COMMENTING on news that no European funding has so far been approved for FE sector-led projects as a result of the four Welsh economic summits, Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM said:"The Assembly Government has gone out of its way to tell us how it is doing everything possible to help Welsh businesses and workers survive the recession."

"Yet despite four highly publicised economic summits and countless policy announcements it is incredible that to date not one FE-led project has been approved for European funding.

"The Assembly Government needs to answer the following questions as a matter of urgency.

• why have none been approved to date?
• how many are awaiting approval?
• when are the bids made so far likely to be approved?
• what plans has the Assembly Government got to speed up the approval process?
• does it expect more applications to be made in the light of rising unemployment?
• does it expect more applications to be made in the light of Assembly Government funding cuts to the FE sector?
• what action is the Assembly Government taking to encourage more bids from the FE sector?

"As unemployment rises there is a growing need to support initiatives which will help develop skills and put the Welsh economy in a strong position after the recession.

"The Assembly Government is already slashing millions of pounds from further education budgets this year.

"These reckless cuts, and the lack of urgency in approving funding for FE-led schemes at a time of deepening recession, undermine efforts to develop a skilled workforce, cost jobs, and prevent people from reaching their full potential."