A paper examined the effects of child poverty on educational attainment in Wales. Although child poverty had been significantly reduced throughout Wales, it still affected more than 1 in 4 children. Disadvantaged children were not enjoying the rate of progress experienced by their more privileged peers.
Source: David Egan, Combating Child Poverty in Wales: Are effective education strategies in place?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Paper | JRF press release
Date: 2007-Dec
A report said that there was a danger that the benefits of the technological revolution were increasingly being felt mainly by the young and the rich.
Source: Sarah Richards, Consumers and ICT in Wales, Welsh Consumer Council (029 2025 5454)
Links: Report | WCC press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Welsh Assembly government published proposals for extra legislative powers to enable it to improve the welfare of children and young people in Wales. It said a more child-centred approach could lead to free childcare for two-year-olds in greatest need, and top-up payments to child trust fund accounts of children in Wales. There would be a duty on public bodies to demonstrate how they were contributing to ending child poverty.
Source: National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence)(No.3) Order 2007, Draft Statutory Instrument, Welsh Assembly Government (0845 010 5500)
Links: Draft Order | Explanatory memorandum
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the work of the Welsh Assembly Government in the field of social justice. A set of 'distinctive and internally coherent' principles could be seen in operation across the responsibilities which the Assembly discharged. These included a belief in the usefulness of government; a commitment to progressive universalism; a preference for co-operation rather than competition as a means of improving standards of public services; and the pursuit of equality of outcome, rather than simply opportunity.
Source: Mark Drakeford, 'Social justice in a devolved Wales', Benefits, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
Researchers updated a report on poverty and social exclusion in Wales (published in 2005). Child poverty in Wales was around a quarter lower than in the late 1990s: but there had been no further progress in the previous two years, the rate stalling at around 28 per cent. There were more working-age adults in poverty than children and pensioners in poverty combined.
Source: Peter Kenway and Guy Palmer, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales 2007, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2007-Jul
The Welsh Assembly gave final approval to a plan to introduce free prescriptions in Wales from 1 April 2007.
Source: Press release 23 January 2007, NHS Wales (01443 233333)
Links: NHS Wales press release | Citizens Advice press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
