Communiqu茅 for the Work and Pensions Interministerial Group held on 19 January 2026
Updated 9 March 2026
漏 Crown copyright 2026
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The Interministerial Group (IMG) between听the Welsh Government,听the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive met on听19 January听2026听via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the听Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice,听Trefnydd听and Chief Whip (Welsh Government).
Attendees
The attending Ministers were:听听听
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Welsh Government 鈥� Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice,听Trefnydd听and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS听
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Welsh Government 鈥� The Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS听
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UK Government 鈥撎齈arliamentary Under-Secretary of State (DWP听Minister for Transformation), Andrew Western MP听听听
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Scottish Government 鈥撎齅inister for Business and Employment,听Richard Lochhead MSP听听
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Northern Ireland Executive 鈥� Cherrie Arnold, Interim Deputy Secretary for Work and Health,听representing听the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA
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Northern Ireland Executive 鈥� Annette Palmer, Acting Director of Strategic Policy and Services,听representing听the Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA
What was discussed
Ministers discussed听matters of mutual interest听regarding听employability support for disabled people and for young people.听
The Terms of Reference for the听Group are available at听Interministerial Group for Work and Pensions.听
It was agreed the next IMG meeting听would听be chaired by the听Northern Ireland Executive鈥檚 Minister听for Communities, Gordon Lyons.