Response to the Richard Commission from City & County Councillor Ioan M. Richard |
| Re: Assembly Members employing
RESEARCH OFFICERS from their Allowances:
Since the inception of the Assembly at Cardiff I have become aware that the Assembly Members have had the privilege of employing staff via an Allowance scheme funded by the public purse – my money as a taxpayer – our money as a people of Wales. What dismays me is to hear of the number of AMs that have employed close relatives, family, political cronies and old friends (etc.) to jobs such as "researchers" on excellent salaries from public funds. (More of the "etc" later). The job of "researcher" is an essential job in order to discover and analyse and present data and information to the Assembly Member to assist that AM to do a good job in the public interest of the nation of Wales. Being a "researcher" is a complicated job that needs the correct qualifications (generally a University graduate with a first or higher degree) and with experience and an analytical intellect to find out information and to present it in a suitable manner. How come then that political cronies and spouses and partners suddenly sprout these hitherto unknown abilities? There must have been an awful lot of - either "retraining" or "nepotism", one or the other - and I believe it to be the latter! We need our AMs to be briefed in the best possible manner to get Wales what it needs from the complexities of European Grant Aid, and presenting suitable cases to Westminster, and more importantly to assess the priorities of needs of the people of Wales and our country as a whole – even its landscape. [EDITED] I’ve referred this whole issue of jobs for cronies generally (and gratification) to the National Audit Office who say it’s not within their remit. I’ve referred it to the media who say they may look at it. Everyone says it’s a matter for the Presiding Office as an abuse of the premises. Has he done anything about it? Also everyone says it’s a matter for the public at large to consider what they are paying for with these generous allowances for "researchers" and if it is really any value for money in terms of real research bringing benefits to Wales, or is it just for the pockets of the AMs cronies? The fundamental issue here is that the AMs are keener to line their cronies and family pockets than they are to seek the best information with which to function in the interests of Wales as a whole – thus they not deserve extra "powers" until the present cohort has gone and a new generation emerged in to Cardiff Bay Yours sincerely, Ioan M. Richard |