Summary
Comments by civil servants on a proposed "rainbow coalition" deal involving Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats should be kept secret, the Assembly Government has decided. The Western Mail sought disclosure of the comments in the wake of negotiations between the parties that took place following the inconclusive National Assembly election in May. A similar request has been made by us for disclosure of comments made by civil servants about the One Wales document that led to the coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru that now runs Wales. In both cases, we sought disclosure of "written assessments made by Assembly Government officials on the lawfulness, affordability and ease of implementation" of the policy proposals.
After considering our request relating to the abortive All Wales Accord agreement between Plaid, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats for several months, Hugh Rawlings, the Assembly Government's Director of Strategic Policy, Legislation and Communications Department, decided it would be against the public interest to release the comments.See the full content of this document
Extract
Why We're Left in the Dark About Rainbow Coalition
In a letter to the Western Mail, he said, "I consider that the disclosure of the information would or would be likely to cause substantial harm to the ability and willingness of political parties, in the future, to see...
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