Debates are one of the most frequent items of business on the Plenary agenda. Many types of debate are brought forward in Plenary, including:

• Opposition party debates on a topic of their choice;

Other than in the case of Government debates, the time allocated for all other types of debates and their frequency are determined by the Business Committee

The item started at 16.54

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM5265 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the benefits that apprenticeships offer to employers through the provision of a committed, efficient, skilled and motivated workforce and notes that the average person completing an apprenticeship increases business productivity by £214 per week.

2. Recognises the benefits that apprenticeships offer for young people to develop their skills, gain recognised qualifications, earn a higher salary and secure more stable job opportunities, as many employers rely on apprenticeships to provide the skilled workers they need for the future.

3. Regrets that between 2006/7 and 2010/11 the number of people on apprenticeship placements in Wales fell by more than 25%.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to widen access to apprenticeships by:

a) developing a school liaison programme to increase the prominence of apprenticeships in the provision of career advice to young people;

b) establishing an Apprenticeship Ambassadors scheme to promote positive role models;

c) improving the visibility of competitions to celebrate excellence in skills;

d) trialling a UCAS-style single application process and clearing house system to improve the parity of approach between career routes; and

e) creating a single information, application and support system to streamline information provision and reduce drop-out and disengagement rates.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
5	0	49	54

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Elin Jones (Ceredigion)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Welcomes the agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru to invest an extra £40 million of additional funding towards apprenticeships over the next two years, creating approximately 5,650 additional apprenticeship opportunities and 2,650 opportunities for higher level apprenticeships and including expansion of Welsh language apprenticeship provision.

A vote was taken on Amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
38	0	16	54

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

Amendment 3 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Recognises that young apprentices may need support at the end of their training to stay in employment, as well as navigating employment contracts and regulations.

A vote was taken on Amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
54	0	0	54

Amendment 3 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5265 Aled Roberts (North Wales)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Recognises the benefits that apprenticeships offer to employers through the provision of a committed, efficient, skilled and motivated workforce and notes that the average person completing an apprenticeship increases business productivity by £214 per week.

2. Recognises the benefits that apprenticeships offer for young people to develop their skills, gain recognised qualifications, earn a higher salary and secure more stable job opportunities, as many employers rely on apprenticeships to provide the skilled workers they need for the future.

3. Welcomes the agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru to invest an extra £40 million of additional funding towards apprenticeships over the next two years, creating approximately 5,650 additional apprenticeship opportunities and 2,650 opportunities for higher level apprenticeships and including expansion of Welsh language apprenticeship provision.

4. Recognises that young apprentices may need support at the end of their training to stay in employment, as well as navigating employment contracts and regulations.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
37	5	12	54

The motion as amended was agreed.