Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:38 pm on 22 November 2016.
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?