Policy paper

Communiqué for the Work and Pensions Interministerial Group held on 19 January 2026

Updated 9 March 2026

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The Interministerial Group (IMG) between the Welsh Government, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive met on 19 January 2026 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip (Welsh Government).

Attendees

The attending Ministers were:   

  • Welsh Government – Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS 

  • Welsh Government – The Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS 

  • UK Government – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (DWP Minister for Transformation), Andrew Western MP   

  • Scottish Government – Minister for Business and Employment, Richard Lochhead MSP  

  • Northern Ireland Executive – Cherrie Arnold, Interim Deputy Secretary for Work and Health, representing the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA

  • Northern Ireland Executive – Annette Palmer, Acting Director of Strategic Policy and Services, representing the Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA

What was discussed

Ministers discussed matters of mutual interest regarding employability support for disabled people and for young people. 

The Terms of Reference for the Group are available at Interministerial Group for Work and Pensions. 

It was agreed the next IMG meeting would be chaired by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons.

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