In my statement on 12 December 2005, Hansard, columns 1119–21, following my appearance at the Public Administration Select Committee oral evidence session on the operation of the FEPOW scheme, I told the House that I had commissioned a review into the extent to which inconsistent eligibility criteria had been used for deciding claims before and after the introduction of the birth-link criterion; this work is well-advanced. In addition, I said that a separate, independent investigation would be conducted into how the use of inconsistent criteria had arisen and why it had not been exposed earlier. I said that this work would be undertaken by a retired senior official from outside of the Departments involved. I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Watkins, a retired senior civil servant formerly in the Northern Ireland Office who is well qualified for the task, has agreed to undertake the investigation. His role will be to consider:

how the original inconsistencies arose, identifying any specific shortcomings in the development and implementation of policy; how, subsequently, the Departments involved failed to identify that there had been inconsistencies, despite the need to explain the Government's position in Parliament, in the courts and to the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and whether there are any lessons to be learned for the future from such shortcomings as are identified in the development of the scheme and in its administration.

Mr. Watkins has begun his investigation and I have indicated my concern that, while it must be thorough, it should be completed as quickly as practicable.

I will make a further statement to Parliament when I have received Mr. Watkins' final report.