, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you very much. Thank you, Chair.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
You said in your written evidence that, in your opinion, there was a basic misunderstanding, perhaps, and that there is a tension between adequate policy control and the concept of being an arm's-length body. Do you think that that's the bottom line here…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you. Are there any other points in relation to the arm's-length principle that you'd like to raise?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you. Could I ask you what your view is on the power that Welsh Ministers will have to modify the commission's strategic plan? Is this power conducive to achieving the aims of the reforms?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you. I was going to ask what you thought was the rationale for this, but you've answered that question. What's your view therefore on the restating of the powers for Welsh Ministers to dissolve a higher education corporation? Could you tell us about the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you, Chair. I want to ask some questions about the influence of Welsh Ministers on the commission and providers. You responded to the Bill's draft consultation saying that there is an underlying theme in the legislation, namely that the Welsh Government…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you, Chair.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you, and one further question to conclude, on learner voice. I raised with you in the Siambr, if you recall, the point that NUS Wales have called for the learner voice to be included in the strategic framework section of the Bill and for it to be a…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. The next question, perhaps, is how the Bill will provide for consistent powers and a consistent approach to Welsh-medium provision across these types of tertiary education providers. Will there be a difference? You suggest that there will be a…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
But how is that going to be achieved? That's the question, isn't it? In terms of the powers that Ministers will have, and in terms of the way that the centre and the coleg are funded directly, and then the duties on the commission to achieve this, could you…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
You referred there to these carve-outs in the Bill for Welsh Ministers' powers around funding and securing Welsh-medium provision. So, to what extent might these hinder the commission's abilities to deliver its strategic duties and its strategic plan…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you, Chair. I wanted to talk a little bit, initially, about Welsh-medium provision. What will the role of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol be in tertiary education, and how will the commission and the coleg interact in practice? Of course, I welcome the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Yes, thank you, Chair. Just going back a little bit to what you've described there in your responses to Ken Skates in terms of the complexity and diversity of the landscape in terms of provision, if I understand what you said correctly, one of the key…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Okay. Thank you.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Yes, because that does mean—. You mentioned at the beginning that consistency is one of the objectives of this Bill, but this does give an inconsistent power over the providers, doesn't it, because some have a royal charter, for example, so you couldn't…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. And following on from that, I would like to ask what the rationale is for that backstop. What is the rationale for keeping that power to dissolve higher education corporations with seemingly no safeguards for providers set out on the face of the…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. Chair, it has just struck me, because I wasn't here at the beginning of the committee meeting this morning, I should declare an interest in that my husband works for Swansea University. So, what is the rationale for Welsh Ministers themselves being…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. I wanted to ask a few questions regarding how the powers that Welsh Ministers will have over the commission and some providers will have an effect on any arm's-length autonomy and the ability of the commission to fulfil its duties and functions…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Perhaps we could make a suggestions to this committee, Chair, that we do look at extending the consultation period.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Yes. Good morning, Minister. I just wanted to ask about how stakeholders can respond to the consultation in the first instance, because, of course, it took 12 weeks for the Welsh Government to publish a summary of the previous consultation before the…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session 3
Thank you very much, Chair. Yes, we've just heard about the main elements of your strategies in terms of early years education and childcare. But what would you say are the best aspects of your policies in those areas? What do you think that other nations…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session 2
If I could just add, Sharon, perhaps you could also mention the provision during school holidays too, as part of your response. What can schools do and what do we need to do to increase that?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session 2
Thank you. Do I have time for just one more question, Chair, or do you want to move on?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session 2
Thank you. Jane, would you like to add to that?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session 2
Yes, and to look at it in broader terms, in a way. What's the role of schools in this provision? What contribution should schools make to support the childcare needs of parents and to expand and enhance provision for children? Gwenllian touched on this, this…
