For the third week in a row since the Naz Malik and AWEMA scandal broke, questions from the Opposition were raised about the Welsh Government’s response to them and the tardiness of the investigation into the wide ranging allegations in the Senedd yesterday.
Since the exchanges last week between Peter Black, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Jane Hutt and Cawryn Jones, the Big Lottery Fund has suspended further payments to AWEMA until the investigation is complete, which begs the questions why the Welsh European Funding Office and Welsh Government are still paying money to AWEMA and why Naz Malik remains in post and hasn’t been suspended until the investigations have concluded.
Peter Black raised a number of additional points yesterday that make you wonder what's actually happening, for example he stated no interviews with staff appear to have taken place and there are concerns over the security of documentation. It makes you suspicious that nothing will result from this especially as Dragon’s Eye had an investigation into similar financial problems back in 2003 and Naz Malik remains in post – is this what's making Labour drag its heels and hoping this will go away?
The Full exchanges from Assembly Business Questions are below
Peter Black: Minister, I press you once again for a statement on the situation regarding the investigation into the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association. I have had communication with some AWEMA partners and they are worried about the length of time that this investigation is taking; that is having an impact on partner organisations in relation to the European projects in which they are engaged with AWEMA. Also, some of the staff who signed the original letter regarding this organisation have not been interviewed by anyone, and concerns have been expressed to me about the security of documentation relating to this investigation and whether or not that was made secure before officials went in to investigate. Will you give me some assurances that this investigation is moving ahead at full speed, that those members, and former members of staff, who have an interest and knowledge of this organisation will be interviewed as soon as possible, that all actions have been taken to secure documentation relating to this investigation, and that the partners of AWEMA, in terms of European funding, are being assured as to the future of those projects?
Jane Hutt: I can assure Peter Black that we recognise the importance of this investigation, which I am monitoring very closely, ensuring that it is rigorous and that it includes the Welsh European Funding Office and the Big Lottery Fund. I will certainly be reporting back directly to those who have an interest, in terms of constituency and wider policy matters, and to the whole Assembly on the outcome of this investigation.
The full transcript of yesterday's session in the Senedd Chamber is HERE
Finally media coverage remains patchy but BBC Wales reported on the story last week and the Swansea Evening Post had an article on the weekend.
UPDATE
If you didn’t see Dragon’s Eye last night it’s on the iplayer until next Thursday (2nd Feb), but what does it say about our political system that it takes a media investigation rather than the calls from the Opposition before the Welsh Government acts over such serious allegations and although the suspension of funds is welcome, reading between the lines from last night’s programme Naz Malik expects to be cleared if he’s expecting to be talking to the press after the investigation is completed – so it looks like all the effort has been in vain yet again.Any source
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