Education, training and skills key to Welsh economic recovery - Randerson

2.24.00pm GMT Wed 14th Jan 2009

The Welsh Lib Dems believe that education is the key to a stronger economy

As the number of people claiming Job Seekers' Allowance is on the up and the percentage of Welsh unemployed is at its highest for eight years, the Welsh Liberal Democrats will today call on the Assembly Government to put education and skills at the forefront of its proposals to get the Welsh economy back on its feet

To weather the economic downturn and to prepare for the revival of the economy, the Welsh Lib Dems call for greater emphasis on vocational education, guarantee basic skills and develop skills to move Wales to a low-carbon economy.

Speaking before the debate Jenny Randerson, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Economy and Education Minister said:

"Wales is struggling and we've seen a dramatic increase in unemployment in the last few months. Every week sees new redundancy announcements. In the last week alone, Tesco announced that 747 jobs are to go from Chepstow and another 265 are to go from the Eaton factory in North Wales.

"We are calling on the Assembly Government to do more to prepare the people of Wales for difficult times like these and improve the standard of skills and education in Wales for possible future economic upturns.

"It is important for people to be able to 'up-skill' in difficult economic times. If people are faced with redundancy, it is far easier to find a new job if they have varied skills which they can adapt to different employments.

"Training staff who are made redundant should be a priority for the Assembly Government to ensure that when business picks up, those affected by closures will be well equipped to take on new employment.

"I welcome the Assembly Government's ProAct scheme to offer training to workers facing redundancy however, I am fearful that no businesses have yet benefited from this scheme and as more and more jobs disappear, the Labour-Plaid government is proving that is not reacting quick enough.

"The long term vision for the economy in Wales has to focus on education, training and skills so that we are can weather this economic storm and set a good foundation for the economy of Wales."

Notes:

People claiming Job Seekers' Allowance in Wales:

September: 47,086

November: 53,948

Unemployment in Wales is currently at 6.7% compare to 5.8% UK average.

Welsh Lib Dem Motion.

The National Assembly for Wales:

1 Notes with concern that the current economic situation is leading to a sharp rise in unemployment in Wales.

2 Believes that the Welsh Assembly Government should develop a robust and long-term economic recovery plan focusing on the role that education and training can play in establishing a strong skills base.

3 Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to bring forward plans to:

build on their proposals to improve vocational education by introducing an entitlement for all citizens to receive periods of continued education and training during their adult lives to enable them to adapt and develop their skills for the labour market.

place a duty on heads of schools and further education institutions to guarantee that basic skills are achieved, and to ensure accountability for this.

develop the skills necessary to move Wales forward to a low-carbon economy.

increase funding for research in Welsh higher education institutions to enable them to build on their success in the Research Assessment Exercise.

encourage Welsh universities to collaborate with industry and the private sector and to maximise the number of patents registered each year so as to develop high value sustainable businesses in Wales.?