04/12/2013 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines: Their families say they

suffered abuse in care homes - now an independent review is announced.

We've tried for a long time to get Operation Jasmine into the public.

Our families have suffered. We've got no closure. Now we've got

something that will take this forward fairly quickly.

Also tonight: Less government money for onshore wind farms - an energy

company says it undermines confidence in the industry.

But a new nuclear power station on Anglesey takes another step forward.

A blow for Cardiff Airport as the airline Flybe cancels routes to

Paris and Glasgow. Speeding up the planning system -

could making it more simple help build the economy?

What's the matter with you? That's a suicidal move!

And actor Ray Winstone shows parents how NOT to behave on the touchline -

now the Football Association of Wales launches its own campaign.

Good evening. It was the biggest investigation into alleged care home

neglect in the UK. Tonight the First Minister has announced that an

independent review will be held to learn lessons from what happened.

The seven-year investigation by Gwent Police collapsed earlier this

year after one of the defendants suffered brain damage. Carwyn Jones

says he doesn't want the events that happened in the Gwent area a decade

ago ever to be repeated. Paul Heaney reports.

Memories of their loved ones before it all went wrong. Lorraine's mother

suffered pressure sores that left her in agony. The family said that

she was treated like an animal in her care home near Caerphilly until

2004. Another woman had a similar experience. The family say she was

left in a nearly empty room. She died of an infection, allegedly as a

result of the neglect in care. The care home near Tredegar now has new

owners and there are no suggestions of wrongdoing by the current

management. Today was the news the families had been campaigning for.

We need a full and independent review of these events to understand

whether there is anything else the social care sector and policymakers

need to learn, anything else we need to put in place. I have therefore

decided to establish an independent review to quickly and effectively

look at the major issues raised by the events surrounding operation

Jasmin. We know it will affect care in the

future. It will improve standards in care homes and hopefully nobody

would suffer as these families have suffered going forward.

We are so pleased that the first Minister has announced this

independent review. The failings will be highlighted and hopefully

families in the future won't have to go through what we have had to go

through. The regret, the feelings of guilt, even after all these years,

is still with us. It is wonderful news.

These cases were some of 100 investigated over seven years by

Gwent police as part of operation Jasmin. The case collapsed in March

because the owner of the care homes involved , Dr Prana Das, was too

unwell. The scale of the abuse was

appalling. The photographs I have seen are shocking beyond belief. I

think if nothing else we get from this enquiry, it is not possible

ever again for this kind of abuse to occur in care homes in Wales. It is

well worthwhile. They have been haunted by their

memories of what happened four years. Some relief, at last, for

these families today. The UK Government has given a strong

indication of how it's planning to keep the lights on across the

country. It's renewing its support for a new nuclear reactor on

Anglesey - we'll hear more on that in a moment. But first there's been

a mixed reaction to how much financial support is going to

renewable energy. Subsidies to inland wind farms and solar parks

are going to be cut - offshore wind power fares better. One wind farm

company here has told us the decision undermines confidence in

the whole industry. Our environment correspondent Iolo ap Dafydd

reports. Where our energy comes from and the

price we pay for it has an impact on all of us. Today the UK government

may to announcements that could signal a shift in our energy

landscape. One announcement was to outline a cut in subsidies for solar

energies and onshore wind farm stop I think we have recognised it can be

delivered at a lower price and we are pushing the offshore said.

Overall, our ability to generate power on a renewable basis should be

the same. Where renewable energy schemes are

built has long been a controversial issue in Wales and today's decision

is equally controversial to some developers.

It will have hit confidence in onshore wind and I am sure it will

cut appointment in you care. It is the lowest cost renewable energy

source in the UK and I think the disappointing fact is it is shifting

away from renewables. New solar parks like this one will

feel the force of today's news and according to a leading energy

economist, the decision to reduce renal subsidies could see the end to

any big renewable industry in Wales and could have an impact on our

economy. With onshore wind, we did get a

proportion of community benefits and land leases. If we move to

centralise power offshore, we get a smaller slice of the cake so intense

of economic impacts, we might lose some.

These turbines near North Wales were built by npower. The company is now

building a larger wind farm out to sea. Subsidies will be increased for

a few years for these objects. Renewables are becoming cheaper so

it is telling that on the same day as the UK government is reducing

subsidies for onshore wind, it is giving increased support to the

nuclear industry and the only future for nuclear industry is for more

expensive electricity, not cheaper. Also announced was the business case

for energy from a proposed tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. For any

renewable, nuclear or gas energy project to be built in future, they

will all need some government support which is why the amount of

subsidies available could determine which schemes could eventually

generate power for our homes. Today's announcements by the UK

Government have been welcomed by supporters of a new nuclear power

station at Wylfa on Anglesey. But as Roger Pinney reports construction

work there is still years away. You would think it was a done deal.

The land has been bought, noting cleared, in truth the new oil for --

oil for station is no further than the panning desk. We have a tick in

the box. This is the UK government saying they are on board and that is

important to the developers because it will help them sell this project

to potential investors. Nets look at those tick boxes. It had already

been agreed as a potential site and the land acquired. Today an

agreement in principle from the UK government that it is prepared to

underwrite the project but the reactor design has yet to be

approved, there is no agreement on the price to be paid for electricity

from the new site and then there is planning permission.

There are a number of milestones that we have to achieve before we

can make the planning application to the planning inspector. That will

start with the first phase of formal public consultation next year. We

expect to start construction in late 2018.

At least another five years before work starts and they have been

talking about a second reactor since the mid-1980s. A few miles away, who

can blame supporters of the project for saying that their patient is

being tested. They are just talking. It is action

we want. People wanting a job, there is no

definite date, which isn't good enough. There is not enough jobs on

the island so people are waiting for this.

Not everyone on Anglesey agrees with nuclear power and opponents haven't

given up the fight. I think they are sleepwalking into a

disaster because they are potentially going to invest and

waste taxpayers money on a vastly expensive and terribly dangerous

technology. As the existing plant moves towards

next year's planned closure, if replacement inches its way off the

drawing board but don't expect it to be an entirely smooth process.

A former education advisor to the Welsh Government has defended its

record during the early years of devolution. Following yesterday's

third consecutive disappointing set of results in the PISA international

education league tables, the education minister, Huw Lewis said

ministers had taken their eye off the ball on literacy and numeracy

during the mid 2000s. But professor David Egan, who advised two

education ministers during that time said difficult but important

decisions had to be made. Let's go over now to our education

correspondent, Arwyn Jones who's in the Senedd.

I guess it is inevitable that there is going to be this spill-over from

such disappointing results yesterday.

Those results which showed once again just how far behind we are in

terms of education standards. If you think about 2006, we were

disappointed with below average international schools. Three years

ago we slipped back even further and yesterday showed we slipped back

further still as one very angry teaching union leader put it to me,

other than a time of war, of months and education systems shouldn't

allow standards to slip again and again and again. One of the

explanations offered yesterday by the education minister Huw Lewis was

that his predecessors had taken their eye off the ball. That refers

to the decision not to monitor centrally the progression of peoples

but rely on teacher assessments. That was called a mistake I some and

the consequences are being seen now. Some saying that too much time was

spent in the early hours of devolution creating a curriculum

went other countries are improving standards.

That argument has been disputed. Professor David Egan, who advised

Jane Hutt and Jane Davidson said that they had to make some very

tough decisions doing those early years.

There was a consensus reported through to the education Minister. I

was working for her as a special adviser at the time, that we should

move away from this test that were having an inimical effect on our

standards in Wales and we should move towards teacher assessment.

What we didn't then do was to put enough emphasis, enough resources

into developing teacher assessment to be robust, reliable and

consistent. I think that is a weakness. And we took our eye off

that ball. One of the other things Professor

Egan said to me was that during the early years of devolution, ministers

felt it was their duty to bolster support for the Assembly itself and

that meant keeping the teaching profession happy, keeping them on

board, rather than keeping them and pushing them to increase the

standard of training. Perhaps that is being felt now.

Still to come in the programme: The campaign to stop parents shouting

abuse from the touchline - there's claims it's putting youngsters off

football. And batten down the hatches. Strong

winds and gales on the way tomorrow and the risk of flooding.

The airline Flybe has announced it's cancelling flights from Cardiff to

Glasgow and Paris, from January. The company has been restructuring the

business - but will keep a number of other services to Belfast, Edinburgh

and Jersey. Our business correspondent Brian Meechan is at

the airport for us this evening. Brian.

Thanks. That's news coming in late this afternoon. There has been a

restructuring, as you said. It is perhaps not surprising but it is

disappointing to hear these two routes coming from Cardiff Airport.

The Chief Executive is Jordan horn. This is bad news for passengers and

the airport. I think you have already mentioned

this as a company that has been going through a major restructuring

exercise and what has happened is some of that has affected the

airport here. The impact has been greater in other places but if you

look at the airport overall, this summer we had 9% growth after a

period of decline for five and a half years. The airport is turning

round. This is a Flybe issue. Both these routes are popular and they

carry significant numbers of passengers. We are already in

dialogue with a number of airlines and expect we can find an airline to

pick these up. You say they have been popular,

75,000 people have flown to Glasgow and Paris from here. How worried are

you that your main competitor, Bristol, will take his 75,000

people? My focus is finding those airlines

to pick up that market that is here already. That is attractive to

airlines and hopefully that will resonate in the conversations we

have had with other airlines today so we are confident we can do that.

When can we expect some good news about new carriers?

I can't predict when that is but we are going to work on it as hard as

we can and we are confident we will get something in the near future.

I think a bullish attitude from Cardiff about the potential for

growth, even as we have about the roots disappearing from Flybe.

An investigation by BBC Wales has discovered that insurers for Cardiff

Council have paid out ?350,000 since 2011 to settle claims of sexual

abuse at a school in the city more than 40 years ago. Seven men have

received payments after alleging they were sexually assaulted by

their art teacher at Cyntwell High in the 60s and 70s. Paul Martin

reports. Cardiff in the 1960s. Different

times that for one group of men, their memories are all too clear and

frightening. One of the men who has been paid ?24,000 has told us about

what he went through. He says he was regularly sexually assaulted by one

of his teachers here at Cyntwell High School school.

It happened a few days week, when I had art. I would go in the cupboard

for paint. He would be smoking his cigarettes in there. It practically

ruined my life. My education suffered and my marriage suffered. I

feel dirty. You just feel disgusted.

The teacher in question is David Leighton Davies. He was later

convicted of sexual offences against three boys. Those attacks took place

away from the school and he died shortly after his release from

prison in 1980. Sidwell school -- Sidwell school --

Cyntwell High School closed in the 1980s. The boys say that their

experience lives with them today. The solicitor who presented the men

say that it is about more than money.

They often struggle to move on from what happened to them as a child and

importantly, many individuals say they they are grateful for the

chance to say that what happened to them has been recognised and they

are believed. Cardiff council says the claims were

settled by its insurers with no admission of liability. It says it

can't give any more affirmation about the conditions because of

confidentiality. One leading campaigner has criticised the

council for not publicising the settlements.

We are in the situation where a man is dead. But we still have to be

transparent, for the sake of the big wins -- other victims and the

survivors themselves so we can get this message across to them, this

was not your fault. The man we spoke to said the money

helped him but it is not the same as an apology.

It is just compensation. If I lost my arm I would get compensation. But

the feeling of what I have been through is still on my mind and I

still push my wife away so it will never go away. It will be there.

And the Children's Commissioner Keith Towler has responded to our

story this afternoon saying, "This is another tragic example of the way

in which lives of individuals have been marred as a result of

professional abuse". Big planning applications, including

for some wind farms, could be decided by the Welsh Government in

future instead of local councils. It's part of a shake-up to the

planning system outlined by ministers today. They unveiled

proposals for a planning bill, and called for a "can-do" attitude

towards proposals to build. Daniel Davies reports.

It is a long haul, getting permission to build. Before digging

foundations buried the paperwork. Here is an application for 400 homes

and employment Park. The fee is about ?30,000 for

application. Then you have a series of tactical reports that go

alongside that, the King at transportation, -- looking at,

landscape issues... And so, together that is going to cost potentially in

excess of ?100,000. He says the system has ground to a

halt. The Welsh government thinks some planning authorities do a good

job but not all of them. Where the decisions are slow coming

forward and making sure they are the right decisions made locally,

determined locally but effectively in the process. If that doesn't

happen, and esters will have the power for intervention.

So what is proposed? Big objects, including some wind farms, will be

decided by ministers, not local councils.

You could submit plans direct to the Welsh government if local partners

drag their feet. And some local authorities could be merged to make

it easier to deal with big projects. Here last night

councillors agreed to local development plan. Welsh government

rejected a previous version and some local people want to protect these

fields from a plan to build more than 1000 homes.

It makes people feel better, health and well-being. It filters the water

we have. It filters the air. It gives people a sense of well-being

and being a part of a beautiful place, especially an urban

environment. Some say a grey seal planning system

acts like a part of the economy. How to get the economy going well

protecting our green spaces? Daniel Davies, BBC Wales Today.

