Do UK (English) ministers fully understand devolution?

Are the UK government intending to use the different approaches  of the other legislatures in these islands as a means to attack devolution by plans to cap English student numbers at Welsh universities in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The BBC report that "Deep concern" has been raised over plans

Wales' Education Minister Kirsty Williams has written to the UK Universities Minister Michelle Donelan expressing her worries.
Ms Donelan said she was "disappointed" by the approach.
Ms Williams said the proposal - which would be temporary - was "not in the best interests of the UK as a whole".
Ms Williams wrote: "I am deeply concerned that you have chosen to place a control on Welsh institutions rather than work with the Welsh Government to achieve a solution that is compatible with devolution.
"I do not believe this approach is in the best interests of the UK as a whole, and demonstrates a surprising unwillingness to respect complementary policies in each nation."
She said the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) was consulting with the Wales higher education sector on an approach to monitoring admissions to retain stability and it was "regrettable" these proposals would cut across that.

"I will consider the consequences for Wales arising from the UK government's policy and take further action to ensure that those interests are protected," Ms Williams said.

"My decision about how to progress will based on what it is right for Welsh students and Wales as a whole."

A spokesman for the UK's Department for Education said this was an "incredibly difficult time" which was why it had announced a support package that included student number controls.

It said that was to "bring stability" to higher education and protect students and universities from the effect of coronavirus.

"We want everyone who achieves their entry requirements to be able to go to university and these measures are a vital part of ensuring this, while avoiding harmful over-recruitment among providers which could go against the interests of both students and universities," the spokesman said.

"We will shortly be setting out further details on how the student number controls will be implemented, including how they will work in the devolved administrations."

I think we need grater clarity on this .

Are the UK government planning  to cap the number of English  students in England  and seeking to extend this to Wales and presumably in Scotland or are they trying to highlight differences in the approach of the devolved governments approach in a negative way?

If the Cap on English students is one that applies to English Universities  as well, then even for them it is disturbing and one wonders how it will be applies.

A spokesman for the UK’s Department for Education said that the aim of capping numbers was to protect students and universities from the effect of coronavirus.

“We want everyone who achieves their entry requirements to be able to go to university and these measures are a vital part of ensuring this, while avoiding harmful over-recruitment among providers which could go against the interests of both students and universities,” the spokesman said.“We will shortly be setting out further details on how the student number controls will be implemented, including how they will work in the devolved administrations.”

So it seems that Kirsty Williams may be right that this is "a surprising unwillingness to respect complementary policies in each nation."

The UK (English) government also need to answer if they plan to cap UK students from  outside England attending English Universities and whether it will be in line with that of English Students.

What seems to be the case is that we have another case of a UK (English) minister , either not understanding or not caring about the realities of devolution and how it works.