The Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner David Johnstone said it is “too early to say in detail” about whether he is pleased about the amendments.
“We are going to take our time, we need to take some legal input, we need to consult with veterans. We are not going to have a knee jerk reaction, I don’t think anyone’s going to be dancing in the streets over the amendments,” he told Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“It does appear that the secretary of state and the Ministry of Defence have listened to some of the concerns and there does seem to be some amendments that are welcomed.”
He added that the bill needs to be amendment so it is “fair and balanced” but he added that that is “unlikely”.
On Monday Sinn Féin MP John Finucane denounced the amendments as a “veterans’ charter”.
He said they “risk preferential treatment, providing additional protections for former members of the British military while placing further obstacles in the path of effective investigations”.
Johnstone said he was “not worried about the criticism of Sinn Féin” when it comes to the bill.
“While on the surface there does seem to be some improvements to protections, things like the Attorney General being involved to make a final decision on prosecutions, on the surface seems welcome but let’s see the actual wording in terms of legal opinion because it is a minefield.”
Johnstone said the role the Attorney General will play has had a “mixed reaction” as it is a political appointment and will not have veterans “excited”.
However he said some veterans will see it as “positive” as decisions on prosecutions will involve officials in Westminster, rather than in Northern Ireland.