Second Report - Coronavirus and Scotland

The government rejects the need for new formal, structured, and minuted intergovernmental meetings, stating that existing regular, but less formal, interactions between ministers and scientific advisors are sufficient.

The government confirms its commitment to concluding the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) review, provides an update on recent discussions with Devolved Administrations, and details new measures being implemented to enhance transparency, reporting, and parliamentary engagement on IGR.

The government describes the existing activities and engagement of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland during the pandemic, including advising on agreements and providing information to HMT, arguing that its effective role often takes place quietly.

The government states that lessons from Exercise Cygnus regarding intergovernmental working have already been implemented. It defers responding to the specific recommendations for the COVID-19 public inquiry's terms of reference, including a Scotland-focused section on intergovernmental relations, until the appropriate time.

The government commits to undertaking detailed evaluations of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). CJRS evaluation findings will be published by the end of 2021, but the SEISS evaluation will not be possible until 2022 due to data availability, thus partly missing the committee's recommended timeline.

The government states the overdue response will be produced "in the coming weeks," implicitly deferring the specific deadline of "no later than the end of 2020."

The government is carefully considering the pilot's findings and will provide further information in due course, without committing to an increase in numbers for the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme.

The UK government is deferring immediate acceptance of the recommendation to include all key health and social care workers on the Shortage Occupation List for Scotland, stating it will scrutinise them for consideration in 2021. It supports the recommendation for the Scottish Government to encourage more migrants to Scotland, noting the SG has the levers for this.

The government describes existing and ongoing actions to support Scottish exports, including the launch of a UK Trade Hub in Edinburgh to help businesses grow internationally and progress on new trade agreements.

The government states it has long recognized the threat of pandemics and involved Devolved Administrations in past planning, citing the 2011 UK Influenza Preparedness Strategy and their involvement in Exercise Cygnus and the Coronavirus Act. The response focuses on existing coordination and past efforts, without committing to new annual reviews or explicitly outlining how future plans will specifically integrate immigration, supply chain, and exports.