Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the system used in England and Wales by which businesses can make claims against debtors who refuse to pay outstanding debts.

This is a devolved matter and any system for businesses to make claims against debtors who have not paid their outstanding debts is one that is best considered by locally elected and accountable Ministers. It is for matters such as this that it is important that we get Stormont back up and running as soon as possible.