The Education Minister at the Assembly, Jane Hutt announced a review of Higher Education yesterday, to be chaired by Prof Mervyn Jones, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University. The review will, and I quote from the Minister's statement:
'The first stage of the review, to conclude by the end of September 2008, will consider student finance arrangements in Wales. In particular, the group will assess the extent to which student finance is targeted to widen access and encourage take up of priority subjects as well as the need to identify options to help tackle graduate debt.
The second phase will focus on reviewing the purpose and role for higher education in Wales taking account of the vision set out in Reaching Higher – the Assembly Government’s strategy for the higher education sector in Wales and its skills and employment strategy, Skills that Work for Wales. It will also look at higher education policy developments in England and Scotland as well as analysing the current and likely future demands and needs of learners, the economy and society. The second stage of the review should be completed by the end of February 2009.'
Both elements of the review are important of course, but I am largely interested in the possibility of any changes to student finance in Wales. No doubt people are aware of the role that I played in the student movement in campaigning against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales, and I am pleased therefore that the One Wales Government has committed to retaining the current student support arrangements until the end of this Assembly term.
Nevertheless, with the review of HE funding set to take place on a UK level next year, it is necessary for Wales to conduct a review to assess the options available for Wales- especially if the UK Government is intent on lifting the cap on top-up fees in England. I don't agree with Andrew RT Davies, Tory AMs comments that the timescale is tight on the review. Far too many reviews are long-winded and seemingly everlasting, and I hope that this committee can work diligently and effectively to assess all options available for Welsh students for the future.
I am against the implementation of top-up fees, I cannot deny that, but I know that there are people within the sector that believe that such fees should be introduced in order that they can properly fund their Institutions and develop their research capacity- effectively buying in to the idea that we need to create a market in the HE sector, much like the DWP are intent on advocating the marketisation of the welfare sector on a UK level.
I don't see how charging students for their education, and forcing them in to debt can be a way in which to develop our Institutions, and the ambition of Wales as a Nation. I also believe that to introduce such fees undermines the legitimacy of the widening access, and the lifelong learning agendas here in Wales.
Nevertheless, we have to discuss these issues frankly and honestly if we are serious about addressing the issues surrounding student finance and HE funding. I look forward to taking part in the process, and in reading the committee's report in September ( how I will respond to any recommendations made is another matter altogether!)
Showing posts with label DWP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DWP. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Now we know- child poverty targets let-down
Today I expressed my deep disappointment on the floor of the Senedd that the UK Government’s target of abolishing child poverty by 2020 has suffered a severe set-back. Figures released by the Department for Work an Pensions today reveal child poverty levels have risen for a second successive year – there are now an additional 100,000 children living in poverty, taking the total to 3.9million for the UK. The figures are a huge blow to the efforts being made to eradicate child poverty in Wales. The most vulnerable in our society are paying the price for the UK Government’s missed opportunities in several Budgets. There is a moral obligation on Whitehall to come up with the necessary resources to reverse this damaging trend.
I called on the Assembly’s Counsel General to set aside time at the Assembly to debate the issue as a matter of urgency, and also called on Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons to lobby the Westminster Government for the Assembly to have an enhanced say on Welfare policy.
Other countries across Europe continue to out-perform the UK in child poverty eradication. I fully support calls made by child poverty charities for an additional £3billion from the Treasury to be targeted at children in poverty using the welfare systems. If London continues to show impotence in this area then the Assembly will have an obligation to seek powers over aspects of the welfare system to deliver for our young people.
Today's figures show that:
* The number of children in the UK experiencing low income and material deprivation - those who can't afford basic things such as sending their kids on a school trip - fell by 100,000 between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
* The number of children in relative poverty rose by 100,000, both before and after housing costs are taken into account, to 2.9million (BHC) and 3.9million (AHC) respectively between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of children in relative poverty has fallen by 600,000 (BHC) and 500,000 (AHC).
