Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 8 November 2022.
In relation to the point you make around schools teaching online, I know the Minister for Education and Welsh Language has written to all local authorities saying that we would not wish to see schools do that. We certainly would not wish to see schools close unless the decision is based on emergency or health or safety reasons for instance. And I don't think a one-day school closure would result in significant savings for schools and would just pass the issues on to parents and carers. And we know, don't we, how school closures affect families' ability to work, and, obviously then, put pressures on other services. So, as I say, the Minister has certainly written to all local authorities and has met with NAHT and other trade unions this morning also. In relation to budgets, clearly, there are going to be pressures on all of our budgets, but I don't think the Minister is in a position at the moment, as we're waiting for the UK Government announcement in relation to budgets, and, obviously, we too are looking very closely at our budget going forward.