Andrew RT Davies: ...is a considerable sum of money to find on an annualised basis. I would be interested—especially as you have linked in the foundation phase here, which obviously sits in the Cabinet Secretary for Education’s portfolio—in how the resources will be allocated to deliver this commitment. Is it specific to your budget, or will there be budget lines in both portfolios to deliver, and...
Andrew RT Davies: ...do take the point that rugby in any shape or form is a great leveller and, ultimately, a great way of bringing people together in a team mentality. Sadly, team sports have suffered in the field of education in recent years—in recent decades, even—and I’d be interested to know what action the Cabinet Secretary will take, working with her Cabinet colleague, the Minister for health, who...
Andrew RT Davies: ...—. I read that very carefully because, obviously, the money side of the equation has traditionally been an important consideration in Welsh Government schemes, such as structural funding, higher education, agriculture and rural development. I do note that you’ve specifically referred to policy, not financial areas. So, is it the case that the First Minister is more receptive to more...
Andrew RT Davies: ...now, be able to put some real meat on the bone of exactly what your Government will do over teachers’ pay and conditions with the new responsibilities. I don’t hold the Cabinet Secretary for Education to account for the department at the moment, but Dr Philip Dixon, in fairness, passed a view over the weekend on the capacity within the department of education, and it’s a fair...
Andrew RT Davies: Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, there are challenges across the whole of the United Kingdom in recruiting and retaining teachers in any education system. Sadly, the figures here in Wales for new recruits into the profession are pretty damning, to be honest with you. After five years in the profession, there’s been an increase of 50 per cent in teachers giving up the profession...
Andrew RT Davies: ...shed some light on the unimaginable scenes that the community of Aberfan, Wales and the world had to endure 50 years ago. This tragedy, which devastatedly consumed 20 houses and the village school, took the lives of 28 adults and 116 children. The children had just returned to their classes after singing ‘All things bright and beautiful’ at their assembly. Today, we remember those...
Andrew RT Davies: ...section 106s, and in particular their use when considering self-build or small residential developments? Section 106s can be a very useful tool in commercial developments, attracting moneys in for education and for other community facilities, but surely they cannot be a tool that can be used to leverage money out of self-build or small developments of three or four houses. That could have...
Andrew RT Davies: ...your wider commitments in the first five months of this Assembly, you have the backing for the black route, which is the most expensive M4 relief option, you have the pupil premium agreed with the education Secretary, and you have the potential for an overspend in your childcare policy. We know from the report last week that there is a deficit opening up in NHS funding to the potential...
Andrew RT Davies: ...through and actually, by 2021, that project might well be either well on its way to being finished, or actually finished. Can you give us a date? Five years? It is important to remember, on the education targets that are contained within the programme for government, that students going into year 7 today, or this term, at the start of the academic year, will be sitting their O-Levels,...
Andrew RT Davies: ...a more coherent strategy of governing Wales and of taking Wales forward with a strategy that can be delivered, that will deliver a decline in waiting times, that will deliver an improvement in education and, above all, that will deliver prosperity to all parts of Wales. If Members of this house on the opposition benches choose to try to scupper this motion or vote with the Government, then...
Andrew RT Davies: ..., it is the people and communities of Wales that get let down when these initiatives aren’t carried through and aren’t delivered to the very people who require them to be delivered in health, education and the economy. But, if you just look through this document, it is impossible to actually see how the Government proposes to take Wales forward, as the front page talks about. The UK...
Andrew RT Davies: ...and operations that he does set up. I do hope that the First Minister will actually graft this term and actually deliver the changes that will improve people’s lives, whether that be in education, whether that be in the economy or whether that be in the NHS. I do hope that, in responding to the questions that I will put to him, he will be able to confirm that this programme for...
Andrew RT Davies: ...world, their expertise is called for and is greatly received in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. I do hope that this Cabinet Secretary will enlighten us as to some of the initiatives, via education and promotion, that the Government will engage with schools and youth organisations, so that, instead of just being an event on the calendar, many of these commemorative events can...
Andrew RT Davies: ...chances. We must ensure those in Wales have their life chances supported in a similar way, and monitor closely how developments in England succeed. New reporting requirements within the Higher Education and Research Bill will lay down the challenge of social mobility to the higher education sector, and outline clearly the work that needs to be done to support progression rates for all. How...
Andrew RT Davies: Will the Minister outline her funding priorities for education in the fifth Assembly for South Wales Central?
Andrew RT Davies: ...relation to the agreement that you have with the Liberal Democrats and, in particular, the assertion made by Kirsty Williams that the implications had significant budget implications over the nine education commitments that were made between you and the Liberal Democrats. What is the totality of the commitment that you have given in financial terms to meet the commitment that you made to...
Andrew RT Davies: ...to a very opaque procedure that people outside of this institution know very little about. I’d also like to move the second amendment in Paul Davies’s name, which refers specifically to the education Minister’s manifesto commitment, and the wording in the manifesto about the ministerial code. It does speak, the Liberal Democrat manifesto—it says, ‘it’s no wonder voters lose...
Andrew RT Davies: ...environment and you only have the one car in the family, very often, understandably, that car is allocated to getting to work and getting back from work, rather than maybe attending that after-school club. I was really heartened by the Minister saying that she would look into this particular aspect of school transport, after-school transport, to allow greater participation levels, because...
Andrew RT Davies: As a Conservative, I fully understand that you can borrow, but you have to pay back borrowing and that has a cost in itself, year in, year out. But, I did also ask you about the education commitment that you made, which we welcome. I also made a comment about the £15 million to £20 million that you would have to meet if you were to abolish the Severn bridge tolls, which, again, in some...
Andrew RT Davies: ...Liberal Democrats, you indicated that your Government would be making available an additional £42 million to meet that commitment over and above the Labour manifesto commitment of £100 million to education. You also then went on to say that if you had the responsibility over the Severn bridge tolls, you would abolish Severn bridge tolls, and that in itself could crystallise in a...
