, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Minister will know, from private conversations and public, that I fully support the Welsh Government's consultation. In last week's meeting of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, I asked you for a commitment, should the forthcoming Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
5. Will the Minister make a statement on the forthcoming consultation on the future of greyhound racing in Wales? OQ59319
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Thank you for that. That's very helpful. Two of those cases that you've identified are in the Caerphilly borough. One is fully in my constituency, Lewis School Pengam, and the other has a campus in my constituency, which is Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, and there…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government
5. What assessment has the Minister made of the financial legacy of the use of the private finance initiative in Wales? OQ59320
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Okay, thanks.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Just with reference to HEFCW there, the end of that, the closure of HEFCW and the movement to CTER, will that have an impact on future strategic relations? Do you think that will bring in collaboration beyond higher education?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
I just wanted to comment on the general impression I’m getting. I just wanted the panel to comment on it. I just get the feeling that whereas European collaboration is important, in the grand scheme of things Ireland itself doesn’t seem to have a high…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Okay, thanks.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Okay. I'm just wondering about the relationships between universities here and higher education in the country and whether there's the development of the kinds of partnership links you'd see with, say, Greece or China, or anything like that.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Yes, franchising within Ireland. Yes, or any other kind.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Wales-Ireland relations: Evidence session with higher education and business representatives
Yes. Can I just come back to Amanda? I'm just wondering, from a universities perspective, are there any franchised arrangements, franchised courses in Ireland—any of the kind of international arrangements that we see across the world?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Diolch, Cadeirydd.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
And my final question is about the capital growth deals—the city growth deals. Are there projects that you're directly supporting? Are there projects that you're aware of that need more support than others? Can you give us an overview of the four deals and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
So, with all those risks in place that you've identified, what is the Welsh Government doing to alleviate that on the ground with delivery? Is there anything you can do to plug those annual gaps and reduce the risk?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Thank you very much. In the allocation of the shared prosperity funds, Welsh Government Ministers were reluctant to sign letters endorsing applications because of the risk involved, not least with the timescale of delivery of the money from UK Government and…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Thanks, Chair. I'll just say I'm looking forward to ongoing discussions on that, because it is ongoing, so I'll stop there at this point.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
I appreciate that, and I think the discussion needs to be had in the area you identify, the co-funding of apprenticeships. That is an area of discussion that needs to be had, but also how work-based skills are grown and developed, particularly in the area of…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
And you said in the Chamber this week that you'd be open to a discussion about the future of degree apprenticeships and how they may be supported and funded in future. Have you got anything to say specifically about that, or is that currently an ongoing area…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Yes, the success rate was down 14.6 percentage points after the COVID restrictions were lifted, and you've identified that. Do you think that that will continue as a trend, or do you think you've arrested—I wouldn't say it's your direct responsibility, but…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
So, if we just continue from that, logically continue from that, can you give us an update on the target for 125,000 apprenticeships by the end of this Senedd term? I think you've recognised that that target won't be met—that's correct, isn't it?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
I know the UK Government are using digital vouchers. Would you feel that money comes back from the Treasury, via the apprenticeship levy, to supplement the apprenticeship programme in Wales, or do you feel that it isn't recognised in the budget?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Okay, and can I ask the Minister about his view on the impact of the UK-wide apprenticeship levy on the apprenticeship programmes in Wales? How does he see it, since he's taken up post with responsibility for apprenticeships?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Economy
Yes, I'd like to ask—probably to the Minister it's no surprise—about skills. First of all, given the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training seems to have risen, are you confident that the young person's guarantee is going…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
That's fine with me, yes. I'm happy if the Chair's happy.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
General Ministerial Scrutiny - Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Okay. Thank you for that comprehensive answer. I think you'll realise from my earlier questions that some of the responsibilities that you have, and the actions you take, have direct consequences in the climate change portfolio, so I assume you work very…
