Business grant aid 'never perfect', says Carwyn Jones

Checks on businesses receiving public funds are "never perfect", the first minister has said.

Carwyn Jones was responding to concerns about firms which closed or left Wales after getting the government grants.

He said the Welsh government "backs winners the vast majority of the time".

Mr Jones confirmed that work was "ongoing" to recover money from Griffin Place Communications, a financial services firm in Cwmbran which went bust in July with the loss of 140 jobs.

BBC Wales has also learnt that the Welsh government is trying to get back £700,000 it gave in 2013 to financial company Guardian Wealth Management, which shut its office in Caerphilly a year later.

'Good enough'

"Inevitably when you support businesses there are some that aren't going to make it," Mr Jones said.

"And as long as they are a handful, and they are a handful in Wales, then that's a risk you have to take.

"As long as you can show the vast majority on investments you make turn out to be successful then inevitably I think that's good enough for the people of Wales."

Griffin Place Communications closed in July with the loss of 140 jobs

He added: "From our point of view we try to pick winners. Once or twice there'll be occasions when that doesn't work out.

"[Guardian Wealth Management is] one example - this is not something that happens every day. It's exceptionally rare.

"In the world of business there will be occasions when things don't work out. But in the main we back winners the vast majority of the time."

The first minister was speaking on a visit to Animortal animation studio in Bridgend, a company which is receiving £650,000 from the government to help it make its latest film there.