Welsh Local Government Minister has been branded at ‘negligent’ and ‘incompetent’ by Russell George AM, after he delayed the submission of regulations to be scrutinised by the National Assembly, casting doubt on whether council tax benefits for 330,000 homes in Wales will be paid on time.
The Montgomeryshire Assembly Member made the comments following yesterday’s vote on the 330 page document in which the Assembly voted against rushing the regulations through. Members had been given only 30 minutes to scrutinise 175,000 words and make sure the regulations were properly implemented in the interests of all recipients. Following the vote, the First Minister said he would consider recalling AMs during the Christmas recess to ensure the regulations were passed.
The Local Government and Communities Minister, Carl Sargeant AM, blamed delays on the UK Government for the eleventh hour submission. However, the UK Treasury made it clear that ministers had all the details they needed to progress with publication of the regulations much sooner.
Mr George – who has long called for the Welsh Government to implement a council tax freeze in Wales, as in England – remains supportive of an Assembly recall in order to pass the regulations and protect all those due to receive the benefits.
Commenting after the debate, Mr George said:
“It’s the Minister’s and this Government’s incompetence that has led to this uncertainty.
“They have played politics with an issue that will affect hundreds of thousands of people and that is absolutely unacceptable.
“Every detail was in their hands and there was no reason whatsoever to give Assembly Members just 30 minutes to scrutinise over 300 pages. No-one would sign a personal credit agreement or mortgage deal with no time to read it.
“Other parts of the United Kingdom have managed to put their schemes in place and yet here in Wales the Welsh Labour Government has failed to achieve a similar outcome.
“We need to make sure the system will work in the best interests of all recipients and my Welsh Conservatives colleagues and I are prepared to scrutinize every detail immediately.”