Alun Davies: Formally.
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to reply to this debate. I’m very pleased that the Member for North Wales has chosen this particular issue for his short debate. I do think that when we discuss the promotion of the Welsh language there isn’t enough discussion of this particular issue, and I am pleased that you’ve chosen to...
Alun Davies: Yes, I will.
Alun Davies: Lee Waters—it’s now become a tradition in this place for him to intervene and ask that question. I think he’s done it on every occasion that there’s been a debate here. And he’s obviously not pleased with the answers I’ve tried to give him. Let me say—[Interruption.] Let me say this, let me say this: I agree with the principle that has been outlined by the committee in terms of...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer, and I would like to join members of the committee in congratulating themselves on the work that they’ve carried out over the last few months. [Laughter.] They haven’t sold themselves short this afternoon, and they certainly don’t in the report that they’ve written, which I think Members across the whole Chamber will agree is a real tour de...
Alun Davies: What I see, as I’ve said in answer to Huw Irranca-Davies, is a great deal of goodwill from all parts of the community, including business, and what I hope we can do, through the publication of the strategy to achieve a million speakers by 2050, which will be published before we go on recess, is an attempt to ensure that collaboration is made real, is encouraged, is provided with support,...
Alun Davies: I hope we can give encouragement to local authorities. The approach I’ve taken throughout the WESPs process has been to work with people rather than shout at people. I believe it’s incumbent upon all of us here, in this Chamber, to work with our own local authorities. I certainly want to work with my own local authority, in Blaenau Gwent, to ensure that they’re able to grow, and to...
Alun Davies: I definitely agree that the Urdd Eisteddfod was a sweeping success and we should congratulate all the volunteers that promoted and contributed to the success of the Urdd Eisteddfod. I believe quite a few Members visited the field and enjoyed that visit. I have asked Aled Roberts to undertake a review of all the WESPs, including Bridgend’s, and he will be reporting to me over the ensuing...
Alun Davies: With the advent of the Welsh Government’s strategy for a million Welsh speakers by 2050, I agree that the promotion of Welsh-medium education across Wales needs to be consistent, focused and strong. We will be launching a national campaign in September.
Alun Davies: That’s not the way that we legislate, of course, but I disagree with you about the stock answer. There are no stock answers in this Government, Darren, as the answers to questions that are raised, and I think it’s important that we recognise that. But let’s move on. The process is what is important. The transformational programme, of which this Bill is a part, is the absolute key...
Alun Davies: I will also say, in closing, to Huw Irranca-Davies, and the report of the CLA committee, I spent many years on CLAC, as the Member will be aware, and that experience has left me almost unable to refuse to accept the recommendations. But I will seek to ensure that we do move to a more affirmative approach, where that is at all possible. And certainly, when it comes to the code—and reflecting...
Alun Davies: I’m very grateful to the committee Chairs and Members who have spoken this afternoon. I think Lynne Neagle, in her opening remarks, captured the essence of what we’re seeking to achieve—a transformational programme that transforms the lives of individuals, both their experience of education, but also the rest of their lives as well, and the concluding remark we’ve just heard from...
Alun Davies: Chair. I was getting there. [Laughter.] I will close my opening contribution by confirming that I will not be moving a financial resolution today. I’ve written to all Assembly Members this morning outlining the revisions that are being made to the regulatory impact assessment. I expect to have the revised version available by the end of the summer recess and will re-table a financial...
Alun Davies: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I’m very pleased to be able to open this debate on the general principles of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill. I’d like to focus my opening remarks on some of the themes and the purpose of the legislation, and then use the balance of my time to respond to Members, and points Members wish to raise, in my closing remarks.
Alun Davies: I think I want to start my contribution this afternoon with a very clear focus on the point and the purpose of this legislation. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all learners in Wales have access to the richest possible learning experience. It is not right, and it is not acceptable, that people who have additional learning needs are not provided with the help and support and...
Alun Davies: The Member’s wrong, of course, in his suggestion that the Government will not support any amendments to this Bill. We’ve not reached the stage of consideration of any amendments to this Bill at this point. In fact, we haven’t reached the end of Stage 1 consideration of this Bill. I’ve been very impressed by the hard work of the committee, ably led by my good friend, the Member for...
Alun Davies: On 30 March, the Welsh Government published revised guidance to support learners with both short-term and long-term healthcare needs. The guidance is statutory for governing bodies of all maintained schools, pupil referral units, and local authorities. It sets out clear expectations about how these learners should be supported.
Alun Davies: I trust that all those who were members of Powys County Council at the time that decision was taken will be aware of the implications of the decisions that they took. The Member will be aware, of course, as a former member of that authority, that that authority is responsible for setting its own admissions codes and the consequences thereof.
Alun Davies: Presiding Officer, before answering this question, I will make a statement of interest, in that I have a child in the school system in Powys. Powys County Council is the admission authority for community schools in Powys and is therefore responsible for setting admission arrangements and ensuring that these arrangements are properly implemented and applied fairly.
Alun Davies: I’m very pleased to hear that Cwmdare primary is taking advantage of the free Barefoot Computing resources. Members may wish to know that the Welsh Government has worked closely with BT to review and develop the resources in line with the Welsh curriculum and the digital competence framework. We’re also working with BT to promote the volunteer workshops where volunteers will go into Welsh...
