2. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:38 pm on 16 May 2017.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:38, 16 May 2017

I think, on the importance of access to GPs, I’ve already commented on that in response to an earlier question. But I think the changes to the GP contract for 2017-18 are important, in terms of the ways in which it can provide for new, enhanced services, and also to take forward the quality and outcomes framework, which is where we need to see the consistency in terms of delivery. And, you know, that’s going to free up more capacity for GPs, and also access to practice nurses, which we must of course remember is equally important in terms of the primary care team and the services provided. And also it means patients can be seen by the most appropriate professional for their needs. So, these are issues that, of course, in terms of GP services, we are addressing.

Your first question, I will obviously take back and identify which Cabinet Secretary is appropriate to answer your important question—indeed, if we have powers at all in terms of the use of drones and the impact in terms of the invasion, if you like, of private space, and the use of them as well.

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.

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