All I can talk about with any degree of authority was the bits of Perform that I was involved with personally - and we in the south east were certainly doing what we could to ginger up the EFDSS (and that was indeed the phrase that we used at the time) and that formed a great part of discussions in our meetings. Things have improved without Perform as time has gone on, for sure, but that's not a good reason to have a kick at what was an honourable attempt at the time. No one was paid by Perform, as Susie makes clear, and a lot of us worked hard - not only for no reward, but now to hear Dick Miles make stupid comparisons with farting and tell us our efforts are best forgotten. Thanks a bunch, Dick. I have no idea why Dick Miles is so antagonistic - I don't remember him being involved in any of our meetings or, indeed, Perform in general.   
But, Dick, if you're wanting to improve the lot for professional performers in the UK by means PM me about Britfolk, which is a performers' network set up by performers for performers - which is not what Perform was ever intended to be. Or of course you could consult the Musicians' Union.