Written statement (Wales): Inter-Ministerial Group for Elections and Registration (IMG Elections) - Aug 7

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: In accordance with the inter-institutional relations agreement, I can report to Members that I represented the Welsh Government at an Inter-Ministerial Group for Elections and Registration meeting on 30 June 2025.

The meeting was held in hybrid format and I chaired and hosted the meeting on this occasion. In attendance were Rushanara Ali MP, Minister for Homelessness and Democracy in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (in-person) and Fleur Anderson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (online), and Jamie Hepburn MSP, Scottish Minister for Parliamentary Business (in-person). 

This meeting was an opportunity to hear an update from the UK Government on electoral reform plans and the work underway in Scotland ahead of elections next year, as well as giving an update on the Welsh Government's ongoing work on electoral reform. We also discussed inter-governmental work on security in relation to elections, democratic engagement and progress toward allowing online absent vote applications for devolved elections. 

Immediately prior to the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group, we heard from organisations funded by the Welsh Government's Democratic Engagement Grant about how they had used their funding to promote understanding and participation. The organisations were Cardiff Council, ElectHer, The Politics Project, Scouts Cymru and Swansea MAD.

A joint communiqué relating to this meeting was issued on 4 August 2025 (external link).

We will continue to work together with meetings planned to take place on a quarterly basis. I will keep Members updated.

This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.