Welsh Government

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Welsh Government
Welsh: Llywodraeth Cymru
Welsh Government logo.svg
Overview
Established12 May 1999 (1999-05-12)
Country Wales
Leader
Appointed byFirst Minister approved by the Senedd, ceremonially appointed by the monarch
Main organ Cabinet
Responsible to Senedd
Annual budget£18.4 billion (2019/20)
Headquarters Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales
Website gov.wales OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Mark Drakeford, First Minister at that time, takes a COVID-19 press conference in January 2021

The Welsh Government (Welsh : Llywodraeth Cymru) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Wales. The government consists of cabinet secretaries and ministers. It is led by the first minister, usually the leader of the largest party in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh : Senedd Cymru), who selects ministers with the approval of the Senedd. The government is responsible for tabling policy in devolved areas (such as health, education, economic development, transport and local government) for consideration by the Senedd and implementing policy that has been approved by it. [1] [2]

Contents

The current Welsh Government is a Labour minority administration, following the 2021 Senedd election. It is led by Eluned Morgan who has been the first minister of Wales since August 2024. [3]

History

The Welsh Office

Prior to devolution in 1999 many executive functions for Wales were carried out by the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Office. The Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964. The post however had no Welsh electoral mandate, and over the ensuing years there were complaints of a "democratic deficit". For eleven years prior to 1997 Wales had been represented in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom by a Secretary of State who did not represent a Welsh constituency at Westminster. These factors led to growing calls for political devolution. The Welsh Office was disbanded on 1 July 1999 when most of its powers were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

Executive Committee of the National Assembly for Wales 1999 to 2007

The National Assembly was created by the Government of Wales Act 1998, which followed a referendum in 1997. As initially established, the Welsh Government had no independent executive powers in law (unlike, for instance, the Scottish ministers and British government ministers). The National Assembly was established as a body corporate by the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the executive, as a committee of the assembly, only had those powers that the assembly as a whole voted to delegate to ministers.

On 27 November 2001, First Minister Rhodri Morgan announced that the brand "Welsh Assembly Government" would be used going forward for the committee, to more clearly delineate the division of functions within the Assembly. [4] [5]

The Government of Wales Act 2006 formally separated the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government, giving Welsh ministers independent executive authority, this taking effect following the May 2007 elections. Following separation, the Welsh ministers exercise functions in their own right. Further transfers of executive functions from the British government can be made directly to the Welsh ministers (with their consent) by an Order in Council approved by the British parliament.

Separation was designed to clarify the respective roles of the assembly and the government. Under the structures established by the Government of Wales Act 2006, the role of Welsh ministers is to make decisions; develop and implement policy; exercise executive functions and make statutory instruments. The remainder of the 60 assembly members in the National Assembly scrutinise the government's decisions and policies; hold ministers to account; approve budgets for the Welsh Government's programmes; and enact acts of assembly on subjects that have been devolved to the Welsh administration.

The result mirrored much more closely the relationship between the British government and British parliament and that between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament.

After the 2007 election of the National Assembly for Wales

The new arrangements provided for in the Government of Wales Act 2006 created a formal legal separation between the National Assembly for Wales, comprising 60 assembly members, and the Welsh Assembly Government, comprising the first minister, Welsh ministers, deputy ministers and the counsel general. This separation between the two bodies took effect on the appointment of the first minister by Queen Elizabeth II following the assembly election on 3 May 2007.

Separation was meant to clarify the respective roles of the assembly and the government. The role of the government is to make decisions; develop and implement policy; exercise executive functions and make statutory instruments. The 60 assembly members in the National Assembly scrutinise the Welsh Government's decisions and policies; hold ministers to account; approve budgets for the Welsh Government's programmes; and have the power to enact assembly measures on certain matters. Assembly measures can now go further than the subordinate legislation which the assembly had the power to make prior to 2007.

Transfer of functions

The assembly's functions, including that of making subordinate legislation, in the main, transferred to the Welsh ministers upon separation. A third body was also established under the 2006 Act from May 2007, called the National Assembly for Wales Commission. It employs the staff supporting the new National Assembly for Wales, and holds property, enters into contracts and provides support services on its behalf.

