AMs could face payments inquiry

The four Assembly Members could face a police investigation

Several Welsh assembly members could face a police investigation for failing to fully declare interests.

BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme has discovered that four AMs have been breaking the rules by not disclosing the nature of their partners' work.

In all four cases, the AMs were paying their spouses out of assembly funds.

Conservative Mark Isherwood, Liberal Democrat Eleanor Burnham, along with Plaid Cymru's Jocelyn Davies and Labour member Ann Jones, have all been employing their spouses.

But they failed to register that fact until this week.

If someone has failed to register an interest, then it's potentially a criminal matter Kirsty Williams AM

That is in breach of assembly rules, underpinned by criminal law.

They state members must declare the occupation of their spouses and the penalty for not doing so could be severe.

Kirsty Williams, chair of the assembly standards committee, said: "If someone has failed to register an interest whatever that interest is, then it's potentially a criminal matter.

"Any complaint that was received here at the National Assembly by the presiding officer would immediately be sent to the police for investigation."

All four members have now registered the fact they employ their spouses, but if a complaint is made to the presiding officer, then he could refer the matter to the police.

The maximum penalty under criminal law is a fine of £5,000.

Dragon's Eye is broadcast on BBC2W at 2030 BST on Thursday and on BBC1 Wales at 2335 BST.