BLAENAU Gwent AM Alun Davies, who was sacked from the Welsh Government cabinet in 2014 but re-appointed in a new role last week, will be “an excellent minister” first minister Carwyn Jones has said.

The Labour AM was fired as environment minister two years ago after he admitted pressuring civil servants to get hold of private information on payments made to opposition members, including Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies and Kirsty Williams, who was at that time head of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

But Mr Davies was re-appointed to the cabinet last week when he was named as minister for lifelong learning and the Welsh language.

Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, May 24, Mr Davies quizzed the first minister about Mr Davies’ appointment.

“You said (in 2014) you found it very difficult to see him coming back into government,” he said.

“What has happened in the intervening period that you can have reassurances that there has been no repetition of the episode that led him to leave your government back in 2014?

“I do think it is incumbent on you as first minister who has appointed him this time around to give us the assurances we require.”

Mr Jones replied: “He (Mr Davies) will be an excellent minister and someone who will bring a great deal of expertise to government.

“All ministers have been issued with a copy of the ministerial code and of course is required to indicate to me they have read it.

“That’s certainly true of all ministers and I am glad to have a range of expertise.”

Alun Davies was first elected to the Assembly on the regional list for Mid and West Wales in 2007 and has represented Blaenau Gwent since 2011. He was re-elected earlier this month.

Last week he told the Argus the first minister had asked him he had been asked to Mr Davies has also been asked to lead a ministerial taskforce for The Valleys.