Almost three quarters of Welsh business people do not believe that devolution has delivered for Wales, according to findings from the South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce, sparking calls for all political parties to place the economy at the forefront of their campaigns in the run up to the Welsh Assembly Election.
The survey, which polled almost 700 businesses from across Wales, found that 73% of respondents believed that devolution had not delivered for Welsh businesses, despite 71% supporting the concept that decisions about the economic development of Wales should be taken in Wales. Ninety percent of respondents also stated that they intended to vote in the election next May.
Keith Palmer, chief executive of the South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is a damning judgement on the performance of Welsh politicians since the Assembly was created in 1999. All the parties claim to be pro-business, but politicians have clearly failed to deliver on some of the major projects that Welsh businesses have been calling for over the last 20 years.
“The business community is entirely focused on building a prosperous, thriving, sustainable economy for Wales and the support for devolution is clear. We now challenge everyone standing in the election next May to adopt the same attitude.
“It is easy for politicians to say that they are pro-business, but in the business world, you are judged on delivery. We will now be looking for each of the parties to deliver for Welsh business, firstly in their manifestos and then during the next Assembly term.”
The South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce have set out their priorities for the next Welsh Government for fostering economic growth, creating jobs and building a strong, vibrant economy in the ‘Campaign for Welsh Business 2015 – 2020. It represents the views of businesses across Wales and calls for the next Welsh Government to:
· Build the transport network for the future by creating a national transport body for Wales, independent of all levels of government, to decide on transport infrastructure priorities and co-ordinate transport planning across Wales;
· Develop communications for the modern world by working with business owners to maximise the take-up of the latest communications-based services and technologies;
· Improve the skills of the current and future workforce by putting in place a national workplace basic skills training programme that every adult can access and ensuring that secondary schools are assessed on employment outcomes to improve the way in which young people are prepared for the world of work;
· Encourage business ambition among Wales’ people by setting up a ‘National Entrepreneurial Challenge’ competition, open to groups of people of all ages, and work with financial and advice providers to ensure that those dealing with individuals starting a business are representative of the population at large;
· Help today’s businesses thrive by creating a National Bank of Wales as a private sector driven bank, run with the sole aim of assisting Welsh businesses;
· Secure Wales’ energy needs to create a central fund for all community benefits funding deriving from renewable energy projects;
· Increase how much Wales exports to the rest of the world by creating a new arms-length International Business Organisation with more input from internationally active businesses;
· Reorganise local government to take account of travel to work areas and city regions, aligning boundaries to the way real people live their lives.
· Encouraging action from the city regions created in South Wales.
Mr Palmer added: “We have set out what our members would like to see the next Welsh Government deliver in our Campaign for Welsh Business and, with 90% of our members telling us they intend to vote in the election, the votes of Welsh business people should be taken seriously.”