14/04/2016 BBC Wales Today

Figures obtained by Wales Today show that around one in five nursing

vacancies advertised by the NHS here last year

It comes as Wales' biggest health board today discussed plans

The Royal College of Nursing is calling for more training places.

These workers are all from Barcelona.

Today there were more Catalan speakers amongst the nurses

All recruited to fill the gaps left by a shortage.

I came here because it is difficult to find

a job at home and here it is more easy.

I expected the UK to be a country with loads

of nurses and students of everything

and then I live here and they need loads of nurses.

They are very skilled individuals that have come here

and they have brought a lot with them.

They have done a lot of things

our nurses here haven't done.

Today overseas recruitment was discussed by the health board.

1100 nursing vacancies were advertised last year and just

over 200 of those were filled from overseas.

There have been changes over the last 20 years,

not least the way nurses are trained.

It used to be done on the wards

and they got paid for it, but now they go to university.

It now takes three years to train a nurse.

Looking abroad for NHS staff is nothing new, it is why many

immigrants came in the '40s, '50s and '60s.

Now Welsh health boards are looking

to places like the Philippines and India.

50 years ago, shortages were caused by the speed at which

the health service was growing, but now it is because

there haven't been enough university places.

We have got between six and eight applications for every

and the system here means we haven't got sufficient funding

to be able to train the sufficient numbers

Welsh Labour said they provided an ?85 million

and they are committed to training the right number of NHS staff.

The Welsh Conservatives promised a real terms increase.

Ukip in Wales say they will change the system so training nurses

will no longer have to go to university.

Plaid Cymru want to train and recruit into the NHS

Whilst prioritising investment, the Welsh

Liberal Democrats say, would ensure the shortage is tackled.

Putting a fresh crop of home-trained nurses

A farming union is warning that selling farms owned by Wales'

councils could be "disastrous" for the industry.

Around 10% of farms owned by local authorities have been sold

in the last five years, according to figures

The Farmers Union of Wales says it could hamper young people's chances

of gaining a foothold in the industry.

Gwenno and her husband and their children Alys

and Annie share their time between Talsarnau

where she currently keeps a handful of animals.

The dream is to get their own place but so far they have

failed in their attempt to get their foot on the ladder.

They have applied for a council farm twice

and on both occasions have been turned down.

I have tried a few times now and it has been unsuccessful so far.

We came near last time and had an interview,

but we fell at the final hurdle

and it was very heartbreaking, to be honest.

I am going to keep on trying and see where we get.

Figures compiled by BBC Wales show that 495 farms are

now council-owned and 56 have been sold in the last five years.

In Flint, eight have been sold and there have been two sales

of farms on Anglesey and in Wrexham.

A farming union has warned this could be disastrous for the

industry, especially for young people trying to get involved

This is significantly worrying numbers.

The union has worked for a long time with

county councils to make sure they keep county farms going.

We need people to be able to stay in the countryside.

Most councils say they have no immediate plans to sell more farms

but several are open to possible opportunities if they arise.

This will add to further frustration for this family

as they try to get their foot on the housing ladder.

Former footballer Ched Evans will find out if his appeal

against his rape conviction has been successful next week.

The 27-year-old was jailed in 2012 after being found guilty

of raping a 19-year-old teenager in a Rhuddlan hotel.

The prosecution says it'll seek a retrial if Evans wins his appeal.

Two South Wales Policemen in their 30s will appear in court

in June over allegations relating to another officer.

PC Jeremy Fowler faces allegations of sexual assault

and PC Matthew Davies faces charges of assault.

The alleged incidents are said to have happened two years ago.

Tributes have been paid to the former National Poet of Wales

Professor Gwyn Thomos, who has died at the age of 79.

Born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, he translated many works

including Shakespeare into Welsh, and the Mabiniogion into English.

He also had 16 volumes of poetry to his name.

That's what the Welsh Liberal Democrats promised

today as they published their Assembly election manifesto.

such as more nurses and smaller class sizes, which they say

reflect the public's desire for "good schools,

"good hospitals and a vibrant economy."

