6. Debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee Report: School Funding in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:09 pm on 23 October 2019.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 5:09, 23 October 2019

Well, you haven't heard my speech yet [Laughter.]. I always fear when we try to take the politics out of politics. How we allocate our funds and what we do—[Interruption.] You are trying to be constructive, and you don't need to tweet me; I heard what you said—[Laughter.]—and I recognise the importance of the point you wish to make.

But, this afternoon, I want to address three issues in this debate. The first is the amount of money available to the education budget and to schools. All of us will make the case—and I in Government have made the case—for funds for our own portfolio areas, and I have suffered the intense pain of disagreeing with Kirsty Williams in Government as she has made the case for education funding. I pay testament to the leadership of Lynne Neagle as the Chair of the committee, but we can also do so in terms of the education Minister herself. All too often, we have these debates and we have these discussions, but I know from my experience in Government that the Minister we have today is also somebody who has argued for funding within Government and argued for that within budget in Cabinet. I give way.