28/02/2014 BBC Wales Today

military activity in the area tonight. That is all from us,

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines. As the owner of a

car-wash firm is fined for failing to pay the minimum wage, a union

warns companies here are cheating workers out of a legal pay-packet.

My friend works in a pub and she earns ?3. I think it is a bit of a

shame because I was on ?6 and I was doing the same job as her. Thousands

of workers in Wales are paid the basic minimum wage and finds are to

increase for employers caught underpaying their staff.

As you all know, I sometimes wonder why I bought Cardiff football club.

A stark warning for fans from Vincent Tan - unless they get behind

him, Cardiff City can find a new owner. Prince Charles visits Wales

to celebrate St David's Day and receives a special gift for his new

grandson. That will go down very well with someone. And a rare sight,

caught on camera - the spectacular Northern Lights illuminating the

skies above Wales. Good evening. A Carmarthenshire

business is one of the first in the UK to be named and shamed - for

failing to pay the minimum wage. The car wash firm will now be fined, but

as the UK Government warns tougher penalties are on the cards, a union

has warned larger companies are also cheating many more staff out of a

legal wage. Our business correspondent, Brian Meechan

reports. It was a landmark piece of

legislation, the introduction of the minimum wage was top of the agenda

for the Labour government had swept to power in 1997. But enforcing the

minimum wage has always been the challenge. Now the UK Government is

clamping down on bosses who failed to pay it. Five have been named and

shamed, including this one, a car wash operator in Carmarthen. The

minimum wage is ?6 31 for everyone 21 years and over. 7% of workers in

Wales earn that amount with 6% being the figure for UK wide workers. And

from next week, employers will be the figure for UK wide workers. And

fined up to ?20,000 per underpaid worker. There are calls for a higher

rate, known as the living wage. Workers under 21 get less. I

actually work at a restaurant last summer and they paid me ?3 75 an

hour. And on top of that, they taxed me as well, which meant I was on

about ?3 an hour. My friend works in a pub and she earns ?3. I think it

is a shame because I was on ?6 and I was doing the same job as her. I

have never been on the living wage, for example. It has always been the

minimum wage. Minimum wage barely covers everything. There is not a

day goes by that I am not in my overdraft. But the unions say the UK

garment is not even scratching the surface of the problem. It is

claimed larger companies are yet to be caught. Interviewed at times,

bosses often try to their wage bill. The irony of the situation is that

generally organisations know that it is through people that they can

achieve the sustainable advantage they are looking for. However, it is

ironic that these people practices that tend to get cut initially

because of the attitude of them being a cost, not so much an asset.

Cracking down on employers with heavier fines is not with macro

likely to be -- is likely to be welcomed by most. Fewer than one in

five Welsh voters say they would like to see an independent Scotland.

That's one of the results from the annual St David's Day poll,

commissioned by BBC Wales. Our Political Editor Nick Servini has

the details. Nick, what more can you tell us? Lucy, the issue of whether

Scotland should be made independent is obviously high on the political

agenda at the moment and this is the first time we've been given an

indication of what people here think. The poll indicates that 19%

here back the idea of independence, compared with 69% who believe

Scotland should remain in the union in the referendum in September.

1,000 people were questioned over the phone and just 5% support

independence for Wales. The poll also looked at what difference a yes

vote would make in Scotland and the answer is very little. In fact the

numbers supporting independence here rises to just 7% in the event of a

yes vote. It also gives us some indication of how people feel

towards the National Assembly, as we've been finding out. Good

morning. And it is a very good morning in Wales. And so the

devolution process got underway. The way Wales is governed was changing.

That devolution vote back in 1997 was a pretty close-run thing and the

intervening have seen attitudes change but still a significant

number of us asked -- would like to see the assembly abolished, but why?

I have come here to find out. The county voted no 17 years ago. Many

sketch ticks remain. In our Saint Davids Day poll, we asked people

across Wales what they thought of the assembly. 37% supported the

proposition that it should have more powers. 28% said it should remain as

it is now. But 23%, almost a quarter, want the assembly

abolished. 5% said Wales should become fully independent. On the

streets, I found a measure of that support and disenchantment. I think

we have got it good now. I do not see the point in scrapping it. I

would properly scrap it. I just don't think it is necessary. In this

butcher shop, the business is now a household name. His products are on

supermarket shelves everywhere. He says it has happened in part with

help from the Welsh Government. I think it is politicians in general

in the UK at the moment. There is a malaise really. It is that love hate

relationship that we sometimes have with politicians. But there are

specific rumbles, some blame the semi for what they think are Welsh

Government failings in the NHS and schools. -- the assembly. Across the

street, you will find the regional offices. But many here will tell you

that North Wales is promote from the dealings of the assembly and

government. You will read all about it in letter columns in the local

paper. We are 15 years in since the first Welsh assembly. In 50 years

time, will be levied a bit more? I think everything improves with time.

We will have different generations coming through. They won't have

known a time before the assembly. I am sure that in 15 years time, there

may be a minority of distance, but the majority of people will be

completely used to the idea of having devolved government. Time is

the great healer. For now, it seems the assembly is more understood than

it was. But not yet entirely loved. And we've also got some indications

of how people are going to vote in the general election? Yes, this was

how Wales looked after the last general election in 2010. Let's look

at Labour first. Back then they had 36% of the vote. The lowest for the

party in Wales since the war. The poll suggests that now stands at

42%. They're still the dominant party then but not where they were

back at their peak in 1997. So if they can continue to increase

support and these figures are repeated on polling day, they really

start to threaten a number of Conservative held seats. They'd win

Cardiff North from the Conservatives, which is a highly

marginal seat. And they would also win Cardiff Central from the Liberal

Democrats. That would also be down to a fall in support which the poll

has indicated is happening for the Liberal Democrats. But it suggests

that this is the only change we'd see to the political map. And what

about the other parties? The poll suggests that the Conservatives now

have 24% of the vote. Down slightly on four years ago. But it means the

Tory vote has held fairly steady and if that continues, they could just

about hold on to other marginal seats like the Vale of Glamorgan,

Aberconwy, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. It's also been quite

a strong showing for Plaid Cymru, particularly in the context of a

general election. They're up three to 14% of the vote. But that

wouldn't be enough for them to win more than the current three seats

they have. So for example take a target seat for Plaid like Llanelli

which they would hope to win from Labour, the swing wouldn't be

enough. UKIP have 7% of the vote. So under these results, we're not

seeing a wholesale redrawing of the political map but there will be an

unusually high number of highly competitive seats. Of course it's a

poll, and doesn't take into account local issues and the strengths and

weaknesses of the candidates, which will be hugely important.

New figures show that nearly half the money spent making NHS staff

redundant in Wales over the past three years was paid out by the

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales. Almost ?1

million was spent making six people redundant. ?800,000 of which was for

three members of staff in 2010 to 2011. The Welsh Conservatives, who

got hold of the figures, said were eye-watering. Betsi Cadwaladr

health board said redundancies are only made under exceptional

circumstances, and pay outs follow nationally agreed terms and

conditions that apply UK wide. Traditionally, NHS workers were

possibly earning less than people in the private sector but by now,

salaries have called up and yet this policy is still in existence. That

is why it now seems to a lot of people quite unfair. Even though it

is not the fault of the individuals involved. Three officers from Gwent

Police have been arrested on suspicion of perverting because of

justice. They were suspended from duty following an investigation by

the professional standards unit. All three have been released on police

bail third -- pending further enquiries.

Plans to giving Tim Parks towers to Wales should be put to the people in

a referendum, according to MPs on the Welsh affairs committee. They

also agreed that the way funding is allocated to Wales from the UK

Government should be examine before the general election. The committee

has been looking at the draft Wales Bill. It sets out packs and

borrowing powers. The leader of Cardiff Council has announced she's

standing down because of her husband's ill health. Heather Joyce,

Labour councillor for Llanrumney, will formally resign once a new

leader has been elected. Mrs Joyce said it was a difficult decision.

Celebrations have already started ahead of St David's Day on Saturday.

First Minister Carwyn Jones rang the opening bell at the New York stock

exchange to signal the start of trading. Closer to home, Prince

Charles has trading. Closer to home, Prince

Wales, seeing first-hand how a Georgian Mansion has been

transformed, following a ?7 million restoration project. From Llanelli,

Nicola Smith reports. It's a song synonymous with Llanelli

and today, school children sang Sosban Fach to welcome the Prince of

Wales to a place the town is now very proud. The Grade one listed

Llanelly House was once on the point of collapse, but thanks to a high

profile TV campaign, a decade of restoration, and funding totalling

?7 million, Prince Charles was able to take a look around. From the

great hall, to the bedroom of the one time lady of the house, to the

housemaid's quarters, he was treated to stories of ghosts, of scandal,

and of determination. Because just a few years ago, Llanelly House looked

like this. Derelict. Crumbling. Then in 2003, it featured on the BBC's

Restoration programme, It didn't win, but it sparked renewed efforts

to save it. For more than a decade, this restoration project has been a

labour of love for more than 100 people, from the town council, the

architects, and the craftsmen who helped put this place back together.

People like John James, who's team of joiners made the main staircase.

Virtually all of the stairs Kim Little the one tree. -- came out of

the one tree. That came from a different source. One of the amazing

things about the project as it came to one end was the glow that the

building had and it really made you appreciate the quality of craft and

set -- craftsmanship. We have still got a lot of work to do. Before he

left, there was time to sign the visitor book, the first of many

Llanelly House hopes to welcome here in the years ahead.

Still to come tonight. Some fans have painted him as the villain of

Cardiff City - but Vincent Tan has a stark warning for them. And caught

on camera - the spectacular Northern Lights illuminate our skies.

Immigration continues to lead UKIP's agenda. At the party's spring

conference today, leader Nigel Farage said it had caused areas of

the UK to become unrecognisable. The issue was also a concern for the

lead Welsh candidate in the European elections, who thinks UKIP can top

the polls in Wales. From Torquay, here's our political reporter James

Williams. Make no bones about it, UKIP

gathering in Torquay today for its Spring Conference has its eyes

firmly set on the prize of the upcoming European elections. Their

breakthrough in Wales came in 2009 and the party believes it has the

right message to retain one of the four Welsh seats. We are told that

people do not want to know about the European Union, they do not want to

talk about immigration. But this election is all about the European

Union, or about immigration, people can control immigration in this

country. It was a pitch echoed by leader Nigel Farage. BBC Wales'

Saint Davids Day poll say 70% of people think that immigration to the

UK is too high. Over half of correspondence want to stay in the

European Union. The party was out canvassing in Swansea over the

weekend. UKIP believes it has momentum in Wales, having seen its

membership double over the last year. One of my concerns in getting

together this branch was that people could get to know each other and

realise that they were not alone. Having colleagues was really

important. Now they can see today that we have got hundreds, thousands

of colleagues. It is the party 's aim to top the election in Wales. No

mean feat given that a recent opinion poll has them trailing

Labour in second place by some distance. But UKIP is a party with

the wind in its sales. Cardiff City's owner making all the

headlines today. Here's Claire with tonight's sport.

Good evening. He's the controversial owner of Cardiff City, that's not

shy is expressing his views. Vincent Tan has launched a staunch defence

of his actions, saying he believes he's been unfairly portrayed as a

villain. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the 62-year-old says

critical fans owe him an apology and although he plans to stay at the

club, he could be forced out if supporters turn on him. Matthew

Murray reports. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of

Malaysia and home to Vincent Tan. Here the businessman is celebrated.

Hundreds turn out to mark his birthday and his achievements and in

the birthday speeches as well as thanking well-wishers, there is

the birthday speeches as well as always a mention of Cardiff City. As

you all know, I bought Cardiff football club. Sometimes I wonder

why I did that. It is a far cry from his reception in Cardiff. After

changing the club colours from blue to red and sacking manager Malky

Mackay, some supporters have painted him as a villain but he believes

they are in the minority. The problem is that you have 10% or 5%

or maybe a few hundred people they are not supportive, they are more

vocal. And then you have the British press who has been misled. The

working relationship between Vincent Tan and Malky Mackay was obviously

strained. The man he has appointed to keep Cardiff City in the Premier

league is more than happy with how their roles are defined. He wants to

know the ins and outs of it. It has to be transparent and there has to

be a structure and he's involved in that structure. Football decisions,

obviously, are mine. But with Cardiff in the relegation zone, fans

are worried this is all about ego. Today is the final day for many fans

to renew their season tickets and I know that a few people have come to

me and they are a bit undecided. This could send them over the edge.

Many have been exposing their views on social media. One fan wrote it is

ironic that Vincent Tan is making Cardiff play in red because it is

lucky yet they are consistently getting beaten by teams wearing

blue. Another says without Vincent Tan, Cardiff City would be millions

in debt. A view of course shared by the owner. He believes he saved this

club and should be praised for it. He warns that if the criticism

club and should be praised for it. continues, he will walk away from

the Cardiff City Stadium. I would stay, unless the fans are really

annoying me so much then I will leave. No way I would change it back

to blue. Perhaps they can find an owner that likes blue. He can buy me

out. I will go to another club. Vincent Tan speaking. Swansea City

fans have demanded answers from UEFA, after hundreds missed the

first half hour of their side's Europa League match against Napoli

last night. There's been trouble involving Napoli fans in previous

European matches against teams and Swans fans were bussed into the game

under a police escort - it meant a 15 minute journey took an hour and a

half. Many of them missed Jonathan de Guzman's away goal as the Swans

looked to have done de Guzman's away goal as the Swans

progress to the last 16. But two goals in the last 12 minutes for the

home side put the Italian team through.

Swansea play Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday. Cardiff

City are away to Tottenham on Sunday, looking to bounce back after

the humiliating defeat to Hull. We have to go there in a positive

frame of mind and get a result. For the first time, we have lots that

belief. You cannot do that in this league. If you do that, you will get

turned over. The most important aspect of going into this game is

belief. We have to believe we can get a good result. That is what we

have been trying to build this week. Rugby. There's Pro12 action this

evening. The Ospreys and Dragons both away from home. The Ospreys are

in Edinburgh, Welsh internationals Justin Tipuric and Dan Biggar back

in their starting line up. The Dragons are at Ravenhill, hoping to

do the double over Ulster. The Ospreys match is live on Scrum V

Live tonight - that's from 7.30pm over on BBC Two Wales.

