7. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to encourage more young people to study STEM subjects? OQ58062

The Welsh Government has provided almost £1.5 million in grant funding this year to support the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiatives, with the primary aims of supporting and developing STEM enrichment activities, narrowing the attainment gap and encouraging the take-up of STEM subjects at GCSE and A-level.

I appreciate that answer, Minister. The vast majority of problems facing today's Wales can be addressed by having more scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Mathematicians have devised better surgery scheduling in order to eliminate cancelled operations. We need more doctors, radiographers and lab technicians in order to tackle our horrendous waiting lists, and if we are to address climate change, we need more scientists and engineers working on new battery technology and grid storage. Studying STEM subjects teaches one of life's greatest skills, which is critical thinking, a skill needed above all others in this age of disinformation. Minister, in order to gain the next generation of scientists and engineers, we have to train the next generation of scientists and engineers. How is the Welsh Government working with science outreach projects and science communicators in order to get young people hooked on STEM from a young age? 

That's a really good question and a really good point that the Member makes in his question. The £1.5 million in grant funding that I referred to earlier, some of that is—. For example, we've recently invested in Techniquest to explore delivering programmes of work to enhance science and maths in primary and secondary schools, developing that love of science, if you like, at an early age, which I was mentioning to Natasha Asghar a little bit earlier. We fund Engineering Education Scheme Wales, which runs programmes right across Wales to inspire and motivate young people to choose careers in STEM, with a particular focus, as you'd expect with that name, on engineering. We fund computer coding workshops for pupils, we support the further maths support programme with Swansea University, which aims to widen access to further maths, which is obviously critical for some of the STEM disciplines, and we also support the Institute of Physics Stimulating Physics Network programme, amongst other investment. So, I agree wholeheartedly with him that it's really important to encourage our young people who have an aptitude and enthusiasm for STEM subjects to see those as realistic options for them.

I find myself agreeing with Gareth Davies this afternoon in what he says. [Laughter.] Llywydd, last night I had the privilege, as a former engineer myself—I started my career as an apprentice—of speaking alongside the Minister for Economy at the Science and the Senedd event. I spoke about the importance of encouraging young people to take up STEM subjects. Gareth Davies is right; if we are to create the next generation of carbon-neutral products here in Wales, then Wales does need to train its professional engineers and scientists. That simply won't happen, Minister, if we don't get young people engaged in STEM. Can I ask you then, Minister, not only what you're doing in the science industry and the education sector, but how you're working with industry partners and the Minister for Economy to ensure that science is available to everyone, that they can take it up, and that they do realise the world is in their hands when they take up STEM? 

The Minister for Economy and I work very closely on this area, because it's a cross-cutting theme and we're both passionate about it. It's really important, I think, to take full advantage of the opportunities that the new curriculum will bring, with a real focus on understanding career options from an early age—an earlier age than perhaps most children and young people currently have an opportunity. But it's those transition points as well, from school into further education, from FE into the world of work or into higher education. At each of those stages it's really important to equip our young people with the skills to get work, obviously, but also an understanding of the options available to them, and, crucially, that aspiration to look at the broadest range of options for them in the world of work, both in terms of their local economy—the kinds of initiatives that Huw Irranca-Davies was referring to in his question—but also globally. We are very committed to that as a Government and we do everything we can to make sure our young people have those opportunities. 

Finally, question 8—Sarah Murphy.