Anger in North over plan to cut Children's Commissioner's budget

A local government election candidate was today accused of choosing the wrong target after he called for the Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner’s budget to be slashed to offset the education cash crisis.

SDLP equality spokesperson Patricia Lewsley lambasted east Belfast Conservative Peter Gray after he claimed Nigel Williams’ office was soaking up too much money which would be better spent on education boards.

Ms Lewsley, an Assembly member for Lagan Valley, said: “It is no answer to the disgraceful cuts that are being made in education to call for the work of the Children’s Commissioner to be made even more difficult.

“We now have hard information that there are 32,000 children in Northern Ireland living in severe poverty.

“The protections and measures that we put in place under the Executive Programme have been slashed by the Direct Rulers, something the Commissioner has been to the fore in highlighting.

“The reality is that the Children’s Commissioner is the last line of defence for the most vulnerable group of all who cannot speak up for themselves. Our Commissioner has more responsibilities and powers than his equivalent in Wales and even than the Ombudsman in Norway.”

Last Wednesday Mr Williams expressed concern about the British government’s overall budget for the North for the next three years, including education cuts, claiming they would hit children hard.

The North’s five education and library boards have been hit by a spate of resignations following demands from minister Barry Gardiner for budget cuts.

Despite calls for his resignation, the Education Minister has insisted the boards have to learn to live within their budget.

He also claimed the government is spending 54% more on education than it did five years ago.

However councillors and board members have passed motions of no confidence in the minister and trade unions have warned the savings may result in people losing jobs.

Mr Gray yesterday claimed too much money was being spent on the Children’s Commissioner’s office.