A computer glitch at the Welsh Assembly has been blamed for figures which showed that the Objective One programme has so far created just 44 jobs.

Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government said the true number of jobs created was 6,000 and not the figure of 44 published in a Welsh European Funding Office(WEFO) report placed in the assembly library last week.

This report is purely an analysis of projected jobs and a prediction that 26,589 jobs will be created by some 700 projects Andrew Davies AM

Areas of Wales have been eligible for Objective One money for more than two years, which is only paid to the poorest parts of the European Union.

To date, more than �1bn has been committed to various projects.

But according to the assembly government's own figures, this appeared to have created just 44 new jobs.

However, the BBC was told that the low figure was due to a minor computer glitch.

The actual number is of jobs created is not yet known, but Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies claimed it was well over 6,000 and increasing.

Andrew Davies said 6,000 jobs had been created

He said: "This report is purely an analysis of projected jobs and a prediction that 26,589 jobs will be created by some 700 projects.

"We are still in the process of analysing the actual number of jobs created by the projects so far.

"This information is only available to us as each project applicant submits their claims for funds spent, but already the actual number of jobs created is well over 6,000 - with an additional 7,000 jobs safeguarded - and we are still counting.

"These figures were not available to be included in the report published by WEFO before Christmas.

"A full analysis of the actual jobs created to date will be available early in March."

'Disgrace'

Plaid Cymru is due to table questions on the report on Monday in the assembly.

Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones, shadow economic development minister, said: "This is a complete disgrace and government incompetence of the highest order.

"These figures show that Andrew Davies and Rhodri Morgan have lost control of the Objective One process completely.

"They continually tell us of how many partnerships they have formed, yet had failed until now to provide any job figures."

Ms Jones told BBC Radio Wales: "I have to believe that 44 (is the number of jobs) because those are the figures presented to the assembly library.

"We've been asking for months for actual figures.

"The success of Objective One will be measured by the actual number of jobs created and so far the official figures show 44 jobs created."

'Evidence' Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, said: "Quite frankly I don't think anyone swallows the computer glitch story.

"According to Liberal-Labour's own figures, after spending more that �1bn, they have only managed to create 44 jobs.

"If this figure is not true, then we need to see sufficient evidence of this, and not have to rely on ambiguous allegations against a computer.

"Objective One funding has been handled dismally by this administration and the Welsh Conservatives have been raising serious questions about the spending of this money for well over a year."