Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:01 pm on 21 March 2023.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for your statement, Minister. In your statement, you make a great deal of reference to the central role of reforms in the post-16 sector to the national vision for education, and we in Plaid Cymru were pleased that the steps to establish the commission for tertiary education and research was part of our co-operation agreement with the Government. I asked you last week to explain the delay in terms of appointing a chief executive to the new commission, because a chair and vice-chair had been in place for some months now, but I didn’t get a clear response, and the closing date for that particular post was back in November. Given the great importance of the role in shaping the form and vision of the new commission, which—in your words—will steer the whole-system approach that you want to see in terms of tertiary education, which will help to reduce educational inequalities and expand opportunities and raise standards, will you confirm when we will have an announcement on the appointment of a new chief executive, or will you explain why that hasn’t yet been possible?