Guidance

Devolution: Guidance for civil servants

Updated 28 November 2025

Advice for UK Government civil servants on taking account of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when working on policies and managing services.

The information available in this guidance and where to find out more

This guidance provides a very brief overview of: devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; why it is important for civil servants to understand how devolution operates in the UK; and best practice for intergovernmental working. This information within this guidance is only a high-level summary - to access further more detailed guidance, resources and training/learning opportunities please go to the Devolution Learning Platform. You must have a civil service email (i.e. GOV.UK, devolved governments or agencies) in order to register.

You can also download this factsheet (DOCX, 612KB) 

What is devolution?

Devolution fundamentally changed the constitutional arrangements of the UK and gave powers and responsibilities to the devolved legislatures and the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Devolution sees people benefit from multiple layers of government delivering in their communities. It provides for devolved services to be tailored and delivered from within the places they serve.

This guidance focuses on devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but the word devolution is also now regularly used to refer to the restructuring of powers within England. Guidance on English devolution is available.

A brief history

In September 1997, referendums were held in Scotland and Wales, and a majority of voters chose to establish a Scottish Parliament and a National Assembly for Wales. In Northern Ireland, devolution was a key part of the Good Friday Agreement supported by voters in a referendum in May 1998.

Following this public endorsement, the UK Parliament passed three devolution Acts: the Scotland Act 1998; the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and the Government of Wales Act 1998. These acts established the three devolved legislatures which have been given some powers previously held at UK Parliament:

• Senedd Cymru or the Welsh Parliament;
• Scottish Parliament; and
• Northern Ireland Assembly.

In a similar way to how the UK Government is formed from members from the two Houses of Parliament, members of the devolved legislatures are appointed to comprise an executive, known as the devolved governments, as follows:

• the Scottish Government;
• the Welsh Government; and
• the Northern Ireland Executive.

Civil servants who work for these devolved governments do not serve the same ministers that form the UK Government - that is they do not report to the Prime Minister or to Secretaries of State who form the UK Government Cabinet, but to their own ministers with their own political priorities and mandates.

The importance of understanding how devolution operates in the UK 

Understanding how devolution operates in the UK is important for all civil servants, regardless of which government you work for. This is because it can affect the policies we work on and the public services we manage. There are three main reasons why it is important to consider devolution:

• the territorial extent of your work may be affected - you may be working on a policy that has an effect in just one or in multiple nations of the UK. Even if you are working on a policy that is reserved it is important to understand the impact of that policy on all parts of the UK.
• even if you are working on something that is not devolved, you may need to work with the devolved governments on delivery and/or to ensure alignment with any related devolved policies – some of which may not be obvious
• if you are working on something that is devolved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you have a good opportunity to learn from different approaches taken elsewhere and can share learning about common problems

The split of devolved and reserved competence is complex and not the same in each nation. The Devolution Learning Platform contains guidance on the settlements to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, given the complexities we recommended seeking specific advice from your departmental devolution teams and the Offices for the Nations.  

How to work together

Officials working for the governments of the UK, Scotland, and Wales are part of the same Civil Service organisation and share the same culture and values. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is a separate organisation but shares the same culture and values. These common values make it easier for all civil servants to work together, and regular informal and ad-hoc engagement is crucial to develop relationships, alongside improving your understanding of devolution and how it affects your work area. There is also guidance and structures in place to support intergovernmental working:

• The Memorandum of Understanding on Devolution (MoU) sets out a framework for how the four governments should conduct relations between themselves.
• The review of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) sets out the structures and processes to ensure that ministers at all levels of government have effective and formalised routes for discussion, with accountability grounded in an impartial IGR secretariat and dispute avoidance and resolution arrangements. The system serves all governments equally, fairly and with respect for each government’s respective responsibilities. It is underpinned by five IGR principles to support positive and constructive relations and proposes a three-tiered ministerial engagement structure. 
• The devolution guidance notes set out advice for UK Government officials on working with the devolved governments. They are an introduction to the main principles involved in the managing of the devolution settlements, bilateral relations, correspondence, parliamentary business, legislation and concordats.

Preparation of primary legislation: approach of the UK Government

The UK Parliament retains authority to legislate on any issue, whether devolved or not. That said, the UK Government has made clear it will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters except with the agreement of the relevant devolved legislature. This principle applies to devolved matters in respect of Scotland and Wales. It also applies to transferred matters in respect of Northern Ireland.

If you are legislating for devolved matters, in the first instance you should engage with your departmental devolution team and departmental legal adviser. You should also engage with the relevant devolved government(s). Devolved governments will need time to consider the handling of issues, and gaining consent of devolved legislatures for UK Parliament to pass legislation relating to a devolved matter or altering is rarely a quick process. This is also relevant when considering Private Members’ Bills supported by the UK Government. 

Where to access help and support

To access more detailed guidance, resources and training/learning opportunities please go to the Devolution Learning Platform. You must have a GOV.UK email address or an email address from one of the devolved governments in order to register.

All UK Government departments have a devolution team. They can advise on your department’s relationship with the devolved governments and how devolution affects the department’s work.  If you are unable to find the contact details for your department’s devolution team or need further support please contact devolution@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. 

Within the UK Government - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are each represented in the UK Cabinet by a Secretary of State. Their job is to represent the UK Government’s interests in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK Government. You can find out more about them and the work that they do by following these links:

• Scotland Office
• Wales Office
• Northern Ireland Office

Officials within the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Offices (collectively known as the Offices for the Nations) can also provide expert support and advice. Your departmental devolution team should be able to advise you on the most appropriate contact(s) within the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Offices. 

The devolved governments

Designated intergovernmental relations teams in each government are helpful points of contact for UK Government civil servants looking for government-specific information or officials to engage with. Your departmental devolution team should be able to advise you on the best points of contact within the intergovernmental relations teams. If you are unable to find the right contact or need further support please contact devolution@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.