Written - Cabinet Appointments

I am writing to inform you that Her Majesty The Queen has approved the nominations for Welsh Ministers and Deputy Ministers in my Cabinet.  The details are as follows:

Two new Ministers join the Cabinet – former Chief Whip Carl Sargeant becomes Minister for Social Justice and Local Government while former Deputy Regeneration Minister Leighton Andrews becomes Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning.  Jane Hutt moves to a new portfolio as Minister for Business and Budget.

Two new Deputy Ministers have been appointed following portfolio changes creating two new portfolios.  Lesley Griffiths becomes Deputy Minister for Skills, Innovation and Science while Huw Lewis will lead a newly created portfolio as Deputy Minister for Children.  In this role Mr Lewis will have particular responsibility for co-ordination of Government matters relating to child poverty.

Details of my new Cabinet are as follows:

Ieuan Wyn Jones - Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy & Transport
Jane Hutt - Business and Budget
Edwina Hart - Health and Social Services
Jane Davidson - Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Leighton Andrews - Children, Education and Lifelong Learning
Carl Sargeant - Social Justice and Local Government
Elin Jones - Rural Affairs
Alun Ffred Jones - Heritage

Deputy Ministers

Lesley Griffiths - Skills, Innovation & Science
Jocelyn Davies - Housing and Regeneration
Gwenda Thomas - Social Services
Huw Lewis - Children

John Griffiths - Counsel General & Leader of the Legislative Programme
Janice Gregory - Chief Whip