Cabinet meeting: 19 May 2025

• Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS (Chair)
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS
• Jayne Bryant MS
• Mark Drakeford MS
• Rebecca Evans MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Julie James MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Ken Skates MS
   
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Sarah Murphy MS
• Jack Sargeant MS

Apologies

• Vikki Howells MS 

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rebecca Dunn, Deputy Director Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary First Minister
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Sinead Gallagher, Deputy Director Cabinet Office
• Wayne David, Special Adviser
• Sarah Dickins, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, Special Adviser
• Julia David, Special Adviser
• Haf Davies, Special Adviser
• Victoria Evans, Special Adviser
• David Hooson, Special Adviser
• Nadila Hussein, Special Adviser
• Kirsty Keenan, Special Adviser
• Jackie Jones, Special Adviser
• Stephen Jones, Special Adviser
• Philippa Marsden, Special Adviser
• Martha O’Neil, Special Adviser
• Mary Wimbury, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s office
• Kath Hallett, First Minister’s office
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Sioned Evans, Chief Operating Officer
• Judith Paget, Director General Health  
• Andrew Slade, Director General Economy, Energy and Transport  
• Emma Williams, Interim Director General Education, Culture & Welsh Language
• Nia James, Director Legal Services

1.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 12 Mai 2025 / Cabinet approved the minutes of 12 May 2025.

EU/UK Deal

2.1 The First Minister invited the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, who was in London to attend the Business Reception for the EU/UK Summit, to provide Cabinet with an overview of the recently announced EU/UK Deal.

2.2 The Deal included an agreement to deliver an agri-food deal which will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone, which could significantly benefit the agricultural, food and drinks sectors in Wales, particularly the sale of raw meat. It would be important to ensure the final agreement included live bivalve molluscs from Welsh waters.

2.3 There would be closer working to link emissions trading systems and energy, which would create opportunities for Welsh industries, particularly with hydrogen and carbon capture, while supporting the goals for green growth and green jobs. There would be improved steel quotas, along with access to the €150 billion new EU rearmament financing instrument that could benefit Welsh businesses.

2.4 UK citizens would also benefit from the use of e-gates into EU member states, once the EU electronic travel authorisation was operational.

2.5 Work was continuing to agree a youth mobility scheme, potentially allowing young people from the UK to join Erasmus+, along with further discussions on entry and temporary stays for business purposes and the recognition of professional qualifications.

2.6 Cabinet welcomed the announcements.

Council of Nations and Regions meeting

2.7 The First Minister informed Cabinet that she would be in London at the end of the week for the second Council of Nations and Regions meeting. This would include a Heads of Government meeting with the Prime Minister, other First Ministers and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. There would also be a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.

NHS waiting times

2.8 The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care provided Cabinet with an update on the latest NHS waiting times. The 104-week wait had reduced to 8,389 by the end of March, which was in line with the First Minister’s commitment. The diagnostics figures were the lowest over the past 5 years.

3.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary Grid and noted that voting time was scheduled for 6:30pm on Tuesday and around 6.25pm on Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretariat
May 2025