The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is
today launching a new inquiry to examine the Government’s
progress on building devolution capability in central Government.
The Committee will explore the steps the Government is taking to
embed consideration of every part of the UK in policymaking and
operational delivery.
MPs are seeking views on the training and guidance ministers and
civil servants receive on the different devolution arrangements
in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and how effective it is,
including from the devolved institutions on how they view
capability in Whitehall.
The Committee will review the extent to which the Dunlop Review
of Union Capability has been implemented. Published in 2021, the
Dunlop Review found that intergovernmental machinery was “not fit
for purpose” and included recommendations to improve civil
service capability, such as more opportunities for civil servants
to move between the four administrations in the UK.
The Committee will examine how the relationships between the
Cabinet Office, the Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales Offices,
and other Government departments function in practice, as well as
the cooperation between civil servants in the different
administrations.
Chair's comment
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Chair,
, said:
“It has been 25 years since the devolution settlements
fundamentally changed the governance of the United Kingdom, with
the establishment of devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales,
and Northern Ireland. In that time, we have also seen the
repatriation of powers to the UK after leaving the EU and further
changes to the powers of the devolved institutions.
“It is crucial that ministers and civil servants in Whitehall
fully understand the implications of the devolution settlements
on the policymaking process and maintain the skills and knowledge
necessary to deliver for every part of the UK. “The Government
committed to improving devolution capability in response to the
Dunlop Review in 2021, but has it done so satisfactorily? We want
to find out what progress has been made and hear from those who
have worked with and within Whitehall and the devolved
administrations.”
Inquiry terms of reference
The Committee welcomes submissions by Friday
8th September addressing any or all
the following themes:
- To what extent has the Dunlop Review of Union Capability been
implemented and what remains to be addressed?
- What steps is the UK Government taking at Ministerial and
Official level to build knowledge and embed consideration of
devolution in Whitehall? Where does responsibility for devolution
capability formally sit within the machinery of the UK
Government?
- How does the relationship between the Cabinet Office as the
lead for civil service capability and other Government
departments with relevant policy responsibilities operate?
- How do the Territorial Offices work with the Cabinet Office
and other Government departments at both Ministerial and Official
level?
- What training and guidance is available for Ministers and
Officials on devolution and is it effective?
- How do the devolved institutions view devolution capability
in Whitehall and what approach do they take to building the
equivalent knowledge and capability on the part of Ministers and
Officials in their own administrations?
- How does “One Civil Service” for the UK, Scottish, and Welsh
governments work in practice with the separate Northern Ireland
Civil Service? Does this have any impact on knowledge sharing and
cooperation between different administrations?
- Are there any examples of international best practice from
which lessons can be learned?
