Cabinet meeting: 13 November 2023

• Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford MS (Chair)
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Vaughan Gething MS
• Lesley Griffiths MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Eluned Morgan MS
• Mick Antoniw MS
   
• Hannah Blythyn MS
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Julie Morgan MS
• Lynne Neagle MS

Apologies

• Lee Waters MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rebecca Dunn, Head of Cabinet Division
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Rory Powell, Head of First Minister’s Office
• Jane Runeckles, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Alex Bevan, Special Adviser
• Daniel Butler, Special Adviser
• Ian Butler, Special Adviser
• Kate Edmunds, Special Adviser
• Sara Faye, Special Adviser
• Sam Hadley, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Clare Jenkins, Special Adviser
• Owen John, Special Adviser
• Phillipa Marsden, Special Adviser
• Tom Woodward, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Catrin Sully, Cabinet Office
• Kathryn Hallett, First Minister’s Office
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s Office
• Helen Lentle, Director Legal Services
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Jo-anne Daniels, Director General, Education Social Justice & Welsh Language
• Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, Covid Recovery and Local Government
• Tim Moss, Chief Operating Officer
• Judtih Paget, Director General Health and Social Services
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Treasury and Constitution
• Claire McDonald, Deputy Director, Economic Policy (item 4)
• Piers Bisson, Director European Transition, Constitution and Justice (item 5)
• Sophie Brighouse, Deputy Director, Constitutional Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations (item 5)
• Nia Webb, Co-operation Agreement Team (item 6)

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 6 Tachwedd / Cabinet approved the minutes of 6 November.

UK government Cabinet reshuffle

2.1 Ministers noted that a UK government Cabinet reshuffle was taking place.

COVID-19 Inquiry

2.2 The First Minister reflected on the evidence that had been provided by Whitehall ministers, civil servants and special advisers to the COVID-19 Inquiry the previous week.
 

3.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary Grid and noted that voting time was scheduled for 7:25pm on Tuesday and 6.25pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The Minister for Economy introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to consider a draft of the Priorities for a Stronger Economy that had a focus on 4 National Priority Areas. Officials from across Government would need to support the deep dive work outlined in the paper.

4.2 The Economic mission, launched in 2021 set out an economic pathway to recovery from the pandemic. However, the impacts of Brexit and the war in Ukraine, coupled with the mini-budget, had brought limited economic growth and high inflation.

4.3 Therefore, there was now a need to develop and futureproof skills and business opportunities to increase potential across new and emerging areas, such as artificial intelligence and the transition to net zero. This would require a more strategic focus and a clearer narrative.

4.4 To achieve this there would now be 4 priority areas:

• a just transition and green prosperity
• a platform for young people, fair work, skills and success
• stronger partnerships for stronger regions and the everyday economy, and
• investing for growth.

4.5 Cabinet approved the paper.

5.1 The Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution introduced the briefing note, which outlined the UK Government’s new legislative programme and its impact on the Welsh Government.

5.2 The King’s speech and associated documentation set out 21 Bills, 6 of which had been carried over from the previous session. Six more had been introduced on 8 November.

Papers to note

Co-operation Agreement annual report 2022-2023

6.1 Cabinet noted the Co-operation Agreement Annual Report 2022-2023.

Delivering Justice for Wales – progress report

6.2 Cabinet noted the Delivering Justice for Wales – progress report.

Cabinet Secretariat
November 2023