Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what areas of discretion are available to Northern Ireland civil servants in the absence of Ministers.

People in Northern Ireland deserve locally-elected decision-makers who are working for them, to address the issues that matter most to people who live there. As such, I am particularly disappointed at the serious situation that the lack of an Executive has left the people of Northern Ireland facing.

The Government recognises that the Court of Appeal ruling in Buick in July 2018 made clear that Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) Departments cannot take decisions that would normally require the control and direction of a Minister and/or the approval of the NI Executive.

Civil servants do not have the legal authority to tackle these issues and in the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to introduce legislation which will clarify the powers Northern Ireland Departments have to support public service delivery, make a small number of vital public appointments and set a Budget for Northern Ireland for this financial year.