The London Assembly Education Panel is looking into implications of a possible 90% drop in funding for education and youth schemes. Assembly Members agreed a motion to call on the Mayor to protect education and youth programmes and have tasked the Assembly’s Education Panel to conduct an assessment of the impact. Jennette Arnold OBE AM, Chair of the Education Panel, said: “These proposed changes are worrying and we need clarity over funding for education and youth programmes in 2015/16 and beyond. Vulnerable young Londoners are increasingly finding it difficult to access the opportunities they need and the Mayor needs to make sure the lifeblood of this city is given a chance to succeed.” The pertinent text of the motion is: “The London Assembly also notes revelations in the Guardian on 18.11.14 that Mayoral advisors have proposed cuts of up to 90% in funding for education and youth schemes – including mentoring, volunteering, supplementary schooling, healthy eating, and services for young people excluded from schools – targeted at some of London’s most deprived young people . “Given the extent of the proposed cuts, and the Mayor’s acknowledgement that the GLA “need[s] to scale up 10 times the efforts to ensure Londoners can compete successfully in a changing and competitive market place”, this Assembly calls on the Mayor to reject the proposals of officers and deliver the funding vulnerable young Londoners need to avoid the trap of long-term unemployment and increased risk of offending. “This Assembly also calls on the London Assembly’s Education Panel to conduct an urgent impact assessment of the proposed cuts.” Notes to editors:
The votes were 14 for and 3 against on the amendment and then 14 for and 3 against again on the substantive motion as amended, at a meeting of the full Assembly.
Watch the webcast.
Jennette Arnold OBE AM, Chair of the Education Panel is available for interview. Please see contact details below.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Lisa Lam in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4067. For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.