:00:25. > :00:34.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme and the weekly coverage of
:00:35. > :00:39.questions to the First Minister. We can expect lengthy discussions on
:00:40. > :00:42.the Silk Commission report on devolution published yesterday.
:00:43. > :00:46.Opposition parties are likely to challenge Carwyn Jones on whether or
:00:47. > :00:50.not his party in Westminster will be supporting all of the
:00:51. > :00:55.recommendations. What do you want to talk about? If you want to comment
:00:56. > :01:01.on anything on the programme or any other political news, get in touch
:01:02. > :01:05.with us via Twitter or send us an e-mail. Business in the chamber is
:01:06. > :01:12.already under way. Let us take a look at today's questions to the
:01:13. > :01:17.First Minister. Good afternoon. National Assembly is now in session.
:01:18. > :01:22.The first item, questions to the First Minister. What discussions as
:01:23. > :01:24.the Welsh treatment had with ministers in the Wales Office
:01:25. > :01:31.recently regarding the recent flooding? I have occasional
:01:32. > :01:35.bilaterals with the Secretary of State for Wales. After raising the
:01:36. > :01:39.issue, I have received confirmation that there will be a consequential
:01:40. > :01:43.for Wales should there be any additional... There is a catch.
:01:44. > :01:53.Should there be any additional funding from HM Treasury. We are
:01:54. > :01:56.still waiting. Thank you. Whilst we will welcome that consequential, I
:01:57. > :02:03.was amazed that the Prime Minister could come into Wales to announce
:02:04. > :02:07.that money would be no object for Tory constituencies hit by flooding
:02:08. > :02:12.because that is what it amounts to. And then he promptly walked out
:02:13. > :02:19.again without having said anything about flooding for Wales or
:02:20. > :02:25.conditional money. I know you and your Minister and government have
:02:26. > :02:29.worked very hard and I can hear the twitterings over the butt that is
:02:30. > :02:36.the reality of it. I know you have worked very hard -- the twitterings
:02:37. > :02:46.over there but that is the reality of it. Deafening silence from the
:02:47. > :02:49.Secretary of State David Jones who constantly runs Wales down. First
:02:50. > :02:58.Minister, will you continue as a Welsh Government to stand up for my
:02:59. > :03:03.constituency in Wales and all of the constituents across Wales affected
:03:04. > :03:07.by floods? What a contrast it has been between Wales and England. Many
:03:08. > :03:10.thousands of properties flooded in England because of the cuts that
:03:11. > :03:17.have taken place in the flooding budget. We have maintained funding
:03:18. > :03:20.for flooding defences and many thousands of properties have been
:03:21. > :03:24.protected as a result. It was remarkable that the people of
:03:25. > :03:27.Somerset spent many weeks without being noticed while underwater. The
:03:28. > :03:33.belated response from the UK Government. With the terms threaten,
:03:34. > :03:38.it became of interest to the UK Government. Then we had the bizarre
:03:39. > :03:42.situation of the Prime Minister coming to Pembrokeshire and
:03:43. > :03:48.announcing there would be funding for flooding forgetting the fact
:03:49. > :03:53.Wales not -- Wales was not included. I am sure the First Minister like me
:03:54. > :03:58.would never cease to be amazed by the courage and determination that
:03:59. > :04:02.community volunteers display in incidents of extensive flooding. In
:04:03. > :04:06.that light, it has been raised by one of my constituents whether
:04:07. > :04:10.thought had been given to establishing an organisation for
:04:11. > :04:15.volunteers to assist in civil emergencies like the old defence
