First Minister Peter Robinson has previously said that getting the powers would be a "game changer" for the Northern Ireland economy.

BBC: Boris Johnson

The FM also floated the possibility that the Children's Commissioner could use his powers to carry out an investigation, with Peter Clarke's 'Clywch' inquiry as a precedent.

BBC: History back in the headlines

There was some interesting tactical advice from the Conservative former cabinet minister, Peter Lilley, who suggested Britain should approach rolling back EU powers in the same way as the Commission approached extending them - with salami tactics.

BBC: New thinking on Europe