THE Assembly's health and social services department, employing more than 800 staff, will move to Blaenau Gwent - if Plaid Cymru wins power on May 3.

Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones made the shock pledge in detailing the party's vision of decentralising power in Wales.

Ebbw Vale and Tredegar are "prime sites" for consideration as department base, including the Ministerial Office. Being the birthplace of the NHS makes the area "a natural choice", said Mr Wyn Jones.

But rival parties scorned the proposal.

A Labour Party spokesman accused Plaid Cymru of being prepared to join a coalition with the Conservatives, letting the latter's ministers run public services.

"There could be no worse tribute to Aneurin Bevan's NHS than to have a Tory minister in charge of the Health Ministry in Blaenau Gwent and dancing on his grave," he said.

Welsh Conservatives are not opposed to sharing Assembly jobs around Wales, said health spokesman Jonathan Morgan, but this idea is "completely bizarre."

"Not only will this affect the daily lives of staff, it will impact on the environment and local transport network," he said.

Welsh Liberal Democrats labelled Plaid's plan "tokenism."

"The Nye Bevan bandwagon must be straining under the weight of those trying to jump on it," said a spokesman, alluding to the former Ebbw Vale MP and Labour health minister who brought the NHS into being in 1948.

"To improve health in Blaenau Gwent, we need better and easier access to healthcare in the community, new investment worth almost £200m in dentistry and ambulance services, and a guaranteed standard of service in the NHS."

Mr Wyn Jones said Plaid Cymru would follow the Irish government model, moving three ministries out of the capital, "a clear, unambiguous statement of intent that devolution is meant to work for the whole of Wales."

No-one from People's Voice, who are also standing in Balenau Gwent, was available for comment.