6. Will the First Minister provide an update on what work the Welsh Government is doing to increase the number of degree apprenticeships across Wales? OQ57986

I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. Over 1,200 degree apprenticeships have been taken up during the first three years of the programme in Wales. Our focus for expansion will prioritise areas that address skills gaps, boost productivity and contribute to our net-zero ambitions.

Diolch, and I'd like to thank you, First Minister, for your answer. First Minister, degree apprenticeships are vitally important to fill in the gaps in our workforce, whether that's in the NHS and social care, construction, engineering, to name but a few. In late 2020 the economy committee made a number of recommendations, including one to enable, fund and support more formal structures or groups for relevant stakeholders and industry to come together to develop and refresh degree apprenticeship frameworks, using their detailed occupational and sector expertise. First Minister, can you outline what work has been done to address these recommendations, because if we are to fill the vacancies in our NHS and in other sectors, and build that resilient workforce that we need in Wales, degree apprenticeships could be the answer to address the workforce gaps and give more people the opportunities to access lifelong learning? Diolch, Llywydd.

Llywydd, I am grateful to the Member for that additional question, and I'm very glad to be able to discuss this matter on a day where legal apprenticeships are being launched in Wales—a recommendation of the Thomas commission, taken forward initially by my colleague Jeremy Miles, and brought to conclusion by the current Counsel General. I think, if the Member studies today's announcement, he will see that it has been developed exactly in line with the recommendations of the committee's report, because it has come together as a result of discussions with the Law Society, as a result of a rapid review of qualifications in the Welsh legal sector, and through working with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

My colleague Vaughan Gething later this term will be coming forward with our broader set of proposals for how we can take degree apprenticeships, graduate-level apprenticeships, forward here in Wales. I have to say, to be realistic with colleagues, given the absence of European funding, our ability to do everything we would like in this field is constrained. There are many areas where calls are made for more to be done in graduate apprenticeships because of the success of the scheme. And I don't think I mentioned earlier, Llywydd, in answer to question 2, that Rhondda Cynon Taf's Labour group has a proposal for 150 extra apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships over the next five years in that part of Wales, should they be in a position to do so after Thursday.