I WONDER whether the new Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams can ever win over the issue of payments to Assembly Government contractors, writes Clive Betts from the National Assembly press gallery.

She complained to the press at the weekly Lib Dem briefing that while suppliers of goods – such as paper and pencils –  to the Welsh government get their bills paid very rapidly, contractors who supply training services – particularly to the newly-unemployed – have to wait at least two months.

“This has left a very bad taste in the mouth,” she said. “The very companies working to tackle the impact of the recession are in danger of going to the wall because Labour and Plaid are mismanaging the departments responsible.”

The answer to the problem seems to be the problem of ensuring that training has been delivered. Close checks have to be made.

There have already been a couple of scandals within Wales of training services being billed for, while they have not been provided.

Sad to say, it seems training is a service open to fiddles.

Also sad to say, the Lib Dem’s new leader doesn’t seem to making sufficient impact at these weekly briefings, in comparison with what the other party leaders manage.