Cabinet meeting: 22 June 2026

• Rhun ap Iorwerth MS (Chair)
• Sioned Williams MS
• Mabon ap Gwynfor MS
• Anna Brychan MS
• Heledd Fychan MS
• Llŷr Gruffydd MS
• Siân Gwenllian MS
• Rt. Hon. Elin Jones MS
• Adam Price MS
• Dafydd Trystan Davies MS
• Rt Hon. Elfyn Llwyd 

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary 
• Rachel Garside-Jones, Director Office of the First Minister
• Jo Salway, Director Cabinet Office 
• Toby Mason, Director Strategic Communications
• Carwyn Wycherley, Deputy Head of Cabinet Office
• Aled ap Dafydd, Senior Special Adviser
• Elin Roberts, Senior Special Adviser
• Emily Edwards, Senior Special Adviser
• Francess Ifan, Senior Special Adviser
• Cai Elis, Special Adviser
• Jonathan Evershed, Special Adviser 
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat (minutes) 
• Christopher W Morgan, Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• James Oxenham, Cabinet Secretariat 
• Claire Bennett, Director General Local Government, Housing & Rural Resilience (item 4)
• Chris Jones, Deputy Director, Mining Legacy, Water & Flood (item 4) 

1.1 Cabinet approved the minutes of 8 June.

Resignation of the UK Prime Minister

2.1 The Prif Weinidog informed Cabinet it was disappointing that the Welsh Government’s ability to engage with the UK Prime Minister on matters important to the people of Wales was being hindered by the confusion in Westminster.

2.2 Following the resignation announcement by Sir Keir Starmer that morning, he had called for a new relationship with Westminster, with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for the democratic mandate that had been delivered by the people of Wales. It would be important to seek a constructive relationship with the next Prime Minister, with clear expectations that the respect agenda must work both ways. 

Extreme weather warning 

2.3 The Prif Weinidog referred to the red warning for extreme heat affecting parts of Wales that week. The high temperatures were likely to have wide-ranging impacts, including on health, and from a safety perspective due to an increase in the number of people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers. There may also be disruption to travel on roads, rail and in the air, with potential wellbeing implications for individuals experiencing prolonged delays. 

2.4 The Government was working closely with public bodies, including Public Health Wales, to ensure people across Wales had access to clear and up-to-date information during this period. There would also be communications with the public with a reminder for people to take care and to check on vulnerable individuals.  Coordination arrangements had been put in place to monitor and manage the impacts of the extreme heat across Government policy areas. Cabinet would receive regular updates. 

Meetings in Dublin and London 

2.5 The Prif Weinidog informed Cabinet that on Wednesday he would attend a series of events and meetings with the Irish Government in Dublin and on Thursday he would be addressing the EU Heads of Mission meeting in London. 

3.1 Cabinet considered that week’s Plenary grid and noted the first Member debate of the current Senedd would be taking place on Wednesday, on the topic of stillbirth. This had the support of all parties in the Senedd, so it was unlikely there would be a vote.

4.1 The Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the proposed approach to delivering the key aspects of the Government’s commitment to taking control of water, while noting the dependency on the UK Government and its planned Clean Water Bill. The paper also asked Cabinet to agree the approach to the 2029 Price Review (PR29).

4.2 These reforms would commence the process that would seek to secure the full devolution of water. It would provide the basis to enable the establishment of a Wales focused regulatory system to reflect priorities and the long-term challenges. It was complex and success would require new powers for the Senedd. 

4.3 The Minister would be writing shortly to the UK Government to seek early formal written agreement to confirm the Government’s priorities around the full devolution of Water.

5.1 The Cabinet Minister for Health and Care provided Cabinet with an update on the lessons learnt from the previous Winter and the action underway to strengthen health and social care resilience for the forthcoming season, including the 999 calls coordination desk. 

5.2 The review of the 2025-26 Winter concluded that there was no system failure, but services operated close to safe operating limits for prolonged periods. The main findings suggested pressure started early and remained sustained through the Autumn and Winter, rather than occurring in short peaks. The main challenge was not exceptional demand alone, but limited bed capacity, high bed occupancy and inconsistent operational practice, which left the system at elevated escalation for too long. 

5.3 Some targeted interventions helped, including the 999 falls coordination desk, enhanced community capacity and support to care homes. However, national policy had less impact where delivery was uneven across Health Boards and partners. Officials had set out, in correspondence, five key priorities for health and care organisations. They would need to be proactive with frailty care in the community.  Protect acute hospital capacity and safely discharge people without delay.

5.4 This Winter the focus would be on early readiness, tighter delivery and stronger year-round action on flow discharge and community capacity. The aim would be for safer, more resilient urgent and emergency care, with less escalation and corridor care.  There would be better flow and stronger community support, especially for frail people.  

5.5 There would need to be effective operational command, with a focus on staff wellbeing. 

5.6 This would mean stronger vaccination planning, tighter infection prevention and control, along with a renewed focus on safe early weekend discharges and practical support for staff resilience. 

5.7 Health boards and partners had been asked to plan earlier, work more closely together, and share capacity information, whilst staying focused on a small number of critical outcomes. Therefore, readiness assessments would need to be completed by the end of August, with advice to Ministers expected in early September. Any significant risks would need to be escalated quickly for support and assurance. Additional recurrent funding for urgent and emergency care capacity had already been allocated.

5.8 Furthermore, Local Authorities had received recurrent funding to help build overall system resilience, increase community service capacity, whilst supporting better patient flow and safe hospital discharges. This would be tracked closely through established programme arrangements.

5.9 There would also be a national communications plan, so the public received clear, consistent advice on vaccination, hygiene, access to services, and safe discharge and recovery at home. 

5.10 Cabinet welcomed the update and noted that the Minister would be delivering an Oral Statement on 30 June setting out the Government’s plans for health and care winter preparedness. It was agreed that officials would need to take into account comments made by Ministers. 

Cabinet Secretariat
June 2026