Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she retains the power to call Assembly elections in the event that devolved government is not restored before the expiry of the timeframe set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018; and if she will make a statement.
Under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018, I retain a discretionary power to propose a date for an Assembly election at any time. The Act also removes the duty to propose a date, which would arise again after the period for Executive formation. The Assembly is also able to call for an election.