Figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives today reveal the staggering cost of the Welsh Government’s Public Services Staff Commission.

A written assembly question tabled by Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders, reveals an annual spend of £560,000 on the new commission which has been established by the Welsh Labour Government to advise ministers on workforce matters arising from public service reforms.

The Aberconwy AM described the figures as “eye-watering” and urged the Public Services Minister, Leighton Andrews, to focus on achieving already identified savings before ploughing more public money into public service reform.

She said:

“It is interesting to see the Minister pressing on with this commission, in spite of the fact that he has no mandate to proceed with wider local government reform.

“Whilst the Welsh Conservatives will welcome any steps taken to cut eye-watering salaries for senior council staff, it does seem somewhat ironic that this commission is set to cost more than half a million pounds a year.

“The Minister will already have seen the KPMG report which highlighted savings of around £153 million which could be made without such a commission and quite aside from his misguided plans to force Welsh councils into mergers.

“Surely Leighton would be better served realising those potential savings first, before committing substantial sums of public to yet another commission.”