Shadow Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to respond to a report which has revealed that their funding cuts for apprenticeships has had a devastating impact on the Welsh economy.  

Raising the issue in yesterday’s Business Statement in the Senedd, Darren said he is particularly concerned that the cuts have hit deprived communities the hardest. 

Calling for a Statement on the matter from the Minister with responsibility for skills in relation to apprenticeships, he said:  

“Colegau Cymru and the National Training Federation for Wales published a report yesterday to show the impact of the apprenticeship funding cuts in Wales in this financial year. 

“Those cuts, according to the report, resulted in a hit to the Welsh economy of over £50 million. We saw a massive reduction, a 30 per cent reduction, in health and social care apprenticeships, and a 20 per cent reduction in construction apprenticeships - two very important pillars of our economy, and obviously, from a health and social care point of view, very important for our public services too. 

“What's worse is that those cuts in apprenticeships seem to have had a bigger impact in deprived communities than elsewhere. I do think that we need a response from the Welsh Government to this report, and I look to you to procure that for Members from the Minister responsible.”

Responding, the Trefnydd (Business Manager), Jane Hutt MS, said it would be “helpful” to have a statement from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership on apprenticeships in Wales.  

ENDS