Welsh taxpayers pick up parking charges for Assembly workers

NATIONAL Assembly officials have confirmed taxpayers' money is being used to provide them with free parking.

An environmentalist said the arrangement, disclosed following a Freedom of Information request from local media contradicted the Assembly Government's strategy to combat climate change.

The Assembly revealed it had issued 464 current parking permits for off-site parking to individuals working in its premises at Cardiff Bay, including employees of the Assembly, the Assembly Government, AMs' support staff and contractors.

A letter from an Assembly official said, "I am able to advise you that there was no cost incurred for off-site car parking in 2006/2007. The cost of off-site car parking in 2007/2008 was £41,527, for 2008/2009 the cost was £129,661. All of the above expenditure was met from the National Assembly for Wales budget.

"As of the date of your request, 464 individuals had permits for off-site parking. We do not hold address details for all the permit holders and consequently cannot provide a full response to your request. However, of the 295 permit holders that we do hold addresses for, 19.3pc live within two miles of Ty Hywel [the old Assembly building adjacent to the Senedd] and a further 15.6pc live between two and three miles from Ty Hywel."