Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on when a specialist mesh treatment centre will be operational in Northern Ireland.

The operation of a specialist mesh treatment centre in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and a future Northern Ireland Executive. We have had no recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the subject.

In the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has passed legislation that clarifies the powers for Northern Ireland Departments to maintain delivery of public services.

The Government’s immediate priority remains facilitating the restoration of a fully functioning Executive that can progress long-term solutions to transform healthcare in Northern Ireland.