Cabinet meeting: 3 November 2025

• Huw Irranca-Davies MS (Chair)
• Jayne Bryant MS
• Mark Drakeford MS
• Jane Hutt MS
• Jeremy Miles MS
• Lynne Neagle MS
• Ken Skates MS
• Julie James MS
   
• Dawn Bowden MS
• Vikki Howells MS
• Sarah Murphy MS
• Jack Sargeant MS

Apologies

• Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS
• Rebecca Evans MS

Officials

• Andrew Goodall, Permanent Secretary
• Rachel Garside-Jones, Director Office of the First Minister and Delivery
• Rebecca Dunn, Head of Cabinet Division
• Victoria Jones, Principal Private Secretary First Minister
• Toby Mason, Head of Strategic Communications
• Sinead Gallagher, Deputy Director Cabinet Office
• Luke Young, Special Adviser
• Sarah Dickins, Special Adviser
• Madeleine Brindley, 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
• Tal Michael, Special Adviser
• Mary Wimbury, Special Adviser
• Christopher W Morgan, Head of Cabinet Secretariat (minutes)
• Damian Roche, Cabinet Secretariat
• Helena Bird, Permanent Secretary’s office
• Carwyn Wycherley, Cabinet Office
• Kath Hallett, First Minister’s office
• Tracey Burke, Director General Climate Change & Rural Affairs
• Sioned Evans, Chief Operating Officer
• Jacqueline Totterdell, Director General Health and Social Care
• Andrew Slade, Director General Economy, Energy and Transport
• Judith Paget, Director General Strategy
• Emma Williams, Director General Education, Culture & Welsh Language
• Nia James, Director Legal Services
• Alex Walters, Deputy Director Public and Integrated Transport (item 1)
• Glyn Jones, Chief Digital Officer (item 5)
• Janine Pepworth, Deputy Director Digital Policy Workforce & Change (item 5)

Externals

• James Price, Chief Executive Transport for Wales (item 1)
• Sam Hadley, Transport for Wales (item 1)
• Rob Holmes, Transport for Wales (item 1)

1.1 The Deputy First Minister welcomed representatives from Transport for Wales (TfW) to the Cabinet meeting and invited the Chief Executive, James Price, to deliver his presentation on Better Transport for Wales.

1.2 Mr Price began by outlining the case for the South Wales Metro. The Government had previously recognised that better public transport was key to transforming lives, while providing social and economic opportunity to some of Europe’s most deprived communities.

1.3 In terms of a timeline of events, the then UK government had provided funding to Network Rail to deliver Valley Lines electrification as part of its wider rail programme, but resources provided were limited, and there were delivery issues. Following this, in 2011, Professor Mark Barry published ‘A Metro for Wales – a key catalyst for change’.

1.4 The Welsh Government Transport company was created in 2015, and subsequently renamed Transport for Wales in 2016, with the Core Valley Lines transferred from Network Rail in 2020. Since then, work had officially begun to deliver the Metro, with the first line electrified and first new train in 2023. The tri-mode train was introduced in 2024, and the Rhymney line electrified the following year. All electrification was expected to be completed during 2026, with the enhancements to Cardiff Queen Street, and resultant improved timetables, due be delivered in 2027.

1.5 The work on electrification, using innovative UK-led technology, resulting in an embedded carbon reduction of 50% and a cost reduction of 37%, had gained international recognition from countries such as South Africa, Australia, Canada and Spain.

1.6 Passengers had seen service enhancements, and the introduction of ‘pay as you go’ had offered more affordable and convenient ticketing. There had been improvements in rail revenue and increased passenger numbers.

1.7 In terms of buses, deregulation had led to networks being planned independently and disjointed fare structures, driven by profit and not community need. This was in competition with rail services, and lacked significant investment in vehicles. The development of the Traws service had demonstrated what could be achieved through franchising, with investment in better buses, a consistent brand and integration with rail services. This had led to a 45% increase in passenger numbers.

1.8 Once the Bus Bill had been delivered, these improvements could be expanded across Wales, leading to joined up services, fully integrated with rail, and a decarbonised fleet. This would give passengers one network, one timetable and one delivery team.

1.9 The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales outlined progress with the South West Wales Metro and Network North Wales and specifically the new automatic lathe facility at Holyhead.

1.10 Cabinet welcomed the update.

1.11 Connectivity, access, specifically working lifts at stations, and security were important for all minority and vulnerable groups. In terms of safety, particularly following the incident on the London-bound LNER train on the weekend, it was noted that all TfW services had drivers and guards. There would be a transport safety summit at the end of the month.

