Jane Hutt: ...we strongly believe that Wales and the UK should continue to participate in those key EU programmes. You mention Horizon 2020; that’s supporting research and development projects between higher education and private sector partners. Erasmus+: again, those education exchanges can transform the prospects and opportunities of young people. We want to see a far-reaching and far clearer...
Jane Hutt: ...locally and, indeed, a consultation was held between 28 January 2016 and 18 March, to which there were 267 responses. It is now for us to let the process progress in terms of the legislation, the school standards Act 2013 and the school organisation code.
Jane Hutt: These are, as I’ve said, matters for Carmarthenshire council. As a Government, we’re supportive of the Welsh language. We want to see an extension of Welsh-medium education and more children involved in it. It is for Carmarthenshire council to justify the decisions it takes—clearly, sensitive to the fact that local authorities must comply with the School Standards and Organisation...
Jane Hutt: ...reminded of this: the Welsh Government can’t comment on any proposals for change that are under consideration by a local authority. It is the responsibility of local authorities, the planning of school places—it rests with them.
Jane Hutt: ...m sure, visit with Jon Gower, and also drawn attention to the fact that Llanelli author William Glynne-Jones is featured in the new series. It is important that it isn’t just gift sets going to schools—clearly, those books have to be used widely, they need to be borrowed, read, shared, discussed throughout schools, libraries and colleges. And I think, as the Member has said, the fact...
Jane Hutt: ...continues to fund the Library of Wales series, through the Welsh Books Council. As part of our aim to promote the series, gift sets of one copy of each title are being sent to all secondary schools, colleges and library authorities when new titles are published.
Jane Hutt: ...-Davies. Only just a short while ago, we heard about the investment by Torfaen County Borough Council, a Labour-controlled authority, with the Welsh Labour Government. The twenty-first century schools programme is playing a huge part in terms of enabling us to have those very good forecasts from the Construction Industry Training Board, predicting strong growth in the sector in Wales. And...
Jane Hutt: ...is often forgotten when these dark events are remembered. In this particular Holocaust vigil, we will remember them. I think also—I met many signing the Holocaust memorial book that the Holocaust Educational Trust has brought to the Senedd. I think it’s going to be available again tomorrow. It’s certainly been available for us all to sign today. There are very powerful images,...
Jane Hutt: ...the support that we are giving, and also the importance, for example, of the funding that we’re providing to pilot lunch and fun clubs, which, of course, is going to be very important in terms of school holiday enrichment for our children and young people.
Jane Hutt: ...organisation that has a payroll in excess of £3 million per year. The levy is an employment tax. It’s been introduced by the Westminster Parliament; it applies to the whole of the UK. In Wales, schools, of course, are maintained by local authorities, therefore their budgets will be impacted by the introduction of the levy, irrespective of their size. Of course, we don’t have the...
Jane Hutt: ...an excellent professional workforce and we know what we want our new curriculum to deliver. And of course the OECD is very clear that we’re on the right track, and we are investing more in education. I will remind the leader of the Welsh Conservatives of the 20 per cent cut that they were going to make in education when they produced their draft budget. But also, of course, the Welsh...
Jane Hutt: ...of addressing the needs of children and young people. Again, an example of how this is an all-age cross-Government policy area where we need to ensure that we look, in this context, to our education services, our teaching profession, and indeed beyond that into the wider life needs and circumstances of children and young people, which is very important out of education as well as in...
Jane Hutt: .... I was fortunate to visit there myself a few years ago as environment Minister, and I’m familiar with the great work of PONT and all those volunteers from Pontypridd who have helped with health, education, economy and community development there, working closely with the local people and agencies on the ground. I also saw the Size of Wales programme, and all that great tree planting,...
Jane Hutt: ...the third sector as well as the statutory sector in terms of emergency response. It is prevention, it is about training and, particularly, in terms of life-saving techniques being spread through education, the Cabinet Secretary for Education is already indicating that she would like to respond, so I think it looks as though we could move on a joint statement from Cabinet Secretaries and...
Jane Hutt: ...has caused devastation, and not just in terms of the devastation to individuals in terms of their homes, which is the worst, but the inconvenience in terms of business, the impact on roads, rail, schools and everything else that has been recorded from yesterday.
Jane Hutt: Llywydd, I’ve added an oral statement on the Diamond review of higher education and student finance arrangements in Wales to today’s agenda. The Business Committee has agreed to reduce time allocated to Assembly Commission questions tomorrow. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement announcement, found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Jane Hutt: ...difficulties is important. We’re committed, and this is an opportunity to restate—as a Welsh Government, we’re committed to ensuring everyone in Wales has an opportunity to access our education system. Of course, where specialist provision is identified, Ministers do consider applications and make every effort to respond in a timely fashion. We always try to fund provision that runs...
Jane Hutt: Llywydd, I’ve clarified the title of the education Secretary’s statement on the national strategy for small and rural schools this afternoon, and I’ve added an oral statement on employability to today’s agenda. Business for the next three weeks is as set out on the business statement and announcement found among the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Jane Hutt: Well, of course, the money and the support that we give to the Cardiff Medical School, part of Cardiff University, is clearly delivering outcomes, and is well supported by the Welsh Government. I know that there’s been a recent visit to the medical school, which I believe was very interesting, in terms of the discussions with those who are responsible for the medical school. But, of course,...
Jane Hutt: ...to achieve a 50 per cent gender balance within the senior civil service by the year 2020, but we’re also making funding available to the Women Making a Difference balancing power project that’s educating and empowering women across Wales to have the skills, confidence and mindset to become leaders in their communities, and decision makers at all levels of public and political life. I...
