, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session
Thanks. I'm just going to pick up on one of the things that you touched on there, Ruth. It regards ethnic diversity within the workforce. We've heard concerns from previous witnesses of a lack of cultural awareness amongst some childcare providers, and also…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session
Absolutely, yes.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Childcare and parental employment—evidence session
Thank you, Chair. I'm just going to ask some questions about how flexible Government-funded provision is across Wales and whether there needs to be a greater degree of flexibility. So, first of all, what sort of evidence exists, what sort of evidence can you…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thank you. Thanks, Chair, that's all from me.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
That's helpful. Thank you. David.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
I'm just going to go back to research, just really briefly, and innovation, if you could just help us understand a little more, or me understand a little more, whether there could be detrimental consequences emanating from the Bill for research and…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Okay. Thank you. And are you able to offer, in a very helpful way, any suggestions on how the regulatory and funding machinery could be improved within the Bill?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Okay. Thank you. Broadly speaking, a register is used in England, isn't it, to regulate higher education providers. Is it successful? Are you able to give us an indication, as far as you're concerned, of how effective it is?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
You mention as well that Ministers will retain some powers to fund research through other existing legislation. Can you tell us more about this and how those powers are used now, as far as you’re aware, anyway?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Okay, thanks. I'm just going to ask about research and innovation in general. Your written evidence suggests that you have concerns that Ministers could influence research activity through modifying the commission's strategic plan. Can you just elaborate on…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 2
Thanks, Chair. I'm going to ask some questions about the regulatory machinery, David. I'm just going to read a quote from you in terms of your response to the draft Bill: 'It hard-wires in the pre-existing arrangements, making the delivery of key anticipated…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Excellent. Thanks, Minister. Thanks, Chair.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Yes, that would be very helpful. Thank you. Sorry, Chair, I'm just conscious of time, but just one last question on apprenticeships: what do the funding powers for apprenticeships, as set out in this legislation, mean for the current contractual arrangements…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Okay. And qualifications obviously are a part of apprenticeship frameworks. They're regulated by Qualifications Wales, and they're created using, usually, private awarding bodies. How does the Bill improve the various interfaces between employers, awarding…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
I am confident that we've struck the right balance, really. I was saying a little bit earlier about how clunky the current system is, and, under the Bill, frameworks will have to comply with the core requirements in the Welsh apprenticeship specification…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. And how confident are you that changes in the Bill regarding the specification of apprenticeship standards for Wales will be enough to bring about a more responsive approach?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you, Minister. And just regarding sixth forms, sixth forms are going to be within the scope of the Bill. What has the feedback been from that sector?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thanks, Chair. With regard to apprenticeships and sixth forms, first of all, the Welsh Government obviously wants apprenticeships to be more responsive to employer demand. The Bill, though, is silent on any mechanisms and structures to help inform or resource…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. Thanks, Chair. That’s all from me.
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Just finally from me, Chair, HEFCW. Minister, you'll be aware that HEFCW believe that the intervention powers that they have under 2015 legislation are very difficult to use in practice. First of all, would you agree with them? And then, consequent to this…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thank you. It's a complex area. Thanks for your answer on that. I'm just going to turn to some of the concerns from stakeholders and also from HEFCW. What are your views on the concerns of some that the Bill is too detailed, too prescriptive, and therefore…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Okay, thank you. An incentive for universities to apply for registration is likely to be that their students will have access to higher levels of tuition fee support. The student support regulations are therefore a key component of the future system, but…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Okay. Thanks. Can I just then ask, on a specific point, what the rationale is for only extending freedom of speech and academic freedom to providers of higher education, and not including further education in this?
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill—evidence session 1
Thanks, Chair. Good morning, Minister. I'm just going to ask a few questions about regulatory machinery, if that's okay, beginning with this: to what extent does the Bill create a cohesive and seamless regulatory and funding framework, considering that there…
, Children, Young People, and Education Committee
Scrutiny of Children's Commissioner for Wales Annual Report 2020 - 2021
Thank you, Chair. That's fine, thank you.
