The skill of regeneration

Bubble — By Daran Hill on December 12, 2009 1:29 pm

Lesley Griffiths - a real winner

Lesley Griffiths - a real winner

AS THE DUST settles on the Cabinet reshuffle, it’s worth taking a moment to look past the personalities and reflect on a couple of quite significant functional changes.

On Thursday it was clear that Jocelyn Davies had increased her responsibilities. She was Deputy Minister for Housing and now she is Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration. This is a prize worth having. What I didn’t see at the time was that regeneration policy had passed from the Department of Economic Development and Transport under Ieuan to an enhanced Department of Environment, Sustainability and Housing under Jane Davidson. This means that Jocelyn’s enhanced brief sits entirely under one ministry. And after two and a half years of consistent strong performance this is proof she is trusted to deliver.

Similarly, making the effective Lesley Griffiths the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills does not mean that she will work within two departments either. The skills responsibility has been transferred from the Education department to Economy and Transport. This is a clear strategic move, combining the skills agenda with the fight to improve the Welsh economy. That does not mean skills will not be linked to education – government and policy making doesn’t work like that – but rather that upskilling is being prioritised as a major economic driver. Similarly, for the first time perhaps, science is being prioritised within WAG. This combined portfolio is a significant creation.

Entrusting such a major job to a new minister is a bold step. But in Lesley Griffiths the new First Minister has found not just one of his most loyal supporters but also one of the brighest sparks in the whole Assembly. She’s one to watch.

NB I was sorely tempted to make this blog post about my favourite television programme, Doctor Who. I’m glad I didn’t, but here’s a little something to use up two minutes of a Saturday afternoon.

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3 Comments

  1. Dave Collins says:
    December 12, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Daran,

    While you’re at it can you clarify Huw’s portfolio? Does he report to Leighton or direct to Carwyn?

  2. Peter Black says:
    December 12, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    This also means that for the very first time ProAct and ReAct comes within Ieuan Wyn Jones’ area of responsibility. Given that he has been claiming credit for these schemes for so long many people may be surprised that they were never under his department.

  3. David Phillips says:
    December 13, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    “This combined portfolio is a significant creation.”

    With arguably the most important portfolio in the new WAG, Lesley Griffiths will hopefully be allowed to encourage the growth of an increasingly important sector of the Welsh economy, with huge potential to come from the Life Sciences sector.

    This portfolio also needs to act as a “pull” stimulus to get more creativity and imagination into the education curriculum if Wales is to stay competitive in the real growth sectors of tomorrow.

    If Wales is to move forward over what is clearly going to be a very challenging period ahead, then I can see this becoming a full cabinet portfolio, subsuming the current “economic development” brief.

    It will be important to encourage co-operation with HE sector intiatives from the rest of the UK and with international partners, and to secure a solid commercial return for Wales after the initial academic breakthroughs.

    Let’s remember, Wales may be a small place on the map, but it can be a “big country” and punch above its size with the weight and impact of its new ideas and inventions.

    Interesting times ahead…

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