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First Minister Mark Drakeford has written a robust response to an Assembly Member who pulled out a lightbulb in the Senedd and claimed the Welsh Government was spending £245 to change them.



In First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on July 9 - and on a video of the stunt shared on social media afterwards - Mr McEvoy claimed the Welsh Government was spending up to £245 to install a lightbulb.

He said: "First Minister, there's an old joke about how many people it takes to change a light bulb, but the question should be: what does it cost your Welsh Labour Government to change a light bulb in Wales?

"The answer is up to £245 under Labour's Arbed scheme, because that is what contractors have been encouraged to charge for 'soft' lighting measures - in effect, changing light bulbs."

But the First Minister has now written to him to tell him he got wrong - although the South Wales Central AM claims the First Minister's letter actually proves him right.

Arbed is Welsh Government scheme to improve energy efficiency in low income households and includes things like low energy light bulbs, loft insulation and boilers being replaced.

In his public comments, Mr McEvoy used £245 as the cost of changing lightbulbs, but the money does more than that according to a letter sent by First Minister Mark Drakeford and made public on Twitter.

(Image: Senedd.tv)

Mr McEvoy shared a tweet about his claims on Twitter to his 14,800 followers and it got 14,900 views. He also posted it on YouTube, and his Facebook page where 6,900 views were recorded.

What was said in full on July 9:

Neil McEvoy said:

(Image: Senedd.tv)

"First Minister, there's an old joke about how many people it takes to change a light bulb, but the question should be: what does it cost your Welsh Labour Government to change a light bulb in Wales?

"The answer is up to £245 under Labour's Arbed scheme, because that is what contractors have been encouraged to charge for 'soft' lighting measures - in effect, changing light bulbs.

"And for water measures, which simply involves screwing an aerator into a tap, less than a couple of minutes' work, the price is up to £124. Are you also aware that your Government, in the fight against climate change, is paying Arbed to change boilers that can basically be brand-new, and they're installing less energy-efficient boilers?

"And that's the contractors themselves telling me that. This is because, once an area is identified for Arbed support, every house in the area is eligible to apply, with no due diligence, regardless of circumstances.

"So, I would say that your due diligence on Arbed is an embarrassment. People in Wales are struggling, facing costs across the board, and yet your Government is paying £240 to change one of these—up to £240, and £124 for an aerator. Do you acknowledge these figures? How can you justify them? And will you now launch an inquiry?"

Why Mark Drakeford says this isn't right:

In a letter, sent on August 9, Mr Drakeford has responded saying that: "It is now clear to me that the costs you quoted do not relate to single products supplied and fitted. These are costs delivered as part of a whole package of home energy efficiency measures provided to improve the energy efficiency of the home.

"Where lighting is concerned, we would expect low energy lighting to be fitted to not less than 80% of all fixed outlets in habitable rooms in the home.

"Similarly, for water saving devices to have the impact on energy efficiency, measures must be fitted to all hot water taps and shower heads not ‘screwing an aerator into a tap’ as you alleged. If you have any actual evidence to the contrary, you should provide it to Arbed am Byth, because this would be a direct abuse of the scheme."

He goes on to say that all boilers fitted as a result of the scheme "are required to deliver improved energy efficiency".

But Mr McEvoy still disagrees:

"The First Minister’s letter only proves exactly what I alleged. That Arbed am Byth are encouraging contractors to charge £245 to change lightbulbs and £124 to screw aerators into a tap. That is an incredible waste of money.

"It seems that Mr Drakeford has only spoken to Arbed am Byth themselves rather than any actual contractors. I won’t be sending Arbed my evidence, as the First Minister has requested, because I do not reveal my whistle-blowers. I have, however, sent the evidence to the Auditor General for Wales, who I expect to fully investigate.

"Taxpayers were rightly furious to find out their money was being wasted by Arbed and the First Minister needs to learn some serious lessons rather than having his head turned by the company ripping taxpayers off".