Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times there have been joint ministerial meetings between their ministers and (1) Scottish ministers, (2) Welsh ministers, and (3) Northern Irish ministers or senior officials, since 31 March 2001; and whether (a) the agenda, (b) the attendance, and (c) the minutes, are published.

The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) in its plenary format (JMC(P)), chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by the First Ministers of the devolved administrations and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, has met 13 times since 31 March 2001.

The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) has met 21 times since it was established in 2016. The JMC(EN) brings together the UK Government and the devolved administrations to discuss the progress of the UK’s exit from the EU.

The Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe (JMC(E)) has wherever possible met quarterly in advance of European Council meetings to discuss ongoing EU business with the devolved administrations.

During the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive, senior officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service attended. The attendance and matters under discussion are published on the GOV.UK website, via communiqué, for JMC(P) and JMC(EN) meetings.

As set out in the MoU between the UK Government and the devolved administrations, minutes are not published following meetings of the JMC, to allow for free and candid discussion.