Policy paper

Interministerial Group for Business and Industry: terms of reference

Published 22 March 2022

Membership

1. The key members of the Interministerial Group for Business and Industry are:

• Minister for Industry, HM Government
• Minister for Economy, Welsh Government
• Minister for the Economy, Northern Ireland Executive
• Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government

2. The Interministerial Group for Business and Industry will be led by those ministers from the UK government and across the devolved governments who have business and industrial matters in their portfolios. Other relevant ministers may be invited on an ad hoc basis, depending on the agenda. The secretariat should be notified of any absence at the earliest opportunity, and in such cases, members will be expected to nominate a suitable delegate to attend in their place.

Purpose and scope

3. The aim of the Interministerial Group for Business and Industry is to consider and consult on issues relating to business and industry policy, COVID-19 business planning and future economic recovery. This includes:

• supporting engagement in areas of shared interest across all business and industry policy areas, including economic strategies and COVID-19 responses
• sharing, reviewing and coordinating relevant policy developments post-EU Exit, including the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the development of Common Frameworks

4. The Group’s work will adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding on Devolution 2013.

Protocols

5. Meetings will be held monthly with the option to meet more or less frequently if required.

6. The chair of the Interministerial Group for Business and Industry shall be rotated.

7. Meetings will be organised and supported by a joint secretariat, run by officials across the four administrations.

8. Meetings will be held virtually by videoconference, organised by the chairing administration. When circumstances allow, the group will explore the benefits of holding meetings in person.

9. The secretariat’s functions will include:

• agreeing dates, agenda, location and chairing schedule of intergovernmental meetings in consultation with relevant Private Offices
• compiling and/or commissioning background papers for discussion
• the chairing administration will be responsible for circulating the agenda and any papers to be presented at the meeting with the secretariat in advance of the meeting
• the note of the meeting and action log will be drafted by the chairing administration and agreed in advance between the 4 administrations
• the chairing administration will be responsible for circulating draft communiques ahead of final sign off by all administrations following the meeting. BEIS will be responsible for publishing communiques on GOV.UK, in line with recommendations from the review of Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR).

Review

10. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Business and Industry Interministerial Group complies with best practice as contained in the Intergovernmental Relations Review (IGR). The ToR will be amended as appropriate to reflect any changes to the role and functions of the IMG (to be agreed by all administrations).

11. The ToR represent an agreement between member administrations and will remain in place unless and until the group agrees any changes. They will be kept continuously under review and assessed for effectiveness on an annual basis. Any changes will be agreed jointly by consensus.