5. Debate on the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee report: Apprenticeships in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:55 pm on 9 May 2018.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 4:55, 9 May 2018

Mark Isherwood used his contribution to highlight, in large part, evidence that we've received from Remploy in regard to apprentices and in regard to disabled people. This is an area where we need to see some real progress being made; the Minister's acknowledged that and accepted that recommendation in that regard as well. 

Joyce Watson, Rhianon Passmore and Siân Gwenllian also raised issues around gender, disabled people, Welsh speaking, and I should say that, as a committee, we did decide not to ask for specific targets in this regard; we didn't want to create a tick-box culture. We did have some discussion around that, and we are keen for those regular updates. But I think as we come back as a committee to look at this work again, and we will do, then I suppose if we feel that progress isn't being made in those areas, it might be a case where the committee are minded to look at recommending specific targets in those areas.

Jack Sargeant, you should join our committee. We've just started a piece of work on automation this morning—a real fascinating session this morning, and I agree with all the points you made in that regard. And, of course, you talked about your own experience as an apprentice yourself—so, so much in common with what our committee's looking at. You'd be very welcome to join our committee, but that would mean I'd have to choose one Member on your side to leave, and I wouldn't be able to do that either.

David Rowlands and Mohammad Asghar—I'll just say Oscar; I'll just call you Oscar—were also pointing out the requirements for independent career advice and getting the correct balance for the Welsh economy, and also highlighting our recommendations for equivalent support to be made, of course, between apprentices and that also available to students.

If I could thank Vikki Howells, of course, for raising the issues of awareness of encouraging younger people, I suppose, and bringing your own experience as a teacher yourself—of course, I'm disappointed, like yourself, that the Government didn't accept recommendation 3 in this regard.

Thank you, Nick Ramsay, for your intervention as well and for rooting through your wardrobe this afternoon to pull out an old committee paper. I think it's important that we do look at our previous committees' work and not let them gather dust; I'm certainly a big believer in that.

Can I thank my colleagues on the committee for their work and their contribution, and also Members who have left our committee now? Two Members have now joined the Government since we started this piece of work.

I particularly wanted to thank BT and the Prince's Trust for hosting the committee and showcasing us the work of their apprentices and young people respectively—that was a very valuable meeting for us, and we thank you for that—and also the other organisations who also submitted evidence to the committee's inquiry. So, today's debate, I think, has showcased the passion that Members have in our committee but also from Members not sitting on our committee as well. It's encouraging that a lot of Members who took part in today's debate are not members of the committee, and that's the way I think it should be; that should be the norm.

And I do appreciate the Minister's enthusiasm as well in regard to apprenticeships; I can certainly agree and see that. So, I can say to the Minister the committee won't be leaving apprenticeships behind after this debate, you'll be pleased to know. We'll be publishing our thoughts on the first year of the levy later this term, and this is an issue that Hefin David and Siân Gwenllian also mentioned. So, I'm pleased to say that some of the issues around policing that were mentioned in today's debate will be addressed then as well. But I can say to the Minister we'll certainly be keeping up the pressure on the Government in regard to the support for apprenticeships and support packages for apprentices equivalent to those that are available to students as well.