English: Can I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement today? Deputy Minister, UKIP welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Government in February 2017 that you were committed to establishing 100,000 apprenticeships over a five-year period. It has for far too long been a neglected element in economic growth. We also believe that focusing on apprenticeships above level 3 was a well-founded decision, as benchmarking has shown that this is where we get the highest returns on investment. It was also stated at the time that there would be better performance measurement, clearer pathways, more awareness, increased numbers taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, and an increased integration between apprenticeships and further education. Could the Deputy Minister confirm that these aspirations are also being achieved, as well as the increase in numbers? Deputy Minister, those brought up in the 1960s and 1970s benefited from apprenticeships that lasted over five years. It taught participants not only the working skills, but also how to behave in the workplace and gave them a sense of responsibility. Indeed, it could be said that it made those involved more aspirational, empowering them to become involved in management and higher posts within their working environment. The net result of this is that it gave added value to society as a whole. It augurs well that 31,360 apprenticeship learning programmes were started in 2017-18 - an increase, I believe, of 30 per cent compared to 2016-17 - and 56,635 since the target of 100,000 was introduced. But I notice that the highest take-up has been in healthcare and the public sector. Whilst these are, of course, to be welcomed, it would be gratifying to see a comparative increase in apprenticeships in the private sector. Again, it is gratifying to note that this programme is proving to be so successful, in that it is exceeding its original targets. However, we understand that this success is now bringing a strain on funding. But, surely, Deputy Minister, this programme is so important to our economy and the apprentices engaged in it that it is essential that funding is made available. This is not simply about the present, but also the future of Wales and those who choose to live and work here. The rewards are there to be realised. The test comes, of course, at the end of these apprenticeships, in seeing how many go on to full-time jobs and within the disciplines of their apprenticeships. One question I must ask is: does the figure of 56,635 - over 50 per cent achievement - contain those who were already in apprenticeships prior to the scheme and hoovered up into the new scheme, or are they completely new? Also, does the Minister not agree there cannot be equality of esteem between vocational qualifications and those in the so-called academic sphere unless apprentices are funded in exactly the same way as those in universities or colleges?
Welsh: A gaf i ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei ddatganiad heddiw? Dirprwy Weinidog, rhoddodd UKIP groeso i'r cyhoeddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ym mis Chwefror 2017 eich bod wedi ymrwymo i sefydlu 100,000 o brentisiaethau dros gyfnod o bum mlynedd. Am lawer yn rhy hir bu hon yn elfen o dwf economaidd a gafodd eu hesgeuluso. Rydym ni'n credu hefyd y bu canolbwyntio ar brentisiaethau uwch lefel 3 yn benderfyniad doeth, gan fod meincnodi wedi dangos mai yn y fan hon y ceir yr elw mwyaf ar fuddsoddiad. Dywedwyd ar y pryd hefyd y byddai gwell mesur ar berfformiad, llwybrau mwy amlwg, mwy o ymwybyddiaeth, niferoedd cynyddol yn cymryd pynciau gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg, ac integreiddio cynyddol rhwng prentisiaethau ac addysg bellach. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog gadarnhau bod y dyheadau hyn hefyd yn cael eu cyflawni, yn ogystal â'r cynnydd yn y niferoedd? Dirprwy Weinidog, mae'r rhai a gafodd eu magu yn y 1960au a'r 1970au wedi elwa ar brentisiaethau a oedd yn para am dros bum mlynedd. Dysgodd y rhain i'r cyfranogwyr nid yn unig y sgiliau ar gyfer eu gwaith, ond sut i ymddwyn yn y gweithle a rhoi ymdeimlad o gyfrifoldeb iddyn nhw. Yn wir, gellid dweud fod hynny wedi gwneud i'r rhai dan sylw fod yn fwy uchelgeisiol, gan eu galluogi i gyfranogi mewn rheolaeth a swyddi uwch o fewn amgylchedd eu gwaith. Canlyniad net hyn yw ei fod wedi rhoi gwerth ychwanegol i'r gymdeithas gyfan. Mae'n argoeli'n dda fod 31,360 o raglenni dysgu prentisiaeth wedi cychwyn yn 2017-18 - cynnydd, rwy'n credu, o 30 y cant o'i gymharu â 2016-17 - a 56,635 ers cyflwyno'r targed o 100,000. Ond rwy'n sylwi bod y niferoedd mwyaf yn y sector cyhoeddus a gofal iechyd. Er bod y rhain, wrth gwrs, i'w croesawu, byddai'n braf gweld cynnydd cymharol mewn prentisiaethau yn y sector preifat. Unwaith eto, mae'n hyfryd nodi bod y rhaglen hon mor llwyddiannus, a'i bod wedi rhagori ar ei thargedau gwreiddiol. Serch hynny, rydym yn clywed bod y llwyddiant hwn bellach yn rhoi straen ar gyllid. Ond, yn sicr, Dirprwy Weinidog, mae'r rhaglen hon gyn bwysiced i'n heconomi ni a'r prentisiaid sy'n ymgysylltu â hi fel ei bod yn hanfodol bod y cyllid ar gael. Nid yw hyn ar gyfer y presennol yn unig, ond hefyd ddyfodol Cymru a'r rhai sy'n dewis byw a gweithio yma. Mae'r gwobrau yno i'w gwireddu. Daw'r prawf, wrth gwrs, ar ddiwedd y prentisiaethau hyn, pan welwn faint sy'n cael swyddi amser llawn amser ac o fewn disgyblaethau eu prentisiaethau. Un cwestiwn y mae'n rhaid imi ei ofyn yw: a yw'r ffigur o 56,635 - cyflawniad o dros 50 y cant - yn cynnwys y rhai a oedd eisoes mewn prentisiaethau cyn y cynllun ac wedi cael eu sugno i'r cynllun newydd, neu a ydyn nhw'n newydd sbon? Hefyd, onid yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno na ellir cael cydraddoldeb mewn parch rhwng cymwysterau galwedigaethol a rhai yn y maes academaidd heb i brentisiaid gael eu hariannu yn yr un ffordd yn union â'r rhai mewn prifysgolion neu golegau?