Minister’s response to questioning shows truth behind the spin - Randerson

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Nov 2008

Welsh Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM has accused the Assembly Government of putting dogma before people after the Finance Minister made an extraordinary backtrack during Committee Scrutiny this afternoon.

After Jenny Randerson questioned Mr Davies on the blanket ban on private money in the health service, he initially argued that it was to protect the terms and conditions of staff.

When Jenny Randerson pointed out that in Scotland and Northern Ireland a concordat with Trade Unions is in place to guarantee the same Terms and Conditions as those employed directly by the NHS, Mr Davies claimed that the Government's hands were tied by the One Wales agreement.

Jenny Randerson said: "It seems that this blanket veto is built on sand and a lack of basic knowledge and understanding of modern schemes for using private sector funding. Time and good practice change but it seems that Labour and Plaid are stuck in old fashioned dogma.

"It is extraordinary for a Minister to admit that the only reason he won't make use of millions of pounds of extra investment is because he is tied by a piece of paper. This must be very frustrating for people who are waiting for treatment across Wales."