External School Activities

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 1:30 pm on 5 June 2019.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 1:30, 5 June 2019

Minister, thank you for that answer. I know the efforts that have been taken to ensure that there is inclusivity. But, of course, there is the growing concern, arising from the Musicians' Union report, about the accessibility of music lessons, the issues that arise now in terms of the affordability of children being able to attend external trips—arts, culture, and so on. And, of course, there's one new one, which we seem to have inherited from America, and that is the development of school proms, where the cost seems to be not only rising, but it appears to be a competition between parents—some having limousines, and so on, going to schools. And it does raise this concern more broadly, when put within the context of all the other things, that there is a growing issue with regard to those who may or may not be able to afford to participate in some of these. And I wonder if this is an area, Minister, where you could indicate whether you'd be prepared to undertake further research and analysis, to assess what the scale of this is, and how it might be tackled.