We have been listening very carefully to people in the run-up to

these elections and it is clear that many people are frustrated that

after 17 years of devolution and the Welsh Labour government dominating

that government that the basics are not getting done for them. That is

why in this manifesto we are committed to really focusing on

public service delivery. The leader of Plaid Cymru,

Leanne Wood, has admitted the question of nuclear power has

been a difficult one for the party as a result of plans to build

a new power station on Anglesey. On the 'Ask the Leader' debate

in Aberystwyth tonight, she spoke of the importance

of the jobs created by the industry, despite saying she wasn't personally

convinced that it was the answer. More from our political

editor Nick Servini. The power station is in the process

of being decommissioned and as it does, thousands of jobs on the

island are being lost. But new work could be on its way with plans for a

new power station right next door. The Japanese giant Hitachi is in the

process of drawing up detailed plans, which will be submitted by

next year. The leader of Welsh Labour said she was not personally

convinced that nuclear power was the answer. -- the leader of Plaid

Cymru. But their official policy is only to object to new power stations

in new locations, which is not the case here. She admitted to the

audience tonight that it was a dilemma because of the importance of

the jobs. It is a difficult issue and the reason is because there have

been 6000 people employed on fairly decent wages that those jobs are

going to come to an end and there has been no plan in place to replace

those jobs. We have put all of our eggs in the nuclear basket.

Elsewhere in the debate, she faced repeated questions about how long

she felt it would be before Wales was in a position to be independent.

In response, she said that Plaid Cymru had a 20 year plan to put

Wales in a position where it could become financially self-sufficient.

The beauty of Snowdonia has always attracted those

But now one artist is taking the idea a step further,

exhibiting his work not in a gallery, but floating

a painting out into the middle of a lake.

The Majesty of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and England, is where

myth and legend are woven into the very fabric of the Lance --

landscape. According to folklore, it was here that the Knights of bed if

your cast aside king Arthur's sword Excalibur, returning it to the lady

of the late. Perhaps there is something magical about this

location and why it has attracted one of Britain's foremost landscape

artists for a very special project. He wants people to make the

connection with our industrial past. This beauty spot was once the side

of copper mines, where men worked, lived and died. The system I of

installation called Hyam. This is a great of prompt to investigate the

geology and history of area. There is so much that just a way of

encouraging that and another excuse to stop and look of the good thing.

-- called High and Law. We carried everything by hand until it has

replicates what the miners used to have to do with all their equipment.

Physically, it is very demanding and also demanding we depend, because

the weather dictates you, but that of the late message. We are

continually reminded about the weather. It is very volatile and

exciting. The second part of this project will see the artist working

underground at a slate cabin. But for now, he is concentrating on

finishing this piece before it is slaughtered out onto the lake for

all to see, in rain or shine, until the autumn. -- floated.

In Rugby, Llanelli Scarlets' quest for a place in the Pro-12 play-offs

ahead of their crucial match against Glasgow on Saturday.

Up to 20 members of the squad are suffering

But head coach Wayne Pivac is hopeful the majority of players

Well, Derek is here and fighting fit.

Will it was warming places again today, Lucy, but with a few heady,

thundery showers. 17 Celsius this afternoon, 63 Fahrenheit, but a

different story on Saturday. A jumper will come in handy. It is

going to turn much colder again. Scattered showers for mid Wales

tonight will slowly fade away and stop some patchy rain affecting

parts of Palace and the south overnight. Elsewhere, dry with some

list and fairly mild. Tomorrow morning, from places dry but not

every word. Some rain likely in parts of the south. Maybe a little

sunshine in Pembrokeshire. A few showers reaching the north coast

during the morning. Elsewhere, across the UK, low pressure over

southern England will produce some rain and showers. Heavy on thundery

and places. Further north, a cold front will bring some Rangers in

Scotland, Northern Ireland. Spreading into northern England

during the day. Some snow on the hills. To the north of that,

brighter, from plunging, but also wintry showers. 14 in Plymouth

tomorrow. Much colder in the north. Only 7 degrees in Glasgow. Close to

home, a Masie makes tomorrow afternoon. Showers heavy and places.

Some dry, bright weather as well. A little sunshine hopefully in

Swansea. 13 in Newport tomorrow afternoon. A 28 degrees on Anglesey.

Tomorrow night, a cold front woman move south east, bringing a few more

showers. -- will move. A dusting of snow on Sam Hill than turning

colder. Saturday, a chilly day. One or two showers, wintry on high

ground, otherwise dry weather with blue sky and plunging. Temperatures

below average. If you are a gardener, watch out for frost on

Saturday night. Sunday most places dry, from sunshine and later winds.

More dry weather to come next week. See you soon.

We're back with updates into Breakfast from 6 tomorrow morning.

From all of us on the programme, good night.