Recommendation 1

HM Government Acknowledged

and recommend that a timetable of regular intergovernmental meetings should be set up, both during the rest of this pandemic, especially if there is a second wave, but also for after the pandemic. We need a resilient format to be put in place immediately so that we know there will be regular, formal, planned meetings of key decision makers. (Paragraph 16 of the final report) 2 Second Special Report of Session 2019–21 Interim report recommendation: (3) We are concerned to hear that Ministerial Implementation Groups (MIGs) and COBRA have ceased to meet in the context of the pandemic. From what we have heard about how communication standards currently stand, decision-makers in devolved nations have come to be consulted in an informal way, rather than via formalised, minuted mechanisms like the JMC. We recommend that the Government outline how it has discussed decisions about the pandemic with decision-makers in devolved nations, and how it has guaranteed that regular communication have been taking place between the four nations, thus far. The Government should explain why MIGs and COBRA have ceased to meet and what consultation there was with the Scottish, and other devolved governments, prior to this decision. (Paragraph 60 of the interim report) COVID-19 has shown the value of the collective strength of all parts of the UK working together. People from Aberdeen to Aylesbury and from Belfast to Brecon want to see politicians across all administrations working collaboratively at this time, to tackle the common challenges we all face and protect the health and jobs of citizens—the UK Government recognises this. From our UK test and trace laboratories, to supporting struggling businesses, working together is what we are doing and must remain everyone’s priority. The Government fully understands the importance of strong intergovernmental relations and the role of trust within them, particularly in challenging times such as we have seen throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and continue to see. COVID-19 has shown how the UK Government can work strategically, and at scale, to respond to the pandemic, and to its economic and social impacts, throughout the UK, working together with devolved administrations (DAs). The UK Government has led extensive engagement with the DAs throughout the pandemic, to discuss clinical evidence and share data, and to seek a coordinated approach on policy, communications and messaging, where appropriate. The structures for such Ministerial and official engagement have evolved throughout, to ensure they remain fit for purpose. As set out in the joint UK Government and DAs’ statement, published on 25 September, we are committed to working together to protect the health of our citizens, communities, and economies. Ministerial Implementation Groups were set up by the UK Government in the early phases of the pandemic, to tackle the breadth of policy decisions required at pace. Ministers from the Devolved Administrations were invited to meetings of the Ministerial Implementation Groups as appropriate, providing an opportunity to engage directly with UK Ministers in the development of policy and to reciprocate and share their own thinking and plans, if they chose to do so. But as the challenge has evolved, so have our structures. The current mechanisms for COVID-19 coordination with the DAs are very clear: • The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster have regular meetings with the DA First Ministers and the Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland to discuss current thinking and developments. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster leads overall engagement. Second Special Report of Session 2019–21 3 • DA Ministers are invited to attend COBR and the UK Cabinet COVID-19 Operations Committee, where appropriate, on the same basis that they attended the Ministerial Implementation Groups. • The Secretary of State for Health has weekly meetings with the DA Health Ministers. It is important to recall that formal committee meetings are not the only way UK Government Ministers interact with SG Ministers. There have been and continue to be regular interactions between lead Ministers in both administrations on matters such as: • Financial support and business impacts; • Military assistance; • Ventilator manufacture; and • Vaccines. The Committee has also had evidence, both from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and from the interim CMO for Scotland, on the close liaison between scientific advisers to the UK Government and to the SG. The four UK CMOs have been in regular contact on COVID-19 since January, sometimes meeting several times a week to ensure scientific advice is shared across the UK. SAGE ensures joined-up scientific advice across the UK as its membership includes the CMO and deputy CMO for Scotland, as well as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government. The Permanent Secretary at the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) also has monthl