Policy paper

UK Education Ministers Council Communiqué: 9 December 2022

Updated 26 June 2023

The UK Education Ministers Council (UKEMC) held their third meeting on Friday 9 December 2022 at the Welsh Government Buildings in Cathays Park, Cardiff. The meeting was chaired by Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language.

The attendees were:

  • Jeremy Miles AS/MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language (from the Welsh Government)
  • Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (from the Scottish Government)
  • The Rt. Hon. Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education (from the UK Government)
  • Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary to the Department for Education (representing Northern Ireland via video link)
  • Mark Lee, Director Tertiary Education, the Department for the Economy (representing Northern Ireland via video link)

The Chair opened by welcoming attendees to the UKEMC, an education interministerial group.

The group discussed challenges and recent developments in the areas of:

  • the rising cost of living
  • general and vocational qualifications
  • lifelong learning

The Chair welcomed Mike James, Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale College, who gave a presentation on the broad offer from the post-16 sector.

It was agreed the UK government will host the next meeting of the UKEMC.