3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the role of task and finish groups in the development of ministerial responsibilities? OAQ53289

Task and finish groups do not generally have a role in the development of ministerial responsibilities, but play an important part in informing the discharge of those responsibilities. 

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. In the recent scrutiny of the international relations Minister, she indicated she'd set up a task and finish group to advise her on her ministerial responsibilities. The Member for Blaenau Gwent, in questioning the Minister at that time, said that the paper she'd submitted was some kind of narrative, lacking any ambition or vision. In particular, under cross-examination from my colleague David Melding, the Minister conceded that actually the steer that you had given as First Minister on the expectation for that role was not the clearest and the role was a little uncertain. Can you clarify today, First Minister, what your ambition is for this role, or is your Government constrained by the ambition of setting up task and finish groups?

We are very ambitious for the role that my colleague Eluned Morgan is fulfilling, and she is absolutely right to say to you that it is a developmental role. I said to her when I was in a position to invite her to take up this responsibility that I thought it was the most exciting offer that I would be making to any Member of the Government that afternoon, because I was asking her to take on a job where part of her job would be to create the terms on which she would discharge the remit that I gave her. And the remit that I gave her I think is a really important one, designed deliberately, Llywydd, to make sure that in the Brexit context—the context that the questioner has been so keen to create—Wales's profile in the world, that our standing in those parts of Europe where we have worked so hard over 40 years to form relationships with other regional Governments—that that standing and stature of Wales is sustained under the pressures that Brexit will bring.

I'm very glad that my colleague Eluned Morgan has had the opportunity to explore these things in front of the committee, because that will strengthen our ability to make sure that that vitally important job is being discharged in the most effective way, and I've every confidence that the Member is exploring these matters with the committee and others, and with her task and finish group, with exactly that in mind.