Welsh Conservatives have raised concerns about the First Minister’s lack of action in driving forward measures aimed at improving food safety in Wales.
Following questions from Shadow Minister Andrew RT Davies AM during the Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee this afternoon, the First Minister confirmed that he is yet to have a formal meeting with his ministerial colleagues to discuss the Pennington Report and its implementation since his appointment.
Commenting on the situation, Mr Davies said:
“Given that the First Minister is the governmental lead on this matter, I am astounded by his admission.
“He took up his post approximately 7 months ago and in the time that has elapsed we have heard bodies including Consumer Focus Wales and Professor Pennington himself express concerns that the recommendations of the report are not being implemented quickly or robustly enough.
“Having not met with the Food Standards Agency Wales who are one of the bodies leading on implementing the recommendations, the First Minister cannot be adequately monitoring the matter.
“This reinforces the ‘laissez-faire’ attitude we have come to expect of the First Minister. He has demonstrated a woeful neglect of duty in this instance that would be unacceptable in any other walk of life.
“The parents of Mason Jones and the other families affected by the tragic e.coli outbreak in 2005 want to see action on the ground to ensure that we do not see a repeat of the incident.
“They deserve better than the purely cosmetic approach demonstrated by the First Minister.”
