Haywood: will business have a voice in the new assembly?

CBI Voice Reservations Over Welsh Devolution

The Welsh Secretary, Ron Davies', attempt to woo business support for a Welsh Assembly has received a lukewarm response from the Welsh CBI.

Elizabeth Haywood, the Director of the CBI in Wales, told BBC Radio 4's the World at One programme that the business community feared the addition of another layer of bureaucracy would scare away inward investment form Wales and increase business costs.

Elizabeth Haywood speaking on the World At One
Dur 1' 33"

Will Business Have a Voice?

The CBI fears a Welsh Assembly could deter investment

Dr Haywood also argued that it would not be attractive to inward investors if they felt the details of their business were going to be discussed by 60 people in a public assembly.

Ron Davies replies to the CBI
Dur 3' 00"

He said: "I think there has been a change in the fact that both Government, certainly the present Government, and business in Wales realise that there is a shared agenda - we do have common objectives.

He insisted business would be given a voice in decisions taken in the assembly once a method of bringing its views to bear had been formulated.

"There will be a voice for business, we made that clear in our White Paper. In my discussions with the CBI I have made it clear that the representatives of Welsh industry will be fully consulted and feel involved in the developing policy of Wales."

He added there was no question of the assembly publicly discussing the private nature of business transactions.

Final Vote is Still Uncertain

Will Labour's assembly get up and running?

Opponents within the Labour Party of Welsh devolution are predicting that the Welsh people will say no in their referendum and the campaign was hit by controversy even before it was up and running.

Blaenau Gwent Labour MP Llew Smith claimed pressure had been put on him and his constituency party not to criticise the proposals - claims denied by Labour leader Tony Blair and Welsh Secretary Mr Davies.

Labour's troubled campaign to win support for a Welsh assembly won a boost when three opposition parties signed a joint declaration backing the proposals.

Representatives of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Wales Green Party all joined in a bid to lift the `Yes' campaign ahead of the September 18 referendum