Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether, given the absence of a sitting Assembly in Northern Ireland, they will answer parliamentary questions on the governance of matters in Northern Ireland for which they are ultimately responsible.

The Government will answer any questions of governance in Northern Ireland that are not devolved. For matters of devolved governance in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act provides Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public services and operate in the public interest. Any questions relating to devolved matters should therefore be directed to Northern Ireland departments.

This Government recognises that this is not an ideal situation and will keep the current governance arrangements, and the accountability measures within these, under review. Ultimately, the best way for Northern Ireland to be governed is by the Northern Ireland devolved institutions. It remains this Government’s priority to work towards restoring these institutions.