The year that was

Past times with bad co-o-ompany.I moan, and shall until I die. (Pic : via Tumblr) So ends another blogging year. For me, anyway. It ends on a sad note. Firstly the death of Wyn Roberts, who played a pretty critical role in the development and passing of the Welsh Language Act 1993 . It wouldn't have satisfied...

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Future of the Wales & Borders Rail Franchise

Rail policy in Wales has significant cross-border impacts, and it's not expected that the franchise map would change in 2018. (Pic : Arriva Trains Wales) Before I wrap up for the year, it's worth returning to my "favourite Assembly committee" – Business & Enterprise – which launched their report on the future of...

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How many AMs do we need?

The debate on how many AMs we now need is well and truly underway, but like many other things, could this issue have been put to bed years ago? (Pic : The Telegraph) In terms of answering the title question, a loud, chippy minority will say "none". Most of us will laugh at the suggestion that – amongst all the problems...

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Ghost Children : Missing from care

Yesterday, the Assembly held a members debate on the issue of exploitation of vulnerable children and children who go missing from care. Just to illustrate how seriously AMs are taking it, the debate motion was sponsored or supported by 10 AMs from all parties.The latest statistics from March 2013 show that there were 5,745 looked-after children in Wales. The majority (3,125) are boys and the vast majority of both sexes are aged under 10.Rhondda...

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A slice of frozen PISA

Climb into your bath, track your arteries with a razor blade and bring on The Smiths.It's PISA time, and there's nothing the Welsh enjoy more than a good moan, revelling in the doom as we all – once again - rubber neck the slow motion car crash that is the Welsh education system.PISA, as you know, is an OECD initiative....

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