THE Welsh Liberal Democrat are demanding an investigation into fresh claims that a minister has broken the ministerial code.

Edwina Hart, as Health Minister, is alleged to have asked for politically sensitive information from Elfed Roberts, former Chairman of the North West Wales NHS Trust, in 2007.

It follows the sacking of former environment minstre and Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies over ministerial code breaches last week.

Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “I have written to the First Minister demanding a full and independent investigation into this serious matter.

“Regardless of how long ago this happened, the fact that it happened at all is yet another trampling over the ministerial rule book by a Welsh Labour Minister. I’d forgive anyone who has started to think now that Welsh Labour Ministers have completely no respect for the Ministerial Code.”

The Welsh Government has refuted the claims, with a spokesman saying: “The e-mail refers to a request for information on operational issues relating to the NHS. Any attempts to draw a comparison with the events of the last week are ridiculous.”