What's the difference between a scaleback and a delayed roll out? (And does it matter to children in poverty?)

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 1st Jul 2008

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German has accused Rhodri Morgan of ducking serious questions, following a bizarre exchange at First Minister's Questions.

Mr German highlighted his government's record of proclaiming education as the key to tackling child poverty, and contrasted that with their record - including the botched roll-out of the Foundation Phase, the new education system for infant school pupils.

Mr German said: "The number of children in poverty in Wales has increased from 144,000 to 150,000 according to the latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions. This despite it being the self proclaimed number one priority of the Labour Party. It is entirely legitimate for AMs to question what the government is doing.

"Statistics show very clearly that children in poverty are likely to miss out on the best opportunities in life. That's not acceptable to me. Government Ministers should focus a bit more on what they are doing, and a bit less on splitting linguistic hairs."

Notes:

During questions, Mr German asked: "Will the scale back in Foundation Phase help or hinder you to tackle child poverty?"

Mr Morgan accused Mr German of using "loose and partisan language" and said: "We don't accept there's been a scale back, there's been a delayed roll back."

There was much laughing in the chamber.