:04:16. > :04:21.unit stood down by a former Labour government in 1968. Such
:04:22. > :04:28.organisations exist in New Zealand, the Irish public, Australia and
:04:29. > :04:33.Austria. -- the Irish Republic. Have you given thought to it? Would you
:04:34. > :04:38.discuss this with UK ministers? I welcome very much the work done by
:04:39. > :04:43.volunteers in the course of the recent bad weather that we have had
:04:44. > :04:47.in Wales. Who could fail to commend them on their actions? I have had no
:04:48. > :04:56.discussions with the Wales Office regarding a resignation chilly
:04:57. > :04:59.resurrection of a body like that. I applaud all those involved in
:05:00. > :05:03.dealing with the very difficult weather and I applaud the fact that
:05:04. > :05:08.in Wales we were able despite the fact we had similar whether to
:05:09. > :05:11.south-west of England, we were able to weather the storms. Flood
:05:12. > :05:18.defences held because we put money into it. Thank you, Presiding
:05:19. > :05:22.Officer. It is emerging there are certain councils in England eager to
:05:23. > :05:26.amend local development plans in light of recent flooding. Perhaps in
:05:27. > :05:30.areas where there has not been flooding in the past and where there
:05:31. > :05:36.is development in the pipeline. What advice is your government giving to
:05:37. > :05:41.planning authorities in Wales on the possibility, what consent can you
:05:42. > :05:47.give to them to amend plans if there are similar examples in Wales? This
:05:48. > :05:56.has not in part of any kind of discussion I have had with the Wales
:05:57. > :05:59.Office, I must say. There is of course seven years ago... Ira member
:06:00. > :06:03.it because I was the minister who brought it into force and I remember
:06:04. > :06:11.saying at the time that it was extreme in the fact that it said it
:06:12. > :06:14.safeguarded some parts of land that already had been built upon -- I
:06:15. > :06:19.remember it because I was the Minister. There is now climate
:06:20. > :06:26.change but it will be incumbent upon the authorities to follow it. Will
:06:27. > :06:29.the First Minister make a statement on what actions the Welsh Government
:06:30. > :06:34.is taking to improve the economy of the Valley? We are progressing
:06:35. > :06:38.actions focusing on growth and sustainable jobs. We have a variety
:06:39. > :06:46.of programmes to do this including the provision of the support through
:06:47. > :06:49.Business Wales. We now of course are in a position where unemployment in
:06:50. > :06:54.Wales is lower than England and youth unemployment in Wales is
:06:55. > :06:59.substantially lower than in England. Thank you. I think that is certainly
:07:00. > :07:04.very welcome news. You mentioned the youth unemployment rates declining
:07:05. > :07:09.more quickly here. However, you will know First Minister about the
:07:10. > :07:14.unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment in my constituency.
:07:15. > :07:20.Four out of every ten young people are not economically active. We can
:07:21. > :07:23.and should be proud of what the Welsh Labour government has achieved
:07:24. > :07:27.in the face of the toughest settlement since the advent of
:07:28. > :07:31.devolution. But how else can we help the young people back into work and
:07:32. > :07:38.enable them to make a positive contribution to the economy of Wales
:07:39. > :07:43.as a whole? We must remember that young people who are many not
:07:44. > :07:50.economically active are in fact students so they are not looking for
:07:51. > :07:53.work nor are they unemployed. Economically inactive, they are
:07:54. > :08:03.often in that character. -- category. Two programmes have help.
