THE Welsh government has backed down on slashing education support funds for ethnic minorities and traveller communities following pressure from trade unionists.

The Neath Port Talbot branch of Unison welcomed yesterday the decision to stop cuts to the minority ethnic achievement service and the traveller education service.

Unison launched a petition in May demanding service funding after the Welsh government announced that £7.5 million had been allocated to only four authorities — Cardiff, Wrexham, Newport and Swansea.