Intergovernmental Relations Engagement Dashboard

Chris Ward Excerpts

Tuesday 11th November 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chris Ward)]

This Government came to office with a clear commitment: to reset relationships with the devolved Governments, working in genuine partnership to deliver change in every part of the United Kingdom.

Between July 2024 and March 2025, we held 357 ministerial meetings with our counterparts in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. This engagement continues to be more frequent than under the previous Administration. While political differences will always exist between different parties, the increased engagement between Governments across the United Kingdom is a positive development for devolution and brings benefits for citizens in all parts of the country.

However, this reset is about more than numbers. It represents a meaningful shift in how we govern to deliver shared ambitions. This Government recognise devolution as a strength to be embraced and a means of delivering for everyone across the UK, wherever they live.

This reset is reflected in the composition of the ministerial team itself with Scottish and Welsh politicians serving at the very highest levels of the UK Government, bringing their experience, their insights and their commitment to every corner of our country. This recognises that the best solutions come when we draw on talent from across the United Kingdom.

We have delivered record funding settlements for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—providing the resources our devolved Governments need to deliver for their communities while we work together on our shared priorities.

This partnership approach is already delivering tangible results.

In Port Talbot, we worked hand-in-hand with the Welsh Government to secure the future of steelmaking in Wales, with a £500 million UK Government support package to protect jobs. At Grangemouth, we worked in partnership with the Scottish Government to support workers and communities facing transition, ensuring Scotland remains at the forefront of our industrial future. In September, we announced that Northern Ireland will benefit from one of the first defence growth deals, helping to boost local economies by bringing together leaders across industry, politics and academia to make sure that local potential is realised.

Through our UK-wide industrial strategy, we are working with all devolved Governments to build an economy that works for every community. With Scotland and Wales benefiting from the designation of AI growth zones, we are ensuring all parts of the UK benefit from co-ordinated technological advancement that means we can compete globally.

These examples demonstrate what we can achieve when Governments work together, rather than at cross purposes.

As part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to open collaboration with the devolved Governments, the Cabinet Office has published an intergovernmental relations engagement dashboard. This provides transparent information on ministerial meetings between the UK Government and devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The publication of this dashboard shows this partnership in action. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of ministerial engagement across a range of policy areas, and our commitment to working together on the issues that matter most to people’s lives.

[HCWS1033]