:08:04. > :08:07.Jobs growth Wales, the latest figures published last week show
:08:08. > :08:13.that it has created 11,000 jobs opportunities and 8000 young people
:08:14. > :08:16.have filled those jobs. It is why the rate of youth and implement is
:08:17. > :08:26.so substantially below the UK average. People living near a 70 --
:08:27. > :08:32.near a wind farm are being given a say on how they want to spend the
:08:33. > :08:36.community fund. Are there any plans to enable the community to get
:08:37. > :08:39.involved in such projects, particularly to encourage people
:08:40. > :08:42.taking responsibility for their community and also encouraging ideas
:08:43. > :08:46.and new businesses in the hope they may be able to reduce local
:08:47. > :08:51.unemployment? That is to be in courage. That is why we want to
:08:52. > :08:55.create a register of community benefits and we having courage to
:08:56. > :09:01.wind farm projects to make sure that they make funds available. There is
:09:02. > :09:07.a limit to how many village halls can be built and refurbished and it
:09:08. > :09:12.is important that the community benefit is used to create employment
:09:13. > :09:15.opportunities for young people. Questions from party leaders. First,
:09:16. > :09:22.the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Thank you. First
:09:23. > :09:26.Minister, today the family and child care trust published their annual
:09:27. > :09:30.childcare costs survey and it makes for some very grim reading for many
:09:31. > :09:35.parents in Wales. First Minister, could you account for why Andrei
:09:36. > :09:39.THEY SPEAK IN WELSH Government -- could you account for
:09:40. > :09:43.why under a Labour government just one in five Welsh councils say they
:09:44. > :09:48.have sufficient places for childcare? This is a matter for
:09:49. > :09:54.local authorities. It is a matter for them to ensure that they have
:09:55. > :09:56.places available. It is disappointing you feel your own
:09:57. > :10:02.government does not have a stake in trying to sort this problem out for
:10:03. > :10:06.Welsh parents. The report goes on to say that just 11% of Welsh local
:10:07. > :10:11.authorities reported sufficient childcare provision first five to
:10:12. > :10:15.11-year-olds are just 6% with enough provision for disabled children and
:10:16. > :10:20.not a single was counsel reported having adequate provision for
:10:21. > :10:24.children living in rural areas -- not a single Welsh council. Are you
:10:25. > :10:28.sure the government does not have a role to play in making sure there
:10:29. > :10:36.are affordable childcare places for parents across Wales across the age
:10:37. > :10:43.ranges? Of course we work with the local authorities to do that. We
:10:44. > :10:46.have an action plan and we know that childcare provision is extremely
:10:47. > :10:50.important because there are so many people relying on childcare
:10:51. > :10:59.provision to work. That is why using one example, title case macro --
:11:00. > :11:11.Flying Start, It Has Been So Successful. Sentence Case Macro. If
:11:12. > :11:16.we move on from woeful provision to the costs for Welsh parents.
:11:17. > :11:20.Childcare costs are falling in real terms for the first time in 12
:11:21. > :11:29.years. In Wales, the cost of nursery care for under twos has increased by
:11:30. > :11:34.nearly 12%, right over twos and the cost of after-school clubs by 15%.
:11:35. > :11:37.The reality of childcare is that even if you find a place for your
:11:38. > :11:43.child, it is more and more difficult to afford it. You going to start
:11:44. > :11:47.taking this seriously and help hard-working families achieve the
:11:48. > :11:53.flexible childcare they need across the country? Two points to make. I
:11:54. > :12:00.suspect she makes references to costs imposed by private not public
:12:01. > :12:05.providers. We have no control over them. Secondly, I accept what she
:12:06. > :12:08.says, childcare is an increasing issue for many people including
:12:09. > :12:14.ourselves over the years. Particularly as we have seen a
:12:15. > :12:20.number of creches close. Of course, it is exceptionally difficult to
:12:21. > :12:23.achieve the level of childcare we would want given the financial
:12:24. > :12:30.circumstances we are in. The reality is the cuts we have received over
:12:31. > :12:34.the past three years do not allow us to have the sort of childcare
:12:35. > :12:43.provision many members would want. We now move to the leader of the
:12:44. > :12:46.opposition. Andrew RT Davies. Could you explain why some cardiac
:12:47. > :12:50.patients have been referred over the bridge to Bristol to have their
:12:51. > :12:54.treatment for cardiac problems sorted out there because the waiting
:12:55. > :13:00.lists are so great in Wales? To get treatment sooner. That is a very
:13:01. > :13:06.flippant answer. I take the point that they would have to be having
:13:07. > :13:08.their treatment as quickly as possible and by commissioning that
:13:09. > :13:12.treatment at independent hospitals on the other side of the border,
:13:13. > :13:18.that will allow it to happen. If you look at what the Royal College of
:13:19. > :13:22.Surgeons has said, 152 patients have died in the last five years while
:13:23. > :13:28.waiting for cardiac surgery. In December, 2013, 183 patients had
:13:29. > :13:32.been waiting over 36 weeks for surgery. This is the highest number
:13:33. > :13:37.since October, 2009. The Royal College of Surgeons identified these
:13:38. > :13:40.problems over six months ago and they are still awaiting for
:13:41. > :13:45.substantive answers from the Health Inspectorate Wales. Do not think
:13:46. > :13:48.that there is an apology owed on behalf of your government for the
:13:49. > :13:53.patients kept waiting on these lists and in particular the premature
:13:54. > :14:01.death that have been identified by the Royal College of Surgeons
:14:02. > :14:05.because of these waiting times? I thought the answer was very clear.
