<p>Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople</p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:49 pm on 15 March 2017.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 1:49, 15 March 2017

Chair, I heard the exchanges in the Chamber yesterday between the leader of the house and the Member in relation to investment in different parts of Wales. There is a lot of information already available on patterns of investment over recent years and I’m sure that information can be made available. I am myself more focused on making sure that we make the right investments for the future and that we invest our scarce capital resources in a way that secures prosperity for all, right across Wales.

As to the question of the Circuit of Wales, I know that my colleague Ken Skates has embarked upon what he has already promised to this Chamber, which is a period of scrutiny of the final plans that have been received from the Circuit of Wales. He will want to do that with a proper sense of due diligence and it will have to take the time that is required to do that job. I’m sure he’s aware of the purdah issue, but he will be focused, I’m sure, on making sure that the plans that have been submitted are subject to the right level of scrutiny so that he can make a recommendation in due course to the National Assembly.

Cabinet

The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.

It is chaired by the prime minister.

The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.

Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.

However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.

War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.

From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.

The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.