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20 February 2024 - Intergovernmental relations: 25 years since the Scotland Act 1998 - Oral evidence

Committee Scottish Affairs Committee
Inquiry Intergovernmental relations: 25 years since the Scotland Act 1998

Tuesday 20 February 2024

Start times: 9:30am (private) 10:00am (public)


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Alex Salmond and former Scotland Secretaries to appear before Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee

Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond and three former UK Government Secretaries of State for Scotland will appear before Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee this week, as part of its ongoing inquiry into intergovernmental relations.

Meeting details

At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Intergovernmental relations: 25 years since the Scotland Act 1998
First Minister of Scotland 2007-2014

In two separate sessions, the cross-party Committee of MPs will examine how relations between Westminster and Holyrood have evolved in the 25 years since devolution, and how they compare with expectations in 1998.  

The first session of the week will take place on Monday afternoon with MPs set to question Douglas Alexander, Desmond Browne and Helen Liddell about their reflections on intergovernmental relations during their periods in office. Whitehall’s approach towards devolved institutions and how the election of an SNP-led Scottish Government in 2007 affected relations between the two Governments are likely topics for discussion. 

A second session will take place on Tuesday morning. Former First Minister Alex Salmond will appear as a witness, with questions likely on his experience of how effectively formal intergovernmental structures mitigated conflict between the two Governments, and how political events such as the 2014 independence referendum affected relations. 

The Committee can also confirm that former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to appear before the Committee on 29 April to discuss her experience of intergovernmental relations during her time in office. 

Location

Room 6, Palace of Westminster

How to attend