:14:06. > :14:09.Yes, 80 patients will go in for treatment this month and surgery
:14:10. > :14:15.will be undertaken at weekends in Wales. In the long term of course,
:14:16. > :14:21.we have a two year plan for cardiac surgery in Wales. In the meantime,
:14:22. > :14:25.we cannot criticise others for looking at other options to deliver
:14:26. > :14:30.service to the people who need it otherwise he would be condemning
:14:31. > :14:35.gust for not using facilities outside Wales and making people wait
:14:36. > :14:39.longer. Reality is that now more people will wait a shorter period of
:14:40. > :14:44.time to get their treatment. The criticism that I was making a view
:14:45. > :14:48.is that the ideology prevented this type of treatment being made
:14:49. > :14:53.available far sooner and the premature deaths that have been
:14:54. > :14:57.identified but in certain instances have been prevented. The concern
:14:58. > :15:03.that I have is that you purged -- is that you point to a medium or
:15:04. > :15:07.long-term plan put in place to develop cardiac services in Wales.
:15:08. > :15:14.Except that plan, but when you hear the Labour member saying last week,
:15:15. > :15:19.there are hospitals in Wales that should be put in special measures,
:15:20. > :15:22.some people are forced to go into the Private sector as they cannot
:15:23. > :15:27.afford to wait. That is a state of affairs that I am not prepared to
:15:28. > :15:38.put up with. That is the Labour member and included. -- Ann Clywd.
:15:39. > :15:44.What assurance can you give us that we will address the long-term weight
:15:45. > :15:49.-- waiting times and the inability for beetroot -- for people to get
:15:50. > :15:54.treatment here in Wales, can you make a commitment for the next 12
:15:55. > :16:01.months? Yes, we have a plan for the next two months. -2 macro years. In
:16:02. > :16:06.the meantime, we have to make sure people get the treatment that a
:16:07. > :16:11.need. That is what we stand for as a party, making sure people can access
:16:12. > :16:14.treatment. If it means doing that by nonconventional roots, so be it, I
:16:15. > :16:20.would rather people get that treatment than not. A play fast and
:16:21. > :16:25.loose with figures but last week, Darren Millar claimed the number of
:16:26. > :16:31.beds had dropped by 20% in Wales. Of course they have, because more
:16:32. > :16:37.people are being treated at home. And in England, the figure is 25%.
:16:38. > :16:42.So in fact, we have actually protected birds far better than his
:16:43. > :16:49.government has in England. -- beds. The figures are here, you can read
:16:50. > :17:02.them out. He can shout as much as he wants. In 2002... Order, gracious
:17:03. > :17:13.me. They're all right hundred and 36,000 head inning that. -- there.
