School Governance LCO a typical Labour/Plaid missed opportunity - Randerson

4.38.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Oct 2009

Jenny Randerson AM is determined that we get the powers we need over education

Commenting on the announcement that the Assembly Government will be seeking legislative competence over "school governance", Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Education Minister, Jenny Randerson AM said:

"This is another missed opportunity from the Labour/Plaid Cymru Government, tinkering with the powers available when they should be using this opportunity to bring down as wider powers as possible over school governance.

"Why would you deliberately choose not to get powers over issues like the funding arrangements of schools, and the support available for staff.

"If Education is to underpin things like economic development and defeating child poverty, it seems strange that Government would pass-up on the opportunity to shape our system to meet Welsh objectives.

"Like it or not, things are considerably different between Wales and England now, and it seems totally odd that Labour and Plaid Cymru wouldn't want the opportunity to legislate to make education better when the needs arise."

"This comes back to the same old fudge that characterises Labour and Plaid's approach to Governance in Wales."

Ends.