18/12/2015 BBC Wales Today

Grants for Welsh students - the debate intensifies as a major

review hears that keeping the current arrangements

We are looking very broadly across the piece at different

systems and how best to suggest a system of funding which will be

sustainable and shall be deliverable for Wales.

Their factory in Merthyr Tydfil is now closed -

but engineering firm Linda is fined ?50,000 after some

of its workers were permanently injured there.

A cut in the number of deaths from heroin overdoses -

experts say it's because of an antidote available

The kit wasn't in the room at the time.

Black Friday or Mad Friday - whatever you call it,

With Christmas revellers out in force we're with emergency

Good evening, the Swansea City chairman says he "will not rush"

The bookies favourite is the former Argentina coach

Marcelo Bielsa - known affectionately as The Crazy One.

that's according to most of the evidence heard by a major

review of finance for Welsh students.

At the moment, the Welsh Government makes grants of over ?5000

available to Welsh students wherever they choose to study.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, who chaired the review,

said his panel had heard a range of suggestions for changes,

but that there isn't an easy solution.

Here's our political reporter, Cemlyn Davies.

These English dude and are leaving university with a degree and then I

owe you totalling thousands of pounds will stop Welsh students are

better off, faced with tuition fees of ?9,000 a year, students from

Wales paid out ?3800, the Welsh Government provides the rest. But

it's expensive, costing ?229 million last year alone.

This is a made in Wales policy which demonstrates the benefits of

devolution. It five years since the then

Education Minister announced the policy. During that time, many have

questioned its sustainability. During the past few months, Sir Ian

Diamond has been listening to the comments. Most believe the current

funding arrangement has to change, but there is no easy solution. There

is a debate between the people who believe that the public purse in

Wales should not be paying for students to study outside against

those who say they should. Our panel has received representations on both

sides of that divide, one of the things clear and my mind is that we

will be debating and discussing over the next couple months will be what

our recommendations will be in that regard.

This issue is never far from the headlines.

Good evening, it costs more than ?200 million per year, tonight,

questions over whether the Welsh Government House policy of funding

students... A warning to note that our universities could fall behind.

Earlier this year the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

once that universities this country could fall behind English

institutions. More recently, the body which represents Welsh

universities said the focus should be on helping the poorest students.

Means testing would mean that those students who really need support

would get support. Those who are more able to support themselves

would be able to do that. That is surely fair.

The Welsh Government says it is investing in young people and argues

that more money comes into Wales' higher education system then goes

out. Sir Ian Diamond will publish his recommendations next September.

Cemlyn joins me now - this is likely to be a key issue

in the run up to the Assembly election, isn't it?

Certainly. We know where the political parties roughly stand on

this issue. The Conservatives want to scrap the current policy and have

a fund to help the poorest students instead. Plaid Cymru say they would

like to have a scheme which supports Welsh students studying in Wales.

The Liberal Democrats would start the full grant and help with living

costs. But the political parties will be giving this issue plenty of

thought over the coming months. They know it is a key issue, one that is

important to voters. It also recognise that any change to the

status quo is unlikely to be popular, even if change is

necessary. They will not get any help from Sir Ian Diamond, because

as we read their heads recommendations will not be

published until September, well after polling day.

An engineering company in Merthyr Tydfil has been fined

?50,000 after 21 of its workers suffered permanent injury

from using vibrating power tools.

Linde Heavy Truck Division pleaded guilty to failing to ensure

the health and safety of its workers.

Now closed until 2013, this factory made trucks. At its height,

employing 500 people here. But when employees started to report problems

with their hands, it emerged the company had been breaching the law

for years. Today, it was fined ?50,000.

It is important that the lesson is learned not only by the company,

that other companies doing similar work, potentially exposing their

employees to vibration. But they do understand the seriousness of the

risk. The employees were using vibrating

hand tools like our trolls for as many as six hours a day. The judge

ruled there was no adequate risk assessment. -- like power drills.

This syndrome is preventable, but is permanent once the damage is done.

Across the UK, nearly 2 million people are at risk of it, and it is

considered serious and disabling. It can damage the ability to find work

and colds can trip European in the fingers. That is why one of its

assent terms is known as vibration white finger.

Miners knew this condition, a landmark judgment allowed thousands

of workers to claim compensation. This man led the crusade, he says he

finds it incredible that a modern company can be found wanting in this

way. It was 20 years ago we won that

judgment in favour of the miners. Even then we had been going on about

the condition for decades. Even then there were a lot of things that

could been done to set guard the workers. These days there is no

excuse not to take those measures and safeguard the workers.

For many working in the factory the condition has meant living with

numbness, being unable to grep and do up shirt buttons.

The judge said this was not a case where a company had put profit

before safety, but there had been failings of many years and the

consequences were serious. The fines must be substantial enough to have

an effect on management, he said. The company has apologised for the

breach, saying it deeply regrets the situation, and lessons will be

learned. A man who repeatedly

stabbed his girlfriend following a row over footage he had

of another woman in a bath Arnel Martinez Raymundo was found

guilty of attempted murder and voyeurism after the attack

in Cardiff in June. The court heard he stabbed

Anna Caladiao 18 times, leaving her with

"life-threatening injuries". Drivers for Arriva Trains Wales

are planning to strike The Aslef union says its members

are walking out in a row Arriva says it's disappointed

that its drivers have rejected its current offer

and will try to minimise any National Museum Wales has been

criticised by Assembly Members for offering a generous pension

and payoff scheme for senior bosses, despite being locked

in a long-running pay It runs seven site

across the country. This year it's been hit by strikes

over ending "premium payments" Managers said they were currently

consulting on changing the pension The number of heroin users dying

following an overdose Charities say it's because addicts

here are being given a drug that Last year heroin related

deaths were down 20%. The Welsh Government says 50 lives

were saved by Naloxone. It's handed out nearly

3000 kits to the family, friends and carers of

addicts across Wales. Our reporter Paul Pigott has been

speaking to one former addict who's administered the drug

to users in Newport. Leighton has been living in and out

of hostels for the last few As a former addict, he has seen the

effect heroin can have first-hand. One of my good friends overdosed,

he died in front of me. The ambulance was taking

too long so I had to ride home on my bike

to get my Naloxone kit. By the time I'd done that,

the ambulance was late, I administered the Naloxone,

but it was too late. Watching his friend die help

Leighton get off drugs. He's now working with a charity

in Newport to try and help others He's been trained in administering

Naloxone, which temporarily There are three people walking

around that are still alive, probably still taking drugs,

but they are alive. I was only person who had it,

I was the only person I was in a hostel, 20

people living there, South Wales Police Force has made

more heroin seizures over the last three years than any other force

in England and Wales, In an attempt to tackle the problem,

the Welsh Government is training hundreds of people like Leighton,

and it is giving at Naloxone to carers, partners of drug users,

and the hostels where Once we have drawn up

the Naloxone from the kit, Drugs charities say it's

making a difference. It was was a very taboo relationship

between people that had been in an overdose situation

and calling the ambulance for fear The Welsh Ambulance Service says it

heroin-related emergency calls rose to maore than 400,

up 54% from last year. But the service says it's glad that

people that are ringing them as opposed to what they have seen

happening in the past. If you're ever in that position,

please, please ring 909 and call us. If you're ever in that position,

please, please ring 999 and call us. There are anecdotal reports

of patients being dragged out of addresses and abandoned

in the street in the hope that Heroin-related deaths

here decreased 20% last year, while in England and Scotland,

where Naloxone isn't as widely available, numbers have

remained relatively static. The Welsh Government says the drug

has saved 50 lives here, and deny they are setting up

a message that it is OK It is all about a

rehabilitation programme. This is a serious

issue for all of us. We know that heroin

is a real issue in a number We have to think what we want to do

about the illegal supply and what we do about giving people

information on the impact Leighton hopes that drug

users will now get more It does save lives, so the more

Naloxone out And the more people

who can access it. Recovered addict Leighton ending

that report by Paul Piggot. Now, some people call

it Black Friday - The last Friday before Christmas -

and in recent years its become Last year sales of alcohol in pubs,

bars and restaurants more than doubled compared

to a usual Friday night. That's more drinks being

sold on Black Friday And it puts the emergency

services at full-stretch. Roger Pinney has been

in Wrexham taking a look All the fun of the fair in Wrexham

here tonight, but they are calling it Save Friday, because they want to

give the message that people can have an bit stay safe at the same

time. I am speaking to an inspector from North Wales Police.

