EDUCATIONAL UNDERACHIEVEMENT IN COALFIELD COMMUNITIES

Early day motion 738, tabled 28 January 2002 by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 30 members.

That this House notes with deep concern the evidence that young people in current and former coal mining areas, in Wales, Scotland and England are seriously underachieving at school; further notes with alarm that the gap between educational attainment in the coalfields and the UK-wide average is substantial, with the disparity in attainment increasing with age; recognises that below average levels of educational attainment are a key problem facing the regeneration of the coalfield communities; calls on the Government to adopt the same targeted approach to tackling educational underachievement in coalfield communities as in urban areas; and further calls on the Government to convene a joint ministerial summit on the issue with the devolved administrations of Scotland and Wales.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.