The next group of amendments is group 14 and these amendments relate to workforce planning. Amendment 34 is the lead and only amendment in this group, and I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to move the amendment. Janet Finch-Saunders.

Amendment 34 (Janet Finch-Saunders) moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. We are retaining amendment 34, as the Minister's responses on workforce planning throughout Stages 1 and 2 have simply not been satisfactory enough. This amendment ensures Ministers are under a duty to examine the capacity of the childcare workforce so enough childcare is available for parents to take up the offer.

It is essential that capacity is scrutinised as evidence has highlighted that, particularly during pinch-points, during academic years, especially during school holidays, there have been problems. Furthermore, Cwlwm—the umbrella body for five childcare providers in Wales—noted that there was a lack of qualified staff, difficulties in staff retention due to low wages and insufficient hours, a lack of registrable venues and availability of school and community buildings to hold childcare services.

Worryingly, there are deficits within certain areas of the childcare sector, including providers who can provide childcare through the medium of Welsh and staff who are trained to provide childcare for children with additional learning needs. National Deaf Children's Society Cymru has called on the Welsh Government to consider skill sets of the childcare workforce in relation to children with ALN.

Furthermore, the recent re-evaluation of the offer's pilot area showed low usage rates of the Welsh Government's special educational needs budget for early implementer local authorities. Local authorities highlight uncertainty among local authorities about how to allocate this budget and this could be used to train the childcare providers. Social Care Wales also estimates that 21,000 additional full-time equivalent places would be needed to meet demand, if the anticipated number of parents take up the offer, and 2,637 extra workers would be needed nationally by the full roll-out in 2020. As there is not present capacity to provide this, to meet a potential shortfall, a 700 per cent increase would be needed in the number of childcare apprenticeship recruitments and completions over two years. Additionally, the recent evaluation on the early implementers of the childcare offer has noted that, while few providers have concerns about capacity, to accommodate the current demand, many note that they were already operating at full or near full capacity. And others did not wish to expand as this would adversely affect the character of their childcare setting. It is also concerning to see that one third of childcare providers in the pilot areas now do not have the capacity to expand should demand increase.

So, there again, not only does this contradict the Minister's assertions at Stage 2 that early implementer authorities were not showing strains within the system, it makes a review of workforce capacity even more necessary. While the Minister is promising more robust reviews of workforce planning in years two and three of implementing the offer, this still leaves out the Assembly's functions to scrutinise whether the childcare workforce does have capacity to deliver this offer. Thank you. 

The Minister.

Can I begin by just refreshing Members' knowledge and recollection of the significant contribution that we're actually already making as a Government through the 10-year workforce plan published last year in terms of building exactly what the Member has requested, which is that additional capacity and capability across the childcare and play sector? That 10-year plan aims to professionalise the sector, create a highly skilled workforce capable of offering high-quality, flexible, affordable childcare. And in terms of investment in the skills and quality of the workforce, there is indeed a new suite of childcare qualifications being developed, ready for introduction in the later part of 2019, alongside the roll-out of the childcare offer. The apprenticeship programme, which provides part of this, will support providers and their workforce to access these qualifications.

But we've also been working already on new ways to encourage real diversity in the workforce. So, in partnership, for example, with the NDNA—the National Day Nurseries Association—we've run the Childcare Works project. I've seen it first-hand myself. It targets those who are currently economically inactive but who have the right skills and personal attributes to work with our young children. It has produced a number of successful outcomes, including job creation, and we're considering now going ahead with the second phase.

But I do also recognise the financial challenges the sector faces, and that's why we're prioritising investment into the sector. It's targeted at business support measures as well as skills, and it will help the sector to build its own capacity and capability, and one of the key drivers for this will be indeed the exemption of business rates for all registered day nurseries from next April. This exception will be for a period of three years, alongside the roll-out, supporting existing providers to become more established and to support new start-ups in local areas as we continue to roll out the childcare offer and roll out the expansion of the workforce.

But we do have to remember that the sector is a mixed economy; it's made up of private and third sector organisations, as well as some in the public sector. And the job creation, therefore, within the sector is dependent on a number of factors, and not all are within the gift of Welsh Ministers to influence or control.

But we will continue to monitor how these plans can be improved, to best support the sector to be able to take full advantage of this exciting childcare offer commitment. So, in light of the current and the planned activity by this Government to support and develop the workforce across what must be said is a very diverse sector, we will not be supporting the amendment.

Janet Finch-Saunders to respond.

I'd like to proceed to the vote, Llywydd.

The question is that amendment 34 be agreed. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We'll move to a vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour, 18, no abstentions, 25 against. Amendment 34 is not agreed.

Amendment 34: For: 18, Against: 25, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Amendment 35, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Amendment 35 (Janet Finch-Saunders) moved.

I move.

The question is that amendment 35 be agreed. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We move to a vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour, 18, no abstentions, 25 against. Amendment 35 is not agreed.

Amendment 35: For: 18, Against: 25, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Amendment 3, Minister.

Amendment 3 (Huw Irranca-Davies) moved.

I move formally.

The question is that amendment 3 be agreed. Does any Member object? Amendment 3 is therefore agreed.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.