Communique for the Work and Pensions Interministerial Group held on 26 June 2025
Published 12 September 2025
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The inaugural Interministerial Group (IMG) between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive met on 26 June 2025 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western MP (UK Government).
Attendees
The attending Ministers were:
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UK Government - Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western MP
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UK Government - Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP
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Scottish Government - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
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Welsh Government - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS
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Northern Ireland Executive - Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA
What was discussed
Ministers discussed and formally agreed the Terms of Reference for the Group which are available at Interministerial Group for Work and Pensions. All Ministers welcomed the establishment of the Group and the opportunity to discuss developments in the fields of employment support, social security, pensions, disability and child maintenance.
Ministers then discussed the UK Government’s Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working; the UK Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper; and changes to Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales from 2025 to 2026.
It was agreed that the next IMG meeting would be chaired by the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip in 6 months’ time.