Commenting on the publication of a report from the Wales Audit Office criticising the complexity of the Welsh Labour Government's grants schemes, Paul Davies AM, Shadow Minister for Finance, said:

"This report raises valid concerns about many of the bureaucratic obstacles to delivering improvements to public services in Wales.

"The Welsh Labour Government should now reform its grant schemes to ensure they operate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

"Processes should also be established to guarantee that lessons from past failings will be addressed and remedial action taken.

"In times of austerity, it is especially important that every penny of public money is spent wisely.

"This report demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing the Welsh Labour Government in improving its grants management to deliver for Welsh taxpayers."