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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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First Minister should apologise for his government's failure on school buildings says Assembly Member
November 29, 2006 8:05 AM
Peter Black at a Swansea Council
Claims by the First Minister that local Councils are to blame for his government's failure to meet its target on getting all school buildings fit for purpose by 2010 are absurd according to the Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Peter Black.
The Labour Assembly Government made the promise in its 2003 manifesto but has recently abandoned it in favour of the less specific target of working with Councils to achieve the objective of making schools fit for purpose 'as soon as possible'.
The Government made £630m available for school buildings between 2003 and 2007 all of which appears to have been spent by local authorities on that purpose. However, an authorative study by accountants Pricewaterhouse Coopers on behalf of the Welsh Local Government Association found a further £749m gap between available resources and required funding. Their figures were based on a comprehensive assessment of the maintenance backlog and 'fit for purpose' requirements of all 22 local authorities in Wales.
"Rhodri Morgan's claim that it is Welsh Liberal Democrat Councils who are to blame for the failure to reach the 2010 target is nonsense," said Mr. Black. "Only four of the 22 local authorities in Wales are led by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, whilst Pricewaterhouse Coopers are clear that the failure is widespread. The fact is that Labour overreached themselves in setting a target, which they could not achieve. They did not have the information to understand how much it was going to cost, they had not talked to Councils beforehand to establish their plans to reorganise schools so as to deal with surplus places and they failed to put sufficient cash into the system to pay for the work."
"After six years as First Minister, Rhodri Morgan is blaming anybody but himself for his government's failures. He should apologise to parents, pupils and teachers for raising expectations and then letting them down. This was his promise and he was responsible for delivering it, nobody else."
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