Its follows the publication of its new strategy for business support. They will move away from grant aid towards support in improving the environment in which Welsh business operate.
Interesting that they have been receieving trainig from BT on the use and remit of Broadband by BT. BT is run by Ann Beyon ,who's husband is leightom Andrews ex Minister at DET. Is this going to be a service they will take on as a product in DET i wonder.
The department currently accounts for around a fifth of all WAG civil servants.
This morning BBC Wales flagged up that a scathing attack on the way the WAG has run its economy and transport department has been launched by the Liberal Democrats. They called the management of Ieuan Wyn Jones' department "a long list of failings and ineptitude", resulting in what they say is "financial chaos".
Former economic development minister Andrew Davies says the 250 job cuts in the same department could be a "smokescreen" for its failings.So even within government there were hard hitting remarks
The BBC pointed to " an internal audi"t that highlighted management weaknesses exposing the department to "significant risk".
This is the gist of it - The internal auditors assessed the department's running, they identified management weaknesses which they said exposed the department to "significant risk".a major risk of "loss, fraud, impropriety, poor value for money, a failure to achieve objectives".More than half of the 274 recommendations from internal auditors relating to the department were classified as "fundamental" or "significant".
They refused to give a clean bill of financial health to 11 separate areas
Technium is one of the main projects that caused concern for the auditors.. There are 10 such centres around Wales.I remember plans to sell these off years ago as they weren't proving a financial success.
Interesting that Carwyn Jones has decided that a request from BBC Wales to release the relevant reports following Freedom of Information requests would be "prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs".
Opposition politicians have called for the documents to be published in the public interest.
The assembly government's head of corporate governance division said the department "does not have in place a fully effective framework of control" and therefore can only provide a limited assurance on its overall arrangements for risk management, control and governance.
The BBC has seen documents that back up all of this
WAG has replied saying that
"Since the report was published we have strengthened and substantially improved our internal processes”"This information is now out of date. Since the report was published we have strengthened and substantially improved our internal processes as acknowledged in the latest Annual Assurance Report for 2009/10.
"A series of additional checks and balances are being adopted to ensure the department delivers this support, together with a comprehensive system of evaluation."With regard to the Technium network, he said: "A review into the network is under way and due to be completed later this year."
And relating to the FOI disclosure, he said: "The first minister has not refused to disclose the information - he has merely determined that the type of information requested by the BBC falls under Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act.
"A decision on whether to release the information requested will be made shortly."
We do not need this in a department that should be spear heading the economic revival , is Labour setting IWJ and Plaid up to take the rap for this. I see Jocelyn Davies is being targeted too now.
I think what is happening is a matter of great concern -nothing moves with out the money to fund or support it and that's in all sectors
WAG and particularly Carwyn Jones needs to ger a grip on this before the slippery slope becomes a sliding torrent.
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Its own internal auditors "refused to give a clean bill of financial health to 11 separate areas, including the Technium business incubator project..." (BBC, 21 July, 2010, "Welsh economy department at significant risk - audit").
What is it that Agatha Christie once wrote about Hell? "Hell is the truth learnt to late".
Well, 'what another fine mess' c/o the WAG, and more specifically a mess in the Welsh department responsible for 'economy and transport'.
This is not funny. Just this past few weeks I've been in contact with the very nice lady who is the main contact for Technium (incubator project rolled out across Wales), I offered to fly back to Wales to give a presentation or do whatever it takes to educate/provide tips on the key benefits to filing for patent protection in the market that allows one patent filing fee that starts the ball rolling on patent coverage that extends to all 50 states of the USA.
Well, so Technium seems to be on its way out – like IBW.
Sorry, typo, which I don't want associated with that great writer, 'to' should have been 'too': What is it that Agatha Christie once wrote about Hell? "Hell is the truth learnt TOO late". (Emphasis added.)
Where are the welsh Tories?
Disappointing performance again - is it getting too Cody on the Cardiff bay village?
anon the Tories, like the rest of the AM's are on Summer holidays, the Assembly broke up last week.
But they surely have people watching whats happening The party leaders ar not off for 8 weeks and neither are the AMs
Bourne is a wimp and melding is off with fairies again
Well, the timing of the publication of this report is interesting ... isn't it!
Naturally, the Minister heading the Department will ensure that the buck will stop at someone else's desk.
I see the usual deluge of spin is deployed by WAG's press team to rubbish the allegations from the opposition and the damming internal audit report.
Its a shame they don't spend the same effort and resources in to trying to get Wales economy back on its feet after the recession.
A good time to bury bad news - funnily enough exactly the same timing as when they announced the end of WDA, WTB etc
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