Jane Hutt: ...—Carwyn’s already mentioned it—a very special Spanish omelette made with the eggs from his latest batch of chickens bought at Riverside market. I also remembering visiting Dinas Powys Primary School on Fairtrade day and meeting Jaidem, Rhodri and Julie’s grandson. Now, Jaidem is a member of the school’s eco committee, and he was holding up this huge Fairtrade banana with his...
Jane Hutt: ...having to also manage the challenges that we have in terms of ongoing austerity, looking to ways in which we can not only progress in terms of investing in health and social care, housing and education, making difficult choices, looking to how we can serve the people of Wales, but we believe also very clearly in playing our part, playing the part we must play as global citizens and in...
Jane Hutt: ..., as he has, with these very important issues, which he raised with me, I’m sure, not just 14 years ago. It’s an issue not just for health Ministers and their responsibilities, but also for education Ministers and their responsibilities as well. Our national mission is to raise standards and to continue to improve the attainment of all learners, and of course deaf children’s...
Jane Hutt: Mike Hedges, the importance, as you say, of universities as economic drivers is quite clear. The higher education sector makes a substantial contribution to the economy of Wales. Universities in Wales contribute more than £3 billion a year in gross expenditure to the Welsh economy, employ over 20,000 people, have an annual turnover in excess of £1.5 billion and, of course, contribute to...
Jane Hutt: ...announcement of the arrangements for the NHS bursary scheme—. He made it clear that Wales is open to business, and we are supporting our nurses, we're interested in how we can support their education and training programmes in Wales, and also looking at how they can ensure that those arrangements that are now put in place for the coming financial year—and then, as his statement says,...
Jane Hutt: ...of Wales, improving the energy efficiency of low-income homes delivers multiple benefits. It helps to tackle and prevent ill health, reduces carbon emissions, creates jobs and energy and improves educational attainment. A recent report by Public Health Wales estimated that investing in insulation and heating also, to address cold and damp housing, can have a huge impact. We know that the...
Jane Hutt: ...the industry to submit proposals for this £1 million development. And, of course, this was encouraging them to develop innovative solutions to improve the nutritional composition, for example, of school meals, whilst driving down costs. So, just a couple more words on the criteria. We’re suggesting innovative solutions could improve nutritional composition of food and drink available to...
Jane Hutt: ...to road casualty reductions in 16 local authorities, and £5.5 million for the Safe Routes in Communities grant, focusing on 32 schemes available to improve walking and cycling routes to schools in 19 local authorities.
Jane Hutt: ...go beyond that, to look at prevention in the wider public health perspective, in terms of reducing that access to sugary drinks and cereal. I always remember when we introduced the pioneering free school breakfast programme in Wales—which wasn’t supported by all parties in this Chamber—but when we established that breakfast it was based on nutrition standards, which meant that they...
Jane Hutt: ...I have a serious question for Andrew R.T. Davies, for you to ask your colleagues in Westminster. This u-turn has left a £645 million hole in this budget and his spending plans for social care and schools. So, I would ask that question: what is now going to be scrapped and cut as a result of that u-turn? But, on a very serious note about the clash and differences of our values, this is the...
Jane Hutt: ...for hospital care—stark contrast to England where, according to the UK Government’s own figures, delayed transfers of care have risen to record levels and social care is in deep crisis. On education, pupils’ performance at key stage 4 is continuing to rise. The gap between children receiving free school meals and their peers is narrowing. Absenteeism from our primary schools is at...
Jane Hutt: Well, the Welsh Government is responsible for a very pioneering and important policy in terms of Safe Routes to School, providing funding for local authorities. Of course, they apply for that funding and present proposals for safe routes to school and safe routes in those communities. The council, of course, is well aware and clear about their statutory obligations in relation to the learner...
Jane Hutt: ...mean, that clearly is—. The impact of our investment in 100,000 quality apprenticeships speaks for itself: a key plank in ‘Taking Wales Forward’, recognising the value of the post-compulsory education training sector, and also the fact that it enables young people to reach their potential. As you say, the Sutton Trust research is very valuable, very pertinent, and, clearly, as well,...
Jane Hutt: Further education contributes significantly to skills development, improving employment and careers prospects for learners in Wales and the performance of companies and public services. It ensures our young people can access the skills that they need to develop their careers and that adults can develop their skills to support our growing economy.
Jane Hutt: ...say—and I’m going to be very pertinent to your patch—that these are about budget choices in terms of those cuts to the capital programme that I’ve already spoken about. But five new primary schools we are building in Powys—recently announced as part of the twenty-first century schools programme. That is so important for the prospects of your children and young people in terms of...
Jane Hutt: ...this again with the Member. In terms of capital expenditure, on an all-Wales basis that’s crucially important in terms of our investment in social housing, our investment in twenty-first century schools, and our investment in transport. I can, again, give you the investments in, for example, flood and coastal risk management, supporting the whole of Wales with £144 million; £700...
Jane Hutt: ...of our infrastructure, not only delivering on our carbon reduction commitment, but the multiplier benefit effect on so many outcomes: better insulated homes, tackling fuel poverty, helping health, education and well-being outcomes, creating jobs and economic activity. But I will say that it is important that we’ve been refining the remit and terms of reference for the proposed national...
Jane Hutt: ...in both English and Welsh in 2018—English and Welsh—therefore, that obviously drives that decision, and, also, that the GCSE biology book was available last October. So, we don’t know why the school in question, which I understand is partly where this question has arisen from, didn’t receive a copy. So, obviously, it is a matter of exploring what these claims are in terms of...
Jane Hutt: ...say Wales should be rightly proud of its place in the world. Some of our most significant achievements are centred around an equal society. From Hywel Dda’s laws to Aneurin Bevan’s vision, our education system is founded on these same principles—a good, comprehensive system for all, no matter their background. This is what we’re taking forward in our programme for government....
Jane Hutt: ...and returning the Welsh Government’s good wishes for a happy St David’s Day. It does provide us with the opportunity to talk about our performance across these three key areas of the economy, education and health, and I welcome that opportunity. I also think it’s apt. As Rhun ap Iorwerth has said in his opening remarks, it’s about looking at where we are today, and that’s...
