Concerns over Welsh ministers' £58m overseas spending

There have been "serious issues" with scrutinising how the Welsh government spends £58m on its international strategy, a Senedd committee has complained.

Foreign affairs is a matter for the UK government but Welsh ministers have 20 offices in 11 countries to support their trade and aid policies.

The committee says it has been "denied the ability to scrutinise" the international budget "with confidence" and that "information was frequently incomplete and unclear, with irreconcilable amounts".

The Welsh government said it is committed to transparency and will continue to attract investment through its international programme.

More than 40 staff are employed by the Welsh government in overseas offices to support its international aims, which include trade and aid.

The offices are in Belgium, Canada, China, Ireland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Qatar, UAE and the USA.

The Welsh Parliament's International Relations Committee says it has "serious concerns" about financial transparency.

It warns it has not been able to analyse the £58m international relations budget over the past six years with confidence "despite repeated attempts".

The committee says it has not been provided with the information needed to determine whether this money has been used effectively.

It also criticised Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan for not giving evidence in person to the committee.

Delyth Jewell, the Plaid Cymru MS who chairs of the committee, said: "Our inquiry has found that understanding Wales' international relations has been hampered by confusion, fragmented planning and a lack of accountability.

"Those who have given evidence to our committee have told us time and again that they are uncertain about government priorities and how success is being measured.

"As we enter a time of yet more turbulence in the relations that knit nations together, the need for clear and measurable principles for our own international relations activity has never been greater."

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We will consider this report thoroughly and continue to regularly report on progress through committee scrutiny sessions, financial reporting, annual reports and delivery plan updates."

The spokesperson added: "Wales has a strong and growing international presence, built on our values, our global partnerships and our commitment to promoting Wales on the world stage.

"In the last year alone, we hosted the first ever Wales Investment Summit and secured over £16bn worth of inward investment, and we're looking forward to welcoming major events such as the Tour de France and Euro 2028.

"Through our international offices and a wide range of programmes, we continue to attract investment, support Welsh businesses to export and promote our culture, language and talent internationally."

The committee is calling on the Welsh government to provide a more focussed approach to international relations.

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