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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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Focus on education to help combat poverty says Assembly Member
January 3, 2008 12:00 AM
Additional money targeted at improving the education of the poorest children in our communities could be the key to helping to combat child poverty, according to the Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice Spokesperson, Peter Black.
Mr. Black was speaking following the publication of new statistics from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) which revealed that 68,000 children in Wales live in poverty despite having at least one parent in work. Mr. Black said that such children often under-perform in school and called for new money to be injected into the education system targeted at the poorest children so as to give them a better start in life.
Mr. Black is backing the concept of a 'pupil premium', which has been floated by newly elected Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. This would mean that extra funding is given to schools who teach children from poorer backgrounds. During the leadership election Nick Clegg pledged that spending on the poorest 15% of schools will meet private sector school levels of £8,000 per pupil per year under the Liberal Democrats.
"It is clear that the governments in Cardiff and in Westminster need to take further action if they are to meet their targets." said Mr Black. "Families are still living in poverty despite the minimum wage and tax credits. While these are both measures I support, we need to look at the level of the minimum wage, how tax credits are targeted and also work to attract higher value jobs into Wales."
"The only way that people can permanently be lifted out of poverty however, is through education and the development of skills. A pupil premium directed at schools in poorer areas would mean that those who are in need of the most support will receive it. Poorer children must have the same opportunities as those from wealthier backgrounds."
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