A report examined financial exclusion in Wales. Around a quarter of people in Wales felt scared or confused when dealing with banks and other financial institutions. A fifth of adults admitted to committing themselves to a financial product without understanding all the terms and conditions.
Source: Lindsey Kearton, Figuring out Finance: An overview of financial exclusion in Wales, Welsh Consumer Council (029 2025 5454)
Links: Report | WCC press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A study monitored a range of indicators of poverty and social exclusion in Wales, including low income, education, work, health and well-being, and access to services. Welsh poverty rates had fallen faster than those in England or Scotland in the previous decade, and were no worse than the average for Britain as a whole.
Source: Peter Kenway, Naomi Parsons, Jane Carr and Guy Palmer, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales 2005, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | Report (Welsh) | JRF Findings | JRF press release | WAG press release
Date: 2005-Nov
The Welsh Assembly government published an official measure for deprivation in small areas in Wales. The new measure (which replaced the original index produced in 2000) included a new element of deprivation, relating to people s physical environment; and it went down to a smaller spatial scale.
Source: Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005: Summary report, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | WAG press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A cross-cutting report summarized activity across all Welsh Assembly Government departments that contributed to social justice in Wales.
Source: Social Justice Report 2005, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A report outlined the evidence surrounding over-indebtedness in Wales, and assessed the impact of debt on individuals, communities and the wider economy, and the impact of over-indebtedness on Assembly Government policies and strategies.
Source: Deputy Minister?s Review of Over-indebtedness in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
From 1 April 2005, charges for National Health Service prescriptions in Wales were cut by 1 to 4, compared to 6.50 in England. A 12-month pre-payment certificate cost 57.46, compared to 93.20 in England.
Source: The Guardian, 1 April 2005
Links: Guardian report | Welsh Consumer Council press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The Welsh Assembly government announced a wide-ranging strategy to cut child poverty by half by 2010 and eliminate it by 2020. The strategy set out how the Assembly government would play its part in ensuring that the United Kingdom government targets on child poverty were met.
Source: A Fair Future for Children, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | WAG press release | ECP Cymru press release (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
