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The Children’s Society’s reasons for withdrawing from Wales are ``unpersuasive in the extreme``, according to the Welsh affairs select committee, writes Katie Leason.

The Children’s Society’s board of trustees decided to withdraw completely from Wales, closing 13 projects, in October last year in response to financial pressures.

A report from the committee says: "The principal argument, that the decision was taken in order for the society to retain its status as a body which is able to influence government policy, is scarcely credible in the context of the outrage with which the decision has been greeted in parliament, in the National Assembly for Wales and within the church in Wales."

It describes the second argument, that the society’s operations would "implode" if it tried to continue its work in Wales, as "highly dubious", and says that it is "unacceptable" for the cost of Welsh language provision to be used as an excuse for pulling out of Wales.

The committee finds it "regrettable" that the society did not consult with or seek assistance from the National Assembly before making its decision to withdraw, and describes as "particularly disappointing" managers in London recommending to the trustees that the society withdraw from Wales without consulting its managers in Wales.

The report proposes the development of a code of practice for voluntary bodies operating in more than one country of the UK to adopt, as well as a "public commitment" from voluntary bodies to consult properly before withdrawing or reducing services.

It urges the government to support a code of practice and consider whether adopting the code should be a condition of bodies receiving funding from the UK government.

The report concludes that the Children’s Society must ensure that its advertising and publicity does not give the false impression that it will continue to work in Wales, so that people do not make donations believing that they will be supporting work with children in Wales.

Chief executive Ian Sparks said it was a "great disappointment" that the select committee report does not tackle the issue that charities cannot afford and should not be expected to subsidise essential services.

"Supporters do not give money to charities to subsides local authorities, yet this is the reality of welfare provision today," he said.

"We accept and regret that our decision has caused a great deal of distress in Wales. But despite the committee’s own conclusions, the truth is that our financial position left us with no alternative."

For a full copy of the report click here