Welsh Conservatives confronted the Assembly Government over its spending priorities.
Speaking in the Assembly Chamber, Leader of the Opposition Nick Bourne AM challenged the First Minister over what the Assembly Government is doing to ensure that public money is not wasted.
Commenting on the exchange, Mr Bourne said:
“I am relieved that the First Minister confirmed that the planned £42m refurbishment of the Assembly Government’s offices in Cathays Park will not be going ahead. Welsh Conservatives have lobbied hard against this refurbishment.
“It beggars belief that the Assembly Government ever considered spending so much public money on government offices at a time when people across Wales are being expected to tighten their belts in order to reduce that massive deficit accrued under the Labour Government.
“However, he refused to comment on what has become of the £100k that was spent on commissioning a feasibility study by a ‘project team’ ahead of the proposed refurbishment.
“Indeed, the First Minister did not need a ‘project team’ to tell him that it was a waste of money. He could have asked the doctors, nurses and teachers that the Assembly Government has ignored in order to prioritise the comfort of its private staff.
“The Assembly Government must ensure that significant sums of public money are not being frittered on frivolous schemes that will never see the light of day.”
