Elin Jones: ...full pelt, but I was on mute, unfortunately. So, I should say that there are two amendments to the motion, and if amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Education to formally move amendment 1.
Elin Jones: The next item is the Independent Alliance for Reform group debate on investment in schools. I call on Caroline Jones to move the motion. Caroline Jones.
Elin Jones: Our next group of amendments is group 6. These relate to minor and technical amendments. The lead amendment is amendment 30, and I call on the Minister for Education to speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group.
Elin Jones: The next vote is on the Plaid Cymru debate on free school meals eligibility. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 20, two abstentions and 31 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Elin Jones: The Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
Elin Jones: I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on the Minister for Education to move that amendment formally.
Elin Jones: Lynne Neagle, the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Lynne Neagle.
Elin Jones: So, we go to the statement on student funding reform. The education Minister to make that statement, Kirsty Williams.
Elin Jones: ...evaluation of the first term is under way and lessons learnt will be applied to the planning and delivery of the next term. The next election is due to take place in November 2021, and the Senedd's education and youth engagement team will continue to support this work.
Elin Jones: The next item is the debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee's report on children's rights in Wales. I call on the Chair of the committee to open the debate, Lynne Neagle.
Elin Jones: ...work. Where possible, we've moved activities online. This has meant establishing virtual tours, virtual engagement sessions, explaining the work of the Senedd, and moving our sessions for schools and youth groups also. Virtual seminars and tours were delivered to a more diverse audience than ever before, and we have noticed that the demographic of those who have engaged with our virtual...
Elin Jones: Well, the mock election of 1983 at Lampeter Comprehensive School was the first election that I took part in, a long time ago, and that was very direct experience. I won't share with you now what political party I stood for at the time, but I've learnt the error of my ways since then. But just to say that the exact direct role of electing and elections in a context that the young people are...
Elin Jones: ...we promote the new rights that young people now have to vote as 16 and 17-year-olds in Wales—adapting that to digital platforms that they are very well used to, either in social media or in the educational platforms that they are using every day now, is something that we are doing. As I said in my answer to Helen Mary, we are already placing our resources that are available to schools...
Elin Jones: Last year, education resources were co-produced with young people and education professionals. These were later adapted for home learning due to the COVID-19 restrictions and they are offered directly to schools through the Hwb platform. Since the beginning of the autumn term, our education team has been delivering virtual sessions to schools and colleges across Wales and they will continue...
Elin Jones: The next item is questions to the Minister for Education, and the first question is from Laura Jones.
Elin Jones: That brings us to voting time, and the first votes this afternoon are on the Plaid Cymru debate on free school meals. I call for a vote on the motion, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour eight, three abstentions, and 38 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Elin Jones: The next vote is on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (School Premises and Further Education Institution Premises) (Wales) Regulations 2020. Call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 40, no abstentions, 12 against, and therefore the motion is agreed.
Elin Jones: The Minister for Education to reply to the debate—Kirsty Williams.
Elin Jones: Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, Leanne—no, not Leanne—Lynne Neagle.
Elin Jones: ...will be grouped for debate, but with votes taken separately. Does any Member object to the grouping for debate? I see no objections to that. Excellent. I will therefore call on the Minister for Education to move the motions. Kirsty Williams.
