To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was responsible for obtaining and fact-checking information from UK mainland police forces to facilitate the issuing of letters of comfort to so-called On-the-Runs.

The Attorney-General referred inquiries regarding individuals to the prosecuting authorities and the PSNI, who carried out factual checks. The PSNI advised whether individuals were wanted by the police. Letters were issued based on the information provided by the PSNI.

On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with so called “on-the-runs”, which will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.