Black Minority Ethnic issues come to the Assembly

11.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Nov 2008

Kirsty Williams AM will today chair the first ever cross party group on Black Minority Group issues.

Kirsty Williams said: "Not enough is being done to address the concerns and needs of BME groups across Wales and action is needed to address educational and economic disadvantage.

"The cross party group will have a difficult job, as very little research has been carried out into the full extend of the barriers that face BME groups in Wales.

"The meeting will also be attended by representatives from those working with and for BME communities and by those providing frontline services to the most vulnerable in our society - the group will be working with them to find out what the main challenges are and how they can best be tackled.

"Our first meeting will focus on the provision of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Education and language skills are key to enabling individuals to integrate both economically and socially and to becoming part of and give back to the community they live in.

"The group will be working towards cross party and cross discipline approaches to identifying and tackling BME issues in a way that is not currently done. We need all sectors and all levels of public, private and third sectors to work together to tackle the health, housing, education and economic difficulties facing BME groups.

"A well educated, skilled, healthy and integrated society is the building block for a strong country and we need investment in and support for all our citizens to achieve this. I look forward to working with the other parties and groups towards this aim."

Tarig Sanousi said "Having worked with Kirsty in the Assembly and realising the emerging issues of the BME in Wales were not fully being addressed, I felt there was a growing need for more action to be taken. We must identify these disadvantaged groups and the issues around education, employment and further training which make it so hard for them to integrate into society. They feel isolated from society and we must do more to tackle this."

Notes:

• Following participation in the Operation Black Vote scheme Kirsty has worked closely with her shadow Tarig Sanousi to set up the group.

• The Group is made up of Chair Kirsty Williams, from the Liberal Democrats, Mark Isherwood, from the Conservatives, Helen Mary Jones, from Plaid and Lorraine Barrett from Labour.

• The First Meeting will be attended by the Minister for Skills.

• Other groups attending include:

Anna Freeman WLGA

Ana Garcia Cardiff County Council

Vides Vyubuzima Volunteer

Paul Moris Job Centre Plus

Hellen Adams The Parade

Miriam Merkova BAWSO

Menkish Sood DPIA

Christine Selby Job Centre Plus

Debebe Legese Welsh Refugee Council

Hicham Hamid Cardiff County Council

Gareth Hicks CVAC / BVSNW

Mark Stewart Want 2 Work

Marta Bzikot Race Equality First

Paul Keeping Cardiff County Council

Owen Evans Business In The Community