How tough can get out there? Say Friday is one of the biggest nights

of the year in Wrexham. We have a good night-time economy here anyway,

but we will see an increase tonight. It is all about making sure that

everyone is safe, having a good time, enjoying themselves. There are

a lot of offers are on the streets tonight -- officers on the streets,

we want to encourage people to have a good time.

The coordinator of Say Friday in Wrexham is here, had you get your

message out there? We have an excellent partnership

work in place in Wrexham, from one year to the next we work these

campaigns. We are able to draw on each other for support. We work with

several agencies to ensure, as Simon says, this night is going to be a

safe night. And you set up a safe haven in town

tonight? We piloted a welfare centre in

Wrexham town centre over the last couple of years over Christmas, and

we have attracted funding this year, opening the doors for the first time

this evening to the welfare centre in Wrexham. British Red Cross will

be running that service on behalf of us as partners, supported by street

pastors and nurses from the University health board.

Thank you both, let's hope for a peaceful evening. To reinforce that

message of how difficult it can be for the emergency health services,

the Welsh Ambulance Service told us last year that on Black Friday they

got one third or calls than they normally do on a Friday night.

He's the man tipped for the Swansea job -

but the club's chairman says he's in no rush to fill the post.

And it's panto time - oh, yes it is -

why theatres are relying more and more on the Christmas season.

A woman from Swansea diagnosed with post-traumatic stress

disorder following a traumatic birth says there isn't enough awareness

of the condition amongst new mothers.

Lora Evans - who was off work for 18 months with severe panic

attacks - says there needs to be more support for women

I always loved the idea of having a big family.

She is a make-up artist and a model, but Lora Evans' dream was always

But since giving birth to Harry almost two years ago,

From day one I just knew I wasn't feeling myself.

I went to my doctor and said, look, I'm still not sleeping at all.

I can't rest, I'm having these flashbacks and intrusive images

They said, this sounds like post-traumatic stress

She admits her marriage almost came to an end due to her illness.

Like many, Lora thought PTSD was a condition which affected

But anyone who has witnessed a distressing or traumatic event can

Laura says there should be more awareness of the illness.

I don't feel there's enough information out there.

If a mum does feel these symptoms, I want them to know

They are not going crazy, that it is a real illness and it

shouldn't have such a stigma attached to it.

Every year, thousands of women in Britain suffer mental health

20%, in fact, of all those who have had a child.

In Wales, 70% of women have no access to specialist perenatal

Many who do suffer PTSD are misdiagnosed as having

postnatal depression only, even though depression can be

According to a leading Welsh mental health charity,

there is a lack of research into this form of PTSD.

Unfortunately, there is not much research

But we do know that at least one in ten mums

will experience postnatal depression.

And a percentage of that will be as a result

The Welsh Government will be investing an extra ?1.5 million

every year to improve perenatal mental health issues

Lora is back in work now, but even the she has overcome

the worst of her illness, she doesn't think shall ever be able

The latest on Swansea City's vacant managers position now -

The club chairman - Huw Jenkins - says he "will not rush"

The Former Argentina and Chile coach - Marcelo Bielsa -

has recently been the leading candidate to take over.

Jenkins says he'd like to appoint a successor to Gary Monk sooner

rather than later, but it's important,

he says, to find the right person to complement the setup

He's going to be in charge for one other match at least. Alan Curtis

says he is prepared to carry on as caretaker while a new permanent

manager is appointed. The important thing is to get the

right man, if it takes a bit longer, so be it. We are prepared to carry

on as long as possible. It is probably best for everybody's sake

that the new man is appointed sooner rather than later.

But could this man soon be key point be hot seat? Marcelo Bielsa,

unconventional, but highly regarded. He is one three league titles in

Argentina and there is a stadium they're named after him. With the

Argentinian national side, he won an Olympic gold medal but did not

impress at the World Cup in 2002. He goaded Chile to the knockout stages

of the World Cup in 2010 and took Athletic Bilbao to two cup finals.

He walked out of French club Marseille after a row with the Board

of Directors. You may be thinking what all the

fuss about Bielsa is? He has won a few titles but not that much. But

that is maybe to miss the point a little bit. Bielsa is considered one

of the most influential coaches in the world game. Before Pep Guardiola

became Barcelona coach, one of the people he sought out for advice and

to sit down with was Marcelo Bielsa. Appointing him would be a risk.

