Details of Carwyn-Kirsty deal published

Kirsty Williams is the only non-Labour member of Carwyn Jones' cabinet Credit: PA

Details of the deal that brought the only Liberal Democrat AM into Carwyn Jones' cabinet have been released by the Welsh Government. In an exchange of letters, the First Minister sets out the key areas of agreement and Kirsty Williams warns him that as Education Secretary she will expect the money to be found for her priorities.

The agreement on education includes:

  • Reduced infant class sizes

  • An expanded Pupil Premium paid to schools to give extra help to children from deprived backgrounds

  • Prioritising schools' access to super-fast broadband

  • Promoting teaching excellence to raise standards across the board

  • Promoting and enhancing both academic and vocational routes into further and higher education

  • A review of the impact of current policy on surplus school places, with an emphasis on rural schools

In her letter, Kirsty Williams warns that those priorities won't come cheap:

In his letter, Carwyn Jones also sets out other "ambitious, optimistic and innovative" proposals that Kirsty Williams has agreed with him.

  • An extended nurse staffing levels law

  • The recommendations of the Diamond Review [on student tuition fees] will be considered "with a view to early implementation where appropriate" but with no negative effect on the higher education budget

  • Funding for 20,000 extra affordable homes

  • A new ‘Rent to Own’ housing model

  • A funding floor for future local government settlements

  • A small grants scheme for Welsh agriculture

  • An end to discrimination against mental health patients

The First Minister also makes clear that although Kirsty Williams is not a member of the Labour party, she has no special licence to disagree publicly with any aspect of government policy,