Mike German visits Children's Society Project in Merthyr Tydfil

12.00.00am GMT Thu 21st Feb 2002

The decision by the Children's Society to withdraw from Wales has been slated in a damning report by the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster.

The announcement last October that the Children's Society was to leave Wales came out of the blue to everyone except management and trustees. The Welsh Affairs Committee report, published last Friday, said that the Society had made the decision rashly, and without consulting anyone.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Mike German, welcomed the committee's investigation, saying: "It is important that this sort of action does not go unchallenged. The Children's Society have given a number of excuses for their decision to leave Wales, but the Welsh Affairs Committee report has shown them to be inaccurate and unsubstantiated.

"Having seen the benefits of the work done by the staff and kids involved with the Children's Society participation project in Merthyr, I am extremely concerned about the withdrawal of this charity from Wales, and the effect it will have."