Cabinet meeting: 11 March 2024

• Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford MS (Chair)
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Lesley Griffiths MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Eluned Morgan MS (from item 5)
• Mick Antoniw MS
   
• Hannah Blythyn MS
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Julie Morgan MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Lee Waters MS

Apologies

• Vaughan Gething MS

Officials

• Des Clifford, Director, Office of the First Minister
• Matthew Hall, 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
• Nia James, Interim Director of 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
• Amelia John, Director, Communities & Tackling Poverty (item 4)
• Dan Venables, Head of Strategic Equality and Mainstreaming (item 4)
• Jason Thomas, Director Culture, Sport and Tourism (item 5)
• Ian Williams, Deputy Director Culture (item 5)
• Rhian Griffiths, Co-operation Agreement Unit (item 5)

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 4 Mawrth / Cabinet approved the minutes of 4 March.

COVID-19 Inquiry

2.1 The First Minister informed Cabinet that following attendance of Welsh Government officials and relevant experts over the past 2 weeks, ministers would be providing evidence to the COVID-19 Inquiry over the next few days.

2.2 The Minister for Economy was appearing before the Inquiry that day, with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Minister for Finance and Local Government and Minister for Education and Welsh Language attending the following day. The First Minister would be appearing before the Inquiry on Wednesday.

Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

2.3 The First Minister informed Cabinet that the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip would be introducing the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill into the Senedd the following day.

2.4 It was reported the Llywydd had received legal advice to suggest the provisions of the Bill were out of competence, which was contrary to advice provided by government lawyers.

3.1 Cabinet considered the contents of the Plenary Grid and noted that voting time was scheduled for 7:15pm on Tuesday and around 6:25pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the Long-term Aim and the National Equality Objectives for 2024-28 and that these should be published on 18 March.

4.2 The Welsh Government was legally obliged, under the Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011, to review its Equality Objectives, and since April 2012, had adopted a practice of publishing them every 4 years. The next publication was due on 1 April 2024. This ensured the government’s work was focussed on eliminating inequality, promoting equality, and fostering good relations between people.

4.3 In October the previous year, Cabinet had agreed to consult on the draft Strategic Equality Plan and the draft National Equality Objectives. This consultation closed in February.

4.4 Since publication of the previous Equality Objectives 2020-2024, several action plans for people with protected characteristics had been published, such as the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales. The National Equality Objectives 2024-2028 were linked to the actions of these distinct plans and did not override or duplicate them. They were broad, cross-governmental and referenced other plans and interventions. The National Equality Objectives would serve as a framework for the separate plans, making the connections and amplifying the intersectionality of people’s lives and experiences.

4.5 The National Equality Objectives had been developed through cross-government working, with officials from each portfolio area engaged. In addition, work had commenced to identify supporting actions and aims, which would help to deliver the objectives and form the basis of the emerging Strategic Equality Plan for 2024 – 2028.

4.6 During the consultation process the EHRC had published ‘Equality and Human Rights Monitor 2023: Is Wales Fairer?’ The recommendations contained within this report had also contributed and informed the development of the National Equality Objectives.

4.7 It was reported that 82% of the consultation responses had agreed with the proposed Long-term Aim, with 78% agreeing with the National Equality Objectives. Feedback had suggested that the term ‘non-discrimination’ used in the draft aim was too passive and this had now been refined to: ‘Wales is a nation based on equity, anti-discrimination, and inclusion, through strengthening and advancing equality and human rights’.

4.8 Following the feedback and engagement as part of the consultation process, the draft National Equality Objectives had been revised, and these changes had been outlined in the paper.

4.9 Cabinet welcomed the paper.

4.10 Cabinet approved the paper.

5.1 The Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the Government’s Priorities for Culture: 2024-2030.

5.2 Developing a new culture strategy for Wales was a Programme for Government and Co-operation Agreement commitment, and the designated Member had been fully consulted and had opportunities to input throughout the process of developing the strategic priorities.

5.3 The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act set a clear goal of creating ‘A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh Language’.

5.4 The Future Generations Commissioner had recently highlighted culture as one of his five priority areas for the next 7 years.

5.5 Due to the early sector and community engagement, undertaken as part of preparing the strategy in 2023, an 8-week consultation period was proposed. After which, consultation responses would be reviewed, along with considering and potentially revising the strategy.

5.6 Cabinet welcomed the paper.

5.7 Cabinet approved the paper.

Cabinet Secretariat
March 2024