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'Close gaps' in child policies

Policies for children and young people have been criticised by the children's commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, who said they fail to make a real difference to everyday lives.

In his annual review for 2007/08 Mr Towler called for those who developand deliver services for children and young people to focus oninconsistencies between policies across Wales.

He said, 'Having made the progress we have in Wales, it would be a realpity if we do not have the courage to recognise the problems and takewhatever action necessary to close the gaps.'

While the commissioner recognised that there might be valid reasons whypolicies failed, including inadequacy of funding to deliver effectivemental health services to children and sustainability in funding acrossthe board, he said that he was not prepared to accept any excuses.

The review also touched on the commissioner's frustration with the slowimplementation of the Welsh Assembly's initiatives on child poverty andthe lack of improvement in the lives of Wales's poorest children.

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