Charles Kennedy says he could cut spending by �25bn

Mr Kennedy set out his new economic policies a day before his Welsh members gather later in Mold.

The party meets over the weekend with council and European elections looming in June.

Lib Dems also criticised a plan for a children's commissioner in England, claiming it would create confusion for children in Wales.

Mr Kennedy will tour the new West factory at the Airbus plant in Broughton, Flintshire, before speaking at his party's conference venue, Theatr Clwyd, Mold.

By taxing incomes over �100,000 at 50% we would raise �4.7bn in the UK Jenny Randerson AM

While Lib Dems will concentrate on the June elections, attention could also focus on the economic ideas laid out by Mr Kennedy in London on Thursday.

These include pledges to give more money to schools and hospitals without raising taxes or increasing borrowing.

The party had previously said it would put an extra penny on the basic rate of income tax to pay for better public services.

The Lib Dems want a 50% tax rate for people earning over �100,000 to pay for scrapping tuition fees and a return to the grant system.

Free personal care

Mr Kennedy said savings would be found by selling off assets like the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, and reducing government ministries.

The Lib Dem leader said his party could save �25bn over five years.

Welsh Lib Dem finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson, the Welsh assembly member for Cardiff Central, said: "By taxing incomes over �100,000 at 50% we would raise �4.7bn in the UK, to be used for abolishing tuition fees, bringing back grants and providing free personal care for the elderly."

She said that would raise an estimated �200m- �300m for these issues in Wales.

Meanwhile, fellow Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams attacked the UK Government's English children's commissioner proposal.

Ms Williams said the Welsh commissioner had done a "superb" job since the post was created three years ago, working with children, the police and probation service , "even though he has no direct responsibility over those services."

But Ms Williams said the new commissioner "would be responsible for everything except where the matter has been devolved to the National Assembly."

She said: "Why does a bill in London need to set out in such detail what happens in Wales? Doesn't the UK government trust their own colleagues in Wales to develop a tailor made solution for Wales?