Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate to regulate the use of electric scooters in Northern Ireland in the absence of a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive.

In the absence of Northern Ireland Executive ministers, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act provides Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public services and operate in the public interest. The Act does not however give the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland direction powers on specific policies, other than in relation to pressing public appointments and the requirement to set the regional rate.

The swiftest way for legislation on Northern Ireland affairs such as this is for the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive to be restored. It remains the Government’s priority to work towards the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.