:17:14. > :17:16.-- there are 363 beds. He has condemned his own party in England
:17:17. > :17:29.but he did not do enough research to find out that fact. We now move to
:17:30. > :17:36.the leader of played commie. -- Plaid Cymru. I would like to return
:17:37. > :17:44.to the fact that the cost of nursery provision has increased. Can you
:17:45. > :17:52.tell us why you think costs have increased so much in Wales compared
:17:53. > :17:56.to other parts of the UK? I cannot comment too much on the detail, but
:17:57. > :18:01.the suspicion must be that there is not enough provision to fuel the
:18:02. > :18:07.private sector and costs have risen as a result. The next question is
:18:08. > :18:11.what can the government do about it? We would all like to improve
:18:12. > :18:14.childcare but these are difficult financial times to establish the
:18:15. > :18:19.kind of facilities many of us would want. They are difficult times and
:18:20. > :18:24.pressures upon local council budgets resulting in further cut backs to
:18:25. > :18:30.childcare provision. In my own local authority, the council removing
:18:31. > :18:34.full-time provision for under four -year-olds and those cuts have not
:18:35. > :18:41.even been implemented so they are not impacting get. Do you accept the
:18:42. > :18:43.cuts to local council budgets for childcare will further hinder
:18:44. > :18:48.parents who need affordable childcare places so they can get
:18:49. > :18:52.back into the workplace and do you accept it will further exacerbate
:18:53. > :18:59.our economic problems if people cannot access affordable childcare
:19:00. > :19:04.in order to work? Flying start comes in to make sure there is access to
:19:05. > :19:08.childcare that would not be there. Local authorities must make
:19:09. > :19:12.decisions according to their budgets and choose services that are
:19:13. > :19:17.affordable. It is true to say that budgets are squeezed but we cannot
:19:18. > :19:20.give them money that we do not have. It sounds as though due saying
:19:21. > :19:28.nothing can be done by government. Your pound -- your party has already
:19:29. > :19:30.announced intentions for 25 hours a week free childcare for
:19:31. > :19:34.three-year-olds in England and you have committed to providing
:19:35. > :19:38.wraparound childcare for school children. Your party leader has
:19:39. > :19:42.outlined his vision for a so-called one nation Labour Party where there
:19:43. > :19:50.is meant to be a level playing field, when therefore will you be
:19:51. > :19:56.matching it -- the promises made for childcare here in Wales? I do not
:19:57. > :20:00.remember saying this was part of the one nation Labour Party. Yes, it is
:20:01. > :20:08.true that is part of the policy outlined in England and we would get
:20:09. > :20:11.a consequential if that policy were implemented if there was an election
:20:12. > :20:17.of a Labour government next year in Westminster. Knowing that that money
:20:18. > :20:21.was coming, we could decide how to best use that money to provide
:20:22. > :20:27.childcare in Wales. Unfortunately, we do not have a Westminster
:20:28. > :20:32.government -- a Labour government in Westminster. Will the First Minister
:20:33. > :20:38.make a statement on Welsh unemployment levels? Yes, as I said,
:20:39. > :20:41.the rate of unemployment is lower in England and youth unemployment is
:20:42. > :20:47.falling faster in Wales and is lower than England. With the First
:20:48. > :20:52.Minister confirmed that while public sector jobs have been lost since
:20:53. > :20:57.2,000, private sector employment growth has been far higher in Wales
:20:58. > :21:07.than in the UK as a whole? Yes, it is and that is true -- that is true.
:21:08. > :21:14.We have seen foreign investment increase in one year, export figures
:21:15. > :21:17.will be published this week or next week showing good news for Wales.
:21:18. > :21:24.Unemployment levels are so much lower, employment is up, economic
:21:25. > :21:29.inactivity is down. Young people see the benefit of jobs growth in Wales
:21:30. > :21:34.and we have attracted probably the biggest investment into Wales for
:21:35. > :21:40.many decades through Pinewood Studios, nearly 2,000 jobs. That
:21:41. > :21:43.shows the confidence of the business community has in this Welsh
:21:44. > :22:02.government and its ability to deliver. Without wishing to question
:22:03. > :22:09.your figures, First Minister, employment levels are 24% against
:22:10. > :22:17.22% in England. And those aged 19 to 24, unemployment has increased. So
:22:18. > :22:21.we recognise there has been some fall in figures, there is a lot more
:22:22. > :22:26.to be done, what are you doing about it? I am not sure why the member is
:22:27. > :22:31.using out of date figures, by his own admission. But when it comes to
:22:32. > :22:40.unemployment rates for those between 16 and 17, it is 24% in Wales, 35%
:22:41. > :22:46.is the UK average. 18-24 -year-olds, 18% is the UK average, 16% in Wales.
:22:47. > :22:49.So the latest figures show quite clearly that when it comes to
:22:50. > :22:56.unemployment and youth unemployment, the figures in Wales of four better.
