I reproduce the letter here with no further comment as I believe it is self-explanatory.
SIR – It was extremely interesting yet quite alarming to read the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the Federation of Small Businesses’ call for more detail on transport spending priorities (“Small businesses blast WAG over roads-upgrade funding”, August 16).
The first alarming point was their assertion that we called on WAG to double the transport budget, which was a rather pathetic attempt at throwing a red herring. The quote “we need to double the current level of investment in road infrastructure just to match the spending of our European competitors in France and Germany” is clearly an indication of the scale of the issue, not an actual proposal.
Of course, in the absence of any detail to quote on what they are actually going to do, it is far easier to pick up on something else and turn that into an issue. But I’m afraid that all it has done is made them look idiotic.
The second point, however, is far more alarming. To say that we were consulted on the Economic Renewal Programme and therefore have no right to criticise any of its recommendations is breathtakingly arrogant.
The whole process has hardly been the model of engagement espoused by the Welsh Assembly Government. For example, the consultation document did not ask for specific policy questions regarding the reorganisation of the Department of Economy and Transport, and the resulting document “answered” questions that were simply not asked in the consultation process.
The ERP as it stands now should be going out to consultation, yet there is no formal way to respond, and no period of consultation. Such major change, such as scrapping Flexible Support for Business (FS4B), International Business Wales and the Single Investment Fund, should go out to consultation.
And where was the consultation when choosing the business sectors to focus on? This work was undertaken by the Ministerial Advisory Group, which appeared to work in a silo away from stakeholders. Where was the engagement with the wider business community when choosing the sectors which will benefit from the ERP?
So, against the background of all this scrapping of business structures in Wales, that we should have the very audacity to ask where the money will be focused in future is something the Welsh Assembly Government might, one would think, be prepared for. But it appears not.
Instead it gropes around for immature deflection techniques to straightforward propositions. And that is quite alarming.
JANET JONES
Chair, FSB Wales
Comments
Not meaning to blow my own trumpet, I am the only Welsh person (who grew up on Welsh council estates) who has a law firm close to the largest patent office in the world (USPTO) armed with a PhD/JD combination who practices directly before the USPTO.
My knowledge and expertise is second to none from the Welsh perspective and combined with location means I conduct regular F2F interviews with patent Examiners thereby cutting down on the time it takes to get a patent issued. I explained this both orally and in writing to Technium, but it seems Technium ignore such critical details and make decisions based on their own comfort zone ignoring the needs of Welsh businesses.
This is what I got in an email from a Technium operator/contractor: “… as we had mumerous {sic} applications for the IP sector we had to base our decisions on IP companies that had previous good working relationships with Technium.”
The question is now 'So what are you going to do about it?'
As a member of the FSB, I was hoping to have recieved a letter from you by now to lobby WAG against the changes.
Yes I am a grant consultant and have a vested interest, but to date I have had to turn away 6 projects that would have created 167 jobs.
Many of people in this field are quoting similar numbers. So I reckon Wales has probably lost a couple of thousand jobs this past month.
Clearly unemployment isn't an issue for WAG even though it is about to add to the current total of 130,000. Well Mr IWJ, if you think you'll be Deputy First Minister this time next year, I wouldn't count on it, pal.
A letter has come out from WAG that it is dealing with projects on a case by case basis. However, when you ring in, the officals don't know what that actually means!
Very interesting indeed
the FSB responded within a few days and have done lots on the ERP to date.
dont let facts influence your opinion!!
Is it because you grew up on a Welsh council estate?
Is it because you have the same access to the USPTO as every other patent agent in the World?
Is it because you have a Phd (of which you don’t actually state what in)?
Is it your trumpet playing?
Or is it because your opinion of your own skills exceeds that of other individuals you have no knowledge of whatsoever?
Which of the above give you the right to bypass other patent businesses, I fail to see your argument. This is a very mixed rant; you applied to work with an organisation you believed was mismanaged in the first instance and assumed you were a minority applicant yourself.
Your keenness on “helping Welsh small businesses” I suspect is biased with a desire to charge those very same organisations, like most people who rant about the ERD on here.
I'm not sure what comfort zone you think those within Technium (and for that matter, other WAG employees affected by the ERD) are in, but I certainly find your comment uncomfortable.
Perhaps reviewing why your numerous skills don't back up your superiority complex within the real World would be a better waste of your time.
(Are you sure you don't want to re phrase that?)
Today (7 September) in the Western Mail, have a look at the article 'Gloom over jobs as firms report more cuts on the way'
Russel Lawson,FSB, has a great opportunity here to attack WAG on ERP and fails...hopeless! These are the facts!
ANON 2.....plastic bags, nice one!
no, I don't want to rephrase that. I was obviously being sarcastic and highlighting that you don't let facts inflence your opinion.
By the way, and I'm sure that DJE would back me on this, dont base your opinions on what is in the Western Mail. Find out facts before spouting off!
By the way, Anon and Anon2 is the one on the same person. So thanks for attacking me and supporting me in the same comment!
Is Welsh your first language, because it can’t be English?
Your comments are completely confusing, on the one hand you seem to be saying the FSB are actually doing something and on the other hand you’re being sarcastic about their focus, this is intellectually incoherent.
Is English your first language? Can you read?
It is obvious what is being said, so are you intellectually challenged?
You seem to imply suggest that being a native Welsh speaker means you cannot have a grasp of the English language.
I suggest you ask DJE if he agrees with you on this point!
Today's fact (10 Sept) is that large inward investment companies will be eligible for non repayable grants.
Welsh SME's ...no change ..fact or fiction or did I read the blog wrong?