Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant has been accused of an “abdication of responsibility” to victims of the Troubles, after declining to extend a scheme for those permanently disabled as a result of the decades-long conflict.

The victims group Relatives For Justice accused him of taking a “horrific position”, after receiving a letter from Sir Chris in which he said his decision came after he did not receive a request to extend from the NI Executive.

In the letter to Relatives For Justice, seen by the Press Association, Sir Chris said the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme “provides much needed acknowledgement and support to those victims and their families”.

He added that to date payments of more than £150 million have been made.

The scheme opened on August 31, 2021 with the aim of providing those living with a disablement through no fault of their own in the Troubles, with a payment in recognition of the harm they suffered and the impact on their carers.

Administered by the Victims’ Payments Board (VPB), it can award payments ranging from £2,494 to £12,471 per annum to those eligible.

While the closing date for new applications closes in August, the regulations provide for applications made after this date to be considered by the VPB, in exceptional circumstances.

Andree Murphy, deputy director at Relatives For Justice, wrote to former secretary of state Hilary Benn in June requesting that closure of the scheme for new applications be extended.

She said there remained a number who were still to apply, including those subjected to paramilitary “punishment” attacks, victims of feuds and those subjected to sexual violence in the content of the conflict.

She asked that the deadline be extended and further guidance given.

Responding in a letter dated August 10, Sir Chris said he had taken time to “properly consider the issues” raised.

He pointed out that the scheme is to close on August 30, 2026 “in line with the five-year application window as set out in the The Victims’ Payments Regulations 2020”.

He also said that while the regulations give him powers, those only exist because the UK Government set up the scheme in the then absence of a functioning Executive, and “previous failure to agree on a way to establish such a scheme for victims”.

Sir Chris said he had considered representations from several victims and rights groups, but had not received a request to extend the application period from the Northern Ireland Executive, “who wholly own and administer the scheme”.

“I will not be exercising that power and the TPDPS will close to new applications on 30 August as planned,” he wrote.

He added: “As you know, support for victims is devolved, led by The Executive Office, which also has oversight of the TPDPS.

“I would encourage you to raise any concerns you have about the administration of the scheme directly with them.”

Ms Murphy criticised what she called a “horrific position from the Secretary of State”.

She also urged all parties in the Stormont Executive to press for the scheme to be extended.

“He is barely into the job and he is already falling into the tradition of not engaging with the lived experience of victims and survivors, dismissing the complexity of conflict trauma and washing his hands,” she said.

“This decision is an abdication of responsibility and the human rights of victims and survivors.”

She added: “In the context of the wider failures on legacy, it is further evidence of the cruelty of successive British governments to all victims and survivors.

“This is Westminster legislation, passed by Westminster’s government, not the Executive. Whilst recognising the disingenuity of Westminster then foisting the scheme onto the devolved budget which now meets the cost of the scheme, and also recognising that ultimately Westminster should pay for its own scheme, victims and survivors’ rights and needs should never be disadvantaged in a jurisdictional contest.

“In light of this letter we strongly urge all Executive parties to make clear to the Secretary of State that no victim and survivor should be left behind, and that this scheme should remain open after August 30.”

Responding, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme provides much needed acknowledgement and support to those victims and their families who have suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of being injured in the Troubles. To date, over £150 million in payments have been made.

“To ensure no-one who is eligible for the scheme misses out for reasons beyond their control, the regulations provide for applications made after this date to be considered by the Victims’ Payments Board, in exceptional circumstances.”