The Party of Wales Finance spokesperson Alun Ffred Jones has called on the Welsh Government to lift the mystery that surrounds Enterprise Zones.
Following the publication of a committee report that criticises the lack of information given by the Welsh Government about Enterprise Zones, Plaid Cymru has called once again for clarity.
The Committee report highlights a number of areas of concern, including a lack of accountability on funding, a lack of performance indicators, and a lack of clarity on how successful they are.
Alun Ffred Jones said that while the Party of Wales is broadly supportive of Enterprise Zones, the government’s reluctance to publish information makes it impossible for Assembly Members to do their job of holding them to account and ensuring the public are getting value for money.
The Party of Wales Finance spokesperson Alun Ffred Jones said:
“Wales’ economy is in a fragile state, so it’s vital that any projects to support businesses and boost trade are not only effective but are also understood and recognised by businesses. While Plaid Cymru is broadly supportive of Enterprise Zones, we must ensure that we monitor their progress and ensure we get the most out of them.
“Currently, that isn’t happening. The report underlines what Plaid Cymru has long been saying – that there is a real lack of information out there and a worrying lack of accountability.
“Businesses cannot plan for the future without clarity; they need certainty.
“Businesses need to be aware of what opportunities are available to them and government needs to publish detailed performance indicators for each individual zone so that we can monitor progress and take action where needed.
“We also need reassurance that business displacement will not happen – where businesses relocate into an Enterprise Zone from within the local area in order to take advantage of the financial benefits, sometimes at the expense of jobs in other areas.
“If the Welsh Government is to support the economy and deliver growth, then it needs to lift the shroud of mystery that surrounds Enterprise Zones. Plaid Cymru wants to see Enterprise Zones succeed, but if that is to happen then the government needs to work much harder.”
