Welsh Conservatives have learned that the Assembly Commission spent nearly £2,000 on commemorative coasters to mark the reopening of the refurbished Pierhead Building.
Figures obtained by Shadow Local Government Minister Darren Millar AM detail that the Assembly Commission spent over £12,000 commemorating the reopening, including £1,991.63 on 5000 coasters, £740. 25 on 2 entrance flags and £5,679.45 on a 20 page newspaper which contained more than 15 pages of single photographs.
Commenting on the figures, Mr Millar said:
“It is deeply concerning that the Assembly Commission saw fit to waste so much taxpayers money on ‘beer mats’ and other unnecessary promotional material such as lapel badges with a shelf life of just one day.
“While I’m sure that the Pierhead Building will be an excellent community resource, we have to question why so much money has been spent on promotional material at a time when the Assembly is asking the people of Wales to tighten their belts.
“Such frivolous and lavish spending is not acceptable in such a tough financial climate.
“The Assembly Commission must be more accountable for the cash it spends.”
