Review of Higher Education in Wales

The Education Minister at the Assembly, Jane Hutt announced a review of Higher Education yesterday, to be chaired by Prof Mervyn Jones, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University. The review will, and I quote from the Minister's statement:

'The first stage of the review, to conclude by the end of September 2008, will consider student finance arrangements in Wales. In particular, the group will assess the extent to which student finance is targeted to widen access and encourage take up of priority subjects as well as the need to identify options to help tackle graduate debt.

The second phase will focus on reviewing the purpose and role for higher education in Wales taking account of the vision set out in Reaching Higher – the Assembly Government’s strategy for the higher education sector in Wales and its skills and employment strategy, Skills that Work for Wales. It will also look at higher education policy developments in England and Scotland as well as analysing the current and likely future demands and needs of learners, the economy and society. The second stage of the review should be completed by the end of February 2009.'

Both elements of the review are important of course, but I am largely interested in the possibility of any changes to student finance in Wales. No doubt people are aware of the role that I played in the student movement in campaigning against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales, and I am pleased therefore that the One Wales Government has committed to retaining the current student support arrangements until the end of this Assembly term.

Nevertheless, with the review of HE funding set to take place on a UK level next year, it is necessary for Wales to conduct a review to assess the options available for Wales- especially if the UK Government is intent on lifting the cap on top-up fees in England. I don't agree with Andrew RT Davies, Tory AMs comments that the timescale is tight on the review. Far too many reviews are long-winded and seemingly everlasting, and I hope that this committee can work diligently and effectively to assess all options available for Welsh students for the future.

I am against the implementation of top-up fees, I cannot deny that, but I know that there are people within the sector that believe that such fees should be introduced in order that they can properly fund their Institutions and develop their research capacity- effectively buying in to the idea that we need to create a market in the HE sector, much like the DWP are intent on advocating the marketisation of the welfare sector on a UK level.

I don't see how charging students for their education, and forcing them in to debt can be a way in which to develop our Institutions, and the ambition of Wales as a Nation. I also believe that to introduce such fees undermines the legitimacy of the widening access, and the lifelong learning agendas here in Wales.

Nevertheless, we have to discuss these issues frankly and honestly if we are serious about addressing the issues surrounding student finance and HE funding. I look forward to taking part in the process, and in reading the committee's report in September ( how I will respond to any recommendations made is another matter altogether!)

Cross Party group on eating disorders tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the cross party group on eating disorders tomorrow, especially as today I visited a woman who has suffered from the condition for most of her life, and was told that had mental health strategies been in place to support her years ago, she would be fit and healthy now.

If this is not a wake up call for action, I do not what is. At the meeting Peter Boyle, a Public Health Specialist will be giving a brief introduction on the work of the All Wales Eating Disorders Special Interest Group. It was enlightening to discover that Peter and his colleagues had previously devoted time and effort into writing a care pathway on eating disorders in Wales, which was then, under Jane Hutt, set to be enforced as part of a National strategy on eating disorders. Unfortunately this did not happen for reasons of which I am unfamiliar with. Therefore, I hope that one of the key first actions for our group is to impress upon Edwina Hart, the current Health Minister the need for the implementation of the care pathway so that those suffering from eating disorders have the care that they rightly need and deserve at every level - from access to GPs who may then refer them to local mental health teams, to the more specialised services.

Experts in the field rightly argue that there will be far less of a need for beds in a specialist treatment centre if sufferers can be supported from the outset- without their condition getting so severe that specialist treatment is the only option. There is much more to do in this field, what with educating GPs about how to identify those suffering from an eating disorder, to providing support networks for people, to ensuring that courses specialising in eating disorders are part of the main syllabus for both nurses and Doctors- all issues that we will discuss in the group during the next three years, at least!

The 'diplomatic' AM for South Wales West

I am still in the Assembly's plenary session, and it will be extended until 6pm tonight. Of course, its vital that we discuss issues as AM's, but for those of us who are not allocated to contribute on debates at certain times of the session, it can be quite a long stint in the chamber!! I think there has to be more emphasis on the Assembly's external communications department to encourage a growth in the number of people who choose to attend the plenary sessions, and encourage interest in the debates here at the Assembly. Personally, I have contributed a number of new, innovative ideas for this purpose, and I hope that Dafydd Elis Thomas and his team will implement them in due course.

I have raised questions on the funding of the One Wales Government agreement today at the Senedd so as to ensure that the Government priorities are implemented and that we are seen as a Government to be delivering on our promises. Nick Bourne quipped in that my comment was coded and diplomatic. I have never been described as 'diplomatic' before, so I take it as a compliment!!!

I have also contributed in the questioning of the Education Minister, Jane Hutt, with regards the Government's grants for school uniforms, and the way in which it should be implemented so as not to conflict with the grants currently implemented by Local Authorities.

Tomorrow, the Equal Opportunities Committee will sit at the Assembly. We will discuss the establishment of a Children's committee at the Assembly- a committee which I deem as being essential so as to look at how our policies and measures affect children across the board. We will also be discussing a review of polling stations and their accessibility for disabled people, as well as the proposal of a scrutiny committee on Migrant workers in Wales. All very interesting issues, and which I will blog on in greater detail at a later date.

First day at the Senedd

I'm finally getting settled in at the Assembly. I've been allocated my office, I've been given a mass of information on everything from wages, to staffing information, to research questions. It's a lot to take in today but I'm sure I'll get used to it. We had a group meeting this morning, and the BBC were like paparazzi outside filming the meeting. ( trying, no doubt to pick up any clues to their coalition story)

I've since done a few interviews for the press, followed by attening the first plenary session( I didn't have to vote, so I couldn't 'do a Gibbons'!). It was very exciting to sit in the Senedd with the other AM's, although I am told that you can hear everything everyone says in private conversation due to the acoustics of the place, so I kept quiet- naturally!

Fair play to Jane Hutt, she was the only Labour AM to congratulate all Plaid AM's in turn. The session wasn't very long, but Dafydd Ellis Thomas was re-elected Presiding Officer, and Rosemary Butler as Deputy. Let's hope they both get on better than Dafydd Ellis Thomas and John Marek!

Until we know who will govern at the Assembly, things will be quiet here I predict. It will give me enough time to plan, and to settle in properly...I hope!