. The proposal, from a report compiled by the Consultative Group on the Past, was criticised by some victims' families.
Its chairmen, Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, are to appear before a House of Commons committee on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said it was clear the "time is not right for such a recognition payment".Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said it was clear the "time is not right for such a recognition payment".
"I have decided however we proceed on this report, and there are many things I would like to consider in it. But I do not think I will be proposing that this particular recommendation is one we should go forward on," he told the BBC. Speaking in London, the groups co-chairs, Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, said their report was "more important than one recommendation".
They are to appear before the House of Commons Northern Ireland Select Committee later on Wednesday.
'No consensus'
"I have decided however we proceed on this report, and there are many things I would like to consider in it. But I do not think I will be proposing that this particular recommendation is one we should go forward on," Mr Woodward told the BBC.
"There isn't a consensus on it; it is an interesting idea, but very clearly the time is not right for a recognition payment.""There isn't a consensus on it; it is an interesting idea, but very clearly the time is not right for a recognition payment."
The recommendation was made in a report compiled by the Consultative Group on the Past, an independent group set up to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles, during which more than 3,000 people died. Mr Woodward said while some parts of the report had caused huge controversy, there were 31 recommendations "which really do bear looking at".
Lord Eames said he was encouraged by the indication that the government was "going to take the other recommendations and have a good look at them".
"I have a feeling, whenever the dusts settles on all of this, there will be a case, maybe years down the line when people will start talking again about some tangible recognition," said Lord Eames.
"This arose from our consultation process, we didn't pluck it out of thin air, we didn't imagine it.
The group is co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis BradleyThe group is co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley
"While it has obviously caused controversy in Northern Ireland people ought to calm down and look beyond it to what else we are saying."
The Consultative Group on the Past is an independent group set up to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles, during which more than 3,000 people died.
It was proposed that the families of paramilitary victims, members of the security forces and civilians who were killed would all be entitled to the same amount.It was proposed that the families of paramilitary victims, members of the security forces and civilians who were killed would all be entitled to the same amount.
The 190-page report, which contains more than 30 recommendations, went to the government for consideration last month.The 190-page report, which contains more than 30 recommendations, went to the government for consideration last month.
Mr Woodward said while some parts of the report had caused huge controversy, there were 31 recommendations "which really do bear looking at".
Regarding the group's comments about public inquiries, Mr Woodward said: "I'm looking forward to the Saville Report (on Bloody Sunday). It's incredibly important, but this can't be the only way of dealing with it.Regarding the group's comments about public inquiries, Mr Woodward said: "I'm looking forward to the Saville Report (on Bloody Sunday). It's incredibly important, but this can't be the only way of dealing with it.
"Eames and Bradley rightly put their finger on the fact that there must be a better way of dealing with these issues than public inquiries.""Eames and Bradley rightly put their finger on the fact that there must be a better way of dealing with these issues than public inquiries."