Welsh assembly

The Welsh Assembly Government's social justice week will be a flop, the Liberal Democrats have predicted.

Cardiff Bay ministers had hoped to put community issues at the top of the National Assmbly's agenda this week with a series of set piece debates.

Assembly members were set to debate on arson and anti-social behaviour on Tuesday before social justice minister Edwina Hart took questions on Wednesday.

The Communities First regeneration project was also the subject of Wednesday's plenary discussion with the hope that the electorate would become more aware of the work that is going on on their behalf.

But before these events even got underway on Tuesday, Lib Dem AM Peter Black said the debates were little more than a talking shop.

"Labour talk about social justice and yet their actions do not match their words," he said.

"They may have put together a strategy on anti-social behaviour and arson but their promised £100 million crime [programme] is underfunded to the tune of £19 million.

"In addition they have failed to invest in the sort of community facilities needed to get youngsters off the streets and deal with the sort of boredom that can often cause problems.

"They are reducing educational opportunity by underfunding post-16 education and imposing tuition and top-up fees on students, putting many of the poorest off from applying for university."

Failure

He added that "Communities First is an innovative scheme but it is still too early to tell if it is a success".

"Indeed the debate on Wednesday is based on a report that highlights the scheme's failure to engage local businesses and the failure of local councils to empower local communities," Black said.

"As for health inequality, the Labour Assembly Government continues to preside over the worse NHS waiting times in the UK whilst the number on long-term sick increases with a consequential dampening effect on the economic recovery.

"Labour are talking up their commitment to social justice, but their failures in this area cast a long shadow over Welsh communities."