:00:07. > :00:16.Good evening. You are watching The Welsh Government intends to go
:00:16. > :00:21...despite the fact that many rural schools will be exempt.
:00:21. > :00:22.Also tonight:
:00:22. > :00:29.The pensioner who died when asurgeon mistakenly removed her liver.
:00:29. > :00:36.Welsh musicians are a step closer to recieving higher royalties.
:00:36. > :00:54.And the castle that should attract more visitors to the town of Flint.
:00:54. > :00:58.The Education Minister has rejected calls to abandon plans...
:00:58. > :01:02...for the banding of primary schools in Wales...
:01:02. > :01:06...a month after criticism of the banding of secondary schools here.
:01:06. > :01:11.Leighton Andrews insists the plans are a a way of raising standards...
:01:11. > :01:31...despite the fact many schools would be exempt due to their size..
:01:31. > :01:31.Measuring
:01:31. > :01:31.Measuring school
:01:31. > :01:37.Measuring school performances.
:01:37. > :01:41.Measuring school performances. This is to raise standards. Welsh
:01:41. > :01:45.primary schools are to be banded in the same way as secondary schools.
:01:45. > :01:50.They will be assessed according to guidelines that are currently being
:01:50. > :01:54.drawn up. The schools are expected to be split into groups by Easter,
:01:54. > :02:02.with the final bands being published by summer. According to
:02:02. > :02:08.one head teacher, the key details are already being made available to
:02:08. > :02:13.local authorities. There is already a school effectiveness framework in
:02:13. > :02:20.place. Local authorities need to question their schools over how
:02:21. > :02:33.well they are doing and they are then placed upon a register, as it
:02:33. > :02:38.is. This school will be banded. 30% of Welsh schools will be extent
:02:38. > :02:43.from the process. The Government says a school must have a minimum
:02:43. > :02:49.of ten pupils at key stage one and two, in order to be included in the
:02:49. > :02:56.programme. Up to half the schools the rural areas could be exempt.
:02:56. > :03:01.Ysgol Pennllwyn in Bangor could be one of the exempted schools.
:03:01. > :03:11.have comparatively small number of pupils in each classroom. That will
:03:11. > :03:20.make it very difficult to judge the performance of the school. Plaid
:03:20. > :03:27.Cymru say that the sigs tem -- system should be scrapped. Some
:03:27. > :03:32.schools will be subjected to stigma. Others will be exempt from the
:03:32. > :03:46.process. We think talks should be held with teachers and unions and
:03:46. > :03:53.that this policy should be scrapped. The party has also said that
:03:53. > :04:02.information should reflect a holistic learning experience.
:04:02. > :04:08.Leighton Andrews has denied it is a new type of league table. We are
:04:08. > :04:13.joined by Rebecca Williams, from a teaching union. Good evening. You
:04:13. > :04:20.are against the banding system, but what's wrong with letting parents
:04:20. > :04:29.know how their child's school is performing? We do have ideological
:04:29. > :04:34.problems with the banding system. In both primary and secondary
:04:34. > :04:37.schools, but that is by the bay. It is not practical to introduce this
:04:37. > :04:44.banding system for primary schools. The minister himself has accepted
:04:44. > :04:48.that one-third of Welsh schools will be exempt, due to people --
:04:48. > :04:55.pupil numbers. Just one or two pupils can skew the numbers all
:04:55. > :05:01.together. Secondly, in primary schools, you
:05:01. > :05:05.don't have xm results. -- exam results as a means of
:05:05. > :05:11.deciding bands. That's a key part of secondary school banding and
:05:11. > :05:19.that's not available to primary schools. That means that your
:05:19. > :05:24.members should assess the schools, so that teachers are then
:05:24. > :05:31.answerable? You need to make sure that those figures are in place on
:05:31. > :05:39.a national level. We need to make sure the systems are in place
:05:39. > :05:43.before we can introduce a banding framework. The Education Minister
:05:43. > :05:51.knows that assessment is already taking place, but that there needs
:05:51. > :05:56.to be more openness with parents. would agree with that. I don't
:05:56. > :06:01.think that a simple number can paint the whole picture. You can
:06:01. > :06:06.take ten pieces of data, mix them all together and come out as one
:06:06. > :06:13.band, but it doesn't tell you about the teaching and learning
:06:13. > :06:17.An inquest in Newport has heard how ..after a surgeon removed her liver
:06:17. > :06:20.Amy Francis from Newport died of a heart attack...
