Cabinet meeting: 6 January 2025

• Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS (Chair)
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS
• Jayne Bryant MS
• Mark Drakeford MS
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Ken Skates MS
   
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Sarah Murphy MS
• Vikki Howells MS
• Jack Sargeant MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rachel Garside-Jones, Transition Director Office of the First Minister
• Rebecca Dunn, Head of Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary, First Minister
• Sinead Gallagher, Deputy Director Cabinet Office
• Kevin Brennan, Special Adviser
• Sarah Dickins, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Haf Davies, Special Adviser
• Victoria Evans, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Kirsty Keenan, Special Adviser
• Jackie Jones, Special Adviser
• Stephen Jones, Special Adviser
• Philippa Marsden, Special Adviser
• Martha O’Neil, Special Adviser
• Maddie Rees, Special Adviser
• Victoria Solomon, Special Adviser
• Mary Wimbury, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s Office
• Kath Hallett, First Minister’s office
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Sioned Evans, Director General, Education, Culture and Welsh Language
• Tim Moss, Chief Operating Officer
• Judith Paget, Director General Health and Social Services
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Energy and Transport
• Nia James, Director Legal Services
• Naomi Matthiessen, Deputy Director Landscapes, Nature and Forestry (item 4)
• Gail Merriman, Head of Productive Forestry and Sector Capacity (item 4)

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 9 Rhagfyr 2024 / Cabinet approved the minutes of 9 December 2024.

Baroness Randerson

2.1 The First Minister noted with sadness the passing of Baroness Jenny Randerson. Baroness Randerson had been dedicated to public service and committed to Wales and devolution, and she had played a vital role in both the Senedd and the House of Lords.

Kevin Brennan

2.2 The First Minister, on behalf of Cabinet, congratulated Kevin Brennan on his appointment to the House of Lords.

Holyhead Port

2.3 The First Minister thanked the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales for his work over the Christmas period to oversee repairs to Holyhead Port, which was due to partially reopen on 16th January.  The work had been welcomed by both the UK and Irish Governments.

Winter pressures in the NHS

2.4 The First Minister invited the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to provide an update on the pressures facing the NHS in Wales. The peak in pressures came earlier than expected with increased levels of seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses, including COVID, all of which was 20% higher than experienced the previous year. This led to the Welsh Ambulance Service declaring a critical incident on 30th December. The level of staff absences was also challenging.

2.5 Over the coming days and weeks Health Boards and partners would be focusing on safe and speedy discharges from hospitals, to increase capacity to respond to the ongoing pressures. The Cabinet Secretary would be making a statement to the Senedd the following day, which was earlier than originally planned.

2.6 It was noted the First Minister had made some visits to hospitals over the Christmas period, which had been well received by staff and patients.

3.1 Cabinet noted that three oral statements had been added to Plenary business for Tuesday. The statements related to NHS Winter Pressures, the Port of Holyhead and the Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group. The statement on Welsh Language Technology would issue as a written statement.

3.2 At the commencement of the session on Tuesday there would be a short tribute to Baroness Randerson. In addition, there would be a series of motions following the Business Statement to change Conservative members of Committees, following the reshuffle of spokespeople in December. There were no votes planned for Tuesday and voting time was around 5.35pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree publication of the consultation on proposals for Wales’s first Timber Industrial Strategy.

4.2 The consultation demonstrated the government’s confidence in securing a future for the Welsh forestry and timber sectors, at a time when there were significant opportunities. Furthermore, expanding the timber industry would contribute directly to the priorities on house building and jobs and green growth, it was also crucial for climate change mitigation and timber security.

4.3 Managing forests sustainably for timber production was a prime example of green and sustainable growth. For example, when trees were harvested, the carbon locked up during growth remained stored in the timber, and by using that timber in buildings and other long-term uses, such as furniture or house building, that carbon remained sequestered. Meanwhile the harvested crop of trees was replanted, locking up more carbon and continuing the cycle.

4.4 There was also a number of significant opportunities for foresters, timber processors and manufacturers by growing this economy. A whole range of jobs and skills could flow from forest nurseries through planting, management, harvesting and milling to designing and constructing end products that both sustained local businesses and livelihoods, whilst continuing to lock-up carbon for years after the timber had left the forest. The wood economy could bring benefits and jobs specifically to rural areas.

4.5 Timber also provided the opportunity to build more sustainable housing, including social housing, linking 2 of the government’s priorities.

4.6 Expanding the sector was crucial as the world sought to achieve net zero. Timber was well-placed, as a low-embodied carbon building material, to be used to replace high-embodied carbon material such as concrete, and there was an expectation that the demand for timber globally would quadruple by 2050.

Therefore, securing a reliable and sustainable future timber supply would require the growth of more Welsh timber, alongside increasing re-use and circular use, balanced with importing in a globally responsible way.

4.7 The consultation document was aligned with the aims of the UK Industrial Strategy, especially in relation to net zero, economic resilience and security, with timber production generating a versatile, sustainable resource.

4.8 Cabinet welcomed the paper and recognised that a vibrant timber industry would bring growth and jobs at both foundational level and skilled careers, offering many economic opportunities to urban and rural Wales.

4.9 Cabinet approved the paper and noted the consultation would be launched by 31st January.

Cabinet Secretariat
January 2025