4. 2. Statement: Cabinet Appointments

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:44 pm on 24 May 2016.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 2:44, 24 May 2016

A number of questions there. Firstly, on the agreement with Plaid Cymru, yes, there are some issues like the national infrastructure commission where there are different views as to what that might look like, but that’s what the discussions will be about.

There are three committees that have been set up. Their objective is to identify issues such as legislation early on to see where there is common ground and where there isn’t, and the same with the budget. That’s, I believe, a sensible working arrangement between two parties with a view to achieving agreement in the months to come, and that is something I very much welcome. I would anticipate that the committee would be made up of representatives from different parties—that’s true. It’s a matter for Plaid Cymru who they choose to represent them on those committees, but, from our side, it will of course be a Minister.

The leader of the Conservatives talked about being bound by the outcomes of those committees. That’s not the nature of the committees. The committees are there to achieve agreement, and once that agreement is achieved then of course both parties are in a position where the parties will be able to support that agreement.

On Betsi Cadwaladr, that will stay with Vaughan Gething. He’s familiar with the situation in Betsi. It makes sense for Betsi to remain with him within his responsibilities, and he will report back in due course on progress.

On bovine TB, we will, of course, take a science-based approach. One of the first things that the Minister will be looking at is what the next stages will be in terms of dealing with bovine TB.

Yes, he is right to say that the delivery unit is no more. Some of his Members who are no longer here will claim that as a great victory—I’ve no doubt about that after the slightly obsessive approach that was taken by a former Member of this place. The Cabinet office basically is, in effect, the First Minister’s office. It is answerable entirely to me. It will have many different roles, such as, for example, co-ordinating the legislative programme, co-ordinating the Cabinet agenda and also identifying issues that need to be dealt with early on a cross-Government basis. There is no mystery about that; that’s what it will do.

On children, I’ve allocated portfolios according to what I think at this moment in time is the best fit, but, at the end of the day, Cabinet Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries don’t live and exist in silos. There is always cross-Government working and that’s why, for example, when it comes to an issue like student finance, that will be a Cabinet decision. Of course, there are portfolio Ministers who take decisions on a day-to-day basis but there are major decisions that need full Cabinet input. That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way it will be in the future.

In terms of Alun Davies, well, Alun, what happened in the past is the past. I’ve no doubt at all that he will be an excellent Minister and somebody who will bring a great deal of expertise to the Government, as will all Ministers. All Ministers have been issued with a copy of the ministerial code and, of course, Ministers will be required to indicate to me that they’ve read it, and that’s true of all Ministers. I’m glad to have the range of expertise available to me that I have.