The next group is group 12 and the amendments relate to local authority reviews. Amendment 39 is the lead amendment in this group, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary to move the lead amendment and speak to the other amendments.

Amendment 39 (Kirsty Williams) moved.

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. These amendments further strengthen and clarify the existing duty in the Bill on local authorities to keep additional learning provision under review.

Amendment 39 requires local authorities, as part of their wider duties, to consider the sufficiency of their arrangements for meeting the additional learning needs of children and young people in their area, and to specifically consider the size and capability of the workforce that is available.

It was always our intention that workforce considerations would be a fundamental aspect of the operation of section 59, and this amendment makes express provision for it. I consider that this is a very appropriate way of explicitly incorporating a workforce planning duty into the Bill. It responds directly to a commitment made by the former portfolio holder at Stage 2 to work towards an amendment on workforce planning.

Amendment 40 ensures that local authorities are under a duty to take all reasonable steps to remedy any insufficiency in their arrangements for meeting ALN identified through their section 59 reviews. It amends section 59(4) of the Bill, which resulted from an amendment of Llyr Gruffydd’s at Stage 2. That subsection requires local authorities, if in their review they have identified an insufficiency in the availability of additional learning provision in Welsh, to take all reasonable steps to remedy the matter.

Amendment 40 seeks to ensure that the duty extends to any identified insufficiency in their ALN arrangements. It retains the effect of Llyr’s original amendment. I would urge Members to support them.

I just want to extend my support for these amendments and also to thank the previous portfolio holder for the opportunity that he gave opposition Members to engage in shaping all of the amendments in relation to the Welsh language in this group and other groups when he appeared before the committee at Stage 2.

These are very welcome amendments indeed, and it is absolutely essential, of course, that we have a workforce that can deliver services through the medium of Welsh to those young people who choose to want to access services in that way.

We're coming to some amendments in group 13 that emphasise and underscore the paramount importance of making sure that learner choice is at the heart of all decisions when it comes to providing services in Welsh. And that choice, essentially, has to be backed up with a proper workforce plan, with people in the right places at the right time, working with those children and young people who need the additional learning need support. So, I very much welcome amendments 39 and 40 and will be supporting them.

I'm also happy to support amendments 39 an 40, and I am grateful to the Government for tabling them. I do have further amendments to this section of the Bill in the next group, which hopefully will also strengthen the situation.

I call on the Cabinet Secretary to respond.

Presiding Officer, I would just like to note the comments made by the Members in respect of amendments 39 and 40 and welcome their support for them.

The question is that amendment 39 be agreed. Does any Member object? Therefore amendment 39 is agreed.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Cabinet Secretary, amendment 40.

Amendment 40 (Kirsty Williams) moved.

I move.

The question is that amendment 40 be agreed. Does any Member object? Therefore amendment 40 is agreed.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.