There is also a portfolio-specific Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) and interministerial groups (IMG) affiliated to the IMSC. These were established in 2022 following a series of reviews.[1][5] From 1999–2022, their predecessor the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), established by memorandums of understanding, served a similar purpose.
Background
Intergovernmental relations were previously governed by the Joint Ministerial Committee.[6] On 20 January 2020, the Constitution Committee within the House of Lords published a report outlining how the UK Government could improve intergovernmental relations.[7] In 2022, the UK Government and devolved governments came to an agreement on the intergovernmental relations in the UK.[8][9]
Joint Ministerial Committee (1999–2022)
The JMC was created in 1999 by Tony Blair'sLabour government,[2] and sought to act as a focus for the coordination of the relationships between these administrations. The terms of reference for the JMC were:[10]
To consider non-devolved matters which impinge on devolved responsibilities, and devolved matters which impinge on non-devolved responsibilities.
Where the UK government and the devolved administrations so agree, to consider devolved matters if it is beneficial to discuss their respective treatment in different parts of the UK.
To keep the arrangements for liaison between the UK government and the devolved administrations under review.
To consider disputes between the administrations.
Membership
Before it was replaced, the membership of the JMC Plenary (JMC(P)) was:
The JMC Plenary meetings were intended to occur at least once every year. However, no plenary meetings were held between 2002 and 2008.[2] This was primarily because the UK, Scotland, and Wales governments were all controlled by the Labour Party, and as such ministers from the central and devolved governments could quickly and easily use informal links to coordinate policy.[14] However, following the Scottish National Party's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament election this was no longer the case. So JMC Plenary meetings were re-established, though on an ad hoc basis.[2]
Under proposals outlined by Theresa May in October 2016, the JMC Plenary was to meet on a definite annual basis and would have rotated between London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. It would have also published an annual report on its work and hoped to foster greater formal and informal links between ministers from each (devolved) government.[15][16] However, these proposals were vetoed by Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.[15]
The last JMC Plenary was convened by Theresa May on 19 December 2018, even though soon after he became Prime Minister in July 2019, Boris Johnson announced his intention to hold a JMC Plenary meeting as soon as possible.[17]
Tiered governance (2022–present)
Prime Minister and Devolved Heads of Government Council
The Interministerial Standing Committee is led by the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and is responsible for discussing areas of cooperation that cannot be discussed at the Portfolio Committee, the committee will have representatives from central government and the three devolved nations and aim to meet monthly.[19]
There are currently two active intergovernmental committees.[20]
No
Name of Interministerial Standing Committee
1.
Interministerial
2.
Finance
Interministerial Groups
There are currently 7 active intergovernmental groups[20]
No
Name of Intergovernmental Group
1.
Business and Industry
2.
Education
3.
UK•EU Relations
4.
Elections and Registration
5.
Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
6.
Housing, Communities, and Local Government
7.
COP26
Dispute resolution mechanism
There are six different mechanisms involved in intergovernmental relations in order to avoid disputes between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.[21] Whilst the Scottish Government and Welsh Government welcomed the changes to intergovernmental relations within the United Kingdom which were implemented in 2022, both governments were critical regarding the UK Government's "attitude towards engagement with the devolved administrations at times".[22]
The review into intergovernmental relations concluded that the governments of the United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were “committed to promoting collaboration and the avoidance of disagreements". In any instance that a dispute between any government arises, the IGR Secretariat may have that matter referred to them by the government or governments involved.[23]
Interparliamentary Forum, which includes members of the UK parliament and the devolved legislatures Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
British–Irish Council, which includes the British and Irish Governments, the Devolved Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies
^June Burnham, Fragmentation and Central Control: Competing Forces in a Disunited Kingdom. In Jose Ruano and Marius Profiroiu (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Decentralisation in Europe, 2017, ISBN978-3-319-32437-1, p. 144
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