Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a legislative consent motion regarding clauses 1 to 4 of the Offensive Weapons Bill was (a) issued and (b) to whom as the relevant decision making authorities in Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom Government has been liaising closely with Northern Ireland departments in respect of devolved matters where provisions in the Offensive Weapons Bill may extend to Northern Ireland. Clauses 1-4 of the Bill, relating to the sale and delivery of corrosive products to persons under 18 and the delivery of corrosive products to residential premises, are covered by separate commencement provisions in the Bill in respect of Northern Ireland as these are devolved matters.

Clauses 1-4 of the Bill will therefore be commenced by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland and associated regulations relating to these Clauses will not be commenced without Northern Ireland assembly approval.