Bielsa would come with baggage. He is nine affectionately back in

Argentina as The Crazy One. The Nickname Is Not By Chance. He is

an obsessive, a football obsessive. He has a huge collection of football

videos, watching many at a time in minute details. If you go into his

press conferences, they are very strange affairs.

One man who knows him well is Mauricio Boettcher Tino, manager of

Tottenham who once played under Bielsa in Argentina.

He is one of the best managers in the world, and I know him like a

father. It is a great opportunity for him.

But tonight, no deal has been done. The chairman Huw Jenkins is

emphasising the importance of finding the right man to consummate

the setup will stop it must be to the benefit of Swansea city in the

long term. A win for Cardiff City at Birmingham

tonight will see them return Russell Slade's side is looking

for a second win in just three days. Wrexham's match at Braintree tonight

has been postponed because of With another weekend

of European Rugby fixtures ahead, Ospreys are top of Pool Two

in the Champions Cup. But after labouring to a narrow home

win last weekend against Bordeaux, Dan Lydiate says the team needs

to perform much better It wasn't the best performance

for us, especially playing against 13 men at some

points in the game. What we can take out of it,

we can win in Europe, but we're going to have to be

a lot better this week. The traditional Christmas

pantomime is booming. While audiences for plays

are falling, pantos generated 16% of all theatre ticket

sales last year. This Christmas Priscilla Presley

and David Hasselhoff are among those taking to the stage,

and our very own Matthew Richards is appearing as one of Cinderella's

Ugly Stepsisters in Wrexham. Here's his special report

from behind the scenes. A form of entertainment that began

in the 16th century, Wrexham's Grove Park Theatre has

been producing ambitious amateur pantomimes for 35 years,

and this year, I'm joining them And we can tell jokes

about her if we like. And she can tell jokes

about us, if she likes.... These young performers have racked

up dozens of shows between them, they told me why

panto is so special. It's so fun, learning more

dance moves and songs. The dances and songs,

sometimes I get I like doing all the dance moves

and dressing up and making friends. Audiences seem to agree,

the number of pantomimes at smaller venues increased last year,

and ticket sales were up. Alongside comedy, it is the genre

which fills the highest It gives us the money

to do that extra work. It does cost a lot of money to turn

the lights on and run the theatre. But certainly the pantomime

and its associated activities enable us to invest heavily in the theatre,

which enhances the public's The stage crew are bringing

the revolves, the big flats that are decorated and spin around

to signify a change location. After months of rehearsal,

costume making and set building, it's almost time for

the curtain to go up. With 31 performances

between now and New Year, this is a big show

in more ways than one. The stepsisters maybe ugly,

pantomimes are an attractive proposition to keep the public

coming back for more. Brilliant,. A man of many talents,

here's the weather forecast. I hope something is beginning to get

you into the festive mood, because the weather is not playing ball.

There will be some rain and the forecast for sure, rather misty and

murky conditions. But that is, we have to thank- sort of, air flows

coming up and across all parts of the British Isles. It's not just us,

much of Western Europe seeing temperatures well above the seasonal

norm. But we pay a price for that, it can open the door to Atlantic

frontal systems, a fair amount of clouds coming up from that southern

region through the night. The front begins to close in from the west,

and we get rain. Another very mild night and prospects, 13 degrees

quite widely. We start the day with rain for a good part of the morning.

Some of the rain quite heavy, especially in the South West water,

we could be looking at 55 and 60 millimetres of rain. Mild, but we

want to stand around and it? I doubt it. The rain continues throughout

the evening. You will need something waterproof for sure. Later in the

evening before we see that front clearing away full stop the

temperatures will drop back a touch. Behind that waterfront the way and

the West. I am hopeful on Sunday that we will see more sunshine

around. A southwesterly breeze, keeping this temperatures up above

the seasonal norm. In double figures are many, as you see. There will be

some showers rattling through on that breeze. Then we do it all again

on Monday, another active front from the West. Perhaps a little brighter

and showery as we move to Tuesday. A reminder of the top story now, the

UK's last coal fired mine closed today. This was once the biggest pet

of its kind in Europe. We will have an update three year at

APM. For all others here at the

programme, good evening. I bye.