COMMENTING on today's protest outside the Senedd against cuts to further education budgets, Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"It is hardly surprising that lecturers and students are forced to protest instead of being in the classroom when the Assembly Government is slashing further education funding for the year ahead.

"These reckless cuts at a time of deepening recession undermine efforts to develop a skilled workforce, cost jobs, and prevent people from reaching their full potential.

"As the economic climate worsens it is utter madness for Labour and Plaid Cymru to cut funding for the sector which will help re-train the thousands of workers made redundant in recent months.

"It is also the height of hypocrisy for Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs to join this protest after supporting the budget proposed by their government which has led to these cuts."