Russell George: ...with lower earnings are far less likely to exercise on a regular basis, and, of course, I think we can all agree that that must be rectified. At a junior level, sports participation at primary schools across Wales has notably decreased. Physical education is, of course, essential to the upbringing of children all around Wales, and it’s encouraging that a healthy lifestyle keeps children...
Russell George: ...does the Government have to extend the concessionary fares scheme to younger carers who carry out an important role in Welsh society, and who currently miss out on vital transport links to further education? And finally, I was pleased to hear you mention ‘integrated’ on a number of occasions throughout your statement. The lack of integration between bus and train timetables has been...
Russell George: .... He also spoke of the fact that digital connectivity is now an essential part of modern life, which contributes not only to economic prosperity and delivering a tangible uplift in skills and educational performance, but also has a positive impact on healthy living and the environment. Indeed, I fully agree with that, and I fully agree that access to broadband is rapidly becoming a human...
Russell George: ...member also. All I would say is that I’m very keen that the Government continues to promote young people—having a positive life option for them to enter small business themselves. When I was in school, it was very much a case of, ‘What do you want to be: doctor, nurse, teacher…?’ And when I said, ‘I want my own small business, please’, that wasn’t really accepted by the...
Russell George: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s support for bilingual primary schools in mid Wales? OAQ(5)0054(EDU)
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. In spite of efforts from the headteacher and governors of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Primary School in my constituency, in order for them to achieve a balanced budget, they have to make reductions in staffing from five to four teachers. In doing that, this will lead to the combination of English and Welsh infant streams in the afternoons, compromising, of...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I think that my colleague Nick Ramsay also mentioned that the autumn statement sets out the firm funding foundations to invest in our roads and schools and hospitals to, of course, drive up growth and support the economy as well. Now, on digital infrastructure such as fibre broadband and fifth generation—this is one of my hobby-horses, I know—the...
Russell George: ...is doing to reverse this trend? Also, can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to encourage younger people to consider starting up their own business as a positive life choice following leaving school?
Russell George: ...a modern, flexible labour market, because for a small proportion of the workforce, that may be the kind of contract that is right for them, if they want to structure their work around childcare or education, for example. Now, on average, people on these contracts—
Russell George: ...at which 500 Welsh poets were slaughtered by King Henry I at Montgomery castle after they refused to sing his praises as their conqueror. While Arany’s nineteenth-century poem is still taught in schools in Hungary, many living in Montgomeryshire and across Wales have never heard of it. So, I’m pleased to spread the word today. Last Thursday, a special televised celebration of his...
Russell George: ...the principles of a foundational economy in Wales. I think the fact that the UK Government’s industrial strategy has recognised the capacity for involving businesses as a social franchise for education and skills is something to be welcomed. Also, of course, the establishment of university technical colleges would introduce a business and entrepreneurship element to many vocational...
Russell George: 8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the delivery of the digital competence framework by primary schools in mid Wales? OAQ(5)0103(EDU)
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I hope you will be aware that the lack of broadband across parts of rural Powys is putting rural schools in particular at a significant disadvantage, which is having a knock-on effect on pupils’ education. Now, as I understand, there are 28 primary schools across Wales that still cannot access adequate broadband to enable them to teach pupils using the...
Russell George: ...the world. I was pleased to hear that the Welsh Government has also taken steps to showcase our nation at the UEFA Champions Festival and has also invested in cross-curriculum materials for Welsh schools. I was pleased to hear that. You also referred to the potential for security threats at the championships. Can I also endorse your advice to spectators to remain vigilant and take note of...
Russell George: 6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the proposed changes to school admissions in Powys from September 2017? OAQ(5)0121(EDU)
Russell George: ...a long-awaited broadband upgrade. However, the ‘Evaluation of the implementation of the Learning in Digital Wales Programme’, which was published six months ago, noted that nearly a third of schools did not register any log-ins on Hwb, and made a series of recommendations for the Welsh Government to improve this, including developing a communications strategy targeted at teachers and...
Russell George: Minister, ‘cylch meithrin’ and pre-school playgroups are already oversubscribed, and there is a real concern that, when the new school admissions policy in Powys comes into force in September, the pressure on playgroups will be unsustainable. Can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to support the additional pressures on these playgroups?
Russell George: I’d like to contribute today to this debate very much focusing on higher education and lifelong learning and how that links in with the Welsh economy. But there are two things I would be very keen to know today, and this is one: what course is Darren Millar doing? He told us he’s doing a part-time FE course; he didn’t tell us what he was doing. And, secondly, I would like to know from...
Russell George: ...to respond in one of two ways: either to attempt to maintain service frequency with the associated increase in costs or to operate fewer services. Our bus services transport people to work and to education, connect communities, support our economy and help to make our country greener by reducing the number of private cars on our roads. They’re a vital lifeline for about a quarter of...
Russell George: ...also suffered the uncertainty of not knowing whether their tuition fees will be rising yet again—and this, of course, has compounded the concerns of younger people regarding the costs of higher education. Therefore, our green card scheme that we have proposed could lift the barrier to accessing education and training for jobs for many people in Wales. Indeed, this is an issue that faces...
