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Nick Bourne will lead his party into the assembly elections next year
An independent budget review process is needed in Wales, says Nick Bourne, leader of the Conservatives in the assembly.
Mr Bourne told his party's policy forum in Llandudno that Wales should follow the model in Scotland.
Wales needed "independent budget projections and recommendations", and important discussions were "being carried out behind closed doors".
The assembly government has been asked to comment.
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He told BBC Radio Wales: "Labour's knee jerk reaction has always been to say no, yet the first minister recently called for opposition parties to work together constructively on the Welsh budget.
"That is exactly what this kind of review would give us the chance to do. As in Scotland, we have the opportunity to gain independent projections and recommendations that can be properly debated."
The assembly member said Wales' budget needed input from experts, stakeholders, opposition parties and the general public.
"Scrutiny and debate are essential to an open and transparent assembly government. This simply isn't happening at the moment and the culture of secrecy has got to stop."
In a speech which sets out Conservative policies ahead of the assembly elections next year, Mr Bourne said there should be an end to free prescriptions for all and that his party would protect health spending.
He told the party forum: "By asking those who can afford to pay for their prescriptions we will save around £30m, money we would invest in frontline services such as hospice care and stroke services.
"Under our plans, those on above average incomes will pay a small amount for their prescriptions but those that can't - such as children, pensioners, students, and those on benefits - will continue to get them for free."
He said Welsh Conservatives would also:
instigate a programme of loft and cavity wall insulation for homes across Walesgive the Welsh language official statuscreate the office of language commissioner to promote the use of WelshThis article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Nick Bourne will lead his party into the assembly elections next year An independent budget review process is needed in Wales, says Nick Bourne, leader of the Conservatives in the assembly.
Mr Bourne told his party's policy forum in Llandudno that Wales should follow the model in Scotland.
Wales needed "independent budget projections and recommendations", and important discussions were "being carried out behind closed doors".
The assembly government has been asked to comment.
Related stories
He told BBC Radio Wales: "Labour's knee jerk reaction has always been to say no, yet the first minister recently called for opposition parties to work together constructively on the Welsh budget.
"That is exactly what this kind of review would give us the chance to do. As in Scotland, we have the opportunity to gain independent projections and recommendations that can be properly debated."
The assembly member said Wales' budget needed input from experts, stakeholders, opposition parties and the general public.
"Scrutiny and debate are essential to an open and transparent assembly government. This simply isn't happening at the moment and the culture of secrecy has got to stop."
“Under our plans, those on above average incomes will pay a small amount for their prescription”
Nick Bourne AM Welsh Conservatives Leader He told the party forum: "By asking those who can afford to pay for their prescriptions we will save around £30m, money we would invest in frontline services such as hospice care and stroke services.
"Under our plans, those on above average incomes will pay a small amount for their prescriptions but those that can't - such as children, pensioners, students, and those on benefits - will continue to get them for free."
He said Welsh Conservatives would also:
instigate a programme of loft and cavity wall insulation for homes across Walesgive the Welsh language official statuscreate the office of language commissioner to promote the use of WelshThis article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.