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Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee

The relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments inquiry

Closed Opened 13 Jul 2018 Closed 13 Sep 2018

Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Scottish Affairs Committee is investigating the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments. In particular, the Committee is interested in looking at the following questions: What machinery currently exists to support intergovernmental relations between the UK and Scottish governments? How effective has the UK’s intergovernmental machinery been in managing and mitigating disputes? How might this be improved? Is there a need for greater transparency of intergovernmental relations, and if so, how should be achieved? How have the UK’s intergovernmental relations systems evolved and adapted to respond to different administrations? What lessons can be learned from how other nations manage relations between different levels of government? What new machinery might be necessary post-Brexit, particularly in relation to the creation of common UK frameworks, and how should they operate?

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 13 July 2018.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 8th Report - The relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments on 7 June 2019.

The government's response

Published 10 July 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government says it is "fully committed" to the joint review of intergovernmental relations and will discuss and consider the Committee's recommendations as part of it, rather than responding to each in turn.

  • On JMC reform and dispute resolution, officials will discuss the recommendations with devolved counterparts and "consider them as part of the review of intergovernmental relations". It notes that agendas are "often not possible" to confirm in advance and wants to retain a level of "safe space".
  • On a JMC sub-committee on common frameworks, it agrees that "all frameworks should be jointly agreed", but only "notes" the sub-committee suggestion and says it "will consider" it.
  • On devolution impact assessments, it says it is assessing internal procedures but "would want to carefully consider the added value of any further requirements on departments". It does not state that it will publish such assessments.
  • On Devolution Guidance Notes, it "will look to undertake a factual review" with devolved officials, and will "reconsider a wider review" once the intergovernmental relations review has concluded.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 5 oral evidence sessionsLatest 12 March 2019
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
12 Mar 2019
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
5 Mar 2019
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
5 Feb 2019
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
15 Jan 2019
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
20 Nov 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