Question reference: S3W-32754
- Asked by: Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 25 March 2010
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 March 2010
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic) meeting on 10 March 2010.
Answer
On 10 March 2010, the First Minister and I attended the third meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic), which included representatives from the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.
I am delighted to report that we agreed a revised and updated Memorandum of Understanding, the first since 2001, which includes a new protocol on dispute avoidance and resolution. These new agreements give Scotland a strong platform from which to advance its interests.
The meeting also held a useful discussion about meeting the challenges of the downturn through integrating employment and skills support and agreed that in recognition of the particular relevance and timeliness of this issue a follow-up discussion between the relevant Ministers of the four administrations should take place shortly.
I am placing a copy of the revised Memorandum of Understanding in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50576).