Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: It is important that we do see better collaboration between schools and further education. Now, we are looking at how we can see that collaboration through the post-compulsory education and training changes that we will see in future. We'll take competition out of the system because that can create problems at present. But I do think it is worth stating that there is quite a high level of...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: 'Taking Wales Forward', the Government's programme to 2021, clearly sets out our belief that the future prosperity and stability of our nation depends on the skills and values of our people. The Government recognises that further education learning, whether lifelong, part-time, or work based, is essential for individual and national prosperity.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Can I point out that, when you're on an apprenticeship course, you actually receive an income, and any income is, theoretically, taxable? So, we have got to be sensitive. We have been looking at what is possible, because it has been recognised as a taxable benefit. So, we're not comparing apples with oranges, we're actually making sure that these people don't get into more trouble. I do think...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: May I say that I have looked into this issue? One of the problems is that because this is an area where we do give additional funding, that could be seen as a taxable benefit, and that then creates a problem because this assistance isn’t available to all. So, what we don’t want to see is a situation where money is taken away from them because we are giving them this benefit. So, it is...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: We take the welfare of apprentices seriously and we do recognise that travel costs can be a barrier for young apprentices, though this is an employed programme. We will be looking at what opportunities are available to remove any access barriers to the programme, and that will include travel costs.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. We do have a workforce plan in place and we have made it entirely clear how many teachers will be needed over the coming years. My hope currently is to ensure that people are aware that there are £5,000 available in addition if they show an interest in teaching through the medium of Welsh. We must make sure that people are aware of this because now is the time when people are...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, to begin with, we need to look at what is in place today. I think that we do have to look at further resources for teachers who are teaching Welsh as a second language, and I have been talking directly with teachers who are out there in the classrooms and asking them precisely what they would like to see as forms of assistance. So, my officials are looking into what we can do to assist...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much for the question. You will be aware that we have had the Donaldson review since then and that we need to consider the changes in the context of Donaldson. So, can I make it clear that I am not prepared to wait until Donaldson is in place? I think that this is something that we have to pursue now and I have asked, today as it happens, my officials to arrange a symposium to...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. One of the things that I'm keen to do in the employability action plan is to make sure that we link into this new regional approach. So, what we heard yesterday from the economic Secretary in terms of, 'Right. This is the priority. We're going to regionalise'—we know that there is a programme of economic development, and, of course, the skills now have to marry that programme....
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: I think it's very concerning to see some of those figures, and I think it is important that we shine a spotlight in particular on those areas where we do need to ensure that we can improve the situation. The recent visits by local authorities are suggesting that there is generally good progress in terms of NEETs, but what we do need to do is make sure that we understand where counties are...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, since launching our youth engagement and progression framework in 2013, the percentage of school leavers not entering education, employment or training in South Wales West has fallen from 4 per cent to 2.3 per cent. We remain committed to the framework, investing an additional £1.1 million this year, supporting local authorities to realise further improvements all the time in this...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, you're quite right. One of our targets is to ensure that people are not just able to speak Welsh but to use the Welsh language, and so it's important we give them opportunities to do so. And, in small businesses, ensuring that people are aware that you can use the Welsh language when you deal with them is important. So, there are strategies that we will be developing in order to ensure...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, we do collaborate, and I think the first thing that should be said is that there is an understanding that you have to focus on those early years, and it's fair to say that we do have a strategy in place for childcare. And it's important—it's vital—that, for everything that goes through the Government now, we ask, 'What are you doing to support the Welsh language? And therefore that...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. Welsh Government’s plans and targets for attaining the target of a million Welsh speakers are included in the 2017-21 ‘Cymraeg 2050’ strategy work programme.
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much, Rhianon. Absolutely. We are trying to work cross-departmentally. If you think that we've got a budget of about £15 billion, we need to make sure that every penny of that we use to the maximum, and working cross-departmentally makes absolute sense. What I've been doing is to meet independently and individually with different Ministers to make sure that they are...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you very much. I do think that it’s important that we focus on this aspect of mental health, because there’s so much of it in Wales and it’s important that we work for the individual and that we can adapt things for the individual. What we’re attempting to do in this new plan is to ensure that we’re working across Government. And so, we’ll be working with the health...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Thank you. Absolutely. We are very committed to this agenda. In the new year, you will see that we're going to be bringing out an employability action plan, and a part of that action plan will be to make sure that people—. We have a special programme, Working Wales, and when people go through a particular gateway—everyone will be put through a particular gateway, because there are so...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, the Welsh Government makes sure that, in the most deprived communities, we offer tailored support, and we're really involved in the communities. We give support to unemployed households, to workless households, people who are disabled, redundant, and, of course, NEETs—people who are not in education, employment or training. And we mentor and support people to make sure that they can...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, I think that what we need to look at is success stories in language growth. There are examples in Europe: the Basque Country, for example, has been extremely successful, and I'm sure there are other examples. I will now set about studying those. But what is important is that we keep our eye on this. It's a question of priorities. That is what Nye Bevan used to say—you have to just...
Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan: Well, I’m not a Cabinet Secretary, but I will respond to that question, and that is that the consultation on the White Paper, of course, closed about 15 days ago. We now have time to analyse the responses and we will bring some kind of response forward over the ensuing few weeks.
