Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 24 September 2024.
Lesley Griffiths
Labour
2:20,
24 September 2024
Thank you. This investment announced by the outgoing Conservative UK Government really grabbed headlines, but you barely had to scratch the surface before alarm bells began to ring. The funding bypassed devolution, and those of a more cynical mind may conclude that it was an attempt by a failing Government to try and shore up support in some of their key areas.
Obviously, the new Labour Government is having to assess the dire financial situation it has inherited. But, despite the controversial nature of this funding, I know that members of the Wrexham city board have worked extremely hard, often meeting deadlines at short notice, with limited criteria and information available. Rather than plugging the gaps and helping the local authority to deliver basic services, I really believe that there remains a massive opportunity to deliver something very special with this funding.
I am aware that my parliamentary colleague Andrew Ranger has met with Ministers to discuss, but, as the Welsh Government has a proven track record of investing in Wrexham for the long term—exemplified by the Gateway project, by Transforming Towns and, of course, the ongoing construction of a national, dedicated football museum—will you and your Cabinet colleagues please emphasise to the UK Government the importance of this funding staying in Wrexham?
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.
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.