Cardiff's Elinor Barker and her team-mates won gold for Great

Britain in the team pursuit at the Track Cycling World Championships in

Colombia overnight. The quartet nearly crashed-out on the final lap,

as Barker's legs gave up, but she steered out of the way, to let her

team-mates bring them home ahead of Canada. She races in the individual

event later, whilst Abergavenny's Becky James starts the defence of

her World Sprint Title. There are no Welsh players left in

the last eight of the Welsh Open Snooker. Former World Champion Mark

Williams is out after losing to Marcu Fu 4-2 last night. The

quarterfinals are underway. You can watch the action over on BBC Two

Wales from 7pm and later at 10pm. watch the action over on BBC Two

And a great result for Wales' netballers last night - they beat

Scotland 42-34 to win the Northern Cup. It was revenge after being

beaten by the Scots earlier in the week, and hugely important in the

run-up to the Commonwealth Games this summer.

People across Wales were treated to a spectacular light show last night

with the rare appearance of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.

Many of you have sent us your pictures of the phenomenon and

Matthew Richards has been looking through them.

From the Brecon Beacons in the South to Penmon on Anglesey in the North,

plenty of people captured the glow of the Northern Lights. Social media

sites alerted people to their appearance between eight and 10pm

last night. Usually seen above the magnetic pole in the Northern

hemisphere we got the chance to see them here thanks to a solar event

which threw charged particles into our atmosphere that light up when

they hit other gas particles. If you have a bigger burst of energy from

the sun, it throws up lots of particles into space and if the

solar wind passes by the year, those particles get roaring towards the

years and they radiate, causing what we call the Northern lights,

essentially it is like a fluorescent tube. Rural and coastal areas with

less light pollution got the best display. Rob Price took these

pictures near Machynlleth and these were taken by Ross Davies on

Prestatyn promenade and from a lofty vantage point above the town. The

amateur photographer had always wanted to snap this particular

spectacle. I have never seen it before. I did not think I would see

it in Wales. It was on the bucket list, so I problem we would have

gone to Finland or Iceland or somewhere like that to go and see it

but to have it here on your home turf, is amazing. John Rowlands, a

fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, was stargazing at Cemaes

Bay on Anglesey when he took these photos. I cannot believe I missed it

and last night was a rare opportunity for people right across

Wales to get incredibly clear views. Goodness knows what we will have a

chance to see it again. The only chance I will get to see it is

through other peoples photographs. Never mind. Nice change from rain

and cloud in the skies. It is looking like the best day of

the weekend, tomorrow. We are looking OK. The tomorrow, it is a

day of sunny spells and just a few coastal showers but they will become

more widespread through the afternoon. This evening, very few

showers. For the most of us, it is dry and a cold night. Temperatures

dipping away under the cold skies. We will cease Frost and fog forming

along the border. A brief ridge of high pressure building in just in

time for Saint Davids Day. Remaining unsettled through next week as well.

First thing tomorrow morning for the first day of March, we can look

forward to a cold start. We will cease in dense fog first thing but

it will clear as we go through the day. We will see some brightness in

Gwynedd. But equally there will be some showers. And in the Pembroke

sure, there is a risk of a few showers. As we go through the day,

they will be some bright and sunny intervals. Those showers coming in

rolling in from the West. Confined to coastal areas at first but

gradually they will come further inland as we go into the afternoon.

Top temperature eight agree Celsius. More persistent showers merging into

longer spells of rain for Saturday night. But we will see some dry

intervals. Temperature is no lower than two Celsius. On Sunday,

starting cloudy. Maybe some brightness along the border but not

for very long. The rain will reach Pembrokeshire and gradually spread

to most parts by Sunday afternoon. By Sunday evening, the rain will

clear and then we have more showers. Remaining fairly unsettled as we go

into next week. Showers with longer spells of rain. But we can look

into next week. Showers with longer forward to something a little milder

as we go into the middle of next week. Today's picture is a beautiful

sight. Our top story tonight, a

Carmarthenshire business is one of the first in the UK to be named and

shamed for failing to pay the minimum wage. The firm will now be

fined. The UK Government warns tougher penalties are on the cards.

And the owner of Cardiff City Vincent Tan have defended his

actions since taking over the club, saying he's believes he has been

unfairly betrayed as a villain. He says critical fans owe him an

apology. I'll be back with an update at 8pm and a full round up on the

day's news at 10:25pm. That's Wales Today. From all of us on the team,

enjoy St David's Day tomorrow and goodnight.