Cabinet meeting: 24 June 2024

• Rt. Hon. Vaughan Gething MS (Chair)
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Lesley Griffiths MS
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Eluned Morgan MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Ken Skates MS
• Mick Antoniw MS
   
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Jayne Bryant MS
• Sarah Murphy MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rachel Garside-Jones, Interim Director Office of the First Minister
• Matthew Hall, Head of Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary, First Minister
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Catrin Sully, Head of Cabinet Office
• Alex Bevan, Special Adviser
• David Hagendyk, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Darren Griffiths, Special Adviser
• Haf Davies, Special Adviser
• Sara Faye, Special Adviser
• Sam Hadley, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Phillipa Marsden, Special Adviser
• Owen Jones, Special Adviser
• Maddie Rees, Special Adviser
• Victoria Solomon, Special Adviser
• Mary Wimbury, Special Adviser
• Tom Woodward, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Kathryn Hallett, First Minister’s Office
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s Office
• Nia James, Director Legal Services
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Sioned Evans, Director General, Public Services and Welsh Language Group
• Tim Moss, Chief Operating Officer
• Judith Paget, Director General Health and Social Services
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Treasury and Constitution
• Peter McDonald, Director Economic Infrastructure (item 4)
• Alison Thomas, Head of Modal Shift & Behaviour Change (item 4)

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 17 Mehefin  / Cabinet approved the minutes of  17 June.

Tata Steel

2.1 The First Minister invited the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language to provide an update on developments at Tata Steel and his attendance at the British Irish Council the previous week.

2.2 Unite had announced the previous week that its Members at Port Talbot and Llanwern would begin indefinite strike action from 8th July. In response, Tata Steel was considering early shutdown of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot.

British Irish Council

2.3 The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language informed Cabinet he had represented the First Minister at the British Irish Council, which had met in the Isle of Man the previous week. The focus of discussions was around unlocking the economic and social opportunities for renewables across the islands. A written statement on the outcome of the discussion would be issued later that week.

3.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary grid and noted that voting time on Tuesday was scheduled for 6:05pm and around 5:40pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the action being taken with respect to the 20mph policy.

4.2 The primary goal of the 20mph default policy was to save lives and reduce casualties on roads in Wales. There were early signs that this policy was working, with evidence pointing to the lower speed limit resulting in fewer collisions and reduced insurance claims.

4.3 However, the policy had served to polarise some people and communities. Therefore, it was proposed the policy should be reset around 3 priorities: listening; working in partnership; and making change happen where it was needed.

4.4 In addition, a new framework for setting speed limits on restricted roads would be published before recess. From September, highway authorities would begin to assess roads where a change of speed limit may be required, and these changes would be implemented gradually, where needed.

4.5 Cabinet welcomed the paper.

4.6 Cabinet approved the paper and noted the Cabinet Secretary would make a statement on progress to the Senedd on 16th July.

Cabinet Secretariat
June 2024