2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 26 November 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 2:32, 26 November 2019

Well, there has been a great deal of change in terms of the way in which supply teachers are procured in Wales. So, the new National Procurement Service framework for supply teachers became operational in September of this year for the start of the academic year, and there are 27 agencies on that framework, so schools are now offered a choice of provider. Framework agencies must comply with the terms of the framework agreement, including promoting the minimum pay point, and the NPS is monitoring compliance with the framework, and they will address any issues of non-compliance with any agencies. So, if Mike Hedges has some examples of agencies that are exploiting supply workers, we'd be very keen to have that evidence, and we certainly will work to ensure that that exploitation comes to an end. The framework is designed, really, to ensure that workers' rights are protected, so there'll be the minimum pay rate for qualified supply teachers, abolition of the Swedish derogation and fixed and transparent agency charge rates. So, I think that we've made some really important steps, but if there are agencies that aren't working to the spirit and to the letter of what we've set out, then I need to have that information.

In terms of the free swimming initiative, Mike Hedges will be aware that it was only 6 per cent of the over-60s who were taking up the opportunity for the free swimming initiative, and the independent report suggested that the scheme did need to be amended, to ensure that young people, particularly from poorer backgrounds, were able to take up the opportunity for free swimming.

So, the situation now is that, based on the understanding of the needs of their own communities, local authorities are being asked to focus on supporting young people, and older citizens from more disadvantaged areas, and provide new plans to meet those objectives. And those plans, I can say, are currently being introduced, and we are in a transition period, where users are being encouraged to feed back their views and experiences to the provider via their local swimming pools. Again, I'd be really pleased if Mike Hedges and other Members are able to feed back some of their feedback to Welsh Government in terms of what their constituents are telling them, because that feedback will be used to help local authorities and delivery agents provide a more tailored service in the future. Support will be provided by Sport Wales and Swim Wales, who will, in turn, report back to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism every six months, for a period of 18 months.