Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:45 pm on 15 May 2024.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:45, 15 May 2024

A very good point to end on. I think the way that we do this is—I know it wasn't meant in the question—rather than write out a strategy, it's a plan we're already involved in. It does mean consistently arguing the case, whether it's in letter or in bilateral meetings with the current Government or with any future potential Government as well. It does also mean working this across Government, so doing it hand in hand with other Cabinet Members, including my colleague Jeremy Miles as well, so that we are saying exactly the same thing in whichever meeting we go into and repeating and repeating ad nauseam until it actually happens.

Meanwhile, on issues like the Crown Estate, we still need—and the Cabinet Secretary, my colleague, would agree with me as well—to continue to work with them very closely prior to any devolution of those powers to actually make sure that the benefits in Wales that we can get are retained here within Wales. But, the point is well made. We have a clear position stated not only in the programme of government, but also as part of the co-operation agreement, on devolution of the Crown Estate and we look forward to either this or a future Government of a different colour, perhaps, helping us make that happen.

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.