26 Ionawr 2026 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Grŵp 1: Diffiniad o Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (Gwelliannau 1, 2)
Diolch. Thank you. Perhaps before speaking on the amendments, I should declare that I'm patron of COS, that's the Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound, formerly the North Wales Deaf Association. And perhaps I should, just for the record, state that I chair the…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 17.42(ix) i benderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o weddill y cyfarfod
Thank you. I see that Members are content. We're grateful if we could go into private session.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 17.42(ix) i benderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o weddill y cyfarfod
In that case—technical stuff, so thank you very much indeed—I propose that, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42(ix), the committee resolves to meet in private from the remainder of this meeting. Are Members content?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Cynnig i benodi Cadeirydd dros dro yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.22 ar gyfer y cyfarfod ar ddydd Mercher 4 Chwefror 2026
Thank you very much indeed.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Cynnig i benodi Cadeirydd dros dro yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.22 ar gyfer y cyfarfod ar ddydd Mercher 4 Chwefror 2026
I ask Members to consent, formally, to the election of a temporary Chair for our meeting on Wednesday, 4 February, where it's proposed that Tom Giffard takes that role on that occasion. Are Members content?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Well, thank you very much indeed everyone, then, for attending. As always, we will provide you with a transcript of today's meeting for you to check for your accuracy.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, thank you. Members, do you have any further questions you'd like to raise that we haven't already covered? Mike Hedges, welcome. You joined us some time ago; you've not had an opportunity to raise anything—no obligation to do so if you have nothing…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Well, I remember workload being referred to regularly 20 years ago, and there was a workload plan then, developed with the teaching workforce and unions. I suppose the question is why it appears to have been reactive, given the ways of working specified in…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, thank you. And coming towards the end of the formal questioning, why do you believe the strategic workload co-ordination group needed to recommend that workload impact assessments should be a routine requirement for all policy areas affecting schools…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
[Inaudible.]—multi-option solution, or picking good practice and focusing on some of those options?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, thank you. In September, the Cabinet Secretary stated that one of her priorities was to, quote, 'develop our proposals for covering teacher absence'. What options are you considering for that?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Thank you. What action, if any, is the Welsh Government taking to ensure alignment between this plan and other strategic planning, including by the Education Workforce Council, Dysgu and the pre-existing Welsh in education workforce plan?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Thank you very much indeed. Moving on again, when do you believe the Welsh Government will finalise its new strategic education workforce plan, and how is the work of the strategic workload co-ordination group feeding into that?
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, thank you. Tom Giffard, please.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Oh, sorry. Rhianon Passmore has a supplementary—sorry, yes.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, thank you for confirming that. Could I then thank Adam Price and invite Tom Giffard—
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Just on that issue, two specific points if I may. You previously indicated that there were issues with the payroll platform. Why couldn't they be resolved—and I suspect they were part of the issues you're referring to—and what were the costs of ending this…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Thank you. Given the reference to teaching assistants, perhaps at this point I should declare that one of my children works as a teaching assistant in north Wales, on a local education authority contract. Of course, unlike teachers who are rightly paid for…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
That's an appropriate point then to bring Rhianon Passmore in, who has some questions on supply teacher availability.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Okay, Rhianon Passmore, please.
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Before I just bring Rhianon Passmore in, in terms of sickness, rather than being a single tick, are you considering whether there's any merit in breaking that down a bit further to see whether, for example, it's mental health or pressures that people might be…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Anyone else? No. Thank you. You've touched in your response on the consideration that’s being given to the collation of information on absence in the future. Obviously, our previous recommendation stated that monitoring and reporting on the extent of…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Thank you. Perhaps at the end of the session, Members, we can decide whether we wish to ask for that summary report offered, based upon the responses we receive to our questions and whether there are any gaps remaining. So, as convention has it, as Chair…
22 Ionawr 2026 , Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee
Trefniadau Cyflenwi ar gyfer Absenoldeb Athrawon: sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda Llywodraeth Cymru
Thank you very much indeed. I'll just remind you, as I'm sure you're aware, that the meeting is bilingual and you have headsets which provide simultaneous translation on channel 1, and sound amplification, if needed, on channel 2. Before I start with the…
