The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative consent Contents

Appendix 4: Glossary

Term

Definition

Agriculture Quadrilateral

Not technically a sub-committee of the JMC but met during the period in which the JMC was in operation. 

Common frameworks

Developed following the UK’s departure from the European Union to ensure a common approach on policy areas for which powers were previously exercised by the EU. 

Devolution Guidance Notes (DGNs)

Provide guidance to civil servants by setting out working arrangements between the UK Government and the devolved administrations.

Dispute resolution process

The process within the new intergovernmental relations structures by which disagreements that cannot be resolved at portfolio level are addressed and resolved. 

East-West Council

Established as part of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper with the intention of strengthening cooperation between Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK by advising on shared challenges and opportunities with an East-West dimension.

Finance Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC)

Tier 2 of the new intergovernmental relations structures; consists of representatives of the Treasury and the devolved governments’ finance ministers.

Finance Ministers’ Quadrilateral (FMQ)

Not technically a sub-committees of the JMC but met during the period in which the JMC was in operation. 

Intergovernmental relations

Engagement between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Provides administrative support across the new intergovernmental relations structures; promotes efficient and effective maintenance of relations at each tier and handles the resolution of disputes.  

Interministerial Committees (ICs)

Tier 2 of the new intergovernmental relations structures; established by consensus if particular issues need in-depth and focused consideration by ministers. 

Interministerial Groups (IMGs)

Tier 1 of the new intergovernmental relations structures; portfolio-level engagement on policy areas of mutual interest.  

Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC)

Tier 2 of the new intergovernmental relations structures; provides oversight of all IMGs and has a remit to consider all policy areas of mutual interest, both domestic and international. 

Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC)

A forum comprising ministers from the UK and devolved government; established by the 1999 MoU and in operation prior to the introduction of the new intergovernmental relations structures in January 2022.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Agreed by the four governments of the UK in 1999, establishing a framework and formal structures for intergovernmental relations, which remained in place until the new intergovernmental relations structures were introduced in January 2022. 

Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Governments Council

Tier 3 of the new intergovernmental relations structures; oversees all intergovernmental relations in the UK; meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister. 

Secondary legislation

Law created by ministers (or other bodies) under powers given to them by primary legislation; also known as ‘delegated legislation’ or ‘subordinate legislation’. 

Senedd Statutory Instrument Consent Mechanism

A mechanism requiring that a member of the Welsh Government must lay before the Senedd a Statutory Instrument Consent Memorandum in relation to a “relevant statutory instrument” laid before the UK Parliament. 

Sewel convention

Under the terms of the convention the UK Parliament will “not normally” legislate on a matter within the devolved competence of the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd or the Northern Ireland Assembly without the relevant devolved legislature having passed a legislative consent motion. 

Statutory Instruments

The most common form of secondary legislation. 

The Review of Intergovernmental Relations

Undertaken jointly by the UK government and the devolved administrations; led to the new intergovernmental relations structures in place since January 2022. 





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