WAG moves into Reverse Gear on Learner travel (Monmouth Liberal Democrats)

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Monmouth Liberal Democrats <janetellard58@hotmail.com>

WAG moves into Reverse Gear on Learner travel

September 22, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have slammed the One Wales Government for reversing positive moves to radically improve child safety and widen parental choice

Having critically failed to accept provisions for learners travelling to Welsh Medium Schools under stage 2 of the Learner Travel Measure the WAG has now made a u-turn at stage 3 by seeking to delete previously passed amendments on Faith Schools and safety.

During Stage 2 of 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: "It is shocking that not only is the Government going back on amendments that were previously passed, but that it is choosing to delete amendments that are essential in improving child safety and parental choice across Wales.

"I cannot understand why the One Wales Government is refusing these advancements - is child safety not part of their agenda? There is no justifiable reason why they are missing this opportunity. Child safety is paramount and should come before cost and popularity. If they are not taking action now to ensure local authorities have an absolute duty to provide safer routes to school then when will they do so?

"At stage 3 I will again put forward amendments seeking to enshrine the rights of children in Wales to have equal access to Welsh Medium and Faith schools. I will again seek to ensure that the Measure includes a benchmark for what is 'safe' and gives a minimum standard to which LAs must adhere. These are all vital improvements to learner travel provision.

"At stage 2 the Government struggled to justify its lack of support for these essential amendments and simply used brute force to reject them. I will be resubmitting my amendments so that we can continue the debate in the chamber; the debate that the Assembly Government did not win in the committee. The Assembly is a place for open discussion and reasoned argument; not for a Government which bulldozes through any opposition without real justification and lets down the people of Wales in the process."

Notes:

Stage 3 of the proposed Learner Travel (Wales) Measure commenced on 4 July 2008. Stage 3 consideration is scheduled to take place in Plenary on Tuesday 30 September to consider amendments to all sections and schedules of the proposed Measure.

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