COVID COST: The Welsh government has spent £3.7 million on external legal advice to the First Minister, ministers and officials giving evidence to Britain’s Covid Inquiry, a ministerial question has revealed.

The Cardiff Bay administration racked up the cost despite having an in-house legal team.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “The advisers provide the additional specialist resource necessary to ensure our obligations to the inquiry are met.”

SINKING FEELING: A sinkhole on a Merthyr Tydfil housing estate continues to spread, endangering local houses.

The collapse of a culvert, allowing water to flow under roads and railways, led to the evacuation of around 30 homes at Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, last Sunday.

The local council leader said the sinkhole has continued to expand, with further cracks appearing in the road surface.

BUDGET COST: Welsh nationalists are leading a cross-party amendment to the National Insurance Bill in the House of Commons to reverse the National Insurance rise for public-sector organisations in Wales. 

The increase in employer contributions is estimated to cost public-sector organisations in Wales £380 million.  

Plaid Cymru’s amendment to the NI Bill is supported by the Green Party and the Scottish National Party.