The Ulster Unionist Party has criticised the Commission for Victims & Survivors for trying to impose a one-week deadline to respond to their policy paper which proposes a payment scheme for those who were bereaved by Troubles related incidents.

A spokesperson said: "One week is not a realistic timeframe for a party response to such an important proposal. While Ulster Unionists are sympathetic in principle to such a scheme, there is a lot of detail to be thought through.

"When Commissioner Ian Jeffers met a group of our MLAs last month, we made clear there were significant areas requiring clarification. The Commission make clear in their proposals that while affordability is a consideration, it is not the Commission's priority. We feel that assertion needs to be tested. Too often victims and survivors have been made promises that were never fulfilled.

"Further, given the news that Mr Jeffers is moving on from the Commission, this is not the time to make such significant decisions. A new Commissioner, once appointed, may take a different approach."