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Committee Meetings

As explained in the chapter on Obtaining Policy Clearance, Committee Chairs decide when to hold meetings supported by advice from the Committee secretaries. Meetings will not be set up unless departments can demonstrate that they will have a clear and justifiable purpose or unless the Chair agrees that an issue identified by the secretariat requires Ministerial discussion. This chapter outlines the steps which must be followed once it has been agreed that a Committee meeting is required. 

There are sections on:

• Official Committee Meetings
• Organising a Committee Meeting
• Attendance at Committee Meetings (Ministers and officials)
• Preparing the Agenda
• Preparing Committee Papers
• Consulting Departments
• Drafting a Paper
• Timing for final paper
• Presentations and other material
• Cabcom, Cabinet Documents Officers and Distribution of Committee Papers and Minutes
• Briefing
• Minutes
• Taking Forward Actions
• Meetings which relate to Particular Policy Areas (Legislative, Regulatory Expenditure)

Lead departments should liaise with the Committee Secretaries from the outset to ensure that they are aware of the handling requirements and deadlines. Many of these are set out below. Committee Secretaries can also advise on other factors, such as recess or a ministerial trip, which might disrupt plans for a meeting.

The figure below maps out the processes leading up to a Cabinet Committee meeting.