# Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Wales)

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Welsh: Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth) is a minister of the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Ken Skates, since March 2024.

## Holders of the role

| Name | Name | Entered office | Left office | Other offices held | Political party | Government |
| Secretary for Transport |||||||||
| | Sue Essex | 22 February 2000 | 16 October 2000 | Secretary for Environment | Labour | Michael administration |
| | Sue Essex | 22 February 2000 | 16 October 2000 | Secretary for Planning | Labour | Interim Rhodri Morgan administration |
| Minister for Transport |||||||||
| | Sue Essex | 2000 | 2003 | Minister for Environment | Labour | First Rhodri Morgan government |
| | Sue Essex | 2000 | 2003 | Minister for Planning | Labour | First Rhodri Morgan government |
| Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Transport |||||||||
| | Brian Gibbons | 13 May 2003 | 10 January 2005 | | Labour | Second Rhodri Morgan government |
| | Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey | 14 January 2005 | 2007 | | Labour | Second Rhodri Morgan government |
| Minister for Transport |||||||||
| | Brian Gibbons | 7 June 2007 | 2007 | Minister for the Economy | Labour | Third Rhodri Morgan government |
| Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure |||||||||
| | Ken Skates | May 2016 | 2017 | | Labour | Third Jones government |
| Cabinet Secretary / Minister for Transport |||||||||
| | Ken Skates | 2017 | 2021 | Minister for the Economy | Labour | Third Jones government |
| | Ken Skates | 2017 | 2021 | Minister for North Wales | Labour | First Drakeford government |
| Deputy Minister for Climate Change |||||||||
| | Lee Waters | 13 May 2021 | 20 March 2024 | | Labour | Second Drakeford government |
| Cabinet Secretary for Transport |||||||||
| | Ken Skates | 21 March 2024 | | Cabinet Secretary for North Wales | Labour | Gething government |

## Background

Following the 2021 Senedd election, First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford announced in the formation of the next Welsh government, that he would form a "super-ministry" centred on climate change, combining the portfolios of the environment, energy, housing, planning and transport. It would be headed by a Minister for Climate Change (announced to be Julie James MS), with a deputy minister assisting the government division.
The position partly oversees transport in Wales, with the position also referred to by derivatives of the old name such as "transport minister".
Waters, the holder from 2021, oversaw during his period in the position, the increased introduction of 20 mph zones in Wales, conducting a roads review involving scaling back new road construction, and overseeing the impact of COVID-19 on public transport in Wales, such as buses.

## Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the post are:
* Transport
** Transport policy
** Transport for Wales
** Roads, including road construction and improvement, as well as the maintenance of trunk roads and motorways.
** Bus services
** Rail services through management of the Wales and Borders franchise
** Overseeing Cardiff Airport at an arms-length
** Active travel
** Road safety; such as creating safer routes to schools; overseeing children's and young people transport; the regulation of on-street parking and pedestrian crossings.