Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the proposed consultation on assessing the impact on divergence and ensuring the protection of the UK internal market on chemical businesses, as outlined in the letter by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland dated 20 January on the Chemical Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, was not carried out before a decision was taken on applying the "Stormont Brake" procedure.

Whilst MLAs are required to have taken steps to consult businesses, other traders and civic society affected by the regulation in question prior to making their notification, on 20 January the Government set out its commitment to take any future steps necessary to avoid new barriers that would affect supplies of such products into Northern Ireland. It made this commitment in recognition of the concerns raised by Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly about a specific regulation on Chemical Classification, Labelling and Packaging. The consultation will happen as soon as possible and will determine what further actions are considered necessary to safeguard the UK internal market.