Monmouthshire 'most family-friendly' place, a report says

Monmouthshire is the most family-friendly place in Wales and Blaenau Gwent is the least, a report says.

The Family and Childcare Trust analysed national and local data from a YouGov survey about whether or not people were happy with financial resources, work-life balance, families' services, housing and childcare.

Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, Anglesey and Ceredigion were also in the top five.

Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Newport received low scores.

Monmouthshire scored well above average for being family-friendly, but not in areas relating to work-life balance.

Welsh counties' scores from a maximum of 594

The report recognised Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil as "deprived areas" and said this was reflected in their scores.

It said Cardiff was an "area of contrasts" which did well for some family-friendly indicators but needed to give more attention to early-years provision.

Powys scored above average for most family indicators but median wages were low and many adults said they worked long hours.

Julia Margo, chief executive at the trust, said: "While the [UK] government should be applauded for its ambitious plans to help families with the cost of childcare and extending parental leave to grandparents, it's clear that many parents feel other government policies on housing, wages and benefits are far from family-friendly.

"We want to see the Family Test applied consistently to all major policy announcements, including decisions such as the one made to cut tax credits for working families, and extended to local areas, so parents can hold government at all levels to account."