Norfolk Disadvantaged Hit The Hardest Again

12.00.00am GMT Fri 6th Nov 2009

Young people from poorer families will be denied access to education as a result of new Conservative plans to halve the annual post-16 transport subsidy. Lib Dem Spokesperson for Children's Services, Mervyn Scutter has labeled the policy, 'an illustration of Conservative elitism';

"We are starting to see the Conservatives true colours in Norfolk. This policy will only affect those from the poorer and more disadvantaged backgrounds limiting their choice and potential to succeed in Further Education. Further Education is a gateway to greater job opportunities and Higher Education. Instead of discouraging young people from entering higher education and damaging their job opportunities we should be actively promoting their further education especially at a time when Norfolk's entrance into higher education is woefully low. Young people are going to see the cost of their travel to college double at a time when their families are feeling the worst of the recession. Once again the Conservatives are reverting to type and attempting to perpetuate the chasm between the haves and the have-nots in Norfolk. At a time when we are looking to develop our young talent and expand our economy here in Norfolk this seems to be a major backward step.

In our 2008 budget the Lib Dems promised to introduce a young people's travel card which would have heavily subsidized public travel for all young people in the County. While we are moving forward in fighting to support educational diversity and tackle economic discrimination, the Conservatives are looking back to the class system politics of the 1970's for their policy ideas."