Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

This is a question that I asked during Business questions a few weeks ago in the Senedd. I hope to chase it up, as it is quite worrying if a company has been set up to take advantage of vulnerable people.

Bethan Jenkins:  My…concern relates to benefit entitlements. Cymorth Cymru has sent an e-mail to its stakeholders about a certain company that seems to have been set up without a proper address. It has a website called benefitanswers.co.uk. It has been seeking to represent people who are filling out their disability living allowance forms, and, in doing so, it claims as much as £1,500 from those stakeholders or clients that we acknowledge as being among the poorest in society. I seek a statement from the Government on regulation for companies that provide support for those who receive benefits, because this company appears to be quite questionable, as it only has a website and no address to which it can be tracked down.

Jane Hutt:… I am concerned about any kind of misleading and fraudulent information and advice with regard to benefit entitlement. I will bring this matter to the attention not only of our Minister for social justice, but UK Government Ministers.

I HAVE just been informed that the Auditor General for Wales has resigned. A press statement went out this afternoon. The Public Accounts Committee (formerly the Audit committee) does not know the reasons why he has resigned.

Here is a statement issued by the Assembly:

“The Assembly has today (3rd February 2010) forwarded to Her Majesty the Queen the resignation of the current Auditor General for Wales, Jeremy Colman.

“When accepted, the resignation will take place with immediate effect.

“The Assembly will then need to take steps to nominate a successor, for formal appointment by Her Majesty.

“Jeremy Colman was originally appointed as Auditor General for Wales in 2005, for a 5-year term, but that term was extended in May 2009 for a further three years.

“Since the process of selecting a permanent replacement for Jeremy Colman will take several months, the Assembly is likely, in the meantime, to make an interim appointment.

“The Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee has responsibility for overseeing the selection process and the Chair of the Committee, Jonathan Morgan AM, has today briefed the members of the Committee on the procedure which now needs to be followed.

“Appointment of an Auditor General for Wales also involves the Welsh Local Government Association, which must be consulted on any proposed appointment.”

Update- the Western Mail reports today that porn was found on the Auditor General’s laptop and that he resigned after this. He still hasn’t made a public comment.