Finally, in Wales... thanks again to a Freedom of Information request

As if by strange coincidence the expenses system for Welsh civil servants is to be reviewed to ensure it provides value for money. What good timing after a recent freedom of information request that uncovered their credit card spending.

The assembly government's top civil servant will lead the examination.

A spokesperson for Permanent Secretary Dame Gillian Morgan said the expenses of politicians and civil servants were "clearly a matter of public interest".

It was earlier revealed officials promoting Welsh business abroad claimed £750,000 on 35 corporate credit cards over the last year.

Dame Gillian's spokesperson added: "Any claim incurred on behalf of the assembly government must comply with strict authorisation and audit requirements.

"The First Minister and Deputy First Minister have discussed this matter and have asked the permanent secretary to examine the expenses system for civil servants working for the Welsh assembly government to ensure its appropriateness and to ensure transparency and continued value for money."

The quarterly expenses of the permanent secretary and director generals [what about the other hundred odd senior civil servants?] will be published soon and then be published regularly.

An independent panel has already proposed drastic reductions in the expenses Welsh assembly members can claim.

This blog has been concerned about the spending of civil servants for some time:

• Civil servants take 10 'freebies' each February 2009
• Welsh Assembly Government: Money for old rope February 2009
• Are the Senior Civil Service in Wales earning their salaries? October 2008
• Two years since Rhodri's ‘bonfire’ - Was it all worth it? August 2008
• Wales' biggest winners: Criticism of bonuses awarded to top civil servants in Wales July 2008
• Balancing the books on public finances in Wales July 2008
• Civil Service v Politicians: That old question of pay July 2008

Most recognised man on the planet

You rarely see them together, and some say that they have merged to a certain degree. I say, if you work together, then why not holiday... I mean, represent Wales together. Yes... the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for Wales have held hands across the pond, and taken in a spot of diplomatic/touristic/joint ministerial venture in the USA.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones has presented a tribute from Wales to one of the most famous sportsmen ever - former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali is the ‘favourite son’ of Louisville, Kentucky - location of the 2008 Ryder Cup competition at the Valhalla course - and he and Mrs Lonnie Ali met a Welsh delegation at an official “Muhammad Ali Welcomes the World to Louisville" event.

Mr Jones said:

Muhammad Ali [insert name here when applicable] has been an inspiration to many in my generation - and it is a great privilege to meet him in person.

We have produced our own crop of boxing greats - from Tommy Farr, the 'Tonypandy Terror’, who fought Joe Louis back in 1937 [well done Assembly Researchers], to Joe Calzaghe, a champion in our own days. Wales has followed Muhammad Ali's career in the ring with great excitement and empathy.

The meeting was one of the highlights of an official visit to the United States this week which marks the official handover of responsibility for the Ryder Cup to Wales in 2010. It took place in the Muhammad Ali Centre, Louisville, which promotes his legacy to future generations and shares the stories, and lessons from his life, with the world. During the evening, Mr Jones presented the former champion with a special Muhammad Ali 'Grogg' from Pontypridd.

Muhammad Ali is described as still ‘the most recognizable man on earth’. Over forty years after he burst on to the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, he remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world.His success as a boxer is widely respected, but Ali's greatest triumph lies in his legacy as a champion, leader, humanitarian, and artist. His work both inside and outside the ring truly makes Muhammad Ali "The Greatest of All Time."

There's only one Plaid member that's hoping to move up/down a weight or two. All rumours and propaganda of course, but the most recognised man in Plaid Cymru, the part-time philosopher-politician himself would make a welcome addition to the corner of Plaid Cymru in most corners of Wales.

Straw that broke the camel's back

On Friday, Plaid Cymru party leader and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones will reject claims that a referendum on further assembly powers will not be held on or before the next assembly election in 2011.

Mr Jones is expected to say that if there is support for full law-making powers "then it should happen" and suggest that a "new confidence in Wales" could help the process.

Dafydd Iwan, the newly re-elected party president, will explain how he hopes to get the party to expand its membership and embrace new technology, in a speech on Saturday. Let's see how long this embrace will last.

Another Platform: Job transfer for civil servant

Thank heavens for the Western Mail when it comes to providing updates on previous posts and conflict of interest within the Assembly.

A Civil Servant who was responsible for monitoring the huge Arriva Trains Wales contract with the Assembly Government even though she lives with the firm’s managing director has been transferred to another job, after opposition parties demanded discussions with Deputy First Minister and Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones about any possible conflict of interest.

The Western Mail understand that Ms Teague has been moved to another job within the Assembly Government’s economy and transport department that takes her away from the Arriva Trains Wales franchise altogether. Her move, which she requested in light of the concerns that had been expressed, coincided with a reorganisation within the department.

Yesterday an Assembly Government spokesman said: “We don’t comment on personnel issues relating to individual members of staff.”

I bet you don't, Assembly Government Press Officer. I bet you don't.

