[R] signifies the Member has declared an interest. [W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.

I now call on Russell George to ask the third urgent question.

Will the Minister make a statement on plans to streamline the Welsh Government’s economic advisory boards? EAQ(5)0076(EI)

Yes. I’ve been very clear that I am working on refreshing economic priorities as part of a wider piece of work. I’m considering the range of panels, bodies and groups that provide advice to me.

Can I thank the Presiding Officer for accepting the urgent question, and the Cabinet Secretary for his answer? This does seem to be a significant change in the way that Welsh Government receives advice and makes decisions in regard to economic development. So, perhaps you could outline why this was released, or reported in the media, before being made available to Assembly Members in a statement.

Now, past Welsh Governments have spoken very highly of the advisory model, comprising nine different panels and 40 different organisations, which, of course, fed into Welsh Government decision making. You’ve now outlined a different approach that you’ll be taking. Is it your view that the past model was ineffective? What are your views on that?

Professor Brian Morgan, who sat on a number of these panels, himself has said that this were a bit of a talking shop, some of the past advisory boards. I wonder if you agree with that. He did make a quote that this cumbersome and under-resourced advisory model has hindered the Welsh Government’s ability to make responsive decisions, and, therefore, has had a detrimental impact on the Welsh economy. I’d appreciate your views on his views, and if you do agree, is it your view that you should look at past decisions that were made as a result of receiving that advice?

And finally, how is the new model going to feed into the new economic strategy that you’re developing?

I’d like to thank the Member for his questions and say that it’s not necessarily urgent, this question, because it is part of that process of consulting on a new economic strategy, a strategy to make Wales more prosperous and secure—work that is going on, work that has been going on over the summer and the autumn through the winter and into the spring, and so, consequently, this is an ongoing piece of work. No announcement’s been made, no decision has been taken. This is part of an open consultation, which I’ve invited Members opposite to take part in, and so, as I say again, no decision has been made on the form or shape of the panels and the advisory boards that will be put together. But I very much welcome the contribution that people such as Professor Morgan have made. They recognise—just as many businesses have spoken with me about this—that there is a need to simplify and streamline the amount of advice and the amount of boards and the processes by which businesses and experts are able to give me expert advice.

At the moment, there is something in the region of 50 panels and boards offering advice and guidance. That’s helpful in many respects, but I think, as Professor Morgan has outlined, we need to make sure that the time and resource that experts and business leaders put in to giving me advice is used effectively and that I am able to draw on all of that advice. At the moment, there are simply too many boards and panels in existence. Many have been established on a task and finish basis. Some should perhaps be wound up as a consequence of that. At the moment this work is ongoing. We’re consulting widely with the whole of society and I would invite the Member to participate if he feels a wish to.

The Labour Government does seem to go through these periodic phases where it abolishes bodies that it established and then seeks to claim the credit for it. I suppose we’ll have to call this one the mini bonfire of the mini quangos. But I have some sympathy with him. I don’t often doodle in the Chamber—I promise—but I tried to do a little organogram of his department—I stopped at about 42—with all the dotted lines, of course, responding to him. Even if you met one a week, you’d just spend your time taking advice, and it’s very difficult to separate the signal from the noise in that context. So, I sympathise with the proposal to streamline, but can I ask him to focus, crucially, not just on what you’re going to remove but what you replace it with? And wouldn’t it be better, as Professor Morgan was hinting, to have fewer larger, better-resourced, more expert bodies actually providing the strategic direction that the Welsh economy needs?

Can I thank Adam Price for his questions? I’m pleased that he welcomes the work that I’m undertaking at the moment in looking at the entire landscape of advisory boards. It is extensive and I’ve drawn similar diagrams to understand exactly how many boards and organisations there are. We’ve not reached a final decision as of yet in terms of what boards will be created, but I would agree that we do need to have fewer stronger boards and advisory groups that are able to not just advise me in a timely fashion, but also make best use of the time of the experts who are actually on those boards.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his answer to the urgent question.