Cabinet meeting: 16 September 2024

• 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

• Rachel Garside-Jones, Transition Director Office of the First Minister
• Matt Hall, Head of Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary, First Minister
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Catrin Sully, Head of Cabinet Office
• Kevin Brennan, Special Adviser
• Sarah Dickins, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Haf Davies, Special Adviser
• Sam Hadley, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Kirsty Keenan, Special Adviser
• Philippa Marsden, 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
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Tim Moss, Chief Operating Officer
• Judith Paget, Director General Health and Social Services
• Andrew Slade, Director General, Economy, Treasury and Constitution
• Nia James, Director Legal Services
• Liz Lalley, Director, Risk, Resilience and Community Safety
• Andrew Jeffreys, Director Treasury (item 4)
• Charlie Thomas, Deputy Director Legislation Division (item 4 & 5)
• Piers Bisson, Director European Transition, Constitution and Justice (item 5)

The First Minister welcomed cabinet secretaries and ministers to her first Cabinet meeting and thanked them for agreeing to serve in her government. It was important for the Welsh Government to build on the work over the past 25 years and to continue to deliver for the people of Wales but now in partnership with the UK government.

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 8 Awst / Cabinet approved the minutes of 8 August.

2.1 The First Minister welcomed Vikki Howells MS to her first ministerial post and also welcomed the new special advisers to government.

Ministerial Code

2.2 The current version of the Ministerial Code would be circulated for cabinet secretaries and ministers later that week. It would be important for everyone to read the code and confirm in writing that they had done so.

Policy developments over the summer

2.3 Important policy announcements over the summer recess included the UK government securing a new and improved deal with Tata Steel, with confirmation of a £500 million grant to the company to support the transition to greener electric furnace in Port Talbot. Wales had become the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary school children and a pay deal had been reached with all public sector workers in Wales, covered by Pay Review Bodies (PRBs).

3.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary grid and noted that unless there was an objection to the agreement of the First Minister’s nomination of Counsel General, there would be no votes taking place on Tuesday. Voting time would be around 6:25pm on Wednesday.

4.1 The First Minister introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the priorities for the remainder of the current Senedd.

4.2 Throughout the summer, the First Minister had actively engaged with people across Wales discussing concerns and the issues that were important to them. The positive feedback confirmed the areas people cared about the most included the NHS, the economy, education, homes and transport.

4.3 There was now a need to ensure that Cabinet priorities accurately reflected what was important to the people of Wales. With fewer than 20 months to the next Senedd election and the backdrop of a challenging financial context, it was essential to approach this work with a sense of purpose, determination and optimism. There was the opportunity to make tangible changes to people’s lives, while working positively with the incoming UK government.

4.4 Cabinet approved the paper.

5.1 The First Minister introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to reconsider and confirm the legislative priorities.

5.2 A great deal of consideration had been given to the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidates Lists) Bill, which passed Stage 1 in July and was due for Stage 2 consideration on 1st October. This had been part of the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru.

5.3 The government was committed to achieving a gender balanced Senedd and to encouraging more women to enter politics, but had concluded the best way to achieve change for the 2026 Senedd election was to address the issue in an alternative way.

5.4 Work was now progressing on diversity and inclusion guidance for political parties, under Section 30 of the Elections and Elected Bodies Act, which also covered underrepresented groups with a broader range of characteristics and circumstances. This work would now be accelerated to help inform political parties with their candidate selection process for the next election. It was noted the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip would be meeting representatives of Plaid Cymru later that afternoon to outline these changes.

5.5 Cabinet approved the paper.

6.1 The First Minister informed Cabinet that the next scheduled meeting would take place in Tŷ Hywel on Tuesday 24th September. Future meetings would continue to take place on Mondays.

Cabinet Secretariat
September 2024