COMMENTING on today's Assembly Government statement on measures to tackle the number of adults not in education, employment of training (NEETs), Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"While the Assembly Government offers warm words about its intentions, the fact remains that the number of young adults not in education, employment or training is rising.

"Labour's recession, cuts to further education and sixth form budgets, and fewer job vacancies suggest these numbers will rise still further.

"In every corner of Wales young people are paying the price for Gordon Brown and Rhodri Morgan's failure to plan for the future.

"Investing in skills, training and education is absolutely vital if Wales is to emerge in a strong position from this recession."