Sioned Bowen has not been in work since 4 October

Sioned Bowen, Denbighshire's corporate director of lifelong learning, has been away for three weeks but has not been suspended.

Clwyd West MP Gareth Thomas called on the county's chief executive, Ian Miller to reveal what has happened.

But Mr Miller declined, and said the authority did not comment on personnel issues.

Ms Bowen has been in the post with Denbighshire since December 2000.

But some said they were in the dark over the issue.

I think the taxpayers of Denbighshire are being left in the dark Gareth Thomas MP

She has confirmed that she has not been suspended and has not resigned but would not comment any further.

Mr Thomas said: "I think the taxpayers of Denbighshire are being left in the dark, I've asked the chief executive for an explanation as to why there's a very important and highly paid position open at the moment."

"We're told the lady in question is not on sick leave, she is not suspended, we're in the dark as to precisely why there is nobody there at the moment."

The Labour MP said he had tried to speak to Mr Miller but to no avail.

Mr Thomas said he was given "a rather blank refusal to divulge any information at all... frankly I don't find that at all constructive as a response," he added.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones backed his parliamentary colleague.

Mr Jones said the matter should not be dismissed as a personnel issue, as it involved council taxpayers' money and they had a right to know why she was not in work.

Public interest

Mr Miller said that the authority did not comment on individual members of staff and if there was any further announcement, it would be made.

A council spokesman said: "When we are discussing personnel cases relating to individuals, it is our policy, and a policy adopted by many other organisations, not to make any comment relating to the individual in question.

"That is the policy and we feel it would not be appropriate for the council to provide information on the issue," he added.

She has not been in the office since 4 October.

Meanwhile, Ieuan Lloyd Roberts is acting as Denbighshire's statutory director of education.