Job cut speculation needs urgent clarity - Black

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Jul 2006

Thousands of Wales' public servants face an uncertain summer as speculation mounts that up to 1,200 civil service jobs could be axed in Wales.

Welsh Liberal Democrat business manager Peter Black challenged Jane Hutt to deny the claims in the Assembly chamber. She could not.

Speaking in the chamber Mr Black said: "In her report to business managers she says she doesn't intend to put time for a press story based on a leaked document. If its not true will you say so today. If you cannot, then please schedule a statement at the earliest opportunity so we can ask the relevant minister questions about it."

Jane Hutt replied: "It would be a full time job to rebut all the stories in the Western Mail… we do not recognise these figures at all."

Speaking afterwards, Mr Black said: "The government's non-denial denial can give little confidence to civil servants in Wales. I will be pressing the government to come clean on this issue. It cannot be right that five thousand staff go in to the summer with a cloud over their futures."