Welsh ministers

The 2006 Act made new provision for the appointment of Welsh ministers. The first minister is nominated by the Senedd and then appointed by His Majesty the King. The first minister then appoints the Welsh ministers and the deputy Welsh ministers with the approval of the monarch. The Act created a new post of Counsel General for Wales, the principal source of legal advice to the Welsh Government. The counsel general is appointed by the monarch, on the nomination of the first minister, whose recommendation must be agreed by the Senedd and who cannot be dismissed without the Senedd's consent, but automatically leaves office when a new first minister is nominated. The counsel general may be, but does not have to be, a member of the Senedd. The Act permits a maximum of 12 Welsh ministers, which includes deputy Welsh ministers, but excludes the first minister and the counsel general. Accordingly, the maximum size of the Welsh Government is 14.

In Acts of the Senedd and of the UK Parliament, the expression "the Welsh Ministers" is used to refer to the Welsh government in similar contexts to those where "the Secretary of State" would be used to refer to the British government; it is defined to include only the first minister and ministers, not the deputy ministers or the counsel general. [6]

2011 referendum on law-making powers

Functions and areas of competence

Following the "yes" vote in the referendum on further law-making powers for the assembly on 3 March 2011, the Welsh Government is now entitled to propose bills to the National Assembly for Wales on subjects within 20 fields of policy. Subject to limitations prescribed by the Government of Wales Act 2006, Acts of the National Assembly may make any provision that could be made by Act of Parliament. The 20 areas of responsibility devolved to the National Assembly for Wales (and within which Welsh ministers exercise executive functions) are:

  • Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development
  • Ancient monuments and historical buildings
  • Culture
  • Economic development
  • Education and training
  • Environment
  • Fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety
  • Food
  • Health and social services
  • Highways and transport
  • Housing
  • Local government
  • National Assembly for Wales
  • Public administration
  • Social welfare
  • Sport and recreation
  • Tourism
  • Town and country planning
  • Water and flood defences
  • Welsh language

Renaming

The Welsh Assembly Government was renamed Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru) in practice in 2011, and in law by the Wales Act 2014. [7] [8]

Cabinet secretaries and ministers

The government is composed of cabinet secretaries and ministers. The current government is a minority by Welsh Labour.

The current cabinet was formed on 11 September 2024, replacing the interim cabinet [9] [10] formed by Morgan when she was appointed First Minister in August 2024, which was largely a continuation of Gething's. In the September reshuffle, new positions were created, while all existing ministers remained in cabinet (except the Counsel General-designate) but most with amended roles. The September 2024 cabinet is as follows: [11]

PortfolioNameConstituencyPartyTerm
First Minister of Wales Official photograph of First Minister Eluned Morgan MS (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely

MS

Mid & West Wales Labour August 2024–
Deputy First Minister of Wales

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Official photograph of Huw Irranca-Davies MS Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Huw Irranca-Davies

MS

Ogmore Labour August 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language Official photograph of Mark Drakeford MS Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language (Landscape) (cropped).jpg Mark Drakeford MS Cardiff West Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Official portrait of Rebecca Evans (cropped).jpg Rebecca Evans MS Gower Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Housing, and Local Government Official photograph of Jayne Bryant MS Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Jayne Bryant MS Newport West Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Official portrait of Jeremy Miles 3 (cropped).jpg Jeremy Miles MS Neath Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Official photograph of Ken Skates MS Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales (Landscape) (cropped).jpg Ken Skates MS Clwyd South Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd (House Leader) and Chief Whip Official photograph of Jane Hutt MS Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Jane Hutt MS Vale of Glamorgan Labour September 2024–
Cabinet Secretary for Education Official portrait of Lynne Neagle (cropped).jpg Lynne Neagle MS Torfaen Labour 2024–

Ministers

PortfolioNameConstituencyPartyTerm
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah-murphy (cropped).jpg Sarah Murphy MS Bridgend Labour September 2024–
Minister for Children and Social Care Official photograph of Dawn Bowden MS Minister for Children and Social Care (portrait) (cropped).jpg Dawn Bowden MS Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Labour September 2024–
Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Official photograph of Jack Sargeant MS Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Jack Sargeant MS Alyn and Deeside Labour September 2024–
Minister for Further and Higher Education Official photograph of Vikki Howells MS Minister for Further and Higher Education (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Vikki Howells MS Cynon Valley Labour September 2024–
Counsel General and Minister for Delivery Official photograph of Julie James MS Counsel General and Minister for Delivery (Portrait) (cropped).jpg Julie James Swansea West Labour September 2024–

Cabinet secretaries and ministers were known as ministers and deputy ministers respectively before 2016, and under Mark Drakeford from 2018 to 2024. They returned to their current names in May 2024 following the appointment of Vaughan Gething. [12]

Civil service

The Welsh Government also includes a civil service that supports the Welsh ministers. As of March 2018, there are 5,015 full-time equivalent civil servants working across Wales. [13] The civil service is a matter reserved to the British Parliament at Westminster: Welsh Government civil servants work within the rules and customs of His Majesty's Civil Service, but serve the devolved administration rather than the British Government. [14]

Permanent secretary

The Permanent secretary heads the civil service of the Welsh Government and chairs the Strategic Delivery and Performance Board.

