Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities written question – answered at on 7 March 2022.
Owen Thompson
SNP Chief Whip
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with elected members in the devolved Administrations on the effectiveness of inter-governmental relations.
Michael Gove
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
I meet First Ministers of the devolved administrations on a near fortnightly basis to discuss intergovernmental relations and shared issues such as Covid-19 response, supply chains, workforce pressures, and recently the UK's response to the situation in Ukraine.
I will shortly be chairing the first meeting of the Interministerial Standing Committee to welcome the new intergovernmental arrangements and discuss how the UK government and the devolved governments can continue to work together.
Yes2 people think so
No0 people think not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
