The Handbrake stays on for Learner Travel

4.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Apr 2008

The Assembly Government has today announced its proposed Learner Travel Measure which seeks to improve safety for pupils.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education and Transport sits on the Enterprise and Learning Committee which made 9 recommendations in November 2007, on the previous version of the measure when it was out for consultation.

Kirsty said: "Wales' lack of power in this area has kept children waiting, and is as a result of Labour's poor devolution settlement.  

"Despite today's announcement we still have no idea how long it will take the government to gain these powers as they haven't been able to give us a timetable.

"The committee agreed that if the reformed measure did not ask for more powers and did not have a timetable for an LCO we would consider bringing our own forward if we remain unsatisfied. I hope that we will not now have to do this.

"I regret that the Minister has not re-drafted the measure to fully take into account the 14 to 19 Agenda, which is playing such an important role in education across Wales, it shows a lack of foresight and joined up thinking between Government departments.