Interministerial Standing Committee Communiqué: 17 May 2023
Updated 13 November 2023
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The Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) met for the fourth time on 17 May 2023 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP.
The other attending Ministers were:
From the UK Government: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Housing and Homelessness) – Felicity Buchan MP; Minister of State for the Department for Business and Trade – Nusrat Ghani MP; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales – James Davies MP; Minister of State for Northern Ireland – Steve Baker MP; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland – Lord Offord.
From the Scottish Government: Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison MSP.
From the Welsh Government: Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution in the Welsh Government, Mick Antoniw MS.
In the current absence of a First Minister and deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service attended the meeting in an observational capacity.
The Committee discussed the shared economic benefits of Investment Zones, the current UK Government legislative programme, including the Retained EU Law Bill, and Common Frameworks.
The Committee opened with an update on actions arising from the last meeting, noting cross-government work between Chief Statisticians to identify drivers for individuals’ economic inactivity and differences across the UK, and collaboration across Interministerial Groups on cost-of-living pressures.
Ministers welcomed collaboration on the Investment Zone programme and noted the need for the governments to work together to align the programme with existing strategies to enhance economic benefits and avoid duplication.
The Committee again considered upcoming UK legislation. The Committee discussed the Retained EU Law Bill, and in particular recent amendments to the Bill. The Committee also discussed developments on UK legislation such as the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Bill and the principles of the legislative process.
Ministers considered the status of Common Frameworks, noting that work in this area was a positive example of collaboration across the governments. The governments discussed the application of the agreed process for seeking an exclusion to the UK Internal Market Act through Frameworks and the need for all parties to adhere to the agreed process.
Ministers also discussed international engagement, including concerns around the recent guidance for activity overseas. Ministers agreed to invite the FCDO to a future IMSC to discuss this issue.
The next IMSC will be chaired by the Scottish Government, in line with rotating chair arrangements.