Department for Constitutional Affairs - Devolution

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Joint Ministerial Committees

The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) is a forum whereby the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations can meet and discuss matters relating to devolution. The terms of reference of the JMC is outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding and include:

To consider non-devolved matters which impinge on devolved responsibilities, and devolved matters which impinge on non-devolved responsibilities.
Where the UK Government and the devolved administrations so agree, to consider devolved matters if it is beneficial to discuss their respective treatment in the different parts of the United Kingdom.
To keep the arrangements for liaison between the UK Government and the devolved administrations under review.
To consider disputes between the administrations.

Plenary meetings of the JMC will consist of the Prime Minister (or his representative), who will take the chair, and the Deputy Prime Minister the Scottish First Minister and one of his Ministerial colleagues, the Welsh First Secretary and another Assembly Secretary, the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The JMC may also meet in other "functional" formats to discuss specific policy areas. Currently, functional formats exist in Health, Knowledge Economy, Poverty and Europe.