Cabinet Committees (Hansard, 18 July 1995)

§ The Prime Minister

I have decided to make a number of changes designed to streamline the current structure and rationalise the arrangement for discussion of policy issues into a smaller number of Committees with wide terms of reference. The full list of Cabinet Committees, including membership and terms of reference, is listed as follows:

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND DOMESTIC POLICY (EDP)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Minister without Portfolio
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Other Ministers are 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)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney General
The Lord Privy Seal and the Lord President also receive papers and they and other Ministers may be invited to attend as necessary.
The Chief of Defence Staff will attend as required, as will the Chiefs of Staff when necessary.
Others, including 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 Government's defence and overseas policy.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR DEFENCE POLICY (OPDN)

Composition

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

Terms of Reference To keep under review the Government's policy on nuclear defence.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON NORTHERN IRELAND (NI)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney General
The Minister without Portfolio receives papers.
Other Ministers are 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 THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES (IS)

Composition

Prime Minister (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Defence
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 COMPETITIVENESS (EDC)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Minister without Portfolio
Secretary of State for Health
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Wales
Other Ministers are invited to attend for items in which they have a departmental interest.
The Chief Scientific Adviser attends for issues relating to science and technology.

Terms of reference To consider issues affecting the UK's competitiveness, and other industrial, commercial, consumer, competition and regeneration policies; policy on science and technology; the pace of deregulation; and the handling of public sector pay.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE COORDINATION AND PRESENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICY (EDCP)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman)
Lord President of the Council
Minister without Portfolio
Lord Privy Seal
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Other Ministers will be invited to attend when necessary

Terms of reference To consider the coordination and presentation of Government policy.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT (EDE)

Composition

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Health
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To consider questions of environmental policy.

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HOME AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (EDH)

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Lord Chancellor
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Minister without Portfolio
Secretary of State for Health
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Wales
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
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

Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State (Chairman)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Minister without Portfolio
Secretary of State for Health
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Scotland
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Wales
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration)

Terms of reference To consider issues affecting local government, including the annual allocation of resources

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURE (EDX)

Composition

Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Lord Privy Seal
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of Reference To consider the allocation of the public expenditure control totals and make recommendations to the Cabinet

1009W

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

Composition

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Lord Chancellor
Minister without Portfolio
Lord Privy Seal
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 may 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 Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Attorney General
Lord Advocate
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Minister of State, Home Office
Financial Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also receives papers and is invited to attend as necessary.

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)
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for the Environment
Secretary of State for Social Security
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Minister of State, Home Office
Paymaster General
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage
The Chief Medical Officer is in attendance.
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

Terms of reference To oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Government's health strategy, to coordinate 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 EUROPEAN QUESTIONS (OPD(E))

Composition

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for the Home Department
President of the Board of Trade
Lord President of the Council
Secretary of State for the Environment
Chief Secretary, Treasury
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Secretary of State for Defence
Minister without Portfolio
Lord Privy Seal
Secretary of State for Transport
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Attorney General
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Lord Advocate also receives papers. He and other Ministers will be invited to attend as the nature of the business requires.
The United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the European Union is also in attendance.

Terms of reference To consider questions relating to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union and to 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)
Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Scotland
Attorney General

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

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

Composition

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

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

Terms of reference To coordinate 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

Lord President of the Council (Chairman)
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Minister of State, Home Office
Paymaster General
Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Minister for Construction and Planning)
Minister of State, Scottish Office
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office
The Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence, and the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, also receive papers and may be invited to attend as necessary.
The Minister without Portfolio also receives papers.

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 SUB-COMMITTEE ON LONDON (EDL(L))

Composition

Secretary of State for the Environment (Chairman)
Minister without Portfolio
Minister of State, Home Office
Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Minister for Industry and Energy)
Minister of State, Department of Health (Minister for Health)
Economic Secretary, Treasury
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage
Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Minister for Transport in London)

Terms of reference To coordinate the Government's policies on London