1.12 The Deputy First Minister, on behalf of Cabinet, thanked James Price for his presentation and put on record his thanks to all TfW, Network Rail and Transport Police staff.

2.1 Cymeradwyodd y Cabinet gofnodion y 20 Hydref 2025 / Cabinet approved the minutes of 20 October 2025.

Cabinet meeting in Merthyr Tydfil

3.1 The Deputy First Minister welcomed Cabinet to the Merthyr Tydfil office and indicated he would be chairing the formal Cabinet meeting in the absence of the First Minister.

3.2 It was noted that a number of Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers had travelled to Merthyr Tydfil by train. There had also been a number of local official engagements before the meeting. These included visits to the Dementia facility at Keir Hardie Health Park; the Prince Charles Hospital Emergency Care Department, where it was noted handover deadlines were being met; the Baby Bundle helpline team project and various regeneration projects in Merthyr Tydfil.

3.3 In addition, the extension of the £1 bus fare to 5-15 year olds had been launched and the High Value Engineering Campus at Coleg Gwent in Ebbw Vale had been officially opened.

4.1 Cabinet considered the Plenary Grid and noted that voting time was scheduled for 7:45pm on Tuesday and would be around 5:55pm on Wednesday.

5.1 The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, introduced the paper, which asked Cabinet to agree the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plan for Wales.

5.2 The vision was to harness AI to drive inclusive economic growth, transform public services in both Welsh and English, and equip people with the skills to thrive in an AI-shaped future. It was about reimagining how people would work, while serving communities, and expanding the economy. This should all be guided by the Government’s social partnership values and the commitment to long-term wellbeing. There was a need to ensure AI worked for everyone in Wales, particularly those digitally excluded.

5.3 The government had already established the Office for AI to build internal capability; formed the Strategic AI Advisory Group to strengthen the ecosystem across sectors; invested in public service innovation and workforce upskilling; and developed ethical guidance for AI use in public sector workplaces through social partnership.

5.4 More widely, AI was already having an impact on delivery, from faster NHS diagnoses to personalised learning in schools. It was also helping to increase the daily use of Cymraeg, supporting the Cymraeg 2050 goals. The AI Plan for Wales was a strategic framework that brought all this activity together, while positioning Wales to lead in the responsible use of AI.

5.5 It had been developed at pace and in collaboration across government, the Strategic AI Advisory Group and the cross-public sector AI Leadership Group for Wales.

5.6 The plan also set out a range of actions for the medium to longer term, which would need scoping and further investment. These included maximising the opportunities resulting from potential AI Growth Zones in Wales; creating Centres of Excellence with FE, HE, industry and Trade Unions; using the strengths in AI to attract inward investment; and developing an AI College for public sector workers.

5.7 Delivery of the plan was anchored in 4 strategic pillars: Economic Growth; Educating Wales; Equitable Delivery and Excellence and Trust, underpinned by principles that were ethical, empathetic, enterprising, and effective.

5.8 Wales was uniquely positioned to lead, given its size and agility, which would be ideal for piloting and scaling AI solutions. With major infrastructure investments and upcoming AI Growth Zones, momentum was building.

5.9 The plan reflected the distinct Welsh approach, rooted in fairness, transparency, along with the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. It was a living framework that would evolve, given the speed of change, and it called for coordinated delivery across government, Industry, Academia, and the Third Sector.

5.10 The AI Plan outlined some specific short-term actions to build skills in the public and private sectors.

5.11 In addition, Business Wales was already helping Welsh SMEs understand how AI could help drive greater productivity and growth through “AI Works for Business UK” Events held across the country.

5.12 Cabinet welcomed the paper and recognised that AI was already having a significant impact across all portfolios, such as in Health and Social Care, with the development of real-time patient records, using ‘magic notes’, and helping clinicians with diagnostics.

5.13 HEIW had also developed a course in AI, which would assist in providing real time workforce data, enabling agile planning of future need.

5.14 There was a need to ensure the Welsh workforce, including SMEs, had the required skills to use AI effectively, while developing apprenticeships that would embed AI and digital skills. Partnerships with FE and HE institutions were needed to offer adult retraining and reskilling opportunities, with the sector also having a role in research and sharing best practise. It was noted the AI college would be aimed at the public sector, where the centre of excellence would be centred around the economy.

5.15 Furthermore, it was important to engage with the wider public sector, such as the WLGA and specifically the political leadership, and the Third Sector, where there were benefits to be realised by enhancing efficiency and expanding reach.

5.16 Cabinet approved the paper and noted the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning would launch the AI Plan during her oral statement on 18 November.

Cabinet Secretariat
November 2025