THERE is "insufficient evidence" to determine if Wales' eight Enterprise Zones, including the one in Ebbw Vale, have provided value for money, an Assembly report has found.

Businesses are offered special financial and practical support packages for setting up in or moving to the Welsh Government-designated zones, which were set up six years ago.

But now a report by the Welsh Assembly's Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee has said an inquiry into the project has painted "a mixed picture".

The report has called on the Welsh Government to make more data available on the support provided to companies in each zones, as well as performance statistics.

The committee's chairman Russell George said: “The committee has concluded that on the whole, the Enterprise Zone concept has not proved itself to date in Wales despite the Welsh Government spending over £200 million on them.

"The lack of available evidence has made it challenging for us to fully analyse their contribution to the Welsh economy.

“The committee recognises the good work of the Zone Boards and the expertise and commitment of those involved to deliver their work locally.

"We also believe that there is merit in a regional approach to economic development and that focusing on deprived areas is a good thing.

“However, any future regional approaches to economic development will require clear and realistic goals accompanied by detailed, transparent and appropriate data for monitoring.

"Enterprise Zones have been a series of place-based experiments and we believe they will continue to merit further study over the coming years.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “Collectively our Enterprise Zones supported over 10,700 jobs to the end of the last financial year.

"All eight Enterprise Zones have made significant progress and are continuing to deliver value for money by laying the foundation for future prosperity and creating the right environment to support the development of sustainable job opportunities in communities right across Wales, both in the short and longer term."

She added economy and transport secretary Ken Skates would formally respond to the report "in due course".