Alun Davies: ...the small businesses of this country are protected as well. That takes us to ensuring that our public services have the support that they require as well. Local government, amongst others, amongst education and elsewhere, will be on the front line in dealing with much of the impact of this virus, and we need to ensure that our public services have the support and the co-ordination that...
Alun Davies: ...across all parts of the Welsh public services, creating a very real cluster of excellence where we can drive digital change. The First Minister will be aware that the economy Minister and the education Minister both visited Thales in Ebbw Vale over the past few weeks to launch the cyber security presence there, which is a part of the Tech Valleys initiative. Will the First Minister,...
Alun Davies: ...'ll finish on this point, Presiding Officer—at the moment, we are failing people who are in prison because of their mental health, or because of substance abuse. We're not providing them with the education they require. What we're doing is locking the door and forgetting about them. That might be the approach the Brexit Party and the Conservatives wish to take, but I do not believe that...
Alun Davies: ...the legislation was, of course, a part of a transformation programme and not the totality of it. And in delivering the code, when you're able to do so, we will be transforming the experience of education for children and young people with those additional learning needs.
Alun Davies: ...and we've seen additional funding for public services. I regret that we're not also seeing the radical reform of public services to ensure that that money is well spent. The debate we had on education funding wasn't simply about the amount of funding, but the complexity of the structure of that funding leaving this place and arriving in the classroom. There's no purpose at all in...
Alun Davies: ...agenda, the transformational agenda, is not sufficient at present, given the time taken to deliver this reform. So, it is right and proper that there is money provided for additional learning needs education and it is right and proper that that money is ring-fenced for additional learning needs. And I welcome that very much. I also welcome the more general support for funding for...
Alun Davies: Will the Minister make a statement on the provision of education in Blaenau Gwent?
Alun Davies: ..., I have to say. To lead is to decide, and I say this to all Ministers in this place this afternoon: we expect a budget to be brought forward later this term that recognises the importance of education and recognises the central place of schools in what we're seeking to do. I see the chief whip is in her place, and she's been very generous to me recently, so I don't wish to abuse that...
Alun Davies: ...—[Laughter.]—and I recognise the importance of the point you wish to make. But, this afternoon, I want to address three issues in this debate. The first is the amount of money available to the education budget and to schools. All of us will make the case—and I in Government have made the case—for funds for our own portfolio areas, and I have suffered the intense pain of disagreeing...
Alun Davies: ...on this agenda. You know and I know, from your constituency workload and from my constituency workload, that children with additional learning needs are being failed every day of the week in schools in this country. You know and I know that local authorities are not delivering on the support that children with additional learning needs require to fulfil their potential. You and I worked...
Alun Davies: I'm grateful to you for that, Minister. You will remember a few weeks ago, I was very grateful to you, spending time at my old school, of course, of Tredegar comprehensive. During that visit you spent some time talking with the school council, and you will remember that the thrust of their questions to you were on issues around well-being and mental health. And I thought the conversation you...
Alun Davies: 1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support mental health provision in schools? OAQ54591
Alun Davies: I also want to take advantage of the fact that the education Minister is in her seat this afternoon. You will be aware, Minister, that Blaenau Gwent council has made an application for a new Welsh-medium primary school in Tredegar. Now, I’m not worried whether it’s in Tredegar or in any other community within the county, but I am aware that Blaenau Gwent does have to deliver on its own...
Alun Davies: ...in which we live. Because when I think about the industrial architecture or the industrial infrastructure that I grew up with, it speaks to us of who we are as a people today. I grew up and went to school in the shadows of the Sirhowy ironworks, one of the biggest ironworks in Wales, when it was established at the end of the eighteenth century. I played rugby and football on fields in the...
Alun Davies: ...of a 1,000 different priorities, and try to limit myself to three priorities that I believe are important for us to consider over the coming weeks and months. For me, the key priority is that of education. I spoke about this—and perhaps members of the Government will remember this—as a Minister last year. I was very, very clear that the public service I felt that we need to really...
Alun Davies: ...the behaviour of the Prime Minister as well. I'm tempted to think that it takes an Old Etonian to tell a lie to Her Majesty the Queen; certainly we were taught better in Tredegar Comprehensive School and we wouldn't have thought of behaving in such a way. And it reflects poorly on the opposition here, on the Conservative Party in this country, that they're not prepared to stand with the...
Alun Davies: ...over lunchtime, should make us all stop and think about the reality of services that too many people are receiving. We spend a considerable amount of time talking about the pressures that exist on education and social services budgets, but quite often, we say that in the abstract. This morning, we had a very clear impact of how that affects people and children. In Blaenau Gwent, there's...
Alun Davies: ...the Welsh Government to seriously consider how, then, in this context, are we going to protect core services. Are we going to say—I use this as an example, Minister—that we're going to fund schools directly, that we will directly fund schools from Welsh Government, or that we will fund schools through the consortia? Because it frightens me that we have a radical reforming agenda for...
Alun Davies: ...will also be able to confirm that that change in the franchise will also be extended to prisoners on at least short-term sentences. I also want to welcome the continuing radical reforms of education. This is something that, again, will be warmly welcomed in Blaenau Gwent, and it's something that I know puts a mark of radicalism on this Government. There are some areas, First Minister,...
Alun Davies: ..., for the answer. I was very pleased to hear the answer also to Huw Irranca-Davies's question earlier this afternoon. I know that you have a personal commitment to ensuring that Welsh-medium education increases across the country, and I know that you have been pushing that throughout your time in post. But I have been dealing with constituents and others, and I have heard stories from...
