To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will advise Northern Ireland universities to deliver teaching online until Easter to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While my Department is responsible for higher education policy in relation to the funding of teaching and research, as autonomous institutions, the universities are ultimately responsible for their own policies regarding how they deliver provision, and my Department has no formal remit to intervene. That said, I would expect any provision to be entirely in line with Public Health Agency advice.

I and my officials are in regular contact with our universities and university colleges, and each of them have confirmed that the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff and students is their first priority.