Draft budget increases pupils funding gap

4.45.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Nov 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education Kirsty Williams AM has expressed concern that the funding gap between pupils in Wales and England will be increased yet again by the Welsh Assembly Government's draft budget.

"In 2005 Welsh pupils received £200 per head less funding than English pupils, under this Budget this difference will rise to £600. The 2005 figure was an injustice to Welsh pupils this new figure is deplorable.

"How can Welsh pupils be receiving a similar standard of education to their English counterparts when teachers have substantially less money to spend on the resources and equipment needed.

"The budget for Education is so tight that even Plaid's much pressed Manifesto Pledge of free laptops for all 11 year olds has fallen by the wayside in the first year of the budget. Clearly the government has seen a degree of sense in realising that there are greater priorities for spending in education.

"I shall be pushing for the £300,000 that has been set aside for laptops in the second year, and £400,000 in the third year to be better allocated. We do not need free gimmicks we need investment in providing our young people with the skills and knowledge needed to move forward in Wales and to move Wales forward.

"The budget should start with desperately required basic needs such as improving crumbling school buildings; providing more support to pupils and teachers in the form of training, counselling and advice."