Welsh Conservatives today accused the Welsh Government of a continuing silence on Awema and called for an urgent Ministerial statement on the awarding of public funds in Wales.
It follows the publication of the latest report in the wake of the recent All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (Awema) scandal.
Published by the National Assembly's Public Accounts committee, the report revealed 'management shortcomings' in the allocation of grants and called for a 'cultural change' in the way the Welsh Government awards money.
A previous report into the Wales Audit Office's relationship with Awema highlighted weak government performance in the management and coordination of the association's funding.
Despite these reports – and other criticism of Awema and the Welsh Government's grants management – no Ministerial statement has been made on the issue.
Shadow Minister for Finance and Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Paul Davies, said:
"Carwyn Jones' government has maintained a deafening silence on Awema since day one.
"As the true extent of grants mismanagement has been revealed, Ministers have closed ranks and refused to answer questions on the involvement of Labour politicians with the association.
"Taxpayers will rightly question whether the use of public funds has been taken seriously and I urge the First Minister to come forward with a statement this week.
"In the interests of value for public money we need to know how – and when – this latest report's recommendations will be implemented."
Mr Davies also called for an apology from the First Minister for his government's failings over Awema.
"Numerous Labour Ministers were involved in the funding of Awema, but an endemic lazy attitude to dishing out cash failed to protect hard-pressed taxpayers from Welsh Government waste.
"An apology – and a guarantee that lessons have been learned – are both sorely required."
