Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will rule out stating the criteria that would be used to make an assessment as to whether the criteria requiring them to hold a poll in accordance with Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 has been satisfied.

In accordance with the Good Friday Agreement and the Principle of Consent, Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK for as long as its people wish for it to be.

There is no clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom.

As set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the duty to call such a poll rests with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland alone.