Is it old or new money? And when will it be seen?

Announcing the fund is one thing; getting it set up and investing is another. There will need to be a fund manager; even though the fund is being set up as a 'fund of funds'. Investment criteria will also have to be drawn up. The devil, as they say, will be in the detail. All this will take time and, already, some are wondering how long it will be before money gets into the hands of those who need it – start ups who are in the mid stage of their development process. Those experienced in dealing with Government departments also wonder if the money being contributed is actually 'new money'. Only in April, Chancellor Alastair Darling announced a £750million 'strategic investment fund'. With public spending under increasingly close scrutiny, one might wonder where this cash is coming from. But another reason for this outbreak of disbelief is that, apparently, there has yet to be any allocation of an 'emergency funding' package announced last year.