Language board post investigated

Shadow Culture Minister Owen John Thomas wants the appointment deferred

The Commissioner for Public Appointments is to look into complaints about the appointment of the new chair of the Welsh Language Board.

It follows objections from the Shadow Culture Minister Owen John Thomas, who was on the panel that chose Meri Huws.

The Plaid Cymru AM wants the appointment deferred until after the investigation is over.

The Welsh Assembly Government said it had adhered to the code of conduct and the appointment still stood.

Culture Minister Alun Pugh and his shadow Mr Thomas both sat on the four-person panel which awarded the post - worth £31,000 a year for a two-day week - to Ms Huws.

A Labour party spokeswoman said she could not confirm if Ms Huws was still a Labour member or not.

She replaces outgoing chair Rhodri Williams on the quango, which was set up to promote and enable the use of the Welsh language.

Mr Thomas alleges:

The appointment was not made on merit

He claims equality of opportunity was breached due to political bias

That the culture minister did not show openness and transparency in his deliberations

That the commissioner's code of practice was not fully adhered to.

An assembly government spokeswoman said: "The independent assessor at the interview confirmed that he was satisfied that the process had been carried out properly.

Ms Huws is the appointee to the £31,000 two-day-a-week post

"We are happy, of course, to co-operate fully with the Commissioner for Public Appointments while they consider the matters raised by Owen John Thomas.

"The new chair has been appointed in accordance with the code of conduct for public appointments and the appointment still stands.

"She has a tremendous job to do and we are very pleased that we were able to appoint someone with such a broad range of skills and experience. "

Mr Thomas said it was "imperative" that the post was deferred from 1 September to allow the investigation to be completed "without undue haste".

He said: "A public appointment should not be allowed to become a fait accompli where proper procedures are not fulfilled."

Liberal Democrat assembly leader Mike German said an inquiry would re-establish the credibility of the Welsh Language Board.

"These accusations cast a cloud of controversy over a very important post in Welsh life.

"I am pleased that this independent inquiry now has the chance to clear up this matter and establish the truth," he added.