In December, Professor Gerry Holtham stepped down as an IWA Trustee after nearly twenty years and in this event one of the evergreens of Welsh public life seeks to balance the inter-generational books.
Wales has the highest median age in the UK and in 20 years 1 in 4 of the population will be over 65.
This figure reflects the fact that educated, young people are leaving in their tens of thousands resulting in Wales facing the lowest retention rates – with regards to both the proportion of students studying and staying to find work – than any other UK nation.
Facing less secure work and high house prices – especially in coastal areas – it could be argued that young people today in Wales are less well-off relative to their elders than any generation since WWII.
This calls for a radical reorientation of public policy to favour the young.
We must consider:
- Free tertiary education for all students who are resident in Wales or who remain and work in Wales for five years post graduation.
- Free or concessionary public transport for the young, while limiting free travel to those over 70 years old.
- A large and compulsory increase in council tax on second homes and no stamp duty (Land Transaction Tax) on first-home purchase by people under 30.
The session is chaired by IWA Director, Auriol Miller, and attendees are able to ask questions.