Regional skills partnerships are in place to drive investment in skills by developing responses based upon local and regional need. Given that the Government says their remit is simply to provide statistics and information and not innovate operational work or advise, are they delivering as envisaged?

We understand there are three regional skills partnerships in Wales covering south-east Wales, south-west and mid Wales and north Wales. Each RSP produces and analyses labour market intelligence, engages with regional employers, advises the Welsh Government on skills provision in the light of the employer-led insight. In other words, this is the Government's attempt to allow industry to indicate skills requirements.

As has been mentioned by both Russell George and Bethan Sayed, in March 2019, SQW were commissioned by the Welsh Government to consider the consistency of the skills insight and intelligence that is gathered by RSPs and how it is used and presented, and also how RSPs contribute to, inform, and are informed, by the plans of the city and growth deals. The research took place in March and April, including consultation with RSP managers and chairs as well as wider stakeholders. It also took account of the evidence provided to the National Assembly's Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee into the regional skills partnerships, which, strangely, ran in parallel with this study.

We see the acceptance of action point 4 in that the Government recognise that the SQW report said that a more strategic role for RSPs was needed, and note that the Government are putting in place three-year regional employment and skills plans. According to the SQW report, at present, there is variation in the depth and breadth of direct contact with employers between the RSPs. However, as this is core to the RSPs' remit, and given that there is evidence of good practice in this aspect, is enough work being done to encourage cross pollination between RSPs?

There is no doubt that the idea of an industrial-led skills development strategy is a very laudable objective, but we have to make sure these aims do not become mired in an overcomplicated delivery structure.