(Title Image: Wales Online)
Wales will have three ministers dedicated to health as a result of a mini-reshuffle last week, which saw Eluned Morgan (Lab, Mid & West Wales) named Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language.
She will assume responsibility for the mental health portfolio (which includes autism, substance abuse, dementia, obesity and patient experience) from the Health & Social Services Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth).
The First Minister said the move would enable the Health Minister – who’ll continue to be deputised by Julie Morgan MS (Lab, Cardiff North) – to concentrate on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The First Minister will directly assume the international affairs portfolio from Eluned Morgan.
There were calls from Welsh language groups for a dedicated minister for the Welsh language.
Heini Gruffudd from Dyfodol i’r Iaith said: “The marginal attention given to Welsh in the government’s arrangements proves the need for an arm’s length Linguistic Planning Authority. It’s essential it can liaise with a Minister who will be able to give all his or her attention to the Welsh language.”
