Cabinet meeting: 9 May 2022

• Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford MS
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Lesley Griffiths MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Eluned Morgan MS
• Mick Antoniw MS

• Dawn Bowden MS
• Hannah Blythyn MS
• Julie Morgan MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Lee Waters MS

Apologies

• Vaughan Gething MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Des Clifford, Director Office of the First Minister
• Will Whiteley, Deputy Director Cabinet Division
• Toby Mason, Strategic Communications
• 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
• Clare Jenkins, Special Adviser
• Owen John, Special Adviser
• Andrew Johnson, Special Adviser
• Mitch Theaker, Special Adviser
• Tom Woodward, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Helen Lentle, Director Legal Services
• Catrin Sully, Cabinet Office
• Tracey Burke, Director General, Climate Change and Rural Affairs
• Jo-Anne Daniels, Director General Education, Social Justice and Welsh Language
• Reg Kilpatrick, Director General, COVID-19 recovery and Local Government
• Judith Paget, Director General Health
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Treasury and Constitution
• Piers Bisson, Director European Transition, Constitution and Justice
• James Gerard, Deputy Director Justice Policy
• Emma Williams, Director Housing and Regeneration
• Stuart Fitzgerald, Deputy Director, Homes and Places
• Andy Fraser, Deputy Director Water and Flood
• Neil Hemington, Head of Planning

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 25 Ebrill / Cabinet approved the minutes of 25 April.

2.1 Cabinet considered the contents of the Plenary grid and noted voting time was scheduled for 5pm on Tuesday and around 6:25pm on Wednesday.

3.1 The Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution introduced the paper, which presented the near final version of the justice document for consideration by Cabinet, which aimed to demonstrate why the Welsh Government supported taking more control over the justice system in Wales.

3.2 It emphasised the interconnected relationships between the government’s preventative, rehabilitative, public health and educational based approaches with the effective delivery of more favourable justice outcomes in Wales. It aimed to demonstrate the difference between the UK government’s more punitive approach with what Welsh Ministers believed was a clear consensus around a focus on social justice to achieve a safer Wales.

3.3 The publication also set out an extensive programme of devolved services, which supported the delivery of justice, many of which were funded by Welsh Government and had been developed and tailored to the needs of the people of Wales. There was an aim to demonstrate, through highlighting examples of existing and future Welsh Government led initiatives, that whilst justice was currently reserved, the long-term prospects for its improvement in Wales could and should only be developed and delivered in Wales.

3.4 Of particular note was the work with the Ministry of Justice to establish the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts Pilot and the action to reform devolved tribunals. Work would need to continue with Police and Crime Commissioners to build safer communities in Wales.

3.5 The Minister for Social Justice emphasised the cross-government nature of the document, in particular to Youth Justice matters and the importance of partnership working to deliver the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence and Youth Justice blueprints and the Race Equality Action Plan. The publication reflected a progressive approach to justice matters, which aimed to empower and support people into better outcomes.

3.6 Cabinet welcomed the publication and Ministers specifically supported the incremental approach to seeking the devolution of justice to Wales along with the work on improving family justice matters. It was important not to lose sight of the devolution of the prison system.

3.7 It was noted that the First Minister had held a meeting with the President of the Family Division and Mr Justice Francis, the Family Division Liaison Judge for Wales, and had agreed to a further meeting in due course.

3.8 Cabinet approved the recommendations within the paper.