Deputy Minister for Transport

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.^[11][12]

The position partly oversaw transport in Wales, with the position also referred to by derivatives of the old name such as "transport minister".^[13][14][15]

Waters, the holder from 2021,^[16] oversaw during his period in the position a changing of the default speed limit on restricted roads from 30mph to 20mph,^[17] conducting a roads review involving scaling back new road construction,^[18][19] and overseeing the impact of COVID-19 on public transport in Wales, such as buses.^[20]

The ascendance of Vaughan Gething to the position of First Minister saw a new Cabinet formed, and the creation of the position of Cabinet Secretary for Transport. The inaugural and current holder, Ken Skates, is also the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales.^[21]

The responsibilities of the post are:^[8]

• 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.

• Ministry