:06:20. > :06:24...after losing blood during the operation at the Royal Gwent.
:06:24. > :06:27.Her son said the fact that the surgeon accepted responsibility...
:06:27. > :06:39...had saved the hospital from legal action.
:06:39. > :06:39.Amy
:06:39. > :06:39.Amy Francis's
:06:40. > :06:42.Amy Francis's son
:06:42. > :06:48.Amy Francis's son came to the inquest today to explain to the
:06:48. > :06:53.Coroner how his mother was told she had kidney cancer in 2010. It was
:06:53. > :06:58.decided the right kidney should be removed at the Royal Gwent Hospital.
:06:58. > :07:03.The surgeon, Mr Adam Carter, seen here on the left, said he completed
:07:03. > :07:09.the procedure 160 times. The operation was performed through
:07:09. > :07:14.keyhole surgery, where two incisions are made to stop the flow
:07:14. > :07:20.of blood before an incision of two or three inches is made to remove
:07:20. > :07:25.the kidney. Mr Carter says it's an operation he regularly carries out.
:07:25. > :07:32.Mr Carter explained a trainee was present in theatre and he invited
:07:32. > :07:40.her to remove the kidney. He took control. Then said that the liver
:07:40. > :07:47.had moved. He then miss took it for the kidney. Amy Francis died in
:07:47. > :07:52.theatre after a heart attack. The Coroner recorded a narrative
:07:52. > :07:56.verdict. Following the inquest Alan Francis said he thanked Mr Carter
:07:56. > :08:02.for speaking candidly about his mistake and wished him well.
:08:02. > :08:07.accept the decision of the court and wish Mr Carter all the best. We
:08:07. > :08:12.appreciate his honesty in admitting the error. Hopefully we've put it
:08:13. > :08:18.behind us now. In In a statement the Aneurin Bevan health board said
:08:18. > :08:27.an investigation has been held into Mrs Francis's case and new guidance
:08:27. > :08:30.South Wales Police have accused ..after a pedestrian was struck by a
:08:30. > :08:34...during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
:08:34. > :08:36.25-year-old Kyle Griffiths died after the incident on James Street.
:08:36. > :08:38.Inquests have been opened and adjourned...
:08:39. > :08:41...into the case of two 18-year-old men...
:08:41. > :08:43...killed in a car accident...
:08:43. > :08:45...near Denbighshire's Horeshoe Pass on Monday.
:08:45. > :08:48.Dale Thomas Williams suffered severe head injuries...
:08:48. > :08:51...and Jonathan Cassidy Jones sustained injuries to his chest.
:08:51. > :08:53.Today saw a number of important economic announcements...
:08:53. > :08:56...many of which didn't bode well.
:08:56. > :08:59.A number of companies have published disappointing sales results...
:08:59. > :09:02...over the Christmas period, including Tesco supermarkets.
:09:02. > :09:11.RBS is to cut 3,500 jobs on top ofthe 30,000 jobs they've already axed.
:09:11. > :09:12.The
:09:12. > :09:12.The Christmas
:09:12. > :09:16.The Christmas period
:09:16. > :09:21.The Christmas period proved disappointing for Tesco. Despite
:09:21. > :09:26.cutting prices, the supermarket acknowledges it didn't attract
:09:26. > :09:32.enough shoppers. Over a period of six weeks, Tesco sales dropped 2.3%,
:09:32. > :09:41.compared to the same period in the previous year. They weren't alone.
:09:41. > :09:45.Sales at Argos were down almost 9%. Thorntons down over 4%. Mothercare
:09:45. > :09:51.4%. JD Sports announced a small increase. Experts say many
:09:51. > :09:57.companies are facing difficult trading conditions. They were bad
:09:57. > :10:02.results for a range of stores. Thorntons, Argos and Halfords. They
:10:02. > :10:16.have been finding it difficult and they are struggling to boost their
:10:16. > :10:22.sales. Many of these retailers are forecasting a difficult few months.
:10:22. > :10:35.How did shops in Aberystwyth fare? Sales were down over the Christmas
:10:35. > :10:39.period. With the exception of one or two specialist retailers. People
:10:39. > :10:43.felt it was down to the recession and fuel prices in particular. We
:10:43. > :10:49.are dependant on the public sector for jobs in the area and people
:10:49. > :10:57.have a lack of confidence in their jobs.
:10:57. > :11:06.RBS staff are also uncertain of their jobs, as it announced 3,500
:11:06. > :11:13.job losses. I think we'll have to wait around
:11:13. > :11:17.10 years before we get the money back and taxpayer -- as taxpayers.
:11:17. > :11:22.It's important now that RBS concentrates and focuses on what
:11:23. > :11:26.it's good at. There was another bank announcement today at as the
:11:27. > :11:36.Bank of England said interest rates would be frozen for another month
:11:36. > :11:40.A court in Turkey has brough charges ..for secretly filming
:11:40. > :11:45.She could face a total of over 20 years in jail if found guilty.
:11:45. > :11:51.The Duchess visited Turkey in 2008 to film a television documantary.
:11:51. > :11:54.US Armed Forces are investigating a video...
:11:54. > :11:58...that appears to show four marines urinating on the bodies...
:11:58. > :12:01....of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
:12:01. > :12:05.A Pentagon spokesperson described the pictures as disturbing...
:12:05. > :12:10...and the actions are utterly deplorable.
:12:10. > :12:14.The energy company SSE, which owns Swalec...
:12:14. > :12:18...has announced it's cutting the price of gas...
:12:18. > :12:21...by 4.5% from the end of March.
:12:22. > :12:24.British Gas is to cut prices by 5% from today.
:12:24. > :12:28.The announcements follow similar price cuts by EDF yesterday.
:12:28. > :12:31.The body which represents Welsh musicians...
:12:31. > :12:34...believes it is a stop closer to securing more money...
:12:35. > :12:38...for Welsh language songs played on the radio and television.
:12:38. > :12:42.Four years ago the amount paid out in royalties was reduced by 90%.
:12:42. > :12:45.Today representatives of the Welsh Musicians Alliance...
:12:45. > :12:49...met with PRS officials who determine how much is to be paid...
:12:49. > :12:56...as well as BBC executives.
:12:56. > :12:57.Behind
:12:57. > :12:58.Behind the
:12:58. > :13:00.Behind the closed
:13:01. > :13:05.Behind the closed doors of this capital city hotel, the latest
:13:05. > :13:12.meeting was held to try and resolve the issue at the heart of the Welsh
:13:12. > :13:18.music scene. In 2008, the payments for every minute of music played on
:13:18. > :13:24.Radio Cymru was halved to 49p. What hit performers harder was the fact
:13:24. > :13:29.contributions towards payments by the Performing Rights Society
:13:30. > :13:33.practically disappeared although. Many musicians saw a 90% drop in
:13:33. > :13:39.their incomes. The Welsh Music Publishers And Composers Alliance
:13:39. > :13:46.was formed to stand up to what it sees as a threat to artists'
:13:46. > :13:54.livelihoods. We do feel we are being listened to. It has been so
:13:54. > :14:04.frustrating over the past couple of years. Our proposals were rejected
:14:04. > :14:11.once they had gone to committee. The BBC described the meeting as
:14:11. > :14:15."productive." And said discussions are on-going.
:14:15. > :14:20.We do feel as though we have set out our concerns in front of the
:14:20. > :14:28.people who can really make a difference in the situation. We are
:14:28. > :14:34.going to go back and look at the options. We're going to research
:14:34. > :14:45.what choices there are. Four years since the system was overhauled, it
:14:45. > :14:54.seems likely an agreement could be Campaigners against wind farms in
:14:54. > :14:57.The protesters have expressed concern...
:14:57. > :15:00...over difficulties in assessing...
:15:00. > :15:02...the affect wind turbines would have on the area.
:15:02. > :15:05.Since a policy was established six years ago...
:15:05. > :15:09...granting planning permission for wind farms in seven regions...
:15:10. > :15:16...the Welsh Government has supportedrenewable energy schemes in the area.
:15:16. > :15:19.It
:15:19. > :15:20.It was
:15:20. > :15:26.It was the
:15:26. > :15:34.It was the protestors' turn to give evidence today. They are familiar
:15:34. > :15:46.arguments. They said that the effect on tourism and the
:15:46. > :15:53.environment had not been considered. A lawyer said that European
:15:53. > :16:02.environmental standards had not been adhered to. I suggested that
:16:02. > :16:07.it was a deliberate move to avoid the European directive. It is
:16:07. > :16:14.probably more likely that they simply hadn't realised what was
:16:14. > :16:21.going on. It's now their responsibility to re-think the
:16:21. > :16:29.whole procedure. Neville Thomas and others like him say that the Welsh
:16:29. > :16:40.Government is not being dishonest. They introduced the policy before
:16:40. > :16:44.the European legislation was announced. So European rules do not
:16:44. > :16:49.-- did not exist back then. There have been many developments in this
:16:49. > :17:00.energy story, but where are we at the moment in terms of the
:17:00. > :17:06.development of wind farms? report that comes from this
:17:07. > :17:21.committee will be an important one. In terms of planning permission,
:17:21. > :17:28.the number of licences being There are fears over the future of
:17:28. > :17:31.30 people lost their jobs there before Christmas...
:17:31. > :17:34...when the business' administration department was closed.
:17:34. > :17:36.It's believed that the company's new owner...
:17:36. > :17:46...wishes to merge Gelert with another company in Derbyshire.
:17:46. > :17:46.Gelert
:17:46. > :17:46.Gelert distribution
:17:46. > :17:51.Gelert distribution centre
:17:51. > :18:02.Gelert distribution centre here in Wales has been closed. There are
:18:02. > :18:13.now question marks over the other jobs here in Wales. Gelert has been
:18:13. > :18:17.sold to Jason granite. He already owns a similar outdoor retail store,
:18:17. > :18:29.Yeoman's, in England. It is expected the two companies will be
:18:29. > :18:34.merged. Today a spokesman said they had no comments over the sale of
:18:34. > :18:43.Gelert. Gelert sells camping and climbing equipment. It employs over
:18:43. > :18:49.150 people across Britain. 50 people still work at its
:18:49. > :18:54.distribution centre in Porthmadog. The company needs to ask whether it
:18:54. > :19:03.needs two distribution centres to carry out the same work. It's a
:19:03. > :19:09.difficult time for companies trading in outdoor goods, after
:19:09. > :19:28.Blacks announced it was in A fund set up to support the
:19:28. > :19:32...in the Gleision colliery We have tried to make sure that we
:19:32. > :19:38.have raised some interest on the money, even though interest rates
:19:38. > :19:45.are low. We need to make sure that the special needs of the families
:19:45. > :19:53.are met. We now need to look carefully at how we are going to
:19:53. > :20:00.distribute the money because it's Cardiff Airport has announced a new
:20:00. > :20:03.The budget Vueling airline means to fly to Alicante and Palma in July.
:20:03. > :20:06.The company will run flights from Cardiff to Barcelona from March.
:20:06. > :20:10.There are concerns that pupils in Wales will fall behind...
:20:10. > :20:12...in terms of information technology and communication lessons.
