Assertions by the Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis, that head teachers in Wales have discretionary powers to authorise term time holiday have been welcomed by a Pembrokeshire pressure group.

The petition Allow Children in Wales to Have a Family Holiday During Term Time, instigated by Ceredigion mother Bethany Walpole-Wroe, was discussed by the Welsh Assembly Petition's Committee last week.

Mr Lewis acknowledged the detrimental effect of term time absence, but said that the Welsh Government did not condone a blanket ban on term time holidays and reiterated that head teachers in Wales have the discretionary power to authorise up to ten days' holiday a year during term time.

"The regulations are very clear, the person that has the say here, in consultation with the parents, is the head teacher," he said.

"I am aware of local authorities that have had to be reminded of the wording of the regulations, exactly where the discretion decision lies, which is with the head teacher and we've intervened to re-clarify what the regulations are.

He added that some key players were confusing the Welsh system with the English one.

"I am continually having to remind all players here, local government, consortia and so on that we are not actually in England and that there are different regulations applying here in Wales. That seems to require fairly regular repetition," he said.

The minister's comments were welcomed by pressure group Pembrokeshire Parents Want a Say.

"We are very pleased to hear the Minister confirming the legal position in Wales regarding term time leave," said the group's Jane Douglas.

"He has reiterated that decisions regarding authorising absence from school for family holidays remain with head teachers.

"As the minister rightly said, we are not in England and we need to stop confusing our regulations