Advisory Groups/Panels

I referred to the issue of Advisory Panels in my progress report on mergers to Plenary on 19 October. The proposals for Advisory Panels take into account the constructive views expressed in the responses that were submitted as part of the consultation process.

The roles of the Welsh Industrial Development Board (WIDAB), the Economic Research Advisory Panel (ERAP) and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales(HEFCW) will change very little following the mergers.

Ministerial Advisory Groups for Economic Development and Transport (EDT) and Education and Lifelong Learning (ELL) of eight or nine members each will be appointed through the normal Nolan-type public appointments process. Where appropriate, the principles established by the 2003 Renumeration review will be followed.



Economic Development and Transport

A Tourism Advisory Panel will be established as proposed in the mergers Consultation report.  The Panel will consist of six members appointed through the public appointments process and will be chaired by an external member. He/she will attend the Ministerial Group and will also be appointed as Wales' representative on the Board of Visit Britain.

The Economic Research Advisory Panel (ERAP), will continue in its current form reporting to me on the formulation of economic policy and improving the evidence base for it, and improving the capacity for economic research in Wales.  The mergers will entail some changes to its membership, and I will be writing to those affected in due course.

The Welsh Industrial Advisory Board (WIDAB) will continue but with an extended remit to cover property grants, tourism Section4 grants and large training grants and combined packages of the above.

The Ministerial Advisory Group will comprise an independently appointed Chair, the Chairs of the Tourism Advisory Panel, the Economic Research Advisory Panel and WIDAB plus four/five others.



Education and Lifelong Learning

The Ministerial Advisory Group will be chaired by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning and specialist advisory panels will also be established in the following areas:

curriculum and qualifications
early years education and care
additional needs
7 - 14 schools standards and improvement
14-19 education and training  
skills and lifelong learning
children and young people’s participation

These Panels will each be chaired by a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group, and their membership will be drawn by co-option and nomination from appropriate stakeholder organisations, on the basis already established for advisory groups in the education field.

The appointments to the Ministerial Advisory Group, will need to cover the wide range of educational specialisms reflected in the work of the specialist advisory panels.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales will continue as at present, except in so far as its Chair will be a member of the Minister’s Advisory Group.



Combined Panel on Skills Supply and Demand

An Overview Panel on the supply of and demand for skills will be established, jointly chaired by the Economic Development and Transport and Education and Lifelong Learning Ministers and consisting of four members from each of the two Ministerial Advisory Groups, with the purpose of improving co-ordination between the skills needed by employers and training and educational organisations which supply skills training. There is scope for a similar Panel to cover science and I will report further on this in the New Year.



Regional Advice

The Consultation Report referred to the importance of regional advice and this will be considered separately over the coming few months.  The review will include consideration of the Assembly Government’s representation on the four Regional Economic Fora and new arrangements for considering advice on learning and skills within the regions.  The Wales Spatial Plan will be an important element in these arrangements.



Conclusions

The arrangements set out above will, I am confident, be a major step forward in rationalising and co-ordinating the range of bodies providing advice to Ministers and will be evaluated and reviewed three years after they come into effect.

I am grateful to all of those who responded on the issue of Ministerial Advice during the consultation process and the views expressed have been an important consideration in shaping the final arrangements following the mergers.