Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the First and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland; and what issues were discussed.

I am in regular contact with the First and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including the importance of resuming all-party talks on flags, parades and the past, the need for the Executive to reach agreement on the implementation of welfare reform in Northern Ireland, and the need to implement the provisions of the economic pact agreed between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive