27/09/2016 BBC Wales Today

for student tuition fees - a fairer deal promised for those

Tonight a broad welcome for the Diamond Review

We do celebrate that Diamond has targeted support at those who the

most because widening access should be a core mission for Welsh

education. They're our youngest patients

but children's doctors say the Welsh NHS needs to tackle

shortfalls in babies' care. We have got Jeremy Corbyn as leader

whether we like it or not. BOOING.. Boos for a Welsh delegate

at the Labour conference questioning Jeremy Corbyn's

appeal as leader. And 60% of adults say they've

suffered as a result of someone around

them abusing alcohol. On a night out you get people

fighting. That happens every night you go out.

from poorer backgrounds, but an end to grants

covering tuition fees - some of the recommendations

of a major report into funding higher education in Wales.

The review - carried out by Professor Ian Diamond -

recommends focussing help with living costs,

with every student here likely to get ?1,000 a year.

Here's our education correspondent Bethan Lewis.

Covering the costs of higher education, both the student

and the taxpayer contribute but getting the balance

Diamond wants to see an end to the current system under which the Welsh

Government pays around ?5,000 per year towards Welsh students

University course fees. He wants a new maintenance grant established

instead. A new system, a maintenance grant to the great majority of

students so that they have money in their pockets while they are

students, and then the fees are paid back when they get the benefit from

higher education in a job subsequent to graduation. The new living costs

glad we mean everywhere else shouldn't we get at least ?1000 per

year but that could be as much as ?9,100, depending on their household

income. The report says that the average wealth student would get

around ?7,000. This student is in the second year

of her course at Cardiff University. She has received a tuition fee grant

and taken out a loan but with more than ?1000 per term to pay in rent

to make ends meet she has taken on two part-time jobs. She has

estimated she will leave university with student loan debt of around

?20,000. She said she had to look carefully at finances before

deciding to go to university. It is a big worry. As my course worth it?

Well I have a job? If I was not 100% sure that I wanted to study politics

I do not think I would have gone to university just in case the course

was not for me and I was still have that much debt. Student

representatives and university bosses were on Professor Diamond's

panel and they say that concerns have been addressed. Students will

be leaving university with debt and in an ideal world we would not want

bats but in the current economic climate we celebrate that Diamond

has targeted support towards those that need it most because that

should be a core access of education. There have been big

concerns about the affordability of the current system and for getting

rid of the glance towards tuition fees would save around ?100 million,

under Professor Diamond's plan that money would be pumped back into

higher education, including more help for postgraduates and part-time

students. Overall, he says, his plan would cost the same. This afternoon

the Education Secretary outlined her response. She accepts the

principles. There will be a closer look no further details and the

costs. What is important to me is that we do have an affordable system

going forward. We do not want to have two but that this system and a

couple of years' time. One of the things I am very carefully as it

affordable and sustainable in the longer term. Any changes will not be

introduced for at least two years so it will not affect this group of

students but today's report looks set to establish a new deal for

students. Live to our Political Editor.

Student tuition fees has been a flagship Welsh Government policy.

He submitted as this proposed change? In policy terms this has

been a headline grabbing policy and something that was a major point of

devolved difference between Wales and England. Many people saw it as a

way of financially helping people put their children through

university and that was considered very jealous. Its generosity was in

the end its downfall. Politically it looks as though this is a done deal.

I understand that it hurts broadly accepted in its entirety by the

Welsh cabinet and judging by the tone of the opposition voices this

afternoon there will not be any major issues here. The review has

been rumbling on for a couple of years. In the assembly campaign

labour Barcelona the issue but they did say repeatedly that Welsh

students would not be laden with debt. That is not strictly true

because in order to pay their tuition fees they will have to take

student loans. Professor Diamond told me this morning that one of the

big lessons from England in recent years is that student loans to pay

for tuition fees does not deterred them from going to university. The

real deterrent they believe is the actual day-to-day cost of being a

student. Clearly that argument has won throughout the highest levels of

the Welsh Government. What about the concern about the

current system, that's too much money ends up feeling about

education system? That is right with the current

system that money follows the students rather than the

institution. The key point here is that even with the new system, that

principle of portability has been accepted and unlike in Scotland

where you only get financial help if you are a Scottish student going to

a Scottish university, as things stand this current administration

believes that would be too much of a limit on the omission of Welsh

students but there will be a lot of talk about how to incentivise

graduates to come from England back into Wales. Easier said than done.

But a significant day about a very significant policy.

at the Marl Recreation Ground after being seen on fire

He suffered severe burns and died after being taken

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to his death.

A man is missing after he reportedly got into difficulty in the water,

while canoeing in Aberglaslyn, near Beddgelert.

A major search of the area involving emergency services

Denbighshire Council says the Welsh Government

will offer financial help following the collapse of bus

Services in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham were hit hard

when the Ruabon-based firm went into administration in July.

The money will cover some of the costs of maintaining

They're our youngest and some of our most

vulnerable patients but how well are they

According to the organisation representing children's doctors

the Welsh NHS needs to tackle a number of shortfalls in the care

provided for sick and premature new-born babies.

To explain some of the findings from the Royal College

of Paediatrics and Child Health - our correspondent Owain Clarke.

How do you make sure that the youngest patients of all

Each year specialists take a look at how

neonatal services across Wales, England and Scotland are performing.

8% of babies here don't get screened for a potentially

harmful eye condition which is a complication

of being born prematurely - that's four times higher

When babies leave Welsh neonatal units just 43% are breast-fed -

because mothers' milk is full of antibodies which can

help premature babies fight off infections.

And strikingly the Welsh NHS is lagging well behind in performing

comprehensive check-ups when the children

The records show only 31% of those tests took place in Wales -

compared to an average of 60% across the three countries.

We haven't got enough people who can do these Bayley's assessments

and we don't have enough clinics to run this and so it needs more

investment in both personnel and training and also

proper clinic space, so that these assessments can happen

and that's where we have lagged behind the rest of the country.

Now there have been concerns for a long time

For example, the Welsh NHS is performing better than average

in making sure mothers who go into early labour are given steroids

- which reduce the risk of the baby having breathing problems.

Now, the Welsh Government insists things are improving

and the experts agree many neonatal units are performing well.

But clearly there's some way to go before care for the youngest

and sickest babies here can be considered to

Five people have been sentenced to a total of 47 years in prison -

after the biggest drugs investigation ever carried out

The defendants from South Wales and Liverpool were part

of a gang which attempted to distribute cocaine

with an estimated street value of ?19 million.

Our reporter Ben Price is at Swansea Crown Court.

Tell us more about those who were jailed today?

Earlier today the judge at Swansea Crown Court jailed five people for

their involvement in a major drugs ring which took place between

November 2014 in November 2000 and 15. Those involved were from the

South Wales area, Liverpool and Manchester. Yesterday for members of

the gang were jailed and a further five today. Two were from South

Wales. One is 29 years old from Swansea, described as an habitual

cocaine user. He has been handed an 11 year sentence of which he will

serve half. The other is a 36-year-old single mother from

Swansea. Then we have a 29-year-old, a 38-year-old, and a 31-year-old,

all from Liverpool. They were jailed for a total of 23 years and they

will serve half of the individual sentences.

We understand this looks like a well-organised operation.

Yes. This is a large gang which it was said attempted to sell 15 kilos

of cocaine on the streets of the Southwest valleys and Pembrokeshire.

The estimated street value of this cocaine, ?19 million. The cooking

was transported by couriers from Liverpool and Manchester to this

property in the Swansea valleys. Here it was cats, mixed, and then

sold onto the streets the area. As well as that in court today the

judge said that those involved in this drugs gang brought messily and

debt to the people of the area. He said he hoped the sentences he was

handing out would be a message to others that this kind of behaviour

is not tolerated here. The remaining nine defendants of the gang will be

jailed by the end of the week. Much more to come

before seven o'clock. Our man Nick Palit

reports from Aberdare - where they've become

so disillusioned with mainstream politics that they've

set up their own party. And typical autumn

weather this week. The Welsh Labour Party is to get

more say over its own affairs The plans were approved by Labour's

conference in Liverpool - despite an attempt by

Jeremy Corbyn's Our parliamentary correspondent,

David Cornock, is in Liverpool. David, these changes are through but

not without a fight. That is right. These changes are

important because they will make it harder for Jeremy Corbyn to get his

way in terms of running and changing the Labour Party. That is one reason

why his supporters tried so hard to block or delay them. Those delaying

tactics earlier today did spark some angry scenes in the conference hall.

This is our one opportunity to make policy for grassroots Labour members

to make policy for the year ahead. We need to start making changes. We

have got Jeremy Corbyn as leader whether we like it or not... BOOING.

A sign there that the leadership election may be over but tension is

never far from the surface here at the Labour conference. But Carwyn

Jones got his way and he tonight described the vote as an important

step forward for Welsh Labour. He is expected to announce very shortly

the name of the person, the Welsh Government minister, who will

represent him on the national executive committee.

We heard from a young delegates there.

It is 35 years since Paul Flannan spoke at conference. He told

delegates he has two rules thanks to Jeremy Corbyn's jobs for geriatric

scheme. He made this appeal for party unity.

Take all the bile and their hatred, put it in our box, bury it

underground, put six feet of concrete on top, put a sign saying

never shout the last 12 months be unearthed from its dishonours

delayed. We are going forward, comrades, to Government. And he

appeals to those MPs who resign from Jeremy Corbyn's Cabinet over his

leadership to return to the fold and the signs are that some of them

will. We should get an announcement next week.

Assembly Member Nathan Gill, has confirmed he is no longer

Mr Gill and Neil Hamilton have both staked their claim over the role.

But visiting the Senedd yesterday, the new UK leader of the party,

Diane James, said Mr Hamilton now holds the post.

Powys Council has scrapped plans to close two high schools

in the county and establish one secondary school in its place.

There were plans to close Gwernyfed and Brecon High Schools.

But a report by the education watchdog suggested

the change would not improve standards.

The potential damage alcohol can cause to our own health

But what about the effect drinking has on others?

According to a report from Public Health Wales

and Liverpool John Moores University more than half of all adults

in Wales have suffered because of someone else's

This man's father was an alcoholic. His childhood was shaped by his

father's heavy drinking. He now works as a counsellor. It could be

very tense in my house. Sometimes I would try and keep the peace and

stuff like that and try and make sure nobody would argue. They could

be quite fiery and environment to live in. Lots of rows. Things were

bad. With the advent of 24-hour drinking and cut-price drink in

shops and supermarkets getting hold of alcohol has never been easier.

But today's report shows it is becoming a problem for more and more

of us and in different ways. We have a higher level of alcohol

consumption, especially binge drinking, than any other compatible

countries. There are some big issues here which means he see a lot of

people go to hospital every year and we see about 1500 deaths every year

as a result of alcohol consumption. According to the report 60% of

adults in Wales have suffered in the last year because of somebody else's

drinking. The report found that 18% said they had felt physically

threatened by someone who had been drinking and 11% said the property

had been damaged by a drinker. 5% said they had suffered physical

violence at the hands of someone who was drunk.

You have seen some are being hit with a bottle? Yes. It was not a

nice experience. It was scary. You do not want to be hurt. It was

because they were drunk? Yes. On a night out all the time you get

people fighting. It happens every night you go out. Charities trying

to change attitudes to alcohol say it is time to take a long hard look

at our drinking culture. This report raises interesting questions about

what sort of drinking society we want,

what sort of night everyone. There are quite extreme examples of

violence but what most of us experience is that low-level

unpleasant behaviour which means that a lot of people say they do not

want to go out in the town centre at night because they consider to be a

place for heavy drinking. Many of us jointing is used as a way to

celebrate, commiserate, or simply unwind at the end of a hard day. But

this report shows the impact of drinking on others can be far

reaching. Football, and its emerged that

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins met former USA coach

Bob Bradley of a management change

at the Liberty Stadium continues. Bradley is currently working

in the French second division. Current manager Francesco

Guidolin's position has come under increasing pressure

following the Swans' poor start Tonight Cardiff City

are looking for a second win in a row against fellow

Championship strugglers Derby. In League Two Newport County

are at Grimsby and in the National Two businessmen from Aberdare have

become so disillusioned with mainstream politics that

they've set up their own party to contest next year's

local council elections. Andrew Chainey and Graham Marsh have

founded the Cynon Valley Party - and it's been formally approved

by the Electoral Commission. They say by campaigning on issues

that effect ordinary people they hope to make

a real difference. Then part of this Green and

pleasant, ancient forests. In other parts it is grey and bleak. The once

industrious community is less industrious. Times like this have a

proud history but it is the future that worries many.

Covering 70 square miles with a population of nearly 70,000 people

this valleys community is one of the most densely populated areas of

Wales. Cynon Valley also ranks highly in the deprivation index with

unemployment higher than the Welsh average but with lower than average

pay for those who are in work. Now a new party has been set up to

represent those who feel that they have been sidelined by mainstream

politics. My mother was born in the top house. I was born in the next

house. Businessmen Andrew Chainey and Julian Marsh felt political

parties were not representing them well enough at a local level and

decided to have a go themselves. The Cynon Valley Party was born. The

issues are schooling, bins on the street, the latter, but that is also

how local politicians also do not really represent the people. They

often put the party first. We hope this will go national. We want to

set up residents of other areas can copy of what we are doing. It is

time for change in the political system. The party is looking for 23

candidates across Cynon Valley for next year's local council elections.

Mixed reaction today. Probably at some time in the future I can see it

being a force for good. I do not tend to thought because I find that

they do not get what we want anybody. It would not make much

difference to me. Somebody who is local I suppose would be more

interested in what is going on here. They used to say in valleys politics

you could pen a Labour rosette on a donkey and people would follow like

sheep but Andrew Chainey says he is a new breed of politician and if you

live in Cynon Valley he is working for you.

The Derek Brockway party can only offer you sunshine and showers -

more showers than sunshine, Derek.

Grey, damp and misty in Llandrindod earlier this afternoon but it did

eventually dry and brighten up with some sunshine in Cenarth.

Dry overnight as well with some patchy cloud.

Lowest temperatures 10 to 14 Celsius.

Here's the picture for 8 in the morning.

Most of the country dry at this stage.

Bright in places for a while but make the most of the sunshine.

During the day cloud will increase and lower with some drizzly rain

Most of the rain on the hills in the south and west.

Top temperatures 17 to 20 Celsius and breezy.

a dry start but turning dull and damp in the afternoon.

The best of the weather tomorrow in the Marches.

Most of the day dry with a little sunshine.

some patchy light rain, drizzle and mist.

And then after midnight a cold front will bring some heavier rain.

On Thursday morning the rain will move south-east and clear,

followed by dry and brighter weather.

One or two showers and a westerly breeze.

Friday a cooler day with a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers.

Temperatures a little lower than Thursday.

Saturday unsettled with low pressure over us.

But that will move away with a ridge of high pressure

Should improve later in the afternoon with fewer

Dry and more settled with lighter winds.

Our picture tonight is from Thomas Davies

And make the most of the dry weather tomorrow.

The headlines. I grant covering Welsh students tuition fees should

be replaced with a grant for living costs instead. The report says all

students would receive ?1000 per year before a means tested grant. It

does have a final work with our education correspondent.

Reminders of how significant this is. It more or less signals the end

of the Welsh Government's subsidy towards students tuition fees. It

has been a flagship policy. A new focus on help with living costs

through a maintenance plan. It is not a straight swap in terms of

funding. At the new system is implemented if you are from a more

comfortable background you are likely to get less financial support

but if you are looking on to stay in university and do at Masters degree

or part-time study you are likely to get more support. There is a feeling

this type of study has been neglected in terms of student

support over what is important in terms of providing the skills the

economy needs and widening participation, getting worried

people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the system. There

was a clear feeling from Professor diamonds today that the package in

its entirety had to be in fermented for it to work but that is a long

way to work. Lots of politics, number crunching to do before

anything changes. Nothing will change for 2018. It could take a lot

longer ' we're feeling tonight that it is inevitable now, the system

will change. Much more on this story on our BBC

News website. I'll have an update for you here

at eight o'clock and again From all of us on the

programme, good evening.