Policy paper

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and First Ministers Call: 28 January 2021 (1 of 2)

Updated 22 December 2021

Communiqué (1 of 2): 28 January 2021

This communiqué summarises the first meeting chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 27 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 27 January 2021. 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
  • Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Robin Walker MP

For the Scottish Government:

  • First Minister, Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP
  • Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson 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, the introduction of new quarantine measures, the next steps on education in England, and opportunities for ongoing and future collaboration.

The attendees agreed that the group will reconvene as part of their regular meeting later in the day, and 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.