The Permanent Secretary is a member of His Majesty's Civil Service, and therefore takes part in the Permanent Secretaries Management Group of the Civil Service [15] and is answerable to the most senior civil servant in Britain, the Cabinet Secretary, for professional conduct. The permanent secretary remains, however, at the direction of the Welsh ministers.

Departments

The Board

The Welsh Government Board translates the strategic direction set by the Welsh cabinet and its committees into work that is joined up across Welsh Government departments and makes the best use of its resources. The board is made up of six directors general, six directors and four non-executive directors, and is chaired by the permanent secretary.

Board members are appointed at the discretion of and by the permanent secretary. Membership is not wholly dependent on functional responsibilities; it is designed to provide balanced advice and support to the permanent secretary, and collective leadership to the organisation as a whole. [18]

PositionNameNotes
Permanent secretary Andrew Goodall [17]
Director General, Chief Operating OfficerTim Moss [17]
Director General, Local Government, Housing, Climate Change & Rural Affairs GroupTracey Burke [17]
Director General, Economy, Energy & Transport GroupAndrew Slade [17]
Director General, Health & Social Care & Early Years Group and Chief Executive of NHS Wales Judith Paget [17]
Director General, Education, Culture & Welsh Language GroupSioned Evans [17]
Director, Legal ServicesNia James (interim) [17]
Director, Propriety & EthicsDavid Richards [17]
Director, FinanceDean Medcraft [17]
Director, People and PlacesDominic Houlihan [17]
Board Equality and Diversity ChampionAmelia John
non-executive director Mutale Merrill
non-executive director Mike Usher
non-executive director Aled Edwards
non-executive director Carys Williams

Welsh Government sponsored bodies

The Welsh Government is responsible for a number of Welsh Government sponsored bodies (WGSBs). These are, respectively,

WGSBs are staffed by public servants rather than civil servants.

The Welsh Government is also responsible for some public bodies that are not classed as WGSBs, such as NHS Wales, and the Welsh Offices of England and Wales legal offices.

Estate

The Welsh Government has a total of 18 core and operational offices across Wales. It also has an office based in Westminster. Additionally, it has 7 specialist properties across Wales, which include stores, traffic management centres and the pavilion at the Royal Welsh Showground.

The Government also has 21 offices located in 11 countries outside the United Kingdom: Belgium; Canada; China; France; Germany; Ireland; India; Japan; Qatar; United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America. [19]

Historically, most Welsh Office staff were based in Cardiff, especially in Cathays Park. However, in 2002, the Fullerton Review concluded that "the Assembly could no longer sustain having the majority of its operational functions located in and around Cardiff". [20] Since 2004, Welsh Government civil servants have been relocated across Wales as part of the Location Strategy, which involved the creation of new offices at Merthyr Tydfil, Aberystwyth and Llandudno Junction. [21] In 2006, the mergers of Education and Learning Wales, the Wales Tourist Board and the Welsh Development Agency into the Welsh Government brought these agencies' offices into the Welsh Government estate.

The office of the First Minister is in Tŷ Hywel in Cardiff Bay; an office is also kept at the Welsh Government building in Cathays Park where the majority of Cardiff-based Welsh Government civil servants are located.

Budget

Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance discussing the forthcoming Welsh Taxes; 2017

Wales receives a budget allocation from the UK Government [22] determined by the Barnett formula, which makes up roughly 80% of the Welsh budget. The remaining 20% comes from devolved taxes such as non-domestic rates, land transaction tax, landfill disposal tax and the Welsh rates of income tax. These taxes are collected and managed by the Welsh Revenue Authority, except for income tax which is collected by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs on behalf of the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Government sets out its spending and financing plans for the forthcoming financial year in the autumn.

The Senedd scrutinises the budget and associated taxation and spending plans.

List of successive Welsh Governments

See also

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