The Prime Minister today met with the First Ministers of
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Deputy First
Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the United Kingdom’s
Covid recovery.
They were joined by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (CDL). The Secretaries of
State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland joined virtually,
along with other ministers and officials from the devolved
administrations.
Ministers agreed that the meeting provided an important
opportunity for dialogue between the UK Government and devolved
administrations.
The Prime Minister reflected that, while there are divergent
views on the question of the United Kingdom's constitutional
future and the UK Government and devolved administrations will
not always agree, these differences should not prevent us from
working together to ensure a strong recovery for all parts of the
country.
The Chancellor set out the direct UK-wide support provided by HM
Treasury in response to COVID-19, which was worth around £352bn
across 2020-21 and 2021-22, and how the sacrifices of the British
people coupled with our comprehensive support package and
on-going vaccine rollout have laid the foundations for recovery.
Looking forward, he said as we gradually lift restrictions to
ensure we maintain control of the virus, there are reasons for
cautious optimism with data showing our Plan for Jobs is working.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said that collaboration
between the UK Government and devolved administrations on Covid
recovery would allow us to emerge from the pandemic stronger.
Ministers acknowledged the benefits of mutual aid and burden
sharing on healthcare and agreed that there was a clear value in
sharing data and best practice.
Summing up, the PM emphasised the importance of establishing a
structured and regular forum for ongoing engagement between the
UK Government and the devolved administrations to deliver
tangible outcomes in the interests of people throughout the UK
and of completing the Intergovernmental Relations Review.
Attendees:
UK Government
- Prime Minister (Chair) - Rt Hon MP
- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Rt Hon MP
- Chancellor of the Exchequer - Rt Hon MP
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Rt Hon CBE MP
- Secretary of State for Scotland – Rt Hon
- Secretary of State for Wales – Rt Hon
Scottish Government
- First Minister of Scotland - Rt Hon
- Deputy First Minister –
- Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy –
Welsh Government
- First Minister of Wales - Rt Hon
- Minister for the Economy,
Northern Ireland Executive
- First Minister of Northern Ireland - Rt Hon MLA
- Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland - Michelle O’Neill
MLA
- Junior Minister –
