Policy paper

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and First Ministers Call: 14 January 2021

Updated 22 December 2021

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This communiqué summarises the meeting chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 January 2021.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster chaired a meeting with the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 response on 13 January. The meeting took place via video conference.

The attending Ministers were:

For the UK Government:

  • The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
  • The Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Simon Hart MP
  • The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Honourable Alister Jack MP
  • The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP

For the Scottish Government:

  • First Minister, Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP

For the Welsh Government:

  • First Minister, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS

For the Northern Ireland Executive:

  • First Minister, Rt Hon Arlene Foster MLA
  • Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA
  • Minister of Health, Robin Swann MLA
  • Junior Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA
  • Junior Minister, Declan Kearney MLA

The group discussed the COVID-19 response, including the approach taken by the UK Government and the devolved administrations to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), and to vaccine supply and deployment.

The attendees agreed to revisit the topic of testing as part of a future call, and that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will continue to chair regular engagement via videoconference with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales and the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

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