MPs to examine how well UK ministers understand devolution
An inquiry to determine how well the UK Government understands and considers devolution has been launched by a Westminster committee.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will seek to examine how UK ministers have progressed with building on the devolution capability and how it is embedded within policymaking.
Ministers and civil servants will be quizzed on the guidance they receive on the devolution arrangements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Devolved ministers and leaders may also be asked to contribute to the inquiry to give evidence on how the institutions view Whitehall’s devolution capabilities.
It follows the Dunlop Review into union capability, published in 2021, which called the intergovernmental relationship between the four national governments “not fit for purpose”.
Recommendations
The report recommended civil service capability was improved, including more opportunities for officials to move between the four UK administrations.
The committee will also examine how well the civil service co-operates in different administrations, and how the relationships between the Cabinet Office and the Scotland, Walesand Northern Ireland Office functions.
Tory MP William Wragg, chairman of the committee, said: “It has been 25 years since the devolution settlements fundamentally changed the governance of the United Kingdom, with the establishment of devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“In that time, we have also seen the repatriation of powers to the UK after leaving the UK and further changes to the powers of the devolved institutions.
“It is crucial that ministers and civil servants in Whitehall fully understand the implications of the devolution settlements on the policymaking process and maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver for every part of the UK.
“The Government committed to improving devolution capability in response to the Dunlop Review in 2021, but has it done so satisfactorily? We want to find out what progress has been made and hear from those who have worked with and within Whitehall and the devolved administrations.”
Submissions to the inquiry will be open until September 8.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Which ever English party they belong to, MP’s don’t give a toss or a second thought to devolution, from Labours “I just wouldn’t” when asked about more powers for the Senedd, David Davies “no” to HS2 funding and Simon Hart, then Sec of state, not knowing how or what the Barnett formula was or how it worked. They are there to gain power in London, and represent the near 60million English people, who decide how the devolved govs are funded. We the devolved nations, are of no concern to them as long as the status quo exists, and everything goes… Read more »
Firstly, any understanding by UK ministers of devolution is minimal seeing their recent bypassing of Wales Senedd Cymru and Scottish parliament since the far-right gained the reigns of power at Westminster. It all started when New Labour’s flawed devolution settlement in 1997 that returned very limited home rule to Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland, Whitehall has struggled ever since , reason being as the body that oversaw the British empire where millions died, were subjugated, numerous countries annexed, Wales being their first trophy nation and blueprint to world domination, being a bystander regarding devolution when it’s always been used to… Read more »
The report recommended civil service capability was improved, including more opportunities for officials to move between the four UK administrations.
i.e. that Whitehall wants to be able to more easily poach talented people from the devolved administrations, and to install Whitehall plants into the devolved administrations?