The Welsh Government should stop spending taxpayers' money on overseas vanity projects and spend every pound of its budget on the Welsh economy and public services, the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives has said.
Darren Millar MS has called on Plaid Cymru Ministers to scrap costly international projects and overseas offices and instead invest in frontline services at home.
Welsh Conservatives have consistently opposed the Welsh Government’s spending on overseas pet projects and mini embassies.
Projects the party have criticised include tree planting in Nigeria and solar-powered canoes in the Amazon as well as the network of embassies, despite the Welsh Government having no responsibilities for foreign policy.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
"At a time when patients are being treated in hospital corridors, our road infrastructure is creaking and businesses taxed to the hilt, it is simply wrong that Welsh taxpayers' money is being wasted on overseas vanity projects.
"The first duty of the Welsh Government is to the people it serves. Plaid’s Finance Minister is being evasive over how to fund flagship policies, but could save millions of pounds by scrapping wasteful spending on non-devolved areas.
“Tree-planting schemes in Africa, solar-powered canoe projects in the Amazon and the maintenance of Welsh Government offices in exotic locations around the world, including three in China, represent spending on non-devolved areas, which are the responsibility of the UK Government.
“There’s no such thing as government money, only taxpayers’ money and we should be able to see how every penny is spent. The Welsh Government must prioritise the needs of the people of Wales and focus spending on public services and building a stronger economy.”
