Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement. I don’t think it takes us in an unexpected direction. Much of it confirms what you’ve outlined in the past, but it is good to have that confirmation, particularly as universities and students, of course, have been seeking that clarity in order to make decisions in the ensuing months.

Now, the most significant announcement here is the fact that the maximum for tuition fees is going to go up in line with inflation, and you make that announcement even though it’s something that you’ve rejected in the past, and I’d like to ask you to explain what’s changed, because, only a few months ago, you were saying that that was the policy in the Chamber, and I would like to know what has changed your mind. Because the result of this is that student debt will increase from the appallingly high levels that we’re already seeing, and we know, of course, that the interest paid on these loans is higher than what some of us pay on mortgages at the moment.

This decision is made at a time when the discussion on the whole future of these tuition fees is a very live topic, with Lord Adonis, of all people, saying that tuition fees are ‘politically dead ’, to use his own words—well, clearly not in Wales. Although we had a Labour Party manifesto some weeks ago saying that they would scrap fees, we now have a Labour Government in Wales who are consenting to see an increase in the level of fees year on year. To think that you’re happy to place that additional burden on students is disappointing to say the least. I note and share the disappointment of NUS Wales in that regard, particularly bearing in mind that the IFS have told us that debts are now so high that three quarters of graduates will never fully repay the debt. So, there are broader questions that need to be taken into account here.

So, can I ask you what consideration you gave to alternative options to placing this additional burden on students themselves? Wasn’t there some possibility that it would have been possible to use HEFCW to meet the cost of the more expensive courses instead of placing the burden on the students themselves? And can we have some clarity on when and who will have to pay these additional fees? Is it an increase that will commence as students commence their courses from 2018 onwards, or will this be payable by students who are already in the system and already engaged in their studies? So, some clarity there would be of assistance.

I welcome the commitment to a living wage in our universities, but there is some irony here, because this is one of the sectors with the highest pay gap, and, whilst it is right that we look at the level of those at the bottom of the scale, I also think that we should consider the other end of the scale, too, and that we need to do more to close that gap. I would like to hear your view on that.

You’ve previously mentioned some sort of pilot in terms of financial support to students to ensure that it’s portable and transferable within the UK, but also outwith, in the European Union and beyond. I’d be thankful for an update on that.

There is no reference to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol here. I know that there are recommendations contained within Diamond, and I know that there is work happening on that front, but I would like some clarity on when we will hear more about any possible changes in terms of the financial sustainability of ColegauCymru—sorry, ‘Coleg Cymraeg’, I should have said, not ColegauCymru.

And, of course, no statement on Diamond would be complete without me asking about the recommendation to bring plans forward to encourage graduates to remain or to return to Wales, having graduated, to ensure that we get the best value for the Welsh economy from the taxpayers’ investment. Can you give us an update on what further consideration you’ve given to this and when we will have more detail in response to the recommendation contained within Diamond on this issue?