Caerphilly MP Wayne David has attacked the Conservative-led UK Government for spending £185,000 on building alterations and redecoration to the Wales Office in London.
The Government admitted the expenditure on Gwydyr House in a written reply to the Labour MP stating that structural repairs were necessary.
Mr David, who was the Wales Office Minister until the General Election, said: “While I do not question the fact that structural repairs were needed to Gwydyr House, spending £185,000 does seem excessive.
“I am particularly concerned that the Secretary of State for Wales has been unable to tell me how much of this was spent on decorations. From what I have heard, the Secretary of State has extravagant tastes. It’s a pity that these tastes are being paid for by the taxpayer.”
David Jones, the Under Secretary of State for Wales, in his reply to Mr David’s original question, said: “In May 2010, on the change of Government, it was apparent that Gwydyr House, a grade 2* listed building, was in need of a significant amount of work to make it structurally sound.
“A large office on the ground floor was unusable and most of the staff who had previously occupied the room had been temporarily evacuated to another building, as the room was occupied by acro props that were supporting a first floor office.
“The acro props had been installed following advice from a structural engineer that the condition of the building was unsafe, and work was subsequently carried out over the summer of 2010 to complete all the structural repairs, including the installation of steel beams to stabilise the floor that was at risk of collapse.
“Work also took place to address various health and safety and DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliance issues within Gwydyr House. Work was carried out after consultation with English Heritage, given the listed status of the building.
“The overall cost was £185,000. Some redecoration was necessary as a consequence of the structural and other remedial work but it is not possible to separate out those costs as the redecoration was an integral part of much wider projects.”