Potential conflict of interest on track in Assembly Government

An assembly government civil servant in charge of monitoring a rail franchise is in a relationship with a top train boss, it has emerged.

The senior official, Alison Teague, is responsible for monitoring the £100m Arriva Trains Wales franchise for the assembly government, and is said to be living with the Managing Director of Arriva Trains Wales, Tim Bell, who was appointed last December.

Opposition assembly members are demanding a meeting with the assembly government about the issue. But the assembly government said stringent processes are in place to avoid any conflict of interest issues.

The Shadow Minister for the Economy and Transport, Welsh Conservative AM David Melding has said he wanted a discussion with Deputy First Minister and Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones about any possible conflict of interest.

The assembly government needs to explain whether it thinks this position is appropriate given the size of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise.

I am seeking an urgent meeting with the transport minister to discuss this situation... I am confident guidance is in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts.

The Welsh liberal democrat's transport spokeswoman Kirsty Williams AM, said there was a clear conflict of interest, and the public would question the situation.

I find it incredible that the minister could think it acceptable that the official with responsibility for ensuring value for money for the taxpayer from the subsidies received by Arriva Trains Wales shares a home with the boss of the company.

Whatever procedures are in place, and whatever the integrity of the individuals in question, there is a clear conflict of interest, which raises questions in people's minds.

Air Force One... for one

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones told Conservatives he had used the service 42 times since its launch a year ago.

Plaid said it was "no surprise" the only north Wales cabinet member used it more and it was a "tiny proportion" of 14,000 journeys taken on the service.

The Anglesey-Cardiff flight's subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government is £2.4m over three years.

Mr Jones is AM for Anglesey, as well as economy and transport minister.

Mr Jones celebrated the first anniversary of the service last Friday by joining a special flight on the 18-seater aircraft. He said that the service, operated by Highland Airways, was a "huge success", beating expectations.

The airline said it had been "astonished" at the uptake.

Flying Cabinet

• Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones - 42 journeys
• Education Minister Jane Hutt - six journeys
• Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones - three
• Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas - two
• First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Finance Minister Andrew Davies, Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons - one journey each
• Sustainability Minister Jane Davidson and Health Minister Edwina Hart - no journeys
  

Numbers of flights between Anglesey and Cardiff, up to 16 April 2008.
Source: Welsh Conservative Party

This gives some free publicity for the service, with a huge recommendation and thumbs-up from the Deputy First Minister. Within time, perhaps other transport links will be improved and receive such a ringing endorsement.

Improving transport links between north and south Wales - Air first, rail next??

Botanic Gardens Bail out: A rose by any other name

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is to receive up to £1.9m extra public money to pay off its debt.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said it was a one-off grant to put the £43m garden on a sound financial footing to attract private investment.

The money it receives each year from the assembly government will rise from £150,000 to up to £550,000.

Managers of the garden at Llanarthne in Carmarthenshire welcomed it as a "monumental milestone". Two months ago, it emerged that garden managers were in talks with the assembly government to remove the debt and increase its annual grant.

Revealing the outcome of those talks, Mr Jones told AMs that the garden had met all the recovery targets it had been set.

Carmarthenshire County Council also announced that it would convert an existing £1.35m loan into a grant and provide a further package of financial support to the garden, with funding matched by the assembly government.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

... it was vital to value our national institutions, wherever they may be in Wales. The National Botanic Garden of Wales has proved, beyond doubt, its value to the people of Carmarthenshire and beyond. It has the potential, however, to make an even more valuable contribution and...in addition to maintaining the current visitor offer there needs to be further work in attracting new and returning customers...The funding would allow the development of a range of new projects, including science and education programmes.

Miss Wagstaff says:

Value our national institutions, wherever they may be in Wales [no disrespect to North Wales and what I may have said on previous occasions].

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said it was a one-off grant to put the £43m garden on a sound financial footing to attract private investment [A rose by any other name would smell as sweet].

Coalition creates new commitment - apparently

The following is taken from an email that I received last week and had to check out a few facts before publishing - don't forget to click on my email tab to send me any interesting titbit of information.

The email concerns this new coalition in Cardiff Bay that we keep hearing about, and the talk of it creating a new commitment.

What does this all mean?

As you can gather, the DFM or the Deputy First Minister as he is known to the majority of us, now has his own Private Office to deal with his affairs as both Minister for Economy and Transport and that of DFM. Apparently, it has been described to the media as an exceptionally busy and important place to work and the team has been drawn from the great and the good (cough!!!) across a variety of private offices of other ministers in Cabinet Secretariat.

Yes, we all expected that, but what else?

Apparently, the new Private Secretary to the DFM has felt the need to point out 'internally' that the office:

works closely with the First Minister's Office and that it is their job to try and avoid potential and perceived conflicts between the two. The different offices are all working to support one government, regardless of who the leader is, and not two different parties. The principles of good faith and fairness underpin all.

Sounds to me that there are known divisions within the staff of the Welsh Assembly Government, in addition to those we have recently witnessed in both political parties.