* The numbers of pensioners in relative poverty rose by 300,000 to 2.5million (BHC) and by 200,000 (AHC) to 2.1million between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by 200,000 (BHC) and 900,000 (AHC).
I called on the Assembly’s Counsel General to set aside time at the Assembly to debate the issue as a matter of urgency, and also called on Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons to lobby the Westminster Government for the Assembly to have an enhanced say on Welfare policy.
Other countries across Europe continue to out-perform the UK in child poverty eradication. I fully support calls made by child poverty charities for an additional £3billion from the Treasury to be targeted at children in poverty using the welfare systems. If London continues to show impotence in this area then the Assembly will have an obligation to seek powers over aspects of the welfare system to deliver for our young people.
Today's figures show that:
* The number of children in the UK experiencing low income and material deprivation - those who can't afford basic things such as sending their kids on a school trip - fell by 100,000 between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
* The number of children in relative poverty rose by 100,000, both before and after housing costs are taken into account, to 2.9million (BHC) and 3.9million (AHC) respectively between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of children in relative poverty has fallen by 600,000 (BHC) and 500,000 (AHC).
* The numbers of pensioners in relative poverty rose by 300,000 to 2.5million (BHC) and by 200,000 (AHC) to 2.1million between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by 200,000 (BHC) and 900,000 (AHC).
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Child Poverty
This week's Assembly session is again a re-run of last week in that it is being dominated by an attempt by some to score points in light of the local elections on Thursday. How much baring this will have on the actual outcome of the election is any one's guess, but its happening nevertheless.
I raised questions today on child poverty in relation to public service delivery, and the recommendation in the recently released report by Save the Children and the Bevan Foundation about the importance of Local Authorities working together in delivering the child poverty agenda effectively. I also raised concerns during business questions about the fact that the Westminster Government has yet again stalled the announcement of data on housing below the average income to June this year, as it may well suggest that the interim child poverty targets are far from reachable in the current climate.
I had a meeting with Brian Gibbons AM today, also on the child poverty strategy. It is useful for me to have such meetings as the spokesperson on this particular issue so that I can keep up to date with Government actions, and any representations that may be made to Westminster colleagues. I am deeply concerned that the DWP are looking to privatise service provision with regard to benefit take up and I will be keeping an eye on developments in this field. It just seems ironic that while the Government in Wales wants to decentralise service provision and support public sector positions, the Westminster Government are taking a very different approach altogether - purely for the sake of financial savings.
I raised questions today on child poverty in relation to public service delivery, and the recommendation in the recently released report by Save the Children and the Bevan Foundation about the importance of Local Authorities working together in delivering the child poverty agenda effectively. I also raised concerns during business questions about the fact that the Westminster Government has yet again stalled the announcement of data on housing below the average income to June this year, as it may well suggest that the interim child poverty targets are far from reachable in the current climate.
I had a meeting with Brian Gibbons AM today, also on the child poverty strategy. It is useful for me to have such meetings as the spokesperson on this particular issue so that I can keep up to date with Government actions, and any representations that may be made to Westminster colleagues. I am deeply concerned that the DWP are looking to privatise service provision with regard to benefit take up and I will be keeping an eye on developments in this field. It just seems ironic that while the Government in Wales wants to decentralise service provision and support public sector positions, the Westminster Government are taking a very different approach altogether - purely for the sake of financial savings.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Tax credit question to Social Justice Minister
Bethan Jenkins: I also welcome the £3 million in extra resources going in to an awareness campaign on benefit take-up. My only concern is that the recent centralisation of services through the Department for Work and Pensions will severely hinder any development that we will be able to undertake in Wales. The Public and Commercial Services union has said that the new system is rigid and bureaucratic and that we are now moving towards telephone lines where 20 million people have been reported as not being able to access key services. What representations will you be making to your colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to this situation?
