First Report: Coronavirus and Scotland: Interim Report on Intergovernmental Working
Select Committee
Scottish Affairs Committee
HC 314
23 July 2020
Government response
Second Special Report - Coronavirus and Scotland: Government Response to the Committee’s First and Second Reports · published 1 Feb 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
2
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 42
The UK Government has failed to make clear when its messaging applies only to England,...
Recommendation
The UK Government has failed to make clear when its messaging applies only to England, causing unnecessary confusion in the devolved nations. There should be messaging clarity to minimise confusion across national boundaries, and this must begin to happen with …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on concluding the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) review and improving transparency of formal IGR documents and processes, but does not address the specific recommendation for immediate messaging clarity in policy announcements regarding their application to devolved nations.
Scotland Office
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3
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 60
We are concerned to hear that Ministerial Implementation Groups (MIGs) and COBRA have ceased to...
Recommendation
We are concerned to hear that Ministerial Implementation Groups (MIGs) and COBRA have ceased to meet in the context of the pandemic. From what we have heard about how communication standards currently stand, decision-makers in devolved nations have come to …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response does not directly address why Ministerial Implementation Groups and COBRA ceased to meet or what consultation occurred with devolved governments prior to this decision. It also does not outline how decisions about the pandemic have been formally discussed with devolved nations or how regular inter-nation communication has been guaranteed, instead discussing the general role of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Scotland Office
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5
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 62
We have also noted that the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) has not been used as...
Recommendation
We have also noted that the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) has not been used as a method of intergovernmental communication throughout the pandemic, although we have heard suggestions that it would not have been fit for purpose in the COVID-19 …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response details the commitment to undertaking a detailed evaluation of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, with reports due in 2021 and 2022, completely unrelated to the recommendation about intergovernmental communication mechanisms.
Scotland Office
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8
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 72
The Government must specify and define a clear role for the Office of the Secretary...
Recommendation
The Government must specify and define a clear role for the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland in the context of COVID-19 and similar UK-wide emergencies. We understand that the Department is committed to being Scotland’s voice in …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations on the Shortage Occupation List and encourages the Scottish Government to attract residents, but it does not address the recommendation regarding the role of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland in UK-wide emergencies or intergovernmental communication.
Scotland Office
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9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 83
Communication on a scientific level appears to have been regular and consistent between the four...
Conclusion
Communication on a scientific level appears to have been regular and consistent between the four nations. Transparency around SAGE has improved with the publication of its membership and minutes. However, it is unclear whether the advice given by SAGE and …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response is irrelevant, detailing the launch of a UK Trade Hub in Edinburgh and progress on trade deals, without addressing the committee's observations about transparency of scientific advice during the pandemic.
Scotland Office
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10
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We call on the UK and Scottish Governments to provide details of the procedures and...
Recommendation
We call on the UK and Scottish Governments to provide details of the procedures and processes used by their advisory groups for providing scientific advice. A commitment to transparency around scientific advice would provide the public and Parliament with the …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response does not provide details of the procedures and processes used by its scientific advisory groups for providing advice, as recommended. Instead, the response discusses general pandemic preparedness and appears to address a separate recommendation concerning messaging clarity across the nations.
Scotland Office
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