Cabinet Committees (Hansard, 10 February 1994)

§ The Prime Minister

An updated list of the ministerial committees of the Cabinet, giving their composition and terms of reference, is given below. Copies of this list are available in the Library of the House.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND DOMESTIC POLICY (EDP)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord Privy Seal
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Employment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Wales

Other Ministers will be invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.

Terms of Reference

"To consider strategic issues relating to the Government's economic and domestic policies."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND OVERSEAS POLICY (OPD)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney-General

The Chief of Defence Staff will attend as required, as will the Chiefs of Staff when necessary.

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the Government's defence and overseas policy."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE GULF (OPDG)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney General

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The Chief of the Defence Staff will be invited to attend meetings of the Committee, others will be invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review developments in the Gulf region and to co-ordinate any necessary action."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR DEFENCE POLICY (OPDN)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Defence

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the Government's policy on nuclear defence."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN SECURITY (OPDSE)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Defence

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review arrangements for defence and security in Europe."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HONG KONG AND OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES (OPDK)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Lord President of the Council
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Others, including the Attorney General, the Governor of Hong Kong, and the British Ambassador in Peking may be invited. to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the implementation of the agreement with the Chinese on the future of Hong Kong and the implications of that agreement for the Government of Hong Kong and the wellbeing of its people; and to keep under review as necessary the Government's policy towards other Dependent Territories."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON NORTHERN IRELAND (NI)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Attorney General

Other Ministers will be invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.

Terms of Reference

"To oversee the Government's policy on Northern Ireland issues and relations with the Republic of Ireland on these matters."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (EDS)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Chief Secretary, Treasury

The Chief Scientific Adviser is in attendance

Terms of Reference

"To review science and technology policy"

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (IS)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Defence
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

The Lord President of the Council and the Attorney General may be invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review policy on the security and intelligence services."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (EDI)

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Wales

Terms of reference

'To consider industrial, commercial, and consumer issues including questions of competition and deregulation."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (EDE)

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Wales

Terms of Reference

"To consider questions of environmental policy."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HOME AND SOCIAL AFAIRS (EDH)

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Employment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Attorney General, the Lord Advocate and the Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms also receive papers and are invited to attend as necessary.

Terms of reference

"To consider home and social policy issues."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EDL)

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government and Planning)
Secretary of State for Wales

Terms of Reference

"To consider issues affecting local government, including the annual allocation of resources."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON REGENERATION (EDR)

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Education
Chief Secretary, Treasury

Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction)

The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be invited to attend as appropriate.

Terms of Reference

"To consider regeneration policies and their co-ordination."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURE (EDX)

Composition

Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chairman)
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord Privy Seal
Lord President of the Council
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chief Secretary, Treasury

Terms of Reference

"To consider the allocation of the public expenditure control totals and make recommendations to the Cabinet."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE QUEEN'S SPEECHES AND FUTURE LEGISLATION (FLG)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Lord Privy Seal
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Attorney General
Lord Advocate
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs should be invited to attend or be represented for discussion of the Queen's speeches.

Terms of Reference

"To prepare and submit to the Cabinet drafts of the Queen's Speeches to Parliament, and proposals for the Government's legislative programme for each Session of Parliament."

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION (LG)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Lord Chancellor
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Scotland
Attorney General
Lord Advocate
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Minister of State, Home Office
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

Terms of Reference

'To examine all draft Bills; to consider the Parliamentary handling of Government Bills, European Community documents and Private Members' business, and such other related matters as may be necessary; and to keep under review the Government's policy in relation to issues of Parliamentary procedures."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON HEALTH STRATEGY (EDH(H))

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Wales
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry
Minister of State, Department of Employment
Minister of State, Department of Health (Minister for Health)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage

The Chief Medical Officer is in attendance.

Terms of reference

"To oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Government's health strategy, to co-ordinate the Government's policies on United Kingdom-wide issues affecting health, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SECTOR PAY (EDI(P))

Composition

Lord Privy Seal (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Chief Secretary, Treasury

Terms of reference

"To co-ordinate the handling of pay issues in the public sector and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Industrial, Commercial and Consumer Affairs."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN QUESTIONS (OPD(E))

Composition

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Wales
Attorney General
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Other Ministers will be invited to attend as the nature of the business requires

The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Communities is also in attendance.

Terms of reference

"To consider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Community and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON EASTERN EUROPE (OPD(AE))

Composition

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Minister for Overseas Development
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Other Ministers may be invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.

Terms of Reference

"To consider questions relating to Britain's policy of assisting change in the former Soviet republics and other former Communist countries in Europe and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON TERRORISM (OPD(T))

Composition

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Attorney General

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the arrangements for countering terrorism 411W and for dealing with terrorist incidents and their consequences and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON LONDON (EDL(L))

Composition

Secretary of State for the Environment (Chairman)
Minister of State, Home Office
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Minister for Industry)
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction)
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government and Planning)
Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Minister for Social Security and Disabled People)
Minister of State, Department for Education
Minister of State, Department of Health (Minister for Health)
Minister of State, Department of Employment
Economic Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Minister for Transport in London)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science

Terms of Reference

"To co-ordinate the Government's policies on London."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON DRUG MISUSE (EDH(D))

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Solicitor General
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Home Office
Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence
Minister of State, Scottish Office
Minister of State, Department of Health (Minister for Health)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, Department for Education

Others, including the Minister for Overseas Development and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State from the Departments of the Environment and Employment may be invited to attend as appropriate and should receive all papers.

Terms of Reference

"To co-ordinate the Government's national and international policies for tackling drugs misuse, and report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs."

MINISTERIAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S ISSUES (EDH(W))

Composition

Secretary of State for Employment (Chairman)
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Department for Education
Minister of State, Scottish Office
Minister of State, Welsh Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Finns, Department of Trade and Industry
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment

The Minister of State, Minister for the Armed Forces, Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office will also receive papers and be invited to attend as necessary.

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Terms of Reference

"To review and develop the Government's policy and strategy on issues of special concern to women: to oversee their implementation; and to report as necessary to the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs".

MINISTERIAL GROUP ON REFUGEES FROM FORMER YUGOSLAVIA (GEN 24)

Composition

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Employment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Employment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Wales
Attorney-General
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (Minister for Overseas Development)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

The Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will also receive papers and be invited to attend as necessary.

Terms of Reference

"To consider whether a visa regime should be instituted for citizens of former Yugoslavia in the context of the Government's overall policy towards that region and to review the practical arrangements for the reception and subsequent support of those arriving in the United Kingdom from this area taking account of the implications for the treatment of refugees from other parts of the world, and to report to Cabinet."

MINISTERIAL GROUP ON SANCTIONS AGAINST THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (GEN 27)

Composition

Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth office(Chairman)
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Minister for Trade)
Minister of State for Aviation and Shipping, Department of Transport
Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Ministry of Defence Economic Secretary, Treasury

Terms of Reference

"To keep under review the implementation of the sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia imposed under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 757, 787 and 820, and to report to the Ministerial Committee on Overseas and Defence Policy as necessary."