Revealed: Welsh Government’s £232,050 Redundancy Payoff

The Welsh Government is coming under increasing pressure today to disclose details around a £232,050 redundancy pay-out last year. The huge sum, paid to just one senior employee, is the highest redundancy payment in the last five years and is almost ten times the average annual wage in Wales.

The calls come after a Written Question by Welsh Conservative Leader (attached) – Andrew RT Davies – put a spotlight on Welsh Government pay-offs.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said:

“Members of the public will find it difficult to understand how one member of staff was paid more than £230,000 to leave their job – that’s almost ten times the average annual wage in Wales.

“Carwyn can try and deflect responsibility for this payment elsewhere, but he’s been in charge for five long years and this certainly isn’t the first time the issue of excessive redundancy payoffs has played out during his leadership.

“Unlike Labour – who did nothing to tackle these payoffs over 13 years in charge – it’s the Conservatives who are taking meaningful steps to ban six-figure golden parachutes and bring these payments line with the real world.”

The Welsh Conservative Leader is now seeking further details around the pay-off itself.

He has written to the Permanent Secretary, Derek Jones, asking him to explain the lay-off. The Welsh Conservatives are seeking reassurances that the employee has not been re-employed by the Welsh Government in a different role, or in a ‘contractor’ arrangement. They are also seeking confirmation as to whether the role itself remains part of the Welsh Government’s civil service structure.