Welsh Conservative Shadow Communities Secretary, Mark Isherwood AM, has raised concerns in the Assembly this week that Welsh Government policy is denying Police Forces in Wales access to funding for apprenticeships.
Speaking in this week’s Business Statement he called for a Statement on police funding in the context of the Apprenticeship Levy.
He said:
“As you may know, Police Forces in England can access funding for apprenticeships through the new digital apprenticeship service account there, but, in Wales, the Welsh Government approach, which is different, means that Welsh forces can't.
“When I raised this in the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, regarding our inquiry into the Apprenticeship Levy, with the Skills Minister, I highlighted their need for access to funding for accredited courses in Welsh colleges, where they are contributing over £2 million a year to the levy, but currently can't access it. I was told that the Welsh Government would instead strike up a grant or contract arrangements in dialogue with the College of Policing, and that they had meetings in the diary with the Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.
“Well, last weekend, I was informed that those meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioners had been cancelled and not rescheduled. In that context, this Assembly merits a Statement to bring us up to speed so that we can ensure that officers in our police forces in Wales are not penalised and can access that funding for their vital training and apprenticeships.”
In her reply the Leader of the House and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt AM, instead referred to her Government’s call for the devolution of policing, and stated “we certainly haven't got responsibility in terms of policing, and we’re not, certainly, responsible for introducing the Apprenticeship Levy, which we have huge concerns about.”
Mr Isherwood added: “I am more than disappointed with this partisan response on such an important issue. Her comment about police devolution was entirely irrelevant, where devolved employers also have to pay the Apprenticeship Levy, but Welsh Government policy is denying many of them a direct return from their payments.”