Brian Gibbons: There is an awareness that one of the big problems is not so much that people are unaware of their entitlements but of how to access those entitlements. Certainly, in the previous scheme on benefit uptake, the more successful organisations were those that gave real practical help to the claimants rather than simply attempting to increase awareness about entitlement. So, I would expect this scheme to build on that good practice and for the individual schemes to give real practical, pragmatic help to claimants so that they can overcome many of the problems that you have outlined.
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Bethan Jenkins: Yr wyf finnau’n croesawu’r £3 miliwn o adnoddau ychwanegol i’w rhoi mewn ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth pobl o hawlio budd-daliadau. Yr unig bryder sydd gennyf yw y gwnaiff y broses ddiweddar o ganoli gwasanaethau drwy’r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau lesteirio’n ddifrifol unrhyw ddatblygiad y gallwn ei gyflawni yng Nghymru. Mae Undeb y Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus a Masnachol wedi dweud bod y system newydd yn anhyblyg ac yn fiwrocrataidd a’n bod yn awr yn symud at linellau ffôn lle mae 20 miliwn o bobl wedi’u cofnodi fel pobl na allant hawlio budd-daliadau. Pa sylwadau y byddwch yn eu gwneud i’ch cyd-Weinidogion yn yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yng nghyswllt y sefyllfa hon?
Brian Gibbons: Cydnabyddir mai un o’r problemau mawr yw nad yw pobl yn gwybod sut mae cael gafael ar eu hawliau yn hytrach na’r ffaith nad ydynt yn ymwybodol o’r hawliau hynny. Yn sicr, yn y cynllun blaenorol ar hawlio budd-daliadau, y mudiadau mwyaf llwyddiannus oedd y rheini a roddodd help ymarferol gwirioneddol i’r hawlwyr yn hytrach na chodi ymwybyddiaeth yn unig am hawliau. Felly, byddwn yn disgwyl i’r cynllun hwn adeiladu ar yr arfer da hwnnw a bod y cynlluniau unigol yn rhoi cymorth ymarferol, pragmatig, gwirioneddol i’r hawlwyr er mwyn iddynt allu goresgyn llawer o’r problemau yr ydych wedi’u hamlinellu.
Brian Gibbons: There is an awareness that one of the big problems is not so much that people are unaware of their entitlements but of how to access those entitlements. Certainly, in the previous scheme on benefit uptake, the more successful organisations were those that gave real practical help to the claimants rather than simply attempting to increase awareness about entitlement. So, I would expect this scheme to build on that good practice and for the individual schemes to give real practical, pragmatic help to claimants so that they can overcome many of the problems that you have outlined.
.......................................................
Bethan Jenkins: Yr wyf finnau’n croesawu’r £3 miliwn o adnoddau ychwanegol i’w rhoi mewn ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth pobl o hawlio budd-daliadau. Yr unig bryder sydd gennyf yw y gwnaiff y broses ddiweddar o ganoli gwasanaethau drwy’r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau lesteirio’n ddifrifol unrhyw ddatblygiad y gallwn ei gyflawni yng Nghymru. Mae Undeb y Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus a Masnachol wedi dweud bod y system newydd yn anhyblyg ac yn fiwrocrataidd a’n bod yn awr yn symud at linellau ffôn lle mae 20 miliwn o bobl wedi’u cofnodi fel pobl na allant hawlio budd-daliadau. Pa sylwadau y byddwch yn eu gwneud i’ch cyd-Weinidogion yn yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yng nghyswllt y sefyllfa hon?
