Ieuan Wyn Jones takes hammering on learner travel - Williams (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Ieuan Wyn Jones takes hammering on learner travel - Williams

June 19, 2008 2:45 PM

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today succeeded in forcing the WAG to make greater provisions for learners travelling to faith schools but the fight for similar provisions for Welsh medium schools has been defeated for now by the government.

During the proposed learner travel measure committee Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for transport, put forward and supported amendments calling for an improved definition of safer routes to schools; equal access for transport to Welsh Medium and faith Schools; stronger provisions for pupils with special educational needs.

Kirsty Williams said: "I am delighted that the faith schools amendment has been passed. It is currently to the discretion of Local authorities to decide whether they will provide transport to such schools as they do for other maintained schools and we are now one step closer to enshrining the rights of children in Wales to have equal access to a school of a religious character and to the education of their and their parent's choosing.

"Ieuan Wyn Jones was talking in circles as he tried unsuccessfully to defend his decision to leave out these essential provisions in the measure. He was unable to adequately defend his reasoning and so the vote went against him - it's as simple as that.

"I am greatly disappointed that the amendment seeking to strengthen the travel provisions to Welsh medium schools was voted down by the government. I do not feel that the current legislation is sufficiently robust to defend the rights of Welsh Medium Learners.

"It is shocking that this Labour/Plaid government has acted to disadvantage those seeking a Welsh Medium education in this way. Once again, their coalition is letting Wales down.

"It is very welcome that my amendment seeking a benchmark for what is 'safe' and giving a minimum standard to which LAs must adhere has been passed. There are families in my constituency who fall within the three mile limit of receiving transport to school and whose children are therefore expected to walk to school along routes which Powys county council has deemed 'safe' but which involve walking along the A470 trunk road or along winding country lanes with no verges. In my view and in the view of the parents these are not safe for children.

"I am concerned that once this measure is passed its aims should not be lost and kicked into the long grass by local authorities I have therefore added an amendment requiring LAs to report on their progress in promoting access to Welsh Medium and Faith schools; in their promotion of the use of sustainable transport; and in their provisions for learners with special educational needs.

"I hope that the WAG will accept these committee amendments and not seek to bulldoze these concerns aside at the next stage of the measure."

Notes:

The full list of amendments is available at:

http://www.assemblywales.org/lt_stage2_ml3-80620.pdf