Delegation of Assembly Members heads to Cyprus to evaluate employment policies

Published 21/05/2015   |   Last Updated 21/05/2015

​A group of Members from the National Assembly for Wales will meet with parliamentarians from around the UK and Europe to discuss the issue of unemployment.

The delegation of four AMs, headed by Deputy Presiding Officer David Melding AM, will attend the British Isles & Mediterranean Region (BIMR) meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in Cyprus between 24-27 May.

Top of the agenda is how parliaments can best scrutinise issues surrounding unemployment, and in particular youth unemployment.

The Deputy Presiding Officer has been invited to lead the discussion in a session entitled "Parliamentary scrutiny of government employment policies".

"The stark reality of the economic downturn we have faced since 2008 is that it has disproportionately affected young people," said the Deputy Presiding Officer.

"Young people across the UK and Europe are facing difficulties finding work and Wales has not been immune to this trend.

"Parliaments such as the National Assembly must play a central role in ensuring proper scrutiny of government employment policies to ensure that this issue is addressed before we lose a whole generation to the depressing effects of long-term unemployment.

"That's why meetings like this are so important.  To share ideas with colleagues from across Europe can only help us find innovative ways of addressing such an important issue."

The Deputy Presiding Officer will be joined by Simon Thomas AM, Ann Jones AM and Joyce Watson AM (Chair of the CPA Wales Branch).