Thank you. Yes, the point I was making is that the Bill as it stands introduces a five-year review, which means that it'll be happening at the same time as the next election. So, I just wanted to know what the thinking was behind excluding an entire Senedd from assessing the success of the new curriculum. I think perhaps the timing of that review might make a little bit more sense for a seventh Senedd to examine its findings, if the implementation of the Bill was put back just a short while in order to make up for the delays in curriculum development caused by COVID-19. The explanatory memorandum says that the full effects of COVID on curriculum development are unknown, but that the current timelines—quote—

'remain the best indication of how and when the curriculum reforms will be phased in.'

And I think that does overlook the fact that 76 per cent of schools have already told us that COVID has had a negative effect on curriculum development, and that 46 per cent of them have done nothing at all over lockdown. As this is teachers plus some academics who are suggesting a delayed implementation, I wonder if you would just commit to keeping an open mind on an implementation date as the Bill progresses and as further evidence is gathered on the continuing effects of COVID on that curriculum development work. Obviously, there's that catch-up on the curriculum—the current curriculum—which will squeeze time as well.

The principle of a local curriculum is a core philosophy of this Bill, and the mandatory elements of that local curriculum contain controversial elements in the case of relationships and sexuality education. I understand that the work is still not quite complete. And I know that all elements have been co-constructed with partners, but if it's to be genuinely co-produced, we need to know how the voice of the child, the parent and the wider community will be given due regard in creating a local curriculum. Just by way of illustration on how those voices can be inadvertently diminished, though not on quite the same point, there's a duty on the school to publish its curriculum, but nothing in the Bill about alerting families to the right to request an alternative religious curriculum, for example. So, what is the role of the wider community in curriculum design, and how will those be voices be weighted? And, in fact, what will a consultation on codes and guidance look like—is that just going to be with professionals or more widely? And to go to the other end of the scale, the final decision on the curriculum lies with the head and governors, as long as they respect guidelines and requirements arising from the Bill. So, local authorities, I understand, are not the final arbiter as they are in some decisions about schools. So, how will those higher level strategic plans, such as Welsh in education strategic plans, which will impact on curriculum, be enforced? 

And, finally—plenty to ask you later, I know. Even now, not all the impact assessments for the Bill are complete, but current cost estimates are running at £43 million direct costs to schools, and a further £394 million of absorbed costs, which already exceeds the lower estimate of cost, and is well over halfway to the higher estimate. So, will you commit to a regular update on costs, not just during the passage of this Bill, but beyond that, as I don't think it would really make for good scrutiny for us to be in a position where we try and winkle out this information from annual Senedd budgets, when much of this expenditure will actually be coming from local government?

So, thank you for your statement today. I look forward to further scrutiny on the powers the Bill contains, the place of modern foreign languages and life-saving skills and—I don't want this to be overlooked—the parallel work that Government will need to develop with school development services, Estyn and Qualifications Wales, on the standards, accountability and exams that go alongside this curriculum. They have to go hand in hand to command confidence and, indeed, to secure the Welsh Conservatives' support for the Bill in due course. But, for now, I wish you well in your aims for this legislation.