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Better structure for inter-government relations
05/03/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond has expressed his delight that the UK Government has agreed with the Scottish Government's desire to 'breath new life' into an inter-governmental committee aimed at establishing a formal framework for structured relations between Westminster and the UK's devolved administrations.
The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) process will resume again in the next few months, allowing a framework for structured relations alongside the existing bilateral relationships and contact between the devolved governments and administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the UK Government.
Commenting on developments, First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"I discussed this on Tuesday with Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Wales [who is leading for the UK Government on JMC issues], and I welcome his agreement that it is time to reinvigorate the Joint Ministerial Committee. I am sure the other devolved administrations will welcome this too.
"We agreed we should start with a JMC in May chaired by Paul Murphy, and we also agreed that it would be helpful to meet at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss the proposed arrangements in more detail - that will happen very soon.
"I raised the reinvigoration of the JMC in correspondence with the Prime Minister in August last year, stating the case for a JMC plenary. I am pleased that the UK Government has now recognised the need to establish a better structure for inter-government relations."