07/03/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's top story:

Seven of the nine Remploy factories here face closure. It's a bitter

blow for the 300 disabled workers who face losing their jobs.

It's not looking good, is it? We are all a bit shell-shocked at the

moment. For almost 70 years they've been providing opportunities for

disabled people. What future now Our other headlines tonight.

Some volunteer hospital drivers say they can't afford to carry on. As

fuel campaigners protest in London, the rises are affecting us all.

5,000 people employed by Admiral here - the boss says the dip in

profits is disappointing. Helping veterans like Paul Harding

deal with post-traumatic stress. Why there is a call from the NHS

for his treatment to be stopped. And guides for an historic medieval

village are under threat. Campaigners fight to stop cuts at

Good evening. It's been called barbaric and heartbreaking by some,

others say it's time to change the way we support disabled people.

Today nearly 300 workers at seven Welsh Remploy factories, most of

them with disabilities, heard that they were likely to lose their jobs.

Only two factories here survive. The announcement has already

provoked a fierce political row between Westminster and the Welsh

Government. Live now to Mathew Richards, whose at one of the

factories expected to close. Thanks. The timing is crawl

considering here at the Wrexham plant, a major announcement was due

to be made on Monday by the council to say they were about to place a

large order for kitchens. That is a sign of the faith they have in the

workforce and the skills they have here and the relationship they have

built up over the years with Remploy. It has been a busy plant

here. Around 40 people work here, many with special educational needs.

There are lots of communities around Wales that will be affected

by this decision. Remploy has offered support to individuals,

families and communities. The government says it is not trying to

segregate the workforce but get people with disabilities back into

the general workforce but there will be this limbo period where

many people will be struggling to adapt and to find a normal job, if

you like, amongst the average member of the workforce. There are

lots of people here saying they will do their best to keep the

factory open and to try and give some hope to the workers here but

it does seem like the future is bleak at the moment. Here's

Caroline Evans. Emotions here are raw.

We are all a bit shell-shocked. Turn it off a minute.

Many of the people here have given years of loyal service and they

feel they will never compete in the mainstream jobs market.

They say they will get these disabled people into work. In this

current climate, I think that's impossible. Able-bodied people

can't get jobs. It's a dire situation, to be honest.

Remploy began in Wales. Bridgend was the first factory opened in

1946 to provide work for injured miners and men coming back from the

Second World War. At its peak, it employed more than 10,000 people

across Britain. In recent years, it has faced a series of closures.

Today, it employs 434 staff at its nine Welsh factories. Of those, 281

are likely to lose their jobs with the closure of seven factories.

The announcement came in a written statement and had Welsh MPs queuing

up to criticise the minister, Maria Miller, for not delivering the news

in person. The recent ministerial statement

was called employment support. This has been sneaked out. It is unfair

to disabled people in this country to treat them in this way.

These are some of the most vulnerable workers in my

constituency and they have been sacked by the minister today by a

written statement that was sent to the library.

In the summer, it workers here staged a protest after a report

that sent the UK government should be investing in effective support

for individuals rather than subsidising factory businesses.

Today, they were told that they and the Neath factory are not on the

list for closure. Very much feeling like a part of

May, obviously and relieved that we are here longer in Porth but it's

devastating news from the UK government that two-thirds of its

UK companies are closing and devastated for our colleagues.

It cost the government �25,000 each year to support each disabled

employee. Supporting disabled people working in mainstream

employment costs on average �2,900. The UK government says nearly all

the factories make a loss and it wants to help Remploy workers find

jobs with mainstream employers. Remploy is based on a traditional

model of sheltered employment. We are living in an age of equality.

We have human rights act and now we need to see more paid employment

opportunities within mainstream employers for disabled people

working alongside non-disabled people. However, what we do have

concerns about is that those currently working at Remploy

factories need to be folly is supported to enable them to find

alternative employment opportunities.

Here in Porth, as in Neath, they know they have got valuable time to

prove they can be viable and make a profit. The Welsh government has

already stated its priority will be to try and keep Remploy workers in

their jobs. Fat may be the best hope for workers at the other sites

in Wales. As you heard, the UK government

says this factory and six others across Wales may not be

economically viable but some politicians say they will fight

until the end to save them. Leighton Andrews is the Minister

for Education and Skills. What's your reaction the news of the

potential closure of seven Remploy factories?

We are deeply disappointed at this news. It's clearly devastating for

the individuals, their families and communities where they live. Let's

make no mistake about this, Wales has been disproportionately hit by

the UK government and the closures today.

Would these changes mean a more effective way of employing disabled

people? I don't think so. These factories

have a good record of bringing people into employment and

providing skills training for others. We want to scrutinise what

they are saying about the viability of these factors raised.

A government-commissioned review suggested that tens of thousands

more people, 35,000 people more could be helped into work for the

same cost of supporting 2000 Remploy employees.

The author of that actually said on BBC earlier today that the

factories in Wales should be able to demonstrate whether or not they

are viable. She said that on the BBC News channel. She understands

we need to have the books opened by the UK government and we need to

see what the situation really is. Realistically, what can you do? Is

the Welsh government likely to step in here?

The UK government has to take responsibility for the decision it

has made. It has decided to reduce the grant. They have decided to

reduce the grant from London and that is the recent the Remploy

factories may have to pay close in Wales. As a world government, we

want the UK government to open the books and we will work with unions,

Remploy and the UK government to see if it's possible to keep the

jobs in Wales. Welsh campaigners have joined a national protest in

London calling for the UK Government to act over soaring

petrol and diesel prices. People living in rural areas say they are

particularly hit hard. Others whose livelihoods rely on their vehicles

Today the pressure group FairFuelUK delivered a petition to Number 10

and descended on Westminster as part of its campaign for a cut in

fuel duty. Many travelled from Wales to lobby their MPs. Among

them Wales Malcolm Yeo from Barry. I'm disabled and lots of disabled

people are worse off than me because they can't afford fuel for

their vehicles. Caroline Curtis-Moore lives in

Dollgellau and as a rural motorist is particularly reliant on her car.

A trip to the shops is an eight mile journey, regular hospital

appointments mean a 100 mile round trip. With petrol prices at a

record high, she wants the Government to act.

I have to justify when they make a journey. We seem to have increase

on increase and it never stops, whether the price is going up or

there is extra duty inflating the cost of petrol.

The Government has launched a rural rebate, 5p of per litre for people

living in the most remote parts of Britain like the Scilly Isles for

Scottish islands. So far is only a pilot scheme with nothing for Wales

but it's made some environmental groups nervous about cutting duty.

They have good reason for making sure their taxes and increasing

level of taxes on fossil fuels is to make sure that there are good

financial incentives for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and

reducing our impact on the environment.

For many whose livelihood depends on the car, the rising cost of

petrol and diesel is crippling. Mark Williams, who drives a taxi in

Cardiff, wants the fuel duty cut because it stands he's having to

work longer and longer hours to make the same money.

The profit goes back to my pocket, one simple answer. And maybe they

can give me a little bit of time to spend at home, keeps the good lady

happy. Rhys Trickett is a volunteer driver

for the health service in Swansea. He picks up patience in his private

car from all over south west Wales and takes them to a hospital

appointments, regularly covering more than 100 miles a day.

My mum was volunteering until recently but she has now found it's

not feasible for her to continue. Drivers are at dropping by the day.

It's two weeks before the Chancellor makes his budget

statement but fuel campaigners are still hoping he'll cut duty, a move

they claimed would help safeguard and create jobs.

Let's get more on this story now and go live to a haulage firm near

Llanelli and our reporter, Rhodri I'm here at a transport company in

Llanelli. It's a major employer in the town and across South Wales. It

has 480 people on its books, running 220 vehicles like this. It

used 10.2 million litres of fuel last year. A substantial amount.

Tell me, how big an issue is this for the business?

To be honest, is probably the largest problem we have. What we

endeavour to do is we feel that nobody is taking any notice of what

we are saying so we have turned our attentions towards managing costs

that are within our control. At the end of last year, we had to make a

few job cuts around South Wales. We are very fortunate as a lot of our

focus within the company is on the fuel surcharge mechanism which we

process on a daily and weekly basis. Would a cut make a difference?

Any help, obviously. It's not only within the haulage industry. As

long as you are running a vehicle, it has an impact.

The Chancellor doesn't seem convinced at the moment. What would

you say to him this evening? It would be an interesting

conversation. We realise even if it was a penny a litre cut, the impact

that would have on our business would be fantastic.

Where do you go from here if it goes up in August, as planned?

If it goes up, the mechanisms we have got within of process that we

are invoicing on a daily basis is very fortunate that we have

structured it so that our customers pick the cost up and ultimately,

the consumer in the shop pays it. Thank you. We will have to wait and

see what George or Osborne does in a fortnight's time. The head of the

car insurer Admiral says it's been a disappointing year as he

announced profit figures that were lower than previous years. The

company, which employs nearly 5,000 people across south Wales, was

affected by a rising number of high value personal injury claims.

Despite that, overall sales levels broke through the �2 billion mark

for the first time. Here's our business correspondent.

Admiral is the second-biggest car insurer in Britain and his premiums

are on many of our bank balances. It has seen its spectacular growth

so 2011 was the year at the car in Sierra hit a few speed bumps. Pre-

tax profits stood at �299 million, a rise of 13% on the year. Sales

broke through the �2 billion mark for the first time and staff will

receive free shares worth �3,000 as part of its share ownership scheme.

This is the 20th year of trading for Admiral and it has probably

been one of its most difficult. Last year its share price fell by

about a third after it issued a profits warning as it dealt with

spiralling claims on Britain's roads.

It has certainly been turbulent. If nothing else, we like a challenge

at Admiral. As our Co has said, there is nobody who is complacent

at this organisation. Premiums rose 15% last year,

insurance blame the compensation culture for the rise. The UK

government says referral fees on also part of the problem. This is

where companies like Admiral sell details about claimants to lawyers.

First lawyer and member of the Institute of Advanced motorists

believe there should be changed. I feel sorry for the younger

drivers, trying to get insurance so they can drive legally. My son is

17 and passed his test and his advanced test. The cheapest quote

is �3,300. Admiral says its growth should

continue and expects staff numbers in Wales to pass 5,000 later in the

year of. Still to come in the programme: How do you feel about

being treated by your pharmacist for minor ailments? A new scheme

On another deadly day for British forces in Afghanistan there's a

warning that some charities offering mental health support to

veterans be causing more harm than good. The principle clinician at

the All Wales Veterans' Service, run by the NHS, says he would like

to see a register of charities offering treatment and an end to

those offering help which hasn't been sufficiently trialled. Jenny

Rees as the second of our special reports. Life has changed for Paul

Harding. Five months ago, he wouldn't have been able to share

his story. He would have avoided all contact with anyone. Then he

was told he had post traumatic stress disorder after living in for

silence with the emotional scars of combat for 20 years. But since

seeking help with Healing the Wounds, a veterans charity based

near Bridgend, life has changed. Within the first session, I knew it

was right. It was like a lightbulb moment. I can talk about it now and

there are some bits I would get upset over but that's only natural.

I can deal with it without diving behind the back of this bench for

calling across the ground or running away. That is what I would

have done before, if I'd tried to deal with it before, it got too

much for me. It was so real that I could hear it guns being fired,

people screaming. Healing the Wounds uses a programme

called neural linguistic programming, or NLP, which works

with the unconscious mind to address painful memories. But

concerns have been raised that treatments like this have not been

sufficiently trialled and should not be used. Neil Kitchener is

principal clinician at the NHS All Wales Veterans Health and Well-

being Service, based at the University Hospital in Cardiff.

Some charities are offering veterans the miracle cure,

politically -- particularly around post-traumatic stress disorder,

with an proven therapies and to me, that's very worrying. There is a

potential to do harm. The man behind the charity -- But

the man behind Healing the Wounds feels passionately that their

treatments do work. The results are fantastic. It isn't recognised on

the NHS at the moment through the nice guidelines. It takes time to

be recognised on that and we have found extreme barriers against us

for support and help because we are not on the guidelines. Our

treatment is safe. It's not going to affect the guy is dangerously.

The current situation for veterans needing help would be a GP referral

to the All Wales service. The MoD and Welsh government funded a two-

year pilot in 2008 which has gradually been rolled out across

Wales. 162 referrals were made to the

service but the time taken to be seen depends on where you live. The

final clinicians will be in post this month in Betsi Cadwaladr and

Hywel Dda health boards and they each have more than a dozen

patients waiting to be seen. After an initial assessment, veterans

could be seen within three months in the Cwm Tawe and Aneurin Bevan

areas. In Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale NHS trusts,

the referral rates are higher and the waiting time for treatment is

eight to nine months. A review of the care the veterans like Paul get,

both from the NHS and charities, is currently being finalised by the

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and it will report to ministers next

month. A section of the A470 near

Llandudno Junction has been officially named after the Royal

Welsh Regiment. It's been given the name Royal Welsh Way following a

campaign by local residents. It's hoped there'll be an official

naming ceremony next month. Patients with minor problems like

indigestion or hay fever can be treated by the pharmacist in future,

rather than seeing a GP. The Welsh government says the scheme will

help free up doctors and provide easy access to health care. The

Conservatives have raised concerns over medication being wasted. Our

health correspondent has been to see how it will work.

This pharmacy is one of the few in Wales already offering

consultations for patients with minor ailments, things like a sore

throat or nasty cough. They can speak to the pharmacist in a

private consultation room like that, away from the other customers,

where the pharmacist can speak to them about their symptoms and give

them medication. This is one of the pharmacists. You are already doing

this in the area. What of the ailments you can help a with?

A huge amount of ailments. Cold, hayfever, conjunctivitis, the

Rickers. Minor ailments. Some doctors are concerned you are

not able to examine the patients and you don't know that the cough

isn't something more serious. Pharmacists are I it -- are trained

to identify minor ailments. Anything we don't feel competent on

we would refer. The local health boards also gave us a list of

exclusion criteria so anything they felt should be seen Bay a GP, we

would refer and often arrange an appointment.

It means a patient would be able to pay for lozenges for a sore throat.

They wouldn't need prescription either. How can you be sure that

system won't be abuse? There are set drugs we can use for

each condition. Every time a customer can ask for something on

the scheme we would have a consultation with them in the rooms.

It can take up to 15 minutes and only ones we are satisfied the

patient is suffering with fat would we prescribe a treatment for them.

You are sure this isn't a way of patients getting things for free?

Absolutely not. They have to fulfil criteria before we would give them

treatments. This scheme will be rolled out

across Wales from the start of 2013 and ultimately, could see around

700 pharmacies take part. It's a recreation of 14th century peasant

life, when times were very tough, but now public sector cuts could

see Cosmeston Medieval Village disappear once more. Campaigners

tonight delivered a petition to Vale of Glamorgan councillors and

experts say removing real life guides and animals from the site

will jeopardise its future. The foundations of Cosmeston

medieval village were discovered in 1978. Over the last few decades,

the 600 year-old site has been rebuilt to portray life in the 14th

century. Now, cuts by the Vale of Glamorgan council will mean the

number of tour guides at the village will be reduced. The

authorities say �50,000 will be saved each year and plan to make

the site free. Carl Langford is a professional archaeologist but

learned his trade in full medieval dress as a tour guide in the

village. It's a fascinating archaeological

resource. You can't bring it alive without people like me explaining

what is going on here. You need to have that enthusiasm. That is what

archaeology, history and living history is all about. Bringing the

past a line In addition to other historical characters already cut,

the site's rare breed animals have been removed, including boar, sheep

and geese. Valerie Paul has been visiting the village for over 30

years. It was one of her late husband's favourite spots. She's

organised a petition against the cuts and in a month, gathered over

1,500 signatures. It is such a unique tourist

attraction and is right on our doorstep. It's not just a few

houses but it's actually built on its original foundations.

Archaeologists and local enthusiasts say reducing the number

of guides at the site would jeopardise its special

archaeological status. The councils say audio guides will be available.

The village may already have a rich history but will it have a rich

Rugby and Italy have replaced half their team for Saturday's Six

their team for Saturday's Six Nations match against Wales. There

are seven changes from their heavy defeat to Ireland. Australian-born

fly-half Kris Burton replaces Tobias Botes. Also drafted in is

scrum half Fabio Semenzato, Centre Gonzalo Canale and wing Mirco

Bergamasco, who will take over the kicking duties. And there are also

Let's get the weather now - Sue A mix of sunshine and showers today.

The radar shows much of south and east Wales avoiding them. Those

showers well he's everywhere tonight so slowly dying out to

leave a dry night with largely career -- clear skies. This will

allow some frost to form with some ice patches. Temperatures falling

to three Celsius. Tomorrow, a chilly but fine start with sunny

spells in the east becoming increasingly cloudy in the West

through the day. A small risk of drizzle but otherwise try. Westerly

winds wit with typical early March temperatures of up to 11 Celsius.

Turning milder. The chart shows this area of high pressure edging

closer to the UK, helping things settle down by the weekend. It

stays settled but largely dry. Just the odd bit of rain on Friday.

Temperatures beginning to creep up so that slight warming trend

continues into the weekend. Temperatures in the low teens.

Mostly dry and cloudy with not much rain either. Brighter on Sunday.

Not bad for the Six Nations match on Saturday. Fairly mild with

temperatures more suited to the Italians. Today's picture is of

crocuses in Aberystwyth. It will feel spring-like over the weekend.

Back now to our main story and the closure of seven Remploy factories

in Wales. 300 workers, most of them with disabilities, heard that they

may be losing their jobs. Our Political Correspondent Tomos

Livingstone is at Westminster with news of some developments, Tomos

what's the latest there? The Minister for Disabled People,

Maria Miller, has been called into the Commons to explain what is

going on. One reason is the scale of what is being proposed and the

other the level of anger shown by MPs today. 300 jobs going in Wales,

1,700 across the UK, many in areas with no other work available. Welsh

MPs today used words like cruelty, betrayal and dirty tricks. The

government is sticking to its guns, saying it shouldn't be up to the

state to subsidise a segregation will system. They say this

effectively started under the last Labour government in 2000 and date.

We will keep you up-to-date on this story. -- into them -- in 2008. On

tomorrow night's programme will be looking at the emotive issue of

bovine TB. The Welsh Assembly Government is due to announce its

decision soon on a proposed badger cull in West Wales but some farmers

are in despair. This is a lifetime's work that has

just been destroyed. Why would you kill a two week-old calf? She's a

heifer and she should be having her own cards in three years' time.