Written Statement: Cabinet Sub-committee on North Wales

On Thursday, 23 January 2025, I chaired the first Cabinet sub-Committee on North Wales of the new government’s term. Alongside the First Minister and Cabinet colleagues, we discussed two of the First Minister’s four priorities – Iechyd Da and Opportunities for every family – and what they meant for North Wales. Cabinet colleagues emphasised some important developments and good practice in the region, including the progress Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board is making, its role in piloting Electronic Patient Records and the real impact that its substance misuse teams are having on the ground. On Education, we discussed the £8.8m investment in North Wales schools to become more community focused, building on the £4.6m already invested in 2022/23. The Cabinet Secretary for Education also highlighted that since 2014, schools and colleges in the North Wales region have benefitted from an investment of £430m, delivering new and refurbished facilities. We also heard how the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme will see Welsh Government grant funding of over £690m across 82 projects in the North. We also discussed learner mental health and well-being and the steps we are taking to increase post-16 participation, with an emphasis on equipping our communities with the skills they need to capitalise on the opportunities of the circular economy and green growth. 

After these discussions, we were joined by the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the Vice-Chancellors of Bangor and Wrexham Universities, the Chief Executives of Coleg Cambria and Grŵp Llandrillo-Menai and the Leaders of the six Local Authorities to discuss Iechyd Da and Opportunities for every family. We discussed our shared vision for the region but also heard about some of the challenges they faced.  My Cabinet colleagues and I welcomed the strength of current regional partnership working in the region, and committed to help sustain and develop it further. 

And as part of a wider programme of engagement, many of my Cabinet colleagues, including the First Minister, undertook a series of visits across the region. The First Minister visited Coleg Menai on Ynys Môn where she met students supported by the Welsh Government’s Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) before visiting MSParc to discuss the transformational opportunities of the North Wales freeport to the region’s economy. The Deputy First Minister was in Penrhyndeudraeth where he learnt more about innovative wood based home construction and the opportunities the sector provided in terms of skills and apprenticeships. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care visited Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, while the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip undertook a series of engagements around Wrexham, where among other things she visited St. Mark’s Church in Caia Park and met with Wrexham University’s Civic Engagement team and WeMindtheGap. The Minister for Skills, Culture and Social Partnerships visited Tŷ Pawb and Wrexham Museum, while I welcomed the UK Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alistair Cairns MP, to Woody’s Lodge in Colwyn Bay. 

I look forward to chairing the next meeting in the summer.