Delegation of responsibilities to the new Ministers in Wales includes both continuity and change, as Ken Skates takes the historic environment as Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, while planning comes under Lesley Griffiths, as Cabinet Secretary for Environment & Rural Affairs, and housing falls to Carl Sargeant as Secretary for Communities and Children.
In addition, Mr Skates will retain responsibility for culture and tourism, which he held as a deputy minister in the last administration. As Skates saw the Historic Environment Bill through the Assembly this brings welcome continuity. He also takes responsibility for Lottery expenditure. A list of his responsibilities includes:
- The provision of support and advice to assist the establishment, growth, modernisation or development of business in Wales;
- The promotion of Wales as a location for business and investment;
- The promotion of Welsh exports;
- Entrepreneurship, enterprise and business information;
- Finance Wales;
- Social enterprise and the social economy;
- Management of property assets held with the Economy Development portfolio and supporting the delivery of property infrastructure (sites and premises);
- National Infrastructure Commission;
- Transport policy
- Funding and administration of programmes to Local Authorities and other bodies designed to deliver a range of transport schemes and services;
- Ports policy;
- Tourism in and to Wales, including the marketing and promotion of Wales as a tourist destination and regulation of the tourism industry;
- National strategy and policy for the historic environment in Wales;
- National strategy and policy for culture in Wales;
- National Botanic Garden of Wales;
- Creative Wales;
- Non-devolved cultural property legislation and tax relief schemes;
- Oversight of the distribution of Lottery funding within Wales.
Lesley Griffiths, meanwhile, assumes the planning portfolio with oversight and implementation of the Planning Acts and all aspects of planning policy and the determination of called-in planning applications and appeals. In seeing The Planning (Wales) Act through she takes on the work of her predecessor, Carl Sergeant. Griffiths’ responsibilities include:
- National strategy and policy for Natural Resources Management
- Cross-cutting measures of mitigation and adaptation in relation to climate change
- Sustainable resource and waste management in Wales;
- Energy policy;
- Access to the countryside
- Biodiversity policy
- Forestry policy and legislation
- Inland, coastal and sea fisheries
- Marine and fresh water planning, biodiversity, conservation and licensing;
- Oversight and implementation of the Planning Acts and all aspects of planning policy and the determination of called-in planning applications and appeals;
- Planning gain – Section 106 Agreements contained in the Town and Country Planning Act1990;
- Developments of National Significance: determination of planning applications and connected consents;
- All aspects of Building Regulations;
- Wales Spatial Plan and the National Development Framework;
- Strategic lead on allotments and urban green infrastructure;
- Local Environment Quality, including litter, fly-tipping, noise policy and regulation;
- The Rural Development Programme;
- Common Agricultural Policy Direct Payments and responsibility for cross-compliance;
- Agriculture sector development, including wages and skills;
- Developing agri-food sector, associated supply chains, promotion and marketing of food and drink from Wales;
- Animal health and welfare;
Carl Sargeant, who was formerly Natural Resources Minister, now takes responsibility for housing and for communities as Communities and Children Secretary. His portfolio includes:
- Children’s and young people’s rights and entitlements,
- Communities First;
- Regeneration, including Strategic Regeneration Areas; legacy regeneration; and provision of sites and premises, derelict land and environmental improvements relating to regeneration;
- The housing and housing-related activities of Local Authorities and housing associations
- The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering.
See a full list of Cabinet appointments
