Guidance

Devolution: Guidance for civil servants

Updated 21 June 2023

1. Devolution and You

Devolution has increased the powers and responsibilities of the legislatures and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has also received additional powers.

Devolution puts power closer to the citizen and recognises the wish of the people of the devolved parts of the UK to have more say over issues that affect their lives. You can read this overview of the devolution settlements.

Understanding how devolution operates in the UK is important for all civil servants, regardless of which government we work for. This is because it can affect the policies we work on and the public services we manage.

UK government departments, together with the devolved administrations, have information to support your learning and understanding of devolution. If you would like further information, contact devolution@levellingup.gov.uk or your devolution coordinator who will be able to provide you with a range of learning material.

2. Working together

Officials working for the governments of the UK, Scotland and Wales are part of the same Civil Service organisation and share the same culture and values as set out in the Civil Service Code for:

The Northern Ireland Civil Service is a separate organisation and shares the same culture and values as set out in the Civil Service Code:

These common values make it easier for civil servants from across administrations to work together, and regular contact will improve your understanding of devolution and how it affects your work area.

Guidance has been developed to help you work with the devolved administrations (Devolution guidance for policy makers (pdf, 518 KB)) and develop policy with devolution in mind (Devolution proofing your policy (pdf, 117 KB)).

3. Who to contact

Not everyone needs to be an expert, but if your role requires it, you may need to develop more detailed understanding. There are many people who can guide you.

The three territorial offices are the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland Office, and all are UK government departments. They represent the UK government’s interests in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK government. They can provide support and advice, and you can find out more about them and the work that they do by following these links:

4. Devolution coordinator contact details

Devolution coordinators can provide more detailed advice on how devolution affects a UK government department’s work.

Department Name Email
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Devolution Team devolution.team@beis.gov.uk
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Devolution Capability Team devolution@levellingup.gov.uk
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Devolution Team devolution@defra.gov.uk
Department for Culture, Media and Sport Devolution Team devolution@dcms.gov.uk
Department for Transport Devolution Team ScotlandWalesandNorthernIreland@dft.gov.uk
Department of Health and Social Care Devolution Team DACDOT@dhsc.gov.uk
Department for Work & Pensions Devolution Policy Team devolution.policy@dwp.gov.uk
Department for Education Devolution Team union.devolution@education.gov.uk
Food Standards Agency Devolution Team devolution@fsa.gov.uk
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Devolution Unit devolution.unit@fcdo.gov.uk
His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs Devolution Team devolutionteam@hmrc.gov.uk
His Majesty’s Treasury Natalie Laifer natalie.laifer@hmt.gov.uk
Home Office Devolution Mailbox Intergovernmental.relations@homeoffice.gov.uk
Ministry of Defence Devolution Team spoeurc-devolutionteam@mod.gov.uk
Cabinet Office Devolution Mailbox devolution@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Ministry of Justice Geraint Davies geraint.davies@justice.gsi.gov.uk
Office of the Advocate General Neil Taylor neil.taylor@advocategeneral.gsi.gov.uk
Attorney General’s Office Alyssa Curry alyssa.curry@attorneygeneral.gov.uk
Department for International Trade Devolution Team devolution@trade.gov.uk
Scotland Office Enquiries Mailbox enquiries@ukgovscotland.gov.uk
Wales Office David Harries david.harries@ukgovwales.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Office Constitution Team constitution-mailbox@nio.gov.uk
Competition and Markets Authority Steven McGregor Steven.McGregor@cma.gov.uk

5. Devolved administrations

Department Name Email
Scottish Government UK Relations UKRelationsMailbox@gov.scot
Welsh Government Intergovernmental Relations Team intergovernmentalrelations@gov.wales
Northern Ireland Executive Intergovernmental Relations Team igrteam@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk