13/01/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines. Parents of children with

the devastating condition muscular dystrophy say a screening test for

newborns must be re-instated. They say children would get vital help

more quickly. For families like us, it has allowed us to plan for the

future, we can move to a house to Also in the programme tonight.

A trawler comes back to Anglesey tonight - the search for one its

crewmen has been called off It's a company which supplies Prince

Charles with socks - today they're found guilty of exposing staff to

asbestos. The 3, 2, 1!

Wales attracts film makers from around the world. Now plans for a

mystery production in the Brecon Beacons, take a step forward.

And it's fifty years since an outbreak of smallpox. Nearly a

million people in south Wales were vaccinated - nineteen died.

Also tonight - John Hartson says consider me to become the new Wales

Good evening. Parents of children with the muscle wasting condition

muscular dystrophy say its vital that a screening test for newborn

babies is re-instated. They've told Wales Today the test can lead to

earlier treatment for children which can prolong their lives.

Wales was the only part of the UK where the test was carried out, but

the Welsh government withdrew the screening programme at the end of

last year saying it was no longer "safe or reliable". Later this

month an inquiry at Westminster will look at whether screening

should be introduced across the UK. Nick Palit reports.

Alex George from Cardiff has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy a

severe muscle-wasting condition that will leave him disabled and

shorten his life. He's two now and so far there's no outward sign he

has the disease. Pretty devastating. They have a normal early years and

then the disease takes over and gradually takes their body away

from them. A heel prick test done when he was born proved positive.

That's meant his family have been able to prepare themselves for the

inevitable. For families like us, it has allowed us to plan for our

future, we can also move to a house to accommodate Alex and his

wheelchair and plan and set money aside and plan our future and take

holidays with our other children but we cannot take in the future.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy affects around 100 boys a year in the UK

around 4 of them in Wales. It's a genetic disease - caused by a

mistake in a gene called dystrophin. This mistake in the gene means that

the fibres in the muscles break down and they become weak. There is

no cure at the moment, and boys affected by the disease end up in a

wheelchair from the age of 8. They also have a much shorter life

expectancy at best living into their thirties. One boy already

using a wheelchair is Harry Vaughan from Connah's Quay He's five in

March and he's already finding everyday tasks difficult. If it

wasn't picked up at an early stage we would have had to wait not

knowing what it is that is wrong with Harry. He is unable to stand,

unable to walk. He can sit up and play within the area around him but

if he leans back he will fall. Wales has been the only part of the

UK screening newborn babies for the disease for the past twenty years.

But at the end of last year that stopped - the Welsh Government

saying the test was no longer safe and reliable - as they could no

longer obtain quality control material for the blood test.

Ironically as Wales pulls out, there's mounting pressure to

introduce the test across the whole of the UK. Later this month experts

from Wales will be giving evidence to a Parliamentary Group

investigating the issue. There is no treatment at the moment. In a

future, there will be treatment and there will come on line soon. I

think it will be important we introduce screenings. Nic Bungay is

from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and joins us now from

London. Mr Bungay, you're campaigning to try and re-introduce

the test here in Wales and also you would like to see a screening test

introduced into the rest of the UK - why is it so important?

Newborn screening is crucial in light of the potential new

treatments on the horizon. Exciting clinical trials are under way and

if new drugs came on the market, we cannot afford to wait two years

before a screening programme is either reinstated in Wales or

implemented across the UK. It's important to note early diagnosis

helps delay the progression of the condition. With steroid use, boys

can remain on their feet for longer. Early diagnosis can mean families

can decide whether to have other children, and give them time to

adjust to the news and prepare for future. -- the future. What was the

problem with the existing test, it was withdrawn. They said it was not

safe or reliable because there are only a handful of laboratories back

and career the test. There are not enough quality control assurances

available. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign believes that early

evidence from pilot studies in the US and Australia she's that

improved accuracy to tests can be made and that's what we want to see,

a better test available so a screening programme across the UK

can be implemented. Now at the end of the month, experts from across

the UK including Wales will be attending an All Party

Parliamentary Group Inquiry looking into getting newborn screening for

the condition what are the arguments against the test?

That's right, the all-party group will be talking to experts in Wales

to discuss the pros and cons. Many families in Wales have told us that

they did not have any follow-up support, that it's unfair giving

families this bombshell at diagnosis and then not providing

them with specialist care and psychological support and expertise.

We believe the situation is improving in Wales and there are

new experts in place and if there are experts in place across the UK

to support families of the diagnosis, that should not be an

obstacle. But those are unfortunately some of the messages

family is have told us from Wales who have undergone screening.

The 90 very much. -- thank you very much. A major search has been

called off for a man who went missing from a fishing boat off

Anglesey. The alert for the crewman was raised at around 2.30 this

morning. The search was concentrated on a large area in

Caernarfon Bay to the west of Anglesey. The operation was

coordinated by the coastguard at Holyhead. Roger Pinney's there,

Roger. Yes, the missing man has not been

named but he is believed to be from south-west Scotland and the boat he

was working on is registered in the port of Ballantrae. It was

refuelling before setting off on a high tide at 11:30pm last night.

The intention was to fish and the west coast of Wales as far as

Fishguard. In fading light this evening, the

fishing vessel arrived back in port. Escorted by the Holyhead lifeboat

and with the light, hope of finding the missing man alive faded. The

search for him was called off mid- afternoon. Now, the questions begin,

how and why the man went overboard, the police will interview the crew

and ask about his last few hours on board. The investigation into what

has happened is under way. Early this morning a helicopter was at

the scene but later returned to base refuelling. The SOS call went

in at 230, two hours after he was last seen by colleagues. Throughout

the day, seven vessels, three lifeboats and four fishing boats

were involved in the search. this time of year, the sea

temperature is in the eight degrees. That gives us a problem in terms of

survival because we know the missing gentleman was only wearing

jeans and T-shirt. He was not wearing a lifejacket. That's been

confirmed by the skipper. And obviously in sea temperatures like

that, the survival rate will be limited. At the lifeboats station

they it followed developments closely, sea conditions were good

but it was not an easy search. is a huge sea area from Holyhead,

obviously with them not knowing when the chap went into the water,

we have to make a bigger search pattern. It's assumed the seas of

Anglesey have claimed another life. It's less than two months since the

cargo vessel sank with the loss of I understand the missing man is in

his twenties and I've been told this may have been his first voyage

on board this vessel. The police in Scotland have spent the day trying

to track down his family, certainly this loss will have impacted in his

home area but it has hit hard here as well. Ice-pick to local

fishermen this afternoon, they did not want to go on camera -- a I

spoke tea. They said they were shocked.

The First Minister Carwyn Jones has told the Guardian newspaper that a

second chamber of Parliament with equal representation from Wales,

England and Northern Ireland might be needed if Scotland voted for

independence. He was speaking at the British Irish Council in Dublin,

where he also said that England could not be allowed to dominate a

United Kingdom without Scotland. There would need to be a

fundamental rethink of the nature of the relationship between the

three nations left in the UK in order to make sure what was then

the UK was a stable bawdy where people felt they had full

representation. -- body. And you can here more of the First

Minister's views on the future of the United Kingdom in an exclusive

interview with Aled ap Dafydd on the new Sunday Politics programme,

that's here on BBC1 Wales at midday on Sunday.

The Chief Executive of the North Wales Police Authority, Tal Michael,

has resigned so he can put himself forward as the Labour candidate for

the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. The new role will be

created after elections in November. Mr Michael is the son of the former

policing minister and Labour MP, Alun Michael, who has put his name

forward for the role in South Wales. Richard Hibbs, a businessman living

in Llandudno, will also be standing as an independent candidate for

north Wales. And a full list of the candidates is on the BBC Wales

website. A company in Carmarthenshire which

that makes socks for Prince Charles has been found guilty of failing to

protect its employees from asbestos while their factory was being re-

roofed. 30 people were working for the Corgi Hosiery in Ammanford

three years ago when unqualified contractors were called in to

replace the factory roof and exposed the deadly material.

They've been producing luxury knitwear since here in Ammanford

since 1893. The cashmere socks made by this family-owned company have

impressed Prince Charles so much, that in 1989 they were awarded a

royal warrant. But today the two managing directors brother and

sister were found guilty of failing to protect their workers from

asbestos. We are devastated. We took on Dragon cladding, a highly

reputable company and thought they would do a good job. At every stage

which acts and asked for their advice, we thought they were the

experts. We were badly let down. we had any doubts of the severity

of the product, the children would not have been out there. Neither

would have our staff. In 2008 an anonymous caller rang the health

and safety executive to say asbestos was being removed for the

building with employees still working there. The HSE ordered

immediate evacuation. The court heard how the company had hired

contractors a company called dragon cladding to replace the factory

roof. And dragon cladding had told the directors the material they

were handling was safe. The man who ran Dragon cladding has already

pleaded guilty to failing to protect his own workers from

asbestos and the company no longer exists. He wasn't available today

but his father told us the case had had a big impact on his life and

since all this happened three years ago he has been unable to work. The

court was told how one employee whose press couldn't be moved while

the roof was being worked on described material raining down on

him, and how he had swept away what he thought was fibre glass with his

hands. But today the directors at the centre of this insisted that

they still have the support of their staff and their business is

going from strength to strength. The business is doing well, we have

fabulous star. We would do our best and will carry on. We have had a

good year this year. They, and Stuart Phillips who ran Dragon

cladding, will be sentenced at a later date. Still to come in Wales

Today. A must-win game, the Ospreys a need to keep their slim Heineken

It was meant to improve the quality of people's homes, ensuring they

were heated properly and have modern kitchen and bathrooms, but a

target to improve social housing isn't going to be met. That's the

warning tonight from the public spending watchdog, the Wales Audit

Office. Carol waited years for improvements

to her family's home near Merthyr. The work was finally done last year

after the properties were transferred from the council to a

housing association. According to a new report, she is one of the lucky

ones. We took over the tenancy 13 years ago and he when I saw the

kitchen, I thought it had to change. It was not going to be adequate. I

made inquiries and it went on for 13 years. When the new landlords

took over, we then had hoped they were coming to come unto the

renovations. By October last year, in Day came and gave me a brand new

kitchen and bathroom. The Welsh Government gave itself 10 years to

meet its own housing targets, but the time is up. The Auditor-General

says the required standard has not been met. Even by 2017, only 79 %

of properties will be up to scratch. The aim that all social housing in

Wales should achieve the standard in full within a ten-year period

was far more ambitious than comparable targets in England and

Scotland. I am not sure there was a proper assessment done at that time

so I guessed 10 years was an arbitrary figure at the time.

Welsh Government says it has spent �1.6 billion so far and will keep

investing and improving the 221,000 social houses across Wales. Until

then a thousands of tenants will have to keep waiting for their

homes to be upgraded. Plans to use part of the Brecon

Beacons National Park as a backdrop for an upcoming film have moved a

step closer. Details about the film are being kept under wraps, but

planning officers say they think the filming should go ahead on the

Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire. Kate Morgan has more.

It's not the first time our scenery has attracted film-makers from

around the world. The beaches of Pembrokeshire have been transformed

into a magical seaside getaway in Harry Potter. And a battle ground

with Russell Crowe leading the charge as Robin Hood, even if the

weather wasn't always on side. Now, speculation's mounting more could

be on their way to the Brecon Beacons. On the Black Mountain in

Carmarthenshire, a film company wants to build a chapel and a manor

house for a new feature. The Park Authority has already recommended

the production gets the green light. In the four years I have been here,

this is only the second one where planning permission has been

required. But they have a timescale to works to so they have asked us

to deal with this as quickly as we can. The exact details of the

project are a closely guarded secret. What we do know is it means

200 people will be staying and working in the area, building the

set for three months and filming for two weeks. For businesses

nearby, there's a potential �1.4 million to make. It would be a

massive boost to us in the pub, as far as business and the local

community is concerned. It would be a good bit of a PR as well.

while there's mystery about what the film might be, to people in the

area, it's obvious why Mynydd y Llan's being considered. Just

looking at the views that are surrounding us, there are more

tourists coming to this area all the time. There is a good road

infrastructure coming to the area. There is no wonder people are

coming. Now time is of the essence. The directors want to be on

location in the next few weeks. A final decision will be made next

Friday. 50 years ago today, a man arrived

in Cardiff from Pakistan carrying the deadly smallpox virus. In the

months that followed, nearly a million people had to be vaccinated

against the disease which killed 19 people in Bridgend and the Rhondda

Valley. Cardiff 1962. A traveller arrives

on a train from Birmingham. He'd flown into Britain the day before

on a plane from Pakistan. His name was Shuka Mia and he was carrying

smallpox. He fell ill the next day and the word spread that the virus

was in the capital. University lecturer James Stewart has spent

ten years researching the smallpox outbreak and the panic that

followed. There were queues, massive queues of people wanting to

be vaccinated. There are reports of people fighting when they were told

the vaccine was running out, trying to get to the front of the queue.

Everyone knew that smallpox was highly contagious and often fatal.

Shuka Mia was sent here, to this isolation unit on a mountain

overlooking the Rhondda Valley. But, by March, the virus had spread to

the towns below. David Watkins remembers this building only too

well. In 1962, he was a telephone engineer. But he was also a member

of the reserve army so he'd been inoculated against smallpox. He was

the only engineer who could set foot inside the hospital. I did

have to go inside with the telephone was and that is when I

really got worried because I did not know who had handled the

telephone. The only precaution I had was to pick the phone up with

the hem of my dust coat and dial with a screwdriver. Throughout the

Rhondda, hundreds of thousands of people queued up to be vaccinated.

Extra supplies of the vaccine had be flown in from Argentina. On

April 6th, eight patients at Glanrhyd Mental Hospital near

Bridgend were diagnosed with smallpox. Exactly how the virus

spread here remains a mystery but, in the first week, 12 patients died.

The World Health Organisation declared parts of South Wales as

infected areas. Mass vaccinations followed and, eventually, the virus

was brought under control. In all, 19 people had lost their lives and

nearly one million people had been vaccinated. The old isolation unit

in the Rhondda was set alight to destroy any remaining traces of the

disease. These crumbling walls are a reminder of Wales' smallpox

epidemic 50 years ago. Tonight's sport now, and a familiar

face has put his hand up for the Wales manager's job. Here's Claire.

Good evening. Former Wales striker John Hartson has confirmed his

interest in taking over as Wales manager, but has ruled out the

possibility of working with rival candidate Raymond Verheijen.

Hartson has described some of the comments made by the assistant

manager as a disgrace. Here's Matt Murray.

John Hartson still remains one of Wales' all time top scorers. But

the former striker doesn't just want to be part of Welsh football

history. Hartson sees himself as part of the national side's future

and wants to get his managerial career underway with Wales. The

position became vacant after the shock death of Gary Speed in

November. Hartson was a friend and team-mate of Speed's. But he's

ruled out working with the current backroom staff of Raymond Verheijen

and Osian Roberts after Verheijan described himself as perfect to

continue Speed's legacy. If someone steps in and will start to change

things, things will go down. That is not a good idea at all. It is

also a matter of respect in Gary's legacy. Wales stars Gareth Bale and

Aaron Ramsey have also come out in support of the two assistants. The

current favourite to get the job would like to keep the current set

up. I think I was always going to be linked with that because it was

this time last year when there was a position and Gary got the job. I

am always going to be linked with that. For the fans, it's about

getting the right man for the job. The backroom staff knew what Gary's

plans were and they are still there. It is just getting someone who is

going to work with them. The FAW say no discussions have taken place

with any potential candidates and it's not clear whether an

appointment will be made before Wales' next friendly with Costa

Rica in six weeks' time. A big game for Swansea City this

weekend. They welcome Arsenal to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. The

Welsh side boast the best joint defensive record at home, having

conceded just four goals. That record will be facing a severe test

against Van Persie and the return of Thierry Henry. And after their

mid-week defeat away to Crystal Palace, it's Championship action

for third place Cardiff City. They travel to Doncaster tomorrow

afternoon. Rugby, and it's back to European

action this weekend. The Blues, Scarlets, and Dragons all play

tomorrow, but the Ospreys welcome Treviso tonight in what is a must-

win game to keep their slim hopes of a quarter final place alive.

