4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Young Recruits Programme? OAQ(4)1513(FM)
Carwyn Jones Yes, it has been a great success. Demand has been extremely high and we have already exceeded the target for this financial year.
Janet Finch-Saunders Thank you, First Minister. I, too, would endorse that it has been an excellent initiative for jobseekers and small employers alike. However, in recent months, I have received a number of concerns in relation to some of the lengthy delays in the payment processes, in particular to our sole traders and very small businesses. In the July 2013 evaluation process, the following weaknesses were identified: inaccurate information being sent to employers regarding funding criteria and the under-resourcing of programme administration, which was leaving small businesses working with very tight margins and low disposable revenues really struggling to participate. First Minister, will you work with your Deputy Minister to speed up these processes so that our employers and all our jobseekers who want to take advantage of this initiative can do so?
Carwyn Jones Yes. The programme is an exceptionally successful Welsh Government programme, of course, and we very much welcome the fact that so many people have benefited from it. Working with the Minister, we will, of course, continue to ensure that the programme moves from success to success.