Since its launch last July, no financial support has been offered to small businesses under WAG’s Economic Renewal Programme (ERP).
That’s according to figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives.
The scheme was launched by the Deputy First Minister on July 5th 2010.
The Single Investment Fund, which provided financial support prior to this, closed to new applicants on the same day. Only “advanced applications” which pre-date the ERP launch have been dealt with since.
In its response to a Freedom of Information request, the Welsh Assembly Government said: “…no offers of financial support have been made under the Economic Renewal Programme. All offers of support since the launch of Economic Renewal: a new direction … have been made under interim arrangements and via the Single Investment Fund.”
Shadow Minister for Economy, Darren Millar AM, said: “The whole Economic Renewal Programme is a complete shambles.
“Our economy remains in a fragile state and it desperately needs all the support it can get. Yet Labour-Plaid’s flagship scheme is offering nothing. To date, it has taken no applications from businesses across Wales.
“All we get from the First Minister and his Deputy is rhetoric. What our businesses urgently need is financial aid.
“This week WAG announced the creation of panels to help the ‘six key sectors’ being addressed by the ERP. Despite previous assurances, there is still no explanation of how businesses outside these sectors will be helped.
“Wales is the poorest part of the UK. We should have the best-laid economic plans to get us out of this rut. What we actually have is a poorly managed farce.”
