Policy paper

Terms of Reference for the Culture and Creative Industries Inter-Ministerial Group

Published 27 June 2024

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

Purpose and scope 

The Culture and Creative Industries Inter-Ministerial Group (from this point, ‘the IMG’)  supports effective engagement and collaboration in areas of shared interest between the portfolio ministers leading on culture and creative industries policy within the 4 UK governments. 

While ministerial portfolios differ in scope across the four governments, the areas of shared  interest and scope of the IMG cover the full range of culture and creative industries policy issues. This includes but is not limited to: 

• creative industries, including screen sectors
• community engagement
• local museums, libraries, collections and archives, cultural property, ALBs, sponsored bodies and the national collection
• major cultural events, including UK City of Culture
• heritage
• performing and visual arts
• international cultural engagement
• media
• lottery policy/funding for these sectors
• research and evidence relevant to these industries and sectors

While many of these issues are devolved across all UK nations, where relevant, the remit of the IMG also includes  issues of reserved competence and issues where there is interdependence with other IMGs, such as around tourism or sport. 

The IMG is a multilateral forum which supports effective engagement through the sharing of  knowledge and information. The IMG promotes greater collaboration between the four governments.

The IMG is established under the Review of Intergovernmental Relations and connects with the governance structures established under it. Nothing contained within these terms of reference excludes the functions outlined for IMGs within the Review of Intergovernmental Relations.

Membership 

Each government will be represented by a relevant minister for culture and creative industries policy, for example:

Northern Ireland Executive 

• Minister for Communities

Scottish Government 

• Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
• Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development

UK Government 

• Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
• Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries
• Minister for Arts and Heritage

Welsh Government 

• Minister for the Economy
• Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport

Membership of the IMG will include as a minimum one minister from each government that holds a portfolio relevant to its scope. In the absence of ministers having been appointed in a government, senior officials will attend instead.

There may be occasions when the IMG agrees to invite ministers from other portfolios where it is relevant to the discussion on a particular subject. The IMG may also at times agree to invite non-governmental stakeholders, for example, to present or provide expertise particular issues or initiatives that are of shared concern. 

Responsibilities  

The IMG will: 

1. support engagement including through knowledge exchange, cooperation and collaboration in areas of shared interest; 

2. work together to resolve areas of dispute;

3. share information with wider intergovernmental forums as required, and with external stakeholders, if it is agreed to do so. 

In the event of all governments agreeing to participate in UK-wide schemes relating to the scope of the IMG, the IMG will be used as the mechanism to oversee such schemes and consider issues where the consent of all four governments is required. Such a function would only exist when an initiative has been agreed by all four governments. This does not exclude alternative governance arrangements being put in place for any particular scheme, in which case the IMG would not have this role.

Communications 

Discussions will take place in a confidential setting and minutes will be recorded. No information relating to discussions will be shared with third parties unless agreed jointly. This includes sharing of meeting papers and responding to media enquiries. 

Subsequent to each IMG a jointly agreed communique may be published (e.g. on respective  governments’ websites). Governments may also choose to share the communique through their respective channels.

Where there is a requirement for Ministers to report to their respective parliaments on intergovernmental relations, governments will respect the confidential nature of discussions, will only provide an overview of anything said directly by their respective Minister(s) and will not disclose anything said by any other Ministers present. Anything relating to topics in the policy development stage will not be shared.

Protocols

Attendance  

Each government will be represented by at least one minister or, in exceptional circumstances, by senior officials in the absence of ministers.

Hosting and frequency  

The location, dates and chairing responsibility of meetings will be agreed on an annual basis in advance and will rotate between governments. If there are costs for venue or light refreshments, these  will be  borne by the host. 

There will normally be 2 meetings per year. The location of meetings (in person or virtual) will be kept under review by officials. 

With the agreement of all governments, extraordinary meetings may be convened as necessary in exceptional circumstances, in person or virtually, to address urgent issues.

Chairing and secretariat 

The chair’s government will be responsible for finalising the agenda, circulating the meeting invite and any papers, and drafting a note of the meeting. The chair’s government will also be responsible for drafting any jointly agreed joint communications following meetings. Officials from all governments will jointly agree and maintain a forward look and action log. 

Contact points in each government, who will form a joint secretariat responsible for taking forward the administration of the IMG, will be identified and shared. 

Agenda and papers 

The agenda will be provided by officials from the hosting government and agreed jointly in good time before the meeting. The agenda will be constructed on the basis of permitting all business to be covered comprehensively. The agenda and papers will be issued one week in advance of the meeting unless agreed otherwise.

Products 

Each meeting will have a pre agreed agenda and an action log. The note of the meeting will be drafted by the hosting government, shared in draft within 48 hours and will be agreed by  officials across the 4 governments. 

Official-level pre-meet 

A pre-meet will be convened at senior official level ahead of each meeting to discuss the substance of the papers and resolve issues. This will be chaired by the government hosting that particular IMG.  This should take place  two weeks before the IMG meeting. 

Information handling 

All meetings within this structure will be held routinely at Official-Sensitive level. Notes of meetings and actions will be circulated using business email accounts only and should be handled in accordance with government security classifications. Confidential information discussed during the IMG meetings, or supporting communications by officials, must not be released into the public domain. 

Freedom of Information requests relating to the business or administration of the IMG will be considered individually and on their own merit under the relevant legislation that applies to the request. Any member who receives a request should make the joint Secretariat of the  group aware of the request as soon as practicable. 

Review 

The Terms of Reference represent an agreement between member Governments and will remain in place unless and until the IMG agree any changes. They will be kept continuously under review and assessed for effectiveness on an annual basis. Any changes will be subject to the agreement of all 4 governments.