A bonus point win tonight is a must but even that may not be enough for

the Ospreys, facing dropping out of the knockout stages of the Heineken

Cup for the second successive season. They are currently third in

pool five and Sean Holley admits European success is proving elusive.

We want to try and finish as strongly as we can and see what

happens. It is a lucid for us and disappointing but the Pro12 is your

bread and butter and it becomes not so much a consolation but they

refocus for the season. Of all the regions, the Blues are in the

strongest position, level on points with Edinburgh to top the poll

courtesy of a superior try count. Gavin Henson will start at centre

for the first time when the Blues travelled to London Irish. And

fresh from being told he is ineligible to play for Scotland,

Steve Shingler will be on the bench for the home side. In Pool One, the

Scarlets travel to Northampton. It is a must-win match who trail

leaders Munster by five points. A win tomorrow and one over Castro

could earn them one of the two best runner up spots. The Dragons are

unlikely to qualify for the knockout stages of the Challenge

Cup. They travel to France knowing they are the only side to have

inflicted defeat on the French team in Europe this season. He and a

spare a thought for the referee. Tomorrow will be his first game in

Wales since sending Sam Warburton off in the semi-finals of the World

Cup. Let's hope the only red he sees are exuberant Scarlets fans.

Now Derrick is here with the It's nearly a fortnight since most

of us celebrated the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. But some

New Year festivities are only getting started. Residents in the

Gwaum Valley in Pembrokeshire follow an ancient calendar dating

back to Roman times which the rest of Britain stopped using more than

two centuries ago. Sian Lloyd reports.

Wrap-up warmly in the Gwaun Valley tonight. That goes for the rest of

us. Now it was nice to see the sunshine today, although there was

some fog in the Tefi Valley. Carol Sanderson from Newcastle Emlyn took

this picture looking towards the Preseli hills. Antony Wallis sent

in this photo of starlings in Aberystwyth. While Rhys Livesy sent

this photo to me on Twitter. A lovely day on Sully Island.

Sunshine and cirrus clouds. Tonight will be dry. Clear skies for most.

A few mist and fog patches with a widespread frost. Temperatures in

Mid Wales falling as low as -4 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow's chart

shows high pressure over us. The high pressure acting as a block,

keeping Atlantic fronts at bay. So, tomorrow, a cold and frosty start

for most of the country. Clear skies and sunshine, but not

everywhere. Like today, a few mist and fog patches are likely. These

could be dense and freezing in places. Temperatures close to

freezing or below but less cold on the South Pembrokeshire coast with

a breeze off the sea. During the day, fog patches will slowly lift

although they may linger into the afternoon in one or two spots.

Plenty of sunshine. Some cloud in Powys and the south. Top

temperatures between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius. 8 degrees Celsius

in Freystrop. The breeze light but fresh in the southwest. In Gwynedd

tomorrow, a lovely day. Frost and sunshine. Ideal for a walk in the

mountains. Tomorrow night will be dry. Clear skies. Another

widespread frost. Mist and fog patches most likely in Mid Wales

and the north. Less cold on the south coast with a breeze off the

Bristol Channel. Sunday will be dry. Plenty of sunshine once any low

cloud, mist and fog patches lift. Feeling cold with a moderate to

fresh south-easterly wind. The wind strongest in the southwest. Next

week will start dry but it looks like more unsettled weather by

Wednesday. In the meantime, enjoy It's coming up to seven o'clock.

Tonight's main news again: The Prime Minister has hinted that

there may be a rethink of controversial plans to stop child

benefit for higher rate taxpayers. David Cameron acknowledged there is

potential 'unfairness' for some families.