A contested legacy body in Northern Ireland has issues around governance and culture, according to a review co-commissioned by the British government.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn made a ministerial statement at Westminster setting out the position on the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
It is the body now dealing with virtually all Troubles-related investigations since the UK government introduced legislation shutting down other legal and investigative avenues for families.
Around 270 cases have been referred to the ICRIR with 100 investigations already under way.
Many victims' groups oppose the ICRIR - introduced by the previous Tory government - and the Labour administration has promised to replace it as part of a legacy reform package agreed with the Irish Government.
Mr Benn told the Commons he commissioned the review after concerns about "corporate effectiveness and culture" were raised with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
The ICRIR and NIO jointly commissioned a former senior civil servant to do the work.
His report were submitted in February.
"His findings identified that the organisation is facing a number of problems resulting, in his view, from a combination of the 2023 Legacy Act itself, internal governance shortcomings and the culture of the organisation at senior levels," Mr Benn told MPs.
He now plans a further review of the ICRIR which most be completed by the end of April next year. A review chair will be appointed and terms of reference set out.
Mr Benn said many of the ICRIR's staff had participated in the original review on the condition of anonymity and it was right that the findings be shared with them first.
He said once that had been done he would place the findings in the Westminster library, along with the government response.
Mr Benn said it was important that the work of the ICRIR should continue.
But one victim's group said the findings were evidence that the body was incapable of acting in the "real interests of the families impacted by the conflict".
"We never needed an inspection to tell us that the ICRIR was not fit for purpose," said Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice.
He said the work of the ICRIR should be "immediately suspended" until it was replaced with an organisation that was independent and acceptable to families.
The Chief Commissioner of the ICRIR Declan Morgan thanked the senior civil servant who carried out the review.
He said: "The review recognises real strengths, however as with any newly established organisation growing at pace, it also identifies areas where improvement is required.
"The Commission welcomes that feedback."Our focus is on learning from this review and continuing to build a service for victims, survivors and their families that meets the highest standards."
