Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to consult political representatives in Northern Ireland on the implications of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill for Northern Ireland in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is working to ensure that stable devolved government can resume in Northern Ireland, not least because it is important that a new Northern Ireland Executive can contribute to the debate on EU exit.

Meanwhile, officials in my department have engaged with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive in advance of the Bill’s introduction to Parliament to help determine the scale of changes needed to the statute book across the UK and ensure the Bill works for Northern Ireland. They will continue to do so during the Bill’s passage.

If there are any hon Members from Northern Ireland in this House or in the other place who would like to discuss the Bill in more detail, I would be happy to meet them.