Suzy Davies: The impetus for the Swansea bay metro came from repeated calls in this Chamber for a transport system underpinning the city deal, and I'm pleased now that Transport for Wales is working with Welsh Government and local authorities to develop plans, particularly for that faster service to the west and south Wales. I've made the case before that a parkway would certainly support that later aim...
Suzy Davies: Thank you for that answer. I notice you didn't mention new apprentices particularly, because they are going to be necessary to help the economy of Wales recover. But, as you say, we need to keep in mind our existing apprentices. I don't know what the position is in Wales at the moment. Are we looking at half our construction apprentices being furloughed, for example, as they are in England?...
Suzy Davies: 2. What support is the Welsh Government offering to apprentices and those taking part in work-based learning whose placements have been affected by COVID-19? OQ55451
Suzy Davies: Thank you. Yes, the point I was making is that the Bill as it stands introduces a five-year review, which means that it'll be happening at the same time as the next election. So, I just wanted to know what the thinking was behind excluding an entire Senedd from assessing the success of the new curriculum. I think perhaps the timing of that review might make a little bit more sense for a...
Suzy Davies: [Inaudible.]—definitely can see how excited you are with this Bill. Thank you for bringing it forward. Leaving it perhaps a little bit close to the mark with Royal Assent by the end of this Senedd term, which, I'm afraid, leads me straight to my first observation. The Bill provides for a five-year review, which means that this will be happening—[Interruption.] Hello? Am I still audible?...
Suzy Davies: That's it. Thank you very much, Llywydd.
Suzy Davies: Just a sec.
Suzy Davies: Yes? Thank you very much, and sorry. Thank you for calling me on this topical question. I'm sorry that it seemed to have been so wasted by the individual who actually asked the question originally, because it's quite clear that this company chose Bridgend not only over three or four other UK sites originally, but a number of European sites as well. And it's worth remembering that there's...
Suzy Davies: Thank you for that answer. I think there'll probably be some supply teachers in Ynys Môn who would like to speak to you as well. I think there's no doubt, is there, that teachers and school staff, and parents and pupils, have really risen to this challenge over the last few months, but everybody's now pretty much at the limits of their patience, as we've already heard. What I would say is...
Suzy Davies: Okay, that's an interesting comment, that last one, because certainly my understanding is that various regulations that have come through a different committee haven't necessarily had those rights assessments. I wonder if you can help us on a similar issue, which is to do with blended learning, because there's some confusion about whether September will be a blended learning environment or...
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister.
Suzy Davies: Can I just add my voice to those who have congratulated schools and the teachers, the staff, as well as parents and families, and indeed some council officials as well, who contributed to being able to open schools in these last couple of weeks, and particularly those who are determined to go for that fourth week? I'd like to begin today, though, with the questions that have been raised by...
Suzy Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and yes, I move the amendments. Can I thank Plaid for bringing this debate forward? It's a big subject and I appreciate that they want to just focus on a couple of aspects today. So, this will be something of a speedy run-through of some of the issues raised by the motion and the amendments. But I think we can pin down the basics in supporting points 1 and 3, and I hope...
Suzy Davies: No, those were all my questions together, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Suzy Davies: Yes, of course. And how to do that without preventing anyone from entering the profession in the first place.
Suzy Davies: Well, thank you for that response. Yes, I was also pleased to hear that many people were using lockdown in terms of turning an ambiguous aspiration into reality, but it's easier to fall out of habits than it is to establish new ones. So, what opportunities will be available for learners to use their new skills in a meaningful way? Standards do some of that work for you, I know that, but will...
Suzy Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. If you'll just give me a second—thank you. Good afternoon, Minister. We'll be discussing more contentious aspects of the Welsh language in the debate on the new curriculum later this afternoon, so I'll leave that issue for the time being. But I do want to ask you about your vision for reaching the 2050 target, and the impact of the pandemic on learners...
Suzy Davies: Deputy Minister, Hwb has been a fundamental part of home schooling over the past three months, but I still receive correspondence from non-Welsh-speaking parents who don't feel that they have been in a position to assist their children who attend Welsh-medium schools. So, would it be possible for you to speak to the education Minister as to how copies of papurau bro can be uploaded, perhaps,...
Suzy Davies: Well, thank you very much for that answer, because I think I'm right in saying that, speaking generally, councils are reclaiming their COVID-related expenditure from you monthly in arrears. Can you say whether you've refused to cover any of the expenditure presented to you, even with that evidence? And have you got any steer yet about what kind of evidence you'll be seeking from councils to...
Suzy Davies: First Minister, thank you for the response to John Griffiths there. Obviously, he represents a Newport constituency, where the M4 relief road could have been such a piece of major infrastructure. The alternatives to an M4 relief road I think are due to be presented to you shortly, and I imagine that you've already been given a rough indication of the cost of those alternatives. What is the...
