Suzy Davies: We will move on to our next debate, the debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: regional skills partnerships. I call on the committee Chair to move the motion—Russell George.
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much. The proposal is to note the committee report. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much, and I call on Dai Lloyd to reply to the debate.
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething.
Suzy Davies: Thank you for those answers, Minister. I wonder if I can just sort of push you a little bit further on some of the questions you had from David Rees. I just want to start with your last comments though, about March 2021 being the end date for this transformation programme. It's very convenient, isn't it, that that's basically at the end of the five-year guarantee on jobs that we've been given...
Suzy Davies: I'm pleased to hear that, Minister. In March, you told me that, and I quote, a significant piece of work was necessary around the qualifications that Welsh Government will accept from teachers coming here to work from EU countries, the countries in which they qualified. When I called for an update about this work from the Trefnydd in June, unfortunately she wasn't able to help me, but, since...
Suzy Davies: 1. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Minister for Education regarding the provision of education post-Brexit? OAQ54800
Suzy Davies: 'nothing that you say here in this Chamber today can make me feel personally any worse about these results.' So, I'm assuming that you're allowing yourself a small sigh of relief today, but are still very, very conscious of the fact that this is no reprieve. I recognise, as do your officials, that there has been an improvement, and I also want to thank the teachers and students for their...
Suzy Davies: Can I thank the Minister for her statement, particularly the last bit, when we were talking about what you are planning to do next, which I'm sure will be a subject for debate in time to come? This time three years ago, Minister, you said to my predecessor that
Suzy Davies: Will the First Minister make a statement following Tata Steel Europe's announcement that the company expects to cut 1,000 jobs from their UK operations?
Suzy Davies: Thank you very much, Minister. Two years ago, when we were discussing this, you told me that the change in the health board footprint in South Wales West wouldn't make any difference to services there. I recently had confirmation, though, from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, that it's still thinking of closing the GP surgeries in Llanharan and Pencoed, and planning to replace them...
Suzy Davies: Thank you. I'd really appreciate it. If you could do that, that would be great. Thank you very much. Perhaps you could also send us some numbers on the number of those training opportunities in situ that have been taken up by teachers from outside Wales. You mentioned this in response to my first question, actually, that you want schools to be employing the new teachers that will be coming...
Suzy Davies: Well, thank you for that answer. Some of that was very interesting, but you didn't actually address the point on how many new applicants for these particular courses have materialised this year or how these targets were reached. Perhaps I can ask you if you're going to be dropping these targets. I imagine it's around now that you'd be sending a remit letter to the Education Workforce Council,...
Suzy Davies: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, according to the Education Workforce Council website, Welsh Government has introduced targets for the number of students who enter the new PGCE courses in Wales with the intention of qualifying to teach certain subjects. Some of those subjects are identified as priorities, and they include Welsh and modern foreign languages, and I'm looking forward to your...
Suzy Davies: Our green card policy, of course, would resolve the question of free bus transport for post-16 education, training or work. But, of course, I think the position of transport to faith and Welsh-medium schools does need resolving through primary legislation. My question, though, is about the voice of young people in a local authority's decision on whether a route to school is safe or not. And...
Suzy Davies: 1. Will the Minister provide an update on the new health board boundaries in South Wales West? OAQ54765
Suzy Davies: Will the Minister make a statement on the number of teachers registered to teach modern foreign languages?
Suzy Davies: First Minister, to improve academic outcomes, of course, children and young people have to be somewhere that they can learn, and if they're being off-rolled to boost a school's apparent academic record, then they're not necessarily learning. I know that your Minister is completely against the practice of off-rolling, obviously, but what immediate action is the Government taking to both look...
Suzy Davies: Will you take an intervention?
Suzy Davies: Thank you for that, Counsel General. In amendment 160 in the previous group, you've committed to allowing post-legislative scrutiny on a range of factors relating to this Bill. Would you commit here to include the review on the effectiveness of this legislation in connection with foreign nationals as well?
