Bethan Sayed: To Rhun, thank you for explaining the economic impact of higher education. You said that alarm bells should be ringing about what’s happening across the whole of Wales, and how important HE is in terms of local economies. I've spoken to people in the sector who are saying, 'If this university were to disappear, then the whole town would die.' So, we have to be alive to that when we're...
Bethan Sayed: Diolch yn fawr iawn, and thank you to everybody who has taken part in this debate. I welcome the announcement that's been made with regard to the Master's degree. Although, I must say, every time I raise issues with higher education, I feel that the Minister is always very defensive, and we raise these issues because, like I said in the beginning, we have heard concerns. And this is not to...
Bethan Sayed: Yes, and that's why we are raising this debate today, and I do not make any apologies for doing so, and want to assure that everything we're saying has been brought to us by people in the sector who want us to raise these concerns and want us to do that in this particular Chamber. I'm not sure how much time I have, but I wanted to thank Suzy Davies for her intervention in relation to being...
Bethan Sayed: Well, I was hoping that you would respond to the—[Interruption.] You're not going—[Interruption.] All right, fine.
Bethan Sayed: Well, I'm not sure that everybody in your party believes that, but thank you for the intervention. We come to this debate too in the knowledge that financial certainty can change overnight. Financial stability at universities depends on this, particularly in relation to borrowing. Now, I understand that the Higher Education Council for Wales plays a regulatory role in this and that,...
Bethan Sayed: Over recent years, there has been a steady drip-drip of news indicating the worsening financial position of Welsh universities. We have seen successive announcements of job cuts for one, at Trinity Saint David, we are seeing news that there is a potential for up to 170 job cuts, Cardiff has announced up to 380 losses over the next five years, and we know that this is on top of prior job...
Bethan Sayed: Diolch yn fawr iawn. Let me start from the outset by saying that we don't want to be holding this debate today. It's not our preference, nor do we take pleasure in coming here to discuss the problems across the higher education sector in Wales, but we feel that this is a debate that needs to be had now, because we support the sector, because it's so integral to our society and the economy....
Bethan Sayed: We found out from the BBC that, in Port Talbot, the 50 mph area that has been a trial period around junction 31, and has been extended, will be made permanent. And, from the BBC, it says that it will remain in force to maintain air quality standards. Now, without any Government statement, it's very hard for us to know what those air quality standards have reached and how we can be assured...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for that reply. I've had contact from women who due to—immigration laws mean that they are being denied recourse to public funds. The Minister, Jane Hutt, says people can apply for destitute domestic violence concession, but this is only for people on a spousal visa for a short period of time and this isn't for everyone. Due to this particular instance, many women are being denied...
Bethan Sayed: 3. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o'r effaith a gaiff deddfau mewnfudo Llywodraeth y DU ar y ffordd y mae'r gyfraith yn gweithredu mewn cysylltiad â ffoaduriaid yng Nghymru? OAQ54101
Bethan Sayed: I thank Dai Lloyd for tabling this motion. I want to start by emphasising the importance of these regulations. They are supposed to take us closer to delivering primary healthcare services in Welsh—something that was acknowledged by everyone who came and spoke to the committee as a necessity, not merely a preference, for some people. For vulnerable patients, it can be vital to talk to their...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you for the answer. I thought it was important to raise this issue again, given some of the reports that emerged last week, and I appreciate that you've met with HEFCW. But I wanted to put on record that we all value the work that the university does, but that's one of the main reasons why I wanted to raise this again, as has my colleague Helen Mary Jones. And we can't be satisfied with...
Bethan Sayed: 1. Will the Minister respond to ongoing administrative issues at Swansea University, including recent news that the University is seven months late publishing its financial report? 327
Bethan Sayed: I was in a meeting with some veterans yesterday and they mentioned to me the fact that, when they come out of the armed forces, quite often their transferrable skills are not recognised, so they may have specific skills in engineering and such, but it's not recognised if they need to go into an entirely different work landscape, and they end up on benefits, or they end up homeless, actually,...
Bethan Sayed: I think it’s important that we all acknowledge the importance of Adult Learners Week, and, as has been done already, to thank everyone in the sector who is working so hard and diligently in this field. I acknowledge that it’s a very important thing, as part of our society, that people can learn, whatever age they are and whatever subject they might be studying, be it to do with...
Bethan Sayed: My second statement is—. I know that we have had this debate here numerous times about a Welsh cricket team, and many of us here do want that still, but we know that there will be disagreement across the board. Many of us have noticed, with some of the games happening in Wales, the pitiful branding, actually, that Wales gets as part of this Cricket World Cup, and I'm wondering what analysis...
Bethan Sayed: I wanted to ask for a statement on the Augar report that was published in England on how they’re to pay fees and how they’re going to pay for the post-16 education system there. They certainly have recommended a reduction in the fees for students, and I want to understand from the Welsh Government how that will impact you. So, could we have a statement to that end? We know that the Welsh...
Bethan Sayed: Last week, those in the Muslim community of Wales and the wider world took part in Ramadan and the festival Eid that followed it. Many in our communities and politicians here went to visit mosques and shared in that experience. And this will go a long way, I believe, in developing mutual understanding and respect of one another. Learning about different faiths and cultures can empower us and...
Bethan Sayed: Yes, thank you, and we are welcoming of that. I think the next steps are going to be vital, and there's no doubt about that. For us, I think, in Wales, and its partners, we will be able to deliver sectoral opportunities in health, autonomous vehicles, as you've mentioned, with electric vehicles, but not only that but hydrogen, as was mentioned yesterday, big data, artificial intelligence,...
Bethan Sayed: Thank you very much for that answer, and I recognise the work on decarbonisation, but I wanted to focus on digital, and I think that Wales is unprepared for, potentially, the next industrial revolution. We led the last one, but we are still lagging behind in this regard. Just to give you an example, there are large sections of society that even struggle to get 3G coverage as opposed to...
