British veterans will not be forced to give evidence over Troubles killings in person, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has insisted.

The Government has ditched an effective amnesty for Troubles-era killings, which would have prevented the prosecution of former soldiers.

Hilary Benn said Labour had to scrap parts of the Conservatives’ Legacy Act after it was struck down by domestic courts for breaking human rights laws that require deaths to be investigated.

The Act included a conditional amnesty for Troubles-era killers, soldiers and terrorists alike if they gave information to the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

The commission, which was set up to investigate deaths and promote reconciliation and has the power to summon witnesses, would then report back to families. Whistleblowers would be given effective immunity from later prosecution if they gave a truthful account of their involvement in the crimes.

New civil cases and inquests into Troubles-era crimes were stopped on May 1 last year as part of the changes the Act brought in.

Labour will “repeal and replace” the Act, but plans to keep the commission to help victims’ families get information, which means elderly veterans could be asked by it to give evidence.