COMMENTING on today’s decision by Assembly Members to extend new rules on free school transport to faith based schools but not pupils in Welsh medium education, Welsh Conservative AM Alun Cairns said:

“I very much welcome the committee’s decision to enshrine the rights of pupils in faith schools in this new legislation."

“However, I am extremely disappointed children in Welsh medium education will not enjoy those same rights.

“I am also sorry our amendment on special educational needs was not passed and will continue to fight that case until we persuade the government to accept it.

“We have the power to make all of this happen yet ministers do not appear prepared to use it.

"We are not playing any more. We are writing laws and if we can't offer absolute equal access to Welsh-medium parents as we are to English medium pupils then I think we would have abdicated our responsibilities.

“The Assembly Government now faces two clear choices. Either they support our demand for those in Welsh medium education to be given the same rights as those at English medium or faith schools, or they vote to reverse today’s decision on faith schools.”