Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Senedd for Bangor, Conwy and Môn, and Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, has expressed her concern about delays to the Global Centre for Rail Excellence project.
The project received £70 million in public funding in 2021, but there has been little progress in securing further investment since. However, Darren Millar, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, highlighted during a business question that:
“The Chief Executive’s remuneration package has risen by more than 11% in two years and now stands at more than £267,000 per year, with £39,000 per year in employer pension contributions alone.”
Janet commented:
“Where significant amounts of public funding have gone into a Welsh Government-owned project, it is essential that there is complete transparency about how the money is being used and the progress the project is making. However, these pay increases do raise significant questions.
“I have previously written to the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy about the Global Centre for Rail Excellence, and I have been scrutinising the project as a member of the Economy, Energy and Connectivity Committee.
“I will continue to ensure that I hold the Welsh Government to account for its spending on this project. It is essential that the Government is transparent about the costs involved and the potential for private investment in the site.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, AS Bangor Conwy Môn a Gweinidog Cabinet yr Wrthblaid y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni, wedi mynegi ei phryder am yr oedi i brosiect y Ganolfan Ragoriaeth Fyd-eang ar gyfer Rheilffyrdd.
Cafodd y prosiect £70 miliwn mewn cyllid cyhoeddus yn 2021, ond nid oes llawer o gynnydd wedi bod o ran sicrhau buddsoddiad pellach ers hynny. Fodd bynnag, fe wnaeth Darren Millar, Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, dynnu sylw at y mater yn ystod cwestiwn busnes:
"Mae pecyn tâl cydnabyddiaeth y Prif Weithredwr wedi codi mwy nag 11% mewn dwy flynedd ac mae bellach yn fwy na £267,000 y flwyddyn, gyda £39,000 y flwyddyn mewn cyfraniadau pensiwn cyflogwr yn unig."
Meddai Janet:
"Lle mae symiau sylweddol o gyllid cyhoeddus wedi mynd i mewn i brosiect sy'n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru, mae'n hanfodol bod tryloywder llwyr ynghylch sut mae'r arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio a'r cynnydd y mae'r prosiect yn ei wneud. Fodd bynnag, mae'r codiadau cyflog hyn yn codi cwestiynau sylweddol.
"Rydw i wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog Cabinet dros Fenter, Cysylltedd ac Ynni o'r blaen am y Ganolfan Ragoriaeth Fyd-eang ar gyfer Rheilffyrdd, ac rydw i wedi bod yn craffu ar y prosiect fel aelod o Bwyllgor yr Economi, Ynni a Chysylltedd.
"Byddaf yn parhau i sicrhau fy mod yn dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif am ei gwariant ar y prosiect hwn. Mae'n hanfodol bod y Llywodraeth yn dryloyw ynglŷn â'r costau â'r potensial ar gyfer buddsoddiad preifat yn y safle."
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
