I wonder how the workers of Dolgarrog feel about the decision yesterday by the Assembly Government to wipe out the debts of the Millennium Centre?
Both are independent commercial organisations but only one is worthy of support from Ministers.
So much for the argument from Plaid apologists on this blog that the management bid for Dolgarrog should not be funded from the public purse as it would hit services elsewhere - yet the Minister for Heritage is happy to give £17.1 million of taxpayers money to an institution that got its business plan horribly wrong. Was it the same group of civil servants who scrutinised the Dolgarrog bid? If so, what made the Millennium Centre's position more attractive?
In contrast, the plant in Dolgarrog only got into financial difficulties because of the unexpected increase in energy prices - something that no-one could have foreseen at the time.
Only 15 per cent fof the funds being given to this Arts Centre in Cardiff could have saved a major employer in one of the poorest areas in Europe.
The crachach have won again.
However, I very much doubt that any of them, when they sit down at the next performance by the Welsh National Opera at the Millennium Centre, will give a second thought to the 170 workers in the Conwy Valley who will facing Christmas on the dole because of an impotent coalition government that promised to do so much for Welsh business.
Comments
A bit hypocritical to lambast state intervention in the market, and the criticize them for doing nothing? Before you comment, I suggest that you decide wher you actually stand!
If you understood economics or business - which you clearly do not despite your pretensions - you would find that the role of government in business support is simple, namely to step in and provide support, if it so wishes, when there is market failure.
The Assembly Government has decided to provide millions of pounds to the Millennium Centre when it was facing insolvency due to a business plan that clearly wasn't up to the job.
At the same time, it couldn't bother to support a viable business bid backed by the unions and key customers to fund a buy out of a company that is vital to jobs in the Conwy Valley.
I really did expect better from Plaid when it entered coalition but all that Party has done is to support Labour's abysmal economic record which, as your leader pointed out constantly when in opposition, leaves this nation at the foot of the UK prosperity league table.
Indeed, the real tragedy is the hypocrisy of a party which spent eight years criticising the Labour Government for not helping small businesses in Wales and when the first real opportunity comes along to support an indigenous firm providing high quality jobs in a rural area, it bottles it.
Still, you won't lose any sleep over it, will you.
'Nuff said...
http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/caernarfonherald/letters/tm_headline=plaid-betrays-its-principles&method=full&objectid=20041045&siteid=50142-name_page.html
question is why we are still surprised by this, Labour was useless on economic development on its own, but now it can blame Plaid Cymru for Wales's economic problems with Ieuan in charge of the brief, clever or what?
I see no market failure in the Dolgarrog case, at least not in a globalized free market. At least I'm not using an understanding of economics and my reputation to promote two contradictory viepoints. And even to the point of advocating state intervention. I can almost hear Milton Friedman turning in his grave.
Now that would be something to lose sleep over!
I haven't seen you promote globalisation at all in any of your articles - in fact, completely the reverse. The way you have developed the fast growth 50 project shows exactly where your colours are pinned.
Plaid Cymru will reap the whirlwind of their decisions at Cardiff Bay and Caernarfon next May. Regarding where to get the money for schools in Gwynedd, the Assembly could have transferred more money from their culture budget to local authorities to keep the schools open rather than subsisiding a white elephant that many North Walians will never go to.
I think that Rhydian is mistaking me for someone else....
Indeed, if he can find any article where I have advocated globalisation after a fifteen year career in entrepreneurship studies, then I will be more surprised than anyone!
As for Dolgarrog, the argument is not about the closure (although they should have been aware of what was going on) but rather about supporting a viable bid to start the business up again. That is where the failure lies by the Assembly Government.
By the way, I am sure his AM and MP will enjoy telling their constituents how their party could find £17 million for an opera house but not any additional funding to keep small schools open in their only council.
In fact, the amount needed by Gwynedd Council to keep small schools open is the same as the additional annual grant given to the Millennium Centre.
Like I said, it's a question of priorities.
I had noted from previous posts that you appear economically liberal - as well as the Tory candidature - and assumed, wrongly I admit, that you were pro-globalisation.
I stand by my comments though. Dolgarrog has failed, yes - that is just a natural feature of the market. So I fail to see why an economic liberal would argue for state intervention.
As for the schools, I accept that this is a question of priorities. The priority in this case should be essential services and not a debate about whether a particular building should house a school.
The other point about Dolgarrog is quite different and the money comes from a different budget and a different policy area. We need to look at DET and how it supports indigenous business that I think is where the problem lies. We now have civil servants making business decisions .It also seems to me that there is not enough priority given to the drivers of our economy – that is also where the problem lies.
We seem to be keener to develop non-productive public sector jobs than private sector wealth creating ones.
I do not see the Millennium centre as public sector, rather third sector – which can also wealth create.
I would be more up in the air over spending £8m more on Peter Hain's office.
No wonder the gogs are pissed off.