Nick Bourne

The new building for the Welsh assembly has cost taxpayers more in a day than most earn in a year, the Conservatives have said.

With work on the new Cardiff assembly building continuing, the Welsh Tories said it had cost £29,665 for every day since the assembly first met in May 1999.

That figure compares to average gross weekly earnings in Wales of £21,528 a year.

The Welsh Conservatives said they would "continue to keep a close eye on the amount of public money spent on the scheme", which is estimated to cost £55 million.

"While it is now clear the new assembly building is not going to be scrapped, we make no apologies for pointing out just how much this un-necessary structure is costing the people of Wales," said Nick Bourne, the party's assembly leader.

"Welsh Conservatives are the only party to have consistently opposed its construction.

"We remain committed to that view and will work to ensure every penny spent on this expensive palace for politicians is accounted for.

"People will not tolerate further waste on this unpopular project when there are many more deserving causes crying out for money across Wales."

Bourne also said first minister Rhodri Morgan was responsible for "this expensive monument to waste".

"Their obsession with completing this project over the last five years has been sickening," he said.

"The Labour government in Wales should explain why they think taxpayers' money is best spent in this way instead of on issues that really matter like reducing massive hospital waiting lists and cutting council tax bills."