COMMENTING on today's launch of a new Assembly Government scheme to address the issue of young people not in education, employment or training, Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"While we welcome any additional help to give children the best start in life, the fact remains that the number of young people not in education, employment or training has been rising over recent years.

"It speaks volumes for the Assembly Government's lack of priorities that ministers did little to improve the NEETs problem in Wales before the economic downturn.

"The chances of success of schemes such as this are all the harder with the Assembly Government cutting further education funding, with fewer job opportunities, and with more people seeking work and training."