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Convergence funding

There has been a little niggle at the back of my mind about all the latest Convergence funding, which is being sprayed around like confetti at the moment by the Welsh Assembly Government, possibly because it is a year and a half behind schedule.

What is going on in the rest of Wales that does not qualify for this funding?

Certainly, the GVA/head in Swansea (which qualifies for EU funds) is higher than that of Powys (which does not).

In addition, Flintshire and Wrexham - which does not qualify -has seen one of the largest falls in GVA/head of any area in the whole of the UK since 1997.

With a large part of the business base in those areas which does not get access to such funds,how is the Assembly Government going to ensure that they are also supported to help grow the whole economy within Wales?

Will try and put my thinking hat on this and come back in a few days time.

Comments

Anonymous said…
the Assembly Government will spin this downturn in North Wales as a problem with the global economy, Dylan both you and i know that. Shame that none of our AM's are up to the challenge of tearing apart the appauling economic policies of this Government in the Senedd.
June 13, 2008 2:06 pm
Anonymous said…
bad news all round for North and South Wales with your figures on growth and Ventura being the latest business to be closing its Call Centre and 440 staff losing their jobs.
June 13, 2008 3:35 pm
Welshwalker said…
"all the latest Convergence funding, which is being sprayed around like confetti at the moment by the Welsh Assembly Government..."

So where do we find out about how and where these funds are being splurged? Just asking.
June 14, 2008 1:12 pm
Welshwalker said…
Well I suppose I can get the answer to my question above from WEFO at
http://www.wefo.wales.gov.uk/resource/website-figures-230520083133.pdf

This tells me that 21 projects (out of 260 submitted) have been approved and 144 are still being evaluated by WEFO . ie. over half are still being processed.
You must have looked at these approved projects, Dylan. I don't really understand the. Do you think they will succeed in having and impact on the economy of Wales?
June 14, 2008 1:28 pm
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