Business warns on Welsh quango move
Tuesday 28th March 2006 at 00:00
The CBI has strongly criticised Rhodri Morgan's plans to take over control of the Welsh Development Agency.Director general Sir Digby Jones said that the move was "flawed" and "wrong".
The Welsh Assembly Government is currently in the process of taking over a range of previously independent bodies.
In addition to the WDA, the first minister's administration will also take over the Wales Tourist Board and education quangos Elwa and Accac.
But Sir Digby warned that the loss of the WDA could damage Welsh economic development.
"I think the decision to take the WDA inside is flawed," he told BBC Wales's Week In Week Out programme.
"I think it's wrong. I think it's born of a desire for power and political control.
"I don't think it will serve Wales well and I think it's a real shame.
"I hope that in four or five years time people will look back and say that my judgement was wrong and that Wales did benefit, of course I do, because the people of Wales, the jobs of Wales, the wealth creation of Wales needs a quality WDA.
"So I hope I'm going to be wrong, but I tell you, I don't think I am."
His comments echo those of Wales secretary Peter Hain, who has previously said the assembly should think "long and hard" before abolishing the WDA brand.
The WDA will form part of the new enterprise, innovation and networks department in Cardiff Bay.
WDA chief executive Gareth Hall, who will head the new department, told the programme: "We are highly efficient. We are not throwing the baby out with the bath water, far from it.
"There were a lot of good things about the WDA, the Wales Tourist Board, a lot of good things about the civil service - those good things are being retained, and they are going to be built on, and the joining together will make this an even better organisation.
"I have got the commitment of all 1,500 people going into this new organisation."Send linkPrint
