I think it’s important that we all acknowledge the importance of Adult Learners Week, and, as has been done already, to thank everyone in the sector who is working so hard and diligently in this field. I acknowledge that it’s a very important thing, as part of our society, that people can learn, whatever age they are and whatever subject they might be studying, be it to do with reskilling or whether it’s in the context of them just wanting to learn something new at a different time in their life. I think that’s what’s important—that we recognise learning for its own sake, rather than learning in order to get some sort of qualification at the end.

I have a series of questions. Certainly, this week, we have heard that 180 posts are at risk at Allied Bakeries. We've certainly heard that posts are at risk in Ford in Bridgend. That, then, is going to have an impact on the education system, because a number of those people who are working in these sectors are going to need to develop new skills and to find new jobs. Last year, we heard the Future Advocacy think tank suggesting that one in three posts in Wales are at risk as a result of automation by the early 2030s, and Alun and Deeside is the most vulnerable constituency and will see the greatest impact in that regard. So, considering the economic impact and considering some of the factors related to automation, could you tell us whether you have seriously considered these forecasts? What provision can you make to upskill and reskill those people who are going to be requiring that? And, how are you going to include that within the adult learners’ system? Following on from that, what discussions have you had with the Minister for the economy to mitigate the impact of the development of automation on our employees, and the impact that that will have on opportunities within the specific sectors that I have already mentioned?

A number of us have received e-mails from Age Cymru and you've said that you are going to be making a specific statement on older people, so thank you very much for that. But we have received an e-mail from Age Cymru to say that lifelong learning and the opportunity to take part in educational activities is important to a number of older people to develop new skills and knowledge. We have heard from the Bevan Foundation that only one in 20 learners in lifelong learning are 65 years of age and above. The location of courses, the accessibility of facilities, the lack of range of courses and a lack of advertising, specifically advertising that isn't on the web, are impacting that age group’s ability to engage with education in the way that they would like. So, what’s your assessment of lifelong learning as a well-being tool, as well as it being an opportunity to develop skills for employability? How is the Welsh Government supporting the development of resources to ensure that lifelong learning is seen as a tool to deal with life stages, including loneliness, retirements and experiences such as grief and so on? What discussions have you had with the local government Minister to improve mobility and accessibility in libraries and other education centres, for example, to ensure that accessibility isn't a barrier?

The third element, as you've already heard from the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, I believe, is on the regional skills partnerships. FE colleges and people in that sector have told me that there are some difficulties with the regional skills partnerships and the suggestions that are made to them. There is evidence from that sector that suggests that there is a gap between what the partnership and the Government expect them to do and what is realistic for them to do on the ground, and perhaps they're too detailed and prescriptive with regard to what is being asked of them. So, I acknowledge that we do need to give some sort of steer for Government spending, but is there a way to be more flexible with what is happening on the ground in terms of the courses that are being provided, so that they're a response to what people want to do, but also a response to what the economy requires and what we require as a nation as well?