A report said that Wales had the highest proportion of children living in poverty (33 per cent) out of any country in the United Kingdom, and the highest rate of teenage pregnancy (3.5 per cent) in Europe.
Source: From the Cradle to the Grave, Anti-Poverty Network Cymru, available from Oxfam Cymru (029 2080 3292)
Links: BBC report
Date: 2003-Oct
A report said that the new social justice ministry in the Welsh Assembly government faced a difficult task. It said that the main weapon for tackling deprivation would be the 83 million 'Communities First' programme targeted at 142 of the most disadvantaged wards in Wales: but local authorities appeared to be the main agents for delivery of the programme.
Source: Welsh Labour Takes Control: National Assembly monitoring report March to June 2003, Institute of Welsh Affairs (029 2057 5511)
Links: IWA press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Welsh Assembly Government responded to the first report of the Children's Commissioner for Wales. It said it shared the view of the Commissioner that levels of child poverty in Wales are unacceptable.
Source: Response of the Welsh Assembly Government to the Annual Report of the Children s Commissioner for Wales 2001-02, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Response (pdf) | Commissioner's report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government published a revised fuel poverty strategy for Wales. It included a commitment to ensuring that no household in Wales should live in fuel poverty by 2018.
Source: Fuel Poverty Commitment for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 6921)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government said that it will develop a strategy to combat child poverty in Wales, and will set up a child poverty task group (with outside representatives) to take its work forward. The group will review existing information about the root causes of child poverty in Wales, produce a 'workable definition' of child poverty, and conduct an audit of Welsh Assembly Government policies and programmes which impact on child poverty.
Source: Press release 31.1.03, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Jan