The Football Association of Wales is encouraging parents to make sure

they toe the line when watching their children play the game. It

hopes its Behind the Line, Behind the Team which is being launched

today will help improve adult behaviour on the touchline at junior

and grass roots football matches. Charlotte Dubenskij reports.

Like many who watched their children play, these parents have turned up

to support their kids in Cardiff. The atmosphere here is fairly

relaxed but there is concern that some parents in Wales are taking the

game to seriously. That is a yellow card, breath!

A similar campaign in England was fronted by the actor Ray Winstone.

What is wrong with you? How is he supposed to learn if you

can't make his own mistakes with Mac but something that happens often but

the football Association of Wales is warning that increasing numbers of

children are being withdrawn from the sport because of the behaviour

of some parents. There has to be a line and that is

why it is called behind the line. I am all for encouraging kids and

making a bit of noise in the right way because you can't be to the

extent where people are so afraid to make a mistake and you don't get the

best out of them. Clubs are being encouraged to create

supporters ends with cones like these in the hope it will encourage

parents. So what do parents make of the campaign? Do they think a

cordoned will really make a difference?

Brilliant idea. Absolutely amazing. At the end of the day it is for all

for the children and they want to go out and have fun. The last thing you

need is screaming parents. So we always know exactly where to

stand on the pitch, which I think is a good idea. We have our own

designated areas. I think it's great. I think it is a

fine line between negativity and encouragement so I see it often with

various teams when I go and play. Sometimes it is discouraging for the

children. The FA W say it is important for

children to have fun with the sport, rather than placing them under too

much pressure. It says the campaign will help eliminate negativity on

and off the pitch, allowing the game to remain beautiful.

On Monday next week we'll be crowning the 2013 BBC Cymru Wales

Sports Personality of the Year, and your vote will decide the winner.

There are five candidates for you to consider this year - Gareth Bale,

Aled Sion Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Becky James and Non Stanford. We've

been featuring each of them in turn throughout this week. Tonight, it's

the turn of Leigh Halfpenny. Not only did Leigh Halfpenny finish

their six Nations as a member of the championship winning team, he of the

highest scorer and nominated player of the tournament. In the summer, no

British and Irish Lions roared louder than Leigh Halfpenny. He

broke the points record for a lion on four and awarded player of the

series. He broke the record for most points scored in one test. 2013 is

easier. To vote for your favourite sports

personality: This year we also have text voting.

Text the surname of your choice to: Visit the website for full terms and

conditions. Lines close on Saturday 7th of December at 7pm.

Let's get the weather. There are warnings in force?

Strong to severe gale force winds on the way. The Met Office has issued a

yellow warning of gales for northern counties, north Powys and

Ceredigion. Gusts over 60 likely. There's also a risk of flooding on

the north Wales coast with large waves due to the combination of a

storm surge, high tides and strong onshore winds. At the moment, it's

relatively calm. Staying dry overnight with a fairly widespread

frost. One or two mist and fog patches forming as well. However,

later in the night cloud will increase and the wind will start to

pick-up. Here is the picture for ATM. Much of the country dry. Plenty

of cloud and much windier that today. Strong to gale force winds on

the west coast and in the north. So the wind a big feature tomorrow.

Could well cause a few problems if you're travelling. The wind is the

main concern tomorrow. During the afternoon a band of rain will move

southwards. Heavy in places but it will tend to break-up. The North

will become clear by dusk. Temperatures tomorrow higher than

today. Eight to 10C but feeling colder because of the strength of

the wind. Tomorrow evening clearer and colder with a few showers,

mainly in the north. Wintry on higher ground. The wind easing with

a slight frost in places. Friday a calmer day. Plenty of cloud and a

few showers. Some places dry. Glimpses of sunshine. The weekend,

less cold with south-westerly winds. Plenty of cloud. A few spots of

light rain and drizzle but some dry weather as well. In the meantime, a

word of warning. Strong winds and gales tomorrow. Also a risk of

flooding on the north Wales coast. Do take extra care.

Tomorrow on Wales Today we'll be getting all the reaction to the

chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement and what it might mean for

us in Wales. Here's our Economics Correspondent Sarah Dickins.

George Osborne will tell us how he thinks the economy is stronger and

he will outline what he's going to do to make it even better. I will be

finding out what that means in practical terms for as in Wales

where we live, where we were and where we shop.

More tomorrow. We will have a quick update at APN to night and tenderly

5pm. That is Wales Today. From all of us on the programme, have a good

evening.