Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I’m very pleased I’ve had the opportunity to take part in this debate this afternoon. Members are right to emphasise the importance of the further education sector in Wales and to draw attention to examples of some of the excellent work that our FE providers are doing. In my constituency, Pembrokeshire College offers a strong and varied programme of courses, from A-levels to apprenticeships to degrees to business skills programmes. It’s also important to note that FE providers like Pembrokeshire College open their doors to students of all ages, not only young people between 16 and 21 years of age.

Indeed, for employees facing the loss of their jobs, the FE sector can be a major resource. It offers an opportunity for workers to learn new skills and to adapt to changes in their local economy. Of course, by offering part-time courses as well as full-time courses, adults who are in work or stay-at-home parents, as well as older people, can access a variety of important educational opportunities, and this has a positive effect on our society and on our economy.

However, as Darren Millar said, the future of that positive effect is in jeopardy as the sector faces a funding cut of 71 per cent for part-time courses. Despite this, I do accept that funding for full-time provision has increased 3 per cent in real terms, and this is certainly to be welcomed. But my concern is that by decreasing funding for part-time courses so dramatically, the message that is sent is that second-chance opportunities to study or upskill are not a priority, and aren’t even on the Welsh Government’s agenda. Even though I accept that schemes like ReAct have gone some way towards assisting people in developing new skills, cuts to funding for part-time provision are sure to lead to fewer opportunities for those who want to seek new career opportunities following the loss of their job, for example. Therefore, perhaps in responding to this debate, the Minister can say a little bit more about what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that further education institutions can continue to offer part-time courses, and how it is promoting second-chance opportunities via the FE sector.

Of course, I realise that budgets are tight and challenging, and that the Welsh Government can’t fund everything, but it’s not just about how much money is available; it’s also about the way in which funding is prioritised by the Welsh Government to ensure the best possible outcomes for learners of all ages. Therefore, I encourage the Minister to look again at funding for part-time courses, to see whether there is any flexibility to give a much-needed boost to FE institutions.

Now, the second point in our motion today calls on the Welsh Government to commit to a three-year funding cycle for FE colleges on a fair basis to enable plans to be made that are more sustainable. Members will know that the Welsh Government at one time did provide a three-year funding cycle for colleges, and that made the task of making plans much easier, and it also led to greater certainty for learners in terms of knowing that their courses would continue in the medium-term. But I can’t see how introducing one-year funding allocations has led to better support for FE institutions, and I don’t see how this has led to better planning in the medium-term.

I think that this, too, has a negative effect in terms of attracting students. Indeed, we know that FE institutions have seen a decline in the number of learners in 2015-16, and I think that one of the reasons for this is the decrease in funding that the sector has received and the instability caused by one-year funding allocations.

We know that the Wales Audit Office is currently reviewing FE funding, and I’m sure that that report, when published, will make interesting reading. I hope that the review will give serious consideration to how the sector is funded and to how the shift to a one-year funding model has affected the sector’s ability to offer courses.

Now, Professor Hazelkorn is right when she says in her report that there is a feeling that the FE sector isn’t fully appreciated and cannot therefore operate to its full potential. The Welsh Government must respond to this concern and ensure that our FE institutions are better supported.

I appreciate that, in the wake of Professor Hazelkorn’s report, the Cabinet Secretary has confirmed that a single authority needs to be created with parity of esteem across the post-compulsory education sector, and I very much hope that when this authority is created, the FE sector will receive the focus and attention it deserves.

So, in concluding, Deputy Presiding Officer, whilst FE providers in Wales are doing excellent work in providing education and training for thousands of people every year, the sector needs much more support. So, I encourage the Minister to consider the future direction of the FE sector carefully and ensure that the sector receives the vital investment that it needs. Thank you.