COMMENTING on today's figures which show that the gap in average spend per pupil between Wales and England has risen above £500, Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"Breaking through this unacceptable barrier puts added pressure on the First Minister to fulfil his commitment to increase education spending in Wales.

"We will also be looking at how the new Education Minister addresses this issue in light of his recently announced spending review.

"The gap in spending per pupil between Wales and England is unacceptably high – and getting wider. Unless we close it children in Wales will continue to be denied the same sort of learning opportunities enjoyed by pupils across the border.