5. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at on 15 November 2017.
Andrew RT Davies
Conservative
2. Will the First Minister confirm whether he was aware of allegations of bullying within the Welsh Government in 2014, given that his response to a written question in November 2014 indicated that no allegations had been made? 63
Carwyn Jones
Labour
3:10,
15 November 2017
I have nothing to add to the answers I gave yesterday, and I reiterate the invitation that I made then.
Andrew RT Davies
Conservative
I'm grateful for the answer you gave yesterday, First Minister, which did acknowledge that allegations had been made and had been dealt with, as you indicated in First Minister's questions. I would seek greater clarity on that acknowledgement by this question today, and I would be interested to know when the allegations were first brought to your attention that the former Minister Leighton Andrews and the senior special adviser Steve Jones have indicated—specifically indicated. I would be grateful to understand who investigated those allegations and also what conclusions and, importantly, what actions were taken either by you or by someone you delegated to deal with any subsequent follow-up points that were required from the report that they collated.
Carwyn Jones
Labour
3:11,
15 November 2017
As a said, I have nothing to add to the answers I've already given, but I do again, of course, reiterate the invitation that was made yesterday, if anyone wishes to come forward with further information.
Jenny Rathbone
Labour
First Minister, is it possible to clarify how many people have raised concerns about bullying within the Government since you took office in 2009?
Carwyn Jones
Labour
3:12,
15 November 2017
I didn't take office in 2005, but nevertheless—[Interruption.] You said 2009. I beg your pardon. In terms of the answer to the question, many of those will be human resources issues, which the permanent Secretary will be better placed to answer.
Andrew RT Davies
Conservative
Can I raise a point of order?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
Well, say it quickly, before I—
Andrew RT Davies
Conservative
I'd be grateful if the Llywydd could give some direction as to exactly the point of asking questions when you do not elicit an answer from the Cabinet Secretary on specific matters that are of great public interest and a matter of public interest in that they've been on the record for some time and they relate to specific instances that are in the direct control of the First Minister. I would be grateful for what clarity you can give as to the purpose of that.
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
That's not a point of order, and the First Minister has answered your question.
Darren Millar
Conservative
Llywydd, can I raise a point of order, please?
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
No. Moving on to the—
Darren Millar
Conservative
My question is directly—
Elin Jones
Plaid Cymru
I'm moving on to the next—[Interruption.] I'm moving on to the next question—Jane Hutt.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
A Permanent Secretary is a top civil servant- there is a permanent secretary in each Office/Dept./Ministry Permanent Secretaries are always Knights, (I.E. "Sir" or "Dame"). BBC Sitcom "Yes Minster" portrays Sir Humprey Appelby as a Permanent Secretary, steretypically spouting lots of red tape and bureacracy.
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.
