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The report, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, was launched yesterday in the Wales Millennium Centre. It highlights the detrimental effects that the recession has had on poverty and in particular levels of unemployment.

The First Minister, who is speaking at the launch event, said:

“I very much welcome the publication of this document. It is part of the maturing way that government and the research community are jointly strengthening the evidence base on which we make policy here in Wales.

“Tackling the social impact of the recession is a top priority for the Welsh Assembly Government. This week we are holding our sixth all-Wales Economic Summit – a gathering of government,  business, trade union, local government and community leaders to address the current downturn – in Merthyr Tydfil, concentrating on the action we are taking now to tackle the difficulties that businesses, families and communities face.

“The global recession cannot be gauged by economic indicators alone. It has a human cost, and our response must also have a social dimension.

“The innovative and radical programmes we have introduced to tackle poverty and social exclusion over the past 10 years means that we are very well placed to help the people of Wales weather the negative social impacts of the recession.

“Much of the action we are taking on poverty is in tune with the JRF report’s findings and we are committed to removing barriers to employment and are implementing a number of policies to alleviate the impacts of the recession on the everyday lives of people. On the broader recession front, our ReAct and ProAct schemes are efforts to ensure that the Welsh workforce and Welsh businesses are in a better place to weather the economic storm and come out the other side with stocks of training and up-skilling in place to take advantage of the up-turn.

“Tackling child poverty is a key priority for this third Assembly Government term demonstrated by a number of new One Wales commitments and a range of existing programmes aimed at improving the life chances of our most disadvantaged children and young people.. Policies such as the Welsh addition to the Child Trust Fund and our huge new investment in the Foundation Phase are attempts to help families build up the assets which provide children with the resources to make a success of their later lives.

“The priority that we attach to tackling child poverty is illustrated by the early use of new legislative powers to support our most vulnerable children and families. Earlier this year we announced the proposed Children and Families (Wales) Measure which sets a clear direction for our aim of improving the quality of life and equality of opportunity for every community in Wales."

Related Links

Helping more people into jobs

Increasing employment is not just about economics and spreading prosperity.  With social justice in mind, it tackles poverty, and has a positive effect on health.

Leading Wales out of recession

Support to help make the downturn shorter and shallower.