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16 April 2024 - Devolution Capability in Whitehall - Oral evidence

Committee Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Inquiry Devolution Capability in Whitehall

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Start times: 2:00pm (private) 2:30pm (public)


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How do the devolved administrations’ civil servants view devolution capability in Whitehall?

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee takes evidence from senior civil servants from the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

The session examines how the civil service in each devolved administration works with UK Government departments, and will probe their views on devolution capability in Whitehall.

Meeting details

At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Inquiry Devolution Capability in Whitehall
Permanent Secretary at Scottish Government
Permanent Secretary at The Welsh Government
Head at Northern Ireland Civil Service

In the third evidence session of the Committee’s inquiry into Devolution Capability in Whitehall, MPs are also likely to ask whether more should be done to embed consideration of devolution earlier in the Whitehall policy-making process.

The Committee will ask witnesses for their assessment of whether UK Government civil servants are getting sufficient and effective training in devolution, and whether more needs to be done to facilitate the interchange of civil servants between Whitehall and the devolved administrations.

MPs will also ask witnesses their views on the recommendation made in Lord Maude’s review into governance and accountability in the Civil Service, regarding the disparity between Northern Ireland, which has its own separate civil service, and Wales and Scotland, where the civil service is part of a unified civil service with England. 

Location

Room 15, Palace of Westminster

How to attend