Local voices must not be silenced by Ministers' centralising tendency

12.53.58pm GMT Mon 21st Nov 2005

Devolving power over sixth forms back to local people is the mission for Welsh Liberal Democrats this week as the Assembly debates the abolition of the Quangos.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has been a fierce critic of the Labour Assembly Government's mishandling of the process.

He said: "Devolution must not be a code word for centralisation with everything run from Cardiff Bay. The kind of Developing Devolution that I believe in means local people taking decisions about their services.

"With the abolition of ELWa we must give local people a say in whether sixth forms close, or continue. It must not be left purely in the hands of the Minister and her officials. Parents, teachers and the local community must have a say in the future of their schools."

On the WDA and WTB he repeated his criticisms of the way the government has dealt with the issue. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to the debate condemning the way the government has undermined morale and created confusion in the way it has sought to scrap the bodies.

He added: "Our problem lies, fundamentally, with the way Labour have gone about it. The more we find out about their plans, the more it looks as if they gave no thought to it before they made the announcement. Their clumsy work has damaged the organisations, disillusioned their staff and will have a knock on effect throughout Wales.

"The decision to scrap the WDA and WTB brands was taken without any serious consideration of their worth, and accumulated reputation. Rhodri Morgan has called this project the defining project of the second Assembly. But in fact, it is the muddled way his administration has gone about it and other matters, which defines his government."