THE chairman of the Welsh Assembly's finance committee has criticised Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns over repeated failures to attend the Senedd for questioning.

Simon Thomas AM said that he and the committee were "frustrated and disappointed" at the Vale of Glamorgan MP, who they claim has been repeatedly asked to appear before them since May 2016 – two months after Mr Cairns was appointed to the role of Welsh Secretary.

Mr Thomas added that as Secretary of State, Mr Cairns had a statutory obligation to attend the committee in order to report on the implementation of the Wales Act 2014.

"This committee is frustrated and disappointed at the continuing reticence of the Secretary of State for Wales, the Right Honourable Alun Cairns AM, to appear before us on matters essential to the governance and performance of Wales," said Mr Thomas.

"Thorough scrutiny and accountability are critical parts of any minister’s portfolio, regardless of the institution in which they sit.

"This committee’s work is considering matters which will affect every person in Wales, including the devolvement of tax-raising powers later this year.

"It is critical such processes are rigorously examined and that all parties involved subject themselves to such scrutiny."

A Wales Office spokesman said that Mr Cairns "is always happy to engage with the National Assembly for Wales on appropriate areas of policy."

"The Welsh Affairs Committee and the Welsh Grand Committee (at Westminster) regularly scrutinise reserved areas of policy that apply to Wales, and the Secretary of State for Wales appears regularly before both committees."