Watt’s occurring? Waste rumpus follows AM’s lightbulb moment
An Assembly Member’s joke about the cost of changing a lightbulb has led to a huge row with First Minister Mark Drakeford. Political editor Ruth Mosalski reports
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has written a robust response to an Assembly Member who pulled out a lightbulb in the Senedd and claimed the Welsh Government was spending £245 to change them.
In First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd on July 9 – and in a video of the stunt shared on social media afterwards – Neil McEvoy AM claimed the Welsh Government was spending up to £245 to install a lightbulb.
He said: “First Minister, there’s an old joke about how many people it takes to change a lightbulb, but the question should be: what does it cost your Welsh Labour Government to change a lightbulb in Wales?
“The answer is up to £245 under Labour’s Arbed scheme, because that is what contractors have been encouraged to charge for ‘soft’ lighting measures – in effect, changing lightbulbs.”
But the First Minister has now written to him to tell him he got it wrong, although the South Wales Central AM claims the First Minister’s letter actually proves him right.
Arbed is the Welsh Government scheme to improve energy efficiency in low-income households and includes things like low-energy lightbulbs, loft insulation and boilers being replaced.
In his public comments, Mr McEvoy used £245 as the cost of changing lightbulbs, but the money does more than that according to a letter sent by First Minister Mark Drakeford and made public on Twitter.
Mr McEvoy shared a tweet about his claims on Twitter to his 14,800 followers and it got 14,900 views. He also posted it on YouTube, and his Facebook page, where 6,900 views were recorded.
On July 9 Mr McEvoy said: “First Minister, there’s an old joke about how many people it takes to change a lightbulb, but the question should be: what does it cost t your Welsh Labour Government to change a lightbulb in Wales?
“The answer is up to £245 under Labour’s Arbed scheme, eme, because that is what contractors rs have been encouraged to charge e for ‘soft’ lighting measures – in effect, changing lightbulbs.
“And for water measures, asures, which simply involves volves screwing an aerator into nto a tap, less than a couple le of minutes’ work, the price ce is up to £124. Are you also aware that your govern- ernment, in the fight against inst climate change, is paying ying Arbed to change boilers oilers that can basically be brand- randnew, and they’re installing talling less energy-efficient boilers? oilers?
“And that’s the contractors ntractors themselves telling me that. This is because, once an area ea is identified for Arbed support, , every house in the area is eligible to apply, with no due diligence, regardless ardless of circumstances.
“So, I would say that your due diligence on Arbed is an n embarrassment. People in Wales es are struggling, facing costs across oss the board, and yet your government ment is paying £240 to change one of these – up to £240, and £124 for an n aerator. Do you acknowledge these figures? How can you justify them? And will you now launch an inquiry?”
In a letter, sent on August 9, Mr Drakeford has responded, saying that: “It is now clear to me that the
costs you qu quoted do not relate to single products supplied and fitted. These are costs delivered as a part of a whole package of home-energy effi-ciency cienc measures provided to im improve the energy efficiency of the home. “Where “W lighting is concerned cerned, we would expect low-energy low-ene lighting to be fitted to not less les than 80% of all fixed outlets in h habitable rooms. “Similarly, “Similarly for water-saving devices to have h impact, measures must be fitted fitte to all hot water taps and shower heads, h not ‘screwing an aerator into a tap’ as you alleged. If you have any evidence to the contrary, you shou should provide it to Arbed am Byth, because bec this would be a direct abuse o of the scheme.”
He goes on to say that all boilers fitted as a res result of the scheme “are required to deliver d improved energy efficiency”.
But Mr McEvoy still disagrees, saying: “The First Minister’s letter only proves exactly what I alleged. That Arbed am Byth are encouraging contractors to charge £245 to change lightbulbs and £124 to screw aerators into a tap. That is an incredible waste of money.
“It seems that Mr Drakeford has only spoken to Arbed am Byth themselves rather than any actual contractors. I won’t be sending Arbed my evidence, as the First Minister has requested, because I do not reveal my whistle-blowers. I have, however, sent the evidence to the Auditor General for Wales, who I expect to fully investigate.
“Taxpayers were rightly furious to find out their money was being wasted by Arbed, and the First Minister needs to learn some lessons, rather than having his head turned by the company ripping taxpayers off.”