Brian Gibbons: Cydnabyddir mai un o’r problemau mawr yw nad yw pobl yn gwybod sut mae cael gafael ar eu hawliau yn hytrach na’r ffaith nad ydynt yn ymwybodol o’r hawliau hynny. Yn sicr, yn y cynllun blaenorol ar hawlio budd-daliadau, y mudiadau mwyaf llwyddiannus oedd y rheini a roddodd help ymarferol gwirioneddol i’r hawlwyr yn hytrach na chodi ymwybyddiaeth yn unig am hawliau. Felly, byddwn yn disgwyl i’r cynllun hwn adeiladu ar yr arfer da hwnnw a bod y cynlluniau unigol yn rhoi cymorth ymarferol, pragmatig, gwirioneddol i’r hawlwyr er mwyn iddynt allu goresgyn llawer o’r problemau yr ydych wedi’u hamlinellu.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Benefits take up in Wales
New investment in encouraging benefits take up is to be welcomed today by the Minster, Brian Gibbons AM, especially given that there is up to £100m in council benefits which go unclaimed in Wales in a year. There was a Conference to discuss the possibilities for implementation with key organisations that work in this field today in Llandrindod Wells, which is a positive sign that the One Wales Government is tackling this issue head on.
I'd like to take a tiny bit of praise for this being on the agenda at all, as I have raised it on numerous occassions with the Minister, mainly due to the work that I have been doing in talking to experts in the field about benefits take up. For example, Disability Living Allowance is an area where take up is low in Wales, and where it is often hard for people to find out if they can claim benefits at all.
Of course, we can do everything within our power possible here in Wales to encrouage take-up, but there needs also to be a steer from Westminster. There still isn't the prioritisation of the child poverty agenda that we so desperately need from London. There have been announcements about the new Child Poverty Unit in the DWP, the new workers contract that Gordon Brown launched last week at Labour's Welsh Conference, and Ed Ball's Children's Plan. All commendable in black and white, but they are yet to appear deliverable in practice. Again, we must work hand in hand with Wesminster, and not against them, to ensure that we can seek to take on one of the biggest challenges of our time.
On another subject- Y Byd- I understand that there will be an interesting piece on this on tonight's Dragon's Eye. I will try and reserve judgment until then. I tend to agree with Adam Price on this one, however. Plaid in Government has almost doubled investment in the Welsh medium press, and the possibility of developing a new Welsh Language daily is still open for debate in that the Government is currently tendering for contracts. I believe that a newspaper on the web is the best way forward at thist stage, but I know that others disagree with me.
I do despair, however of some figures in the Nationalist movement purposfully using their positions to create trouble on this issue. Lets put our heads together and get a successful outcome for the future of the Welsh Language Press instead of making public statements for the sake of making a point.
I'd like to take a tiny bit of praise for this being on the agenda at all, as I have raised it on numerous occassions with the Minister, mainly due to the work that I have been doing in talking to experts in the field about benefits take up. For example, Disability Living Allowance is an area where take up is low in Wales, and where it is often hard for people to find out if they can claim benefits at all.
Of course, we can do everything within our power possible here in Wales to encrouage take-up, but there needs also to be a steer from Westminster. There still isn't the prioritisation of the child poverty agenda that we so desperately need from London. There have been announcements about the new Child Poverty Unit in the DWP, the new workers contract that Gordon Brown launched last week at Labour's Welsh Conference, and Ed Ball's Children's Plan. All commendable in black and white, but they are yet to appear deliverable in practice. Again, we must work hand in hand with Wesminster, and not against them, to ensure that we can seek to take on one of the biggest challenges of our time.
On another subject- Y Byd- I understand that there will be an interesting piece on this on tonight's Dragon's Eye. I will try and reserve judgment until then. I tend to agree with Adam Price on this one, however. Plaid in Government has almost doubled investment in the Welsh medium press, and the possibility of developing a new Welsh Language daily is still open for debate in that the Government is currently tendering for contracts. I believe that a newspaper on the web is the best way forward at thist stage, but I know that others disagree with me.
I do despair, however of some figures in the Nationalist movement purposfully using their positions to create trouble on this issue. Lets put our heads together and get a successful outcome for the future of the Welsh Language Press instead of making public statements for the sake of making a point.
