John White, CEO at trade association BACTA, has this week complained bitterly at what he sees as "vindictive" treatment of the gaming machine industry in Wales by its government.
The rates grants to businesses (tax relief) in Wales had in some cases been given - and then subsequently retracted - to BACTA’s fury. After many attempts to talk with Welsh government officials on the subject, White was relegated to an uncharacteristic blistering attack on Welsh civil servants.
“The Welsh government is simply refusing to engage with us on this issue any more. It is frankly outrageous that a government can behave in this way. We would be making formal protests if it happened in another part of the world, as undemocratic and unjust – which it is. To rub salt into the wound another member has been asked to pay back a previously awarded grant. It is hard to conclude that this is anything other than vindictive.”
The attack was lodged through a members’ communiqué this week.