:20:12. > :20:15.The English curriculum is to change to allow young people...
:20:15. > :20:17...to devise their own computer programmes.
:20:17. > :20:20.The Welsh Government is currently reviewing the situation...
:20:20. > :20:23...but experts warned that English pupils will forge ahead...
:20:23. > :20:36...unless Wales emulates the sheme across the border.
:20:36. > :20:36.Creating
:20:36. > :20:37.Creating aps
:20:37. > :20:42.Creating aps and
:20:42. > :20:47.Creating aps and digital pro-ducks are what part of company Cube
:20:47. > :20:52.produces here in Cardiff Bay pupils in England will get a chance to
:20:52. > :20:57.work on their own aps and write codes to create computer programmes.
:20:57. > :21:04.Industry experts are expressing concerns that unless Wales follows
:21:04. > :21:14.England's lead, young people here will lag behind. Learning how to
:21:14. > :21:29.write code gives you a new way of problem-solving. It offers a new
:21:29. > :21:33.point of view and I'd consider it a very worth while angle. Some
:21:34. > :21:44.experts say the balance should be split between training on
:21:44. > :21:47.programmes such as word processors and the science behind how
:21:47. > :21:51.computers work. This technology is extremely sophisticated now. I
:21:51. > :21:57.don't think it's a question of one thing or the other. A spokesperson
:21:57. > :22:01.for the Welsh Government said a group is working on digital
:22:01. > :22:05.education. Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, is expecting the
:22:05. > :22:10.report at the end of March. He says he believes Wales can lead the way
:22:10. > :22:29.on IT and communications. The Westminster Government aims to
:22:29. > :22:37.teach appropriate skills to pupils Rugby news and the IRB has ruled
:22:37. > :22:40.The Welshman had been named in the Scottish Six Nations squad...
:22:40. > :22:43...but he had already played for the Wales Under 20s.
:22:43. > :22:54.His mother was born in Scotland.
:22:54. > :22:58.More rugby and Wales will be without Lloyd Burns for the Six Nations.
:22:58. > :23:01.The Dragons hooker has taken a break of three months...
:23:01. > :23:05...after incurring a neck injury.
:23:05. > :23:09.Wales travel to Ireland on the 5th Feburary for their first game.
:23:09. > :23:13.Flint Castle could play a key role in regenerating the town...
:23:13. > :23:17...and attracting tourists, says a report comissioned by the council.
:23:17. > :23:21.The report's findings were revealed in the town hall today.
:23:21. > :23:34.Nia Cerys investigates the vision for the new Flint.
:23:34. > :23:34.Flint
:23:34. > :23:34.Flint Castle
:23:34. > :23:40.Flint Castle was
:23:40. > :23:47.Flint Castle was built at the end of the 13th century. The first in a
:23:47. > :23:52.series built during Edward I campaign. It's an interesting
:23:52. > :23:57.historical building in a beautiful location, but you can't see the
:23:57. > :24:10.cast frl the town. Some visitors may not be -- castle from the town.
:24:10. > :24:16.Some visitors may not be aware it exists. We should market the castle.
:24:16. > :24:22.It's a very beautiful area. Tourists love to visit it.
:24:22. > :24:30.We're looking to improve the river and we want to somehow connect the
:24:30. > :24:34.town centre with the castle. We want to expand the market, if
:24:34. > :24:44.that's possible. After a consultation period with locals on
:24:44. > :24:52.how to sell the town, they are starting to draw up some plans.
:24:52. > :24:58.would like to see small cafes, for instance, somewhere for people to
:24:58. > :25:07.take refrerment next to the castle. -- refreshment next to the castle.
:25:07. > :25:15.The decision to demolish over 200 1970s flats has been welcomed.
:25:16. > :25:26.It is a prominent feature of the town. A formal strategy will be
:25:27. > :25:29.Education Minister Leighton Andrews ..and introduce a banding system
:25:29. > :25:32...despite teaching unions saying that it will humiliate schools...