There's much about this Bill that we welcome, but a number of concerns have been raised by stakeholders about the Bill, which vary from uncertainty about the new commission and its relationship with Government and learning providers, planning and funding, the well-being and voice of learners, securing quality and academic freedom. Now, given the number and diversity of these concerns conveyed by stakeholders, it would be relevant to ask some questions on the consultation process. NUS Cymru, for example, is of the view that a very real opportunity was missed here to incorporate a very real partnership with learners across the post-16 sector, and that this is reflected in the wording of the strategic framework of the Bill, where there's an absence—there isn't a great deal of reference to the learner voice—and, for example, there's a lack of recognition of the way that there is diversity in terms of access to advocacy and representation between the HE and FE sectors. There would have been an opportunity here, for example, to give a legal basis to that, and that recognition and support for that would be a condition of being a registered body. Therefore, does the Minister believe that the Bill, as it currently stands, does give adequate consideration to the learner voice?

Now, I'm sure that we could all agree that academic freedom is crucial to higher education in the UK and internationally. It's an important principle that we should welcome, support, fund and promote here in Wales. The outcomes of not securing such freedoms are very broad ranging. Academic freedom affects the investment universities can secure for Wales through its activities. It can limit their abilities to create partnerships, domestically and internationally, and it can place Wales at a disadvantage therefore. We need better recognition and safeguards for academic freedoms within the Bill, but stakeholders have referred to areas where there is a lack of protection. These include unintended gaps in transferring current protections in the funding legislation, the powers that Welsh Ministers have, rather than the commission, and the number of regulatory powers and other new powers contained within the Bill. In this regard, I would like the Minister to outline how the Bill before us today does safeguard academic freedoms, the ability of academic institutions to form these key partnerships, and what this will mean for Welsh students at a domestic level and on a global platform.

The stated aims of this legislation include respect for education institutions, while bringing regulation and funding under the new commission on tertiary education and research. However, the Bill doesn't eradicate Welsh Government powers to abolish higher education corporations against their will, and it extends powers to change their statutory responsibilities. We're not necessarily against these aspects of the Bill, because universities do have to behave in a way that responds to the needs of our economy, not as businesses. But, given that the institutions affected by the Bill do receive public funds, could I ask the Minister how the Bill ensures that our universities do respond strategically to the skills needs of the Welsh economy, as well as research, rather than behaving as commercial entities competing against each other?

In terms of the Welsh language, it was explained during the consultation process that stakeholders agreed that the new commission should be placed under a specific duty to give due regard to the Welsh language in exercising its functions, and should be subject to the Welsh-language standards. In this regard, it was noted that the commission would deal with a number of areas that would have a direct impact on the ability of the PCET sector to develop the ability of learners to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually, which will go some way towards delivering the Welsh Government's aim of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Historically, the offer of Welsh-medium and bilingual provision within PCET has been limited and patchy because of a number of factors, including the limited availability of qualifications, the limited availability of resources in terms of physical resources and staff able to teach and assess through the medium of Welsh, and the perceived lack of demand by employers and learners. So, could the Minister outline how he believes the Bill responds to these issues, and, specifically, how the Bill will respond to the absence of qualifications and the limited resources available, in terms of physical resources and staff able to teach and assess through the medium of Welsh? So, I’d like to hear more about the details on how the Bill will help us on the way to that target of a million Welsh speakers. Thank you very much.