Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 13 June 2023.
Mike Hedges
Labour
2:07,
13 June 2023
Can I thank the First Minister for that response? The unemployment rate over recent years in Wales has been lower than the UK average. I know we've had a blip in the last couple of months. We know that the median salaries in Wales are lower than that of the rest of the United Kingdom. In information and communications, we have 2.35 per cent; in finance and insurance, we have 3.32 per cent; and in professional, technical and scientific services, we have 2.61 per cent of the UK employment. What is wrong with the Welsh economy in numbers? These are higher paid sectors. How is Welsh Government working to create more employment in higher paid sectors? And how does the Welsh Government see the role of universities in developing employment in these sectors?
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.
