We move now to group 11, which relates to Welsh Ministers' funding powers. Amendment 32 is the lead amendment in the group, and I call on the Minister to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group. Jeremy Miles.

Amendment 32 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. Amendment 33 adjusts the Welsh Ministers’ power under section 91 of the Bill to fund a limited range of higher education courses so as to enable them to provide resources themselves or to make arrangements with other persons, either individually or jointly, to fund the provision of relevant courses in the same manner as currently provided for under the Learning and Skills Act 2000. Higher education courses that may be funded include those in preparation for professional examinations at higher level, for example courses that are not degrees and lead to qualifications accredited by professional bodies. These could include qualifications relevant to health and social care or industry-specific qualifications that meet a social need or improve employment prospects.

This amendment ensures alignment of the Welsh Ministers’ power under section 91 with their powers to fund further education and training under section 96 of the Bill. Taken together, these powers will allow the Welsh Government to continue to fund employability interventions in the same manner as at present. This amendment is required as it is anticipated the Welsh Ministers may need to rely on section 91 of the Bill to fund certain courses at levels 4 and 5 of the credit and qualifications framework for Wales within the Welsh Government’s employability programmes. Some aspects of these programmes may be funded through arrangements with third parties.

Amendments 32 and 34 are consequential to amendment 33. I reject amendments 90 to 95 and strongly recommend Members to do so as well. These amendments seek to limit the Welsh Ministers’ powers under sections 96, 99 and 102 of the Bill, which are powers the Welsh Ministers will hold concurrently with the commission. These powers will enable the Welsh Ministers to secure financial resources in respect of further education and training, the undertaking of eligibility tests in relation to their powers under section 96(1)(d) or (e), and for activities connected to tertiary education. A key purpose of retaining these funding powers for the Welsh Ministers relates to the new employability and skills plan, which confirmed that all Welsh Government-led employability programmes will be delivered directly by the Welsh Government, under a new single operating model from 2023 onwards.  

Employability programmes vary. For instance, Communities for Work delivers community engagement activities and mentoring services. The one thing most employability programmes have in common is that they are focused on gaining employment and removing barriers to employment. The amendments seek to limit the exercise of the Welsh Ministers’ powers to deliver employability arrangements. This approach is impractical and would create difficulties for the exercise of the Welsh Ministers’ funding functions and would probably give rise to unintended consequences, which would impact negatively on the people of Wales we are seeking to support through those programmes.

The Welsh Government is best placed to directly manage inter-governmental relations on employability programmes and to work with UK Government and others to shape a co-ordinated response in Wales within its current powers. The Welsh Ministers need flexibility in the application of their funding powers relating to further education and training, to eligibility arrangements and the provision of advice, information and guidance relating to employability interventions. Amendments 91 to 95 would remove this flexibility. I should say also that, as drafted, in addition, the amendments would not be futureproofed against changes to the Welsh Government's website domain.

Retaining these funding powers will also enable the Welsh Ministers to fund certain interventions and pilots, an example of which includes junior apprenticeships. These are a 14 to 16 intervention that support disengaged learners by allowing early access to vocational learning routes at their local college. This is primarily funded by the schools budget, but does include top-up funding directly from the Welsh Ministers to further education providers. I therefore call on Members to support the amendments tabled in my name and to reject all of the other amendments.

I'd like to move amendments 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. The objective of these amendments is ultimately to limit the funding power of Welsh Ministers. They would ensure that the ability for a Welsh Minister to authorise the provision of financial resources is conditional. As stressed in Stage 2, HEFCW have noted that enabling Welsh Ministers to fund further education and training at the same time and in the same way as the commission would result in unclear strategic priorities that blur the lines of accountability and add unnecessary complexity. This is why I've brought forward amendment 91 and its consequential amendments once more. I therefore ask Members to support our amendments. 

Does the Minister wish to reply?

Just to respond to the point that Laura Anne Jones made, I think in my opening comments I was very clear about the specific nature of these powers. They're very particular. They're specifically related to employability programmes and, without them, our ability to deliver those programmes would be at risk. So, I ask Members to reject the amendments other than those in my name. 

The question therefore is that amendment 32 be agreed to. Does any Member object to amendment 32? No. Therefore, amendment 32 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 33, is that moved, Minister?

Amendment 33 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes.

Yes, it is. Does any Member object to 33? No. Therefore amendment 33 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 34, is it moved by the Minister? 

Amendment 34 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes.

Yes, it is. Is there objection to amendment 34? No. Therefore, amendment 34 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 35 by the Minister—is it moved?

Amendment 35 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes. 

Yes, it is moved. Therefore, amendment 35. Is there objection? No, there is not. Amendment 35 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 36, is that moved, Minister?

Amendment 36 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes. 

Yes, it is. Is there objection to amendment 36? No, there isn't. Therefore, amendment 36 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 37, is it moved, Minister?

Amendment 37 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes.

Is there objection to amendment 37? No. Therefore, amendment 37 is agreed.  

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 38, is that moved, Minister?

Amendment 38 (Jeremy Miles) moved.

Yes.

Yes. Therefore, amendment 38. Is it opposed? No. Therefore, amendment 38 is agreed. 

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Laura Jones, is amendment 88 being moved?

Amendment 88 (Laura Anne Jones) moved.

Moved.

Amendment 88 is moved. Is there objection to amendment 88? [Objection.] Yes. Therefore, there will be a vote on amendment 88. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 15, no abstentions, 38 against. Therefore, amendment 88 is not agreed. 

Amendment 88: For: 15, Against: 38, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected