The British government intends to appoint a commissioner to assist the victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Secretary Paul Murphy said the move was part of a tailored approach to dealing with the past.
In a written statement, he said the commissioner would play a pivotal role in promoting the interests of those who had suffered and in setting up a Victims and Survivors Forum.
There has been a mixed response to the announcement.
It has been welcomed by some unionists but criticised by Sinn Féin and the Relatives for Justice group, which includes those whose family members were killed by the security forces.
