§ 8. Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding proposals for the creation of Cabinet Sub-Committees with Ministers of the Scottish Executive and the UK Government. [101226]
§ Dr. ReidI represent Scottish interests in the Cabinet and its Committees. The Scottish Executive are not members of Cabinet Committees which decide the policy of the UK Government, but can work alongside UK Ministers in joint committees or in groups set up to look at particular issues. That is the kind of partnership which this Government can create, in the best interests of the whole UK.
§ 12. Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation and staffing of the proposed joint ministerial sub-committees between the Scottish Executive and UK Departments. [101230]
§ Dr. ReidThe Joint Action Committees on Poverty and the Knowledge Economy will operate as functional committees of the Joint Ministerial Committee, details of which were set out in the Memorandum of Understanding published in October. The Secretariat will be drawn from each of the devolved Administrations, 127W including Northern Ireland, the Cabinet Office, Treasury and DSS and DTI as appropriate. The first meeting of the Joint Action Committee on Poverty took place on Thursday 9 December.