Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I represented the Welsh Government at the Business and Industry Inter-Ministerial Group on 21 January. This was the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group since January 2023.
The meeting was chaired by the UK Government’s Minister of State for Industry, Sarah Jones MP. It was also attended by Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business, Scottish Government and a senior official on behalf of Conor Murphy, Minister for the Economy, Northern Ireland Executive.A communique regarding this meeting will be published on the UK Government website.
Discussions focused on formally establishing a Terms of Reference. Updates were provided on economic plans across the four nations and there was a substantive item on the UK Governments growth mission, with a focus on the Industrial Strategy.
I welcomed continued collaboration, and I gave updates on work which is being taken forward by Welsh Government - specially in relation to planning reform, which will enable the successful delivery of the Industrial Strategy. The Industrial Strategy will remain a standing agenda item, and I highlighted the importance of further discussions on the UK Governments other forthcoming strategies and plans.
I will be chairing the next Business and Industry Inter-Ministerial Group in line with rotating chair arrangements.