The IHBC’s Wales Branch has welcomed Ken Skates as Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport & Tourism following a re-organisation of the Welsh cabinet in which Lesley Griffiths becomes the Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty, and the former Housing Minister Carl Sergeant is Minister for Natural Resources.
John Edwards, Wales Branch representative on the IHBC Council, said: ‘I welcome the appointment of Ken Skates AM as it brings tourism together with heritage which will hopefully encourage greater awareness within Government that heritage and the Castles of Wales are ‘must see’ attractions for visitors and so generate the investment our heritage deserves.’
‘Furthermore the Deputy Minister lives in a listed building and maintains a great interest in heritage matters and in particular the skills required. This was very evident in his last position as the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, and we look forward to his continued dynamism in the heritage field and a good productive working relationship with Cadw’s new Chief Executive, Kate Clark, who took up her post at the beginning of the month”.
The Welsh Government writes:
The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, today announced a reshuffle of his cabinet. He said his new cabinet was ready to focus on the tough choices Wales needs to create world class public services, and to build on the recent improvements in the Welsh economy.
Leighton Andrews returns to Government as Minister for Public Services. Carl Sargeant is now the Minister for Natural Resources and Lesley Griffiths becomes the Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty. Edwina Hart, Huw Lewis, Mark Drakeford retain their current responsibilities, with Jane Hutt adding Government Business to her Finance role. Janice Gregory continues as Chief Whip.
Established Deputy Ministers Ken Skates and Vaughan Gething will be given enhanced roles to cover Culture, Sport & Tourism and Health respectively.
The First Minister retains responsibility for the Welsh language, constitutional affairs and promoting Wales abroad.
First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said: ‘This is a cabinet equipped with the skills and experience to deliver the changes that Wales needs in the crucial months ahead. We promised this would be a term of delivery and I am proud of what we have achieved together in the last three years. Unemployment is lower here than in England. We have seen our best ever inward investment figures, record exam results, and ground-breaking legislation. However, there is still a huge amount for us to do, especially in the delivery of our public services reform programme.’
