Interministerial Standing Committee - Meeting Communiqué - 20 November 2025
Updated 10 December 2025
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The Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) met for the tenth time on 20 November 2025 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the Welsh Government Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS.
The other attending ministers were:
From the UK Government: Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP; Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Chris Elmore MP; and Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP.
From the Northern Ireland Executive: First Minister, Michelle O’Neill MLA; and Junior Minister Joanne Bunting MLA.
From the Scottish Government: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes MSP.
The Committee noted the importance to the governments represented at this forum, both individually and collectively, of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2ABC report, which examines core administrative and political decision-making across the four nations during the pandemic, and which was to be published later in the day.
The Committee discussed the current international context and its impact on domestic policy. This was followed by a discussion on community cohesion in the UK, a challenge common to all governments, and how ministers could work together to share approaches and respond to challenges. Ministers discussed the complexity of these issues as well as the importance of collaboration including in respect of data and intelligence.
Members of the Committee outlined their strategic priorities for the upcoming UK Government Budget.
The Committee discussed the principles of good intergovernmental working in the context of UK Government legislation, and looked ahead to the forthcoming parliamentary session including the timetabling of UK legislation in the context of the Senedd and Scottish Parliament elections scheduled for May 2026.
The Committee discussed ongoing joint work to develop a Memorandum of Understanding on the Sewel Convention.
The Committee received an update on the current activity of Interministerial Groups. It was agreed that work to support Intergovernmental Relations structures to follow best practice would continue, with future updates included in the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat’s Annual Reporting from 2025/26.
The IMSC will meet again in early 2026. The UK Government is scheduled to chair the next meeting.