Ministers duck scrutiny

11.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 17th Oct 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has added her voice to the disappointment and anger at the Deputy Minister and the Heritage Minister's failure to turn up for scrutinisation by the Assembly's Enterprise and Learning Committee.

Kirsty said: "The Ministers are accountable in their actions to the people of Wales and to the committee in its capacity as the people's representative in the Assembly. It is a travesty of democracy that they have refused to have their actions and decisions scrutinised."

The Committee's Agenda today saw a cross-cutting scrutiny of Ministers on Wales' economic development strategy W:AVE, European Funding and mergers of departments within the department of economic development and transport, but Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills was the only Minister of the three who turned up, with Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, Minister for Heritage failing to attend. No reason has been given.

Kirsty continued: "This contemptible action only shows the arrogance of the new Plaid Minister's and their disregard for the Assembly now that they have joined Government.

"Over the last few months, despite the new Coalition Government we have simply seen a continuation of 'business as usual' with not even the smallest sign of Plaid on the agenda, having been sucked into the Labour vacuum and abandoned many of their core ideals and policies.

"Finally Plaid has taken action to stand out but has done so in a display of complete disregard for the integrity of the Assembly and the people it represents. This is a sad day for Plaid and for Wales."

Notes:

The Agenda can be found at:

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-third-assem/bus-committees-third-els-home/bus-committees-third-els-agendas.htm

Ends/diwedd