Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: I recognise the Minister has taken some action on this, and we welcome it, of course, and thank you for recognising our contribution to it. But, we need to see the commission being clear in how they will treat people with additional learning needs in their policy, especially surrounding supported internships and apprenticeships, which are being integrated into the Bill. Barriers already exist...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I wish to speak to my amendments 79 and 80. The purpose of these amendments is to strengthen the duty on the commission to promote Welsh-medium tertiary education to reflect the ambitions of 'Cymraeg 2050'. On amendment 79, I have chosen to resubmit this amendment as I still believe it is vital to reflect the commission's important role in reaching the 1 million Welsh...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch. Diolch, Minister. I'm disappointed the Minister has rejected my amendment, as it disagrees with the notion of specific mention of resource provision in our pursuit of 'Cymraeg 2050' objectives. Even though I agree with a lot of what the Member for Plaid Cymru just said, I'm disappointed that the Minister has rejected my amendment to his Stage 2 amendment, as, in my view, it would...
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: I'd like to start by thanking Sioned Williams for tabling this debate. I would like to move amendments 81, 82, 83 and 84. The purpose of these amendments is to reflect the content of clause 1 of the UK Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, covering the governing bodies of higher education providers in Wales. This would mean that governing bodies must take steps to secure the freedom of...
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I want to speak to my own amendments first. The purpose of amendment 85 and several others within the group is to require any direction from Welsh Ministers to be done so by statutory instrument, subject to the affirmative procedure, and to be done only following consultation with the relevant Senedd committee. This is in line with recommendation 21 of the committee and with...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch. Thank you for your response, Minister. I remain of the firm belief that there is an overabundance of amendments in the negative, and that safeguards are necessary to ensure that the reach of the Welsh ministerial powers is limited, as outlined previously by concerns highlighted by the committee itself. I therefore ask Members to support our amendments.
Laura Anne Jones: I'd like to echo much of what the Minister has said and I'd also like to thank him for taking our original amendment forward and supporting the intentions originally set out by the Welsh Conservatives regarding learner well-being and protection. I would like to move amendments 98, 99 and 100. Amendment 98 and its two consequential amendments have been brought forward again to reiterate...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I will speak to all the amendments in this group. As I stated at Stage 2, I believe in a more rounded tertiary education system, including traineeship programmes, employability programmes and apprenticeships, and I therefore continue to be concerned about the place of these programmes within the Bill. Their full inclusion is absolutely essential to improving a sustainable and...
Laura Anne Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. I obviously anticipated the rejection of our probing amendment, but I thank the Minister for providing further clarity on the matter, even though I ultimately disagree with the approach. I am, however, disappointed that my amendments to clarify that Part 4 of the Bill will be applicable to degree apprenticeships as well, as to better define the relevant terms within the Bill,...
Laura Anne Jones: Move.
Laura Anne Jones: I'd just like to take the opportunity to signal my appreciation for Plaid's tabling of an amendment inspired by the efforts that I have made throughout the process so far.
Laura Anne Jones: I'd like to move amendments 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. The objective of these amendments is ultimately to limit the funding power of Welsh Ministers. They would ensure that the ability for a Welsh Minister to authorise the provision of financial resources is conditional. As stressed in Stage 2, HEFCW have noted that enabling Welsh Ministers to fund further education and training at the same...
Laura Anne Jones: Moved.
Laura Anne Jones: Moved.