:22:57. > :23:02.The UK is following a trend of lower unemployment, figures show that. But
:23:03. > :23:10.in Wales, we are doing that. It is a shame the UK government cannot do as
:23:11. > :23:14.well as a Welsh Labour government. I have also been scratching my head in
:23:15. > :23:17.recent weeks hearing your claims that youth unemployment in Wales is
:23:18. > :23:22.lower than in other parts of the UK when established figures suggest
:23:23. > :23:26.they are in fact worse. Will you admit the new figures you have been
:23:27. > :23:32.using to quote the Office for National Statistics, because of
:23:33. > :23:38.their relatively small sample size and variability, should be treated
:23:39. > :23:41.with caution and designated as experimental statistics? There is
:23:42. > :23:45.discrepancy at best. I put it on the record that I hope you are right but
:23:46. > :23:50.will you admit painting the rosiest picture possible is not the best way
:23:51. > :23:54.to make the government work harder to get our young people back into
:23:55. > :23:59.work? It is because the government has worked so hard that we have so
:24:00. > :24:05.many more young people in work. I am not sure what he means by
:24:06. > :24:11.established statistics. The office of National statistics is the body
:24:12. > :24:15.that provides objective statistics to the UK. If he is saying those
:24:16. > :24:20.statistics are in some way wrong, he must justify that with objective and
:24:21. > :24:25.well researched statistics. It is not right to say there is not more
:24:26. > :24:29.that needs to be done, of course that is, the rate of unemployment is
:24:30. > :24:35.still to hide. But if it was not for the work we have done any investment
:24:36. > :24:39.we have brought into Wales and for investments like Pinewood Studios,
:24:40. > :24:44.and for the increase in foreign direct investment and foreign
:24:45. > :24:48.imports and exports, we would not be in this position, and we are in this
:24:49. > :24:53.position because of the actions of this Government. Providing young
:24:54. > :24:58.people with high-level skills is important to help them get into work
:24:59. > :25:02.and build a career and improve productivity levels of Wales which
:25:03. > :25:08.are lagging behind the UK average. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister
:25:09. > :25:16.introduced a standardised UCAS system. I am wondering if you will
:25:17. > :25:20.commit to doing something similar in Wales as this is something you have
:25:21. > :25:26.often said is a priority for your government? We have already done it
:25:27. > :25:34.for the youth guarantees, the UK following the lead we have given.
:25:35. > :25:38.Will the First Minister make a statement on waiting times for
:25:39. > :25:46.patients who have had a mastectomy to receive test result following
:25:47. > :25:51.surgery? -- results. There is no specific waiting time associated
:25:52. > :25:56.with the receipt of results after breast surgery, we expect patients
:25:57. > :26:05.to be advised on further treatment options as soon as possible. A
:26:06. > :26:11.constituent has contacted me who has had this treatment at Prince Philip
:26:12. > :26:15.Hospital and she was told that she would receive results within a week,
:26:16. > :26:19.she is still waiting for those results and has now been told she
:26:20. > :26:24.will have to wait for at least five week, and she has also been told
:26:25. > :26:33.that there are at least 12 other people in the same situation. This
:26:34. > :26:36.follows the decision to centralise the system in terms of carrying out
:26:37. > :26:44.these assessments and providing test results, do you accept this is
:26:45. > :26:48.unacceptable? As the member well knows, that is not the position, he
:26:49. > :26:54.has received a letter from the health board stating in black and
:26:55. > :26:59.white that there have been problems regarding staffing, staff have been
:27:00. > :27:04.absent from work, and they have made it clear that the service had to be
:27:05. > :27:08.restructured to ensure that the service will be more effective in
:27:09. > :27:12.future. This has already happened in North Wales where the service has
:27:13. > :27:16.been centralised in a way which has not yet happened in South Wales and
:27:17. > :27:21.West Wales, but this is something the health board is doing. First
:27:22. > :27:27.Minister, one of the very things which is happening in parts of Wales
:27:28. > :27:31.is that the follow-up appointments which very often are in relation to
:27:32. > :27:37.test results with consultants are being the subject of delay. In North
:27:38. > :27:40.Wales, last month, there were 47,000 people waiting for follow-up
:27:41. > :27:45.appointments and there was a huge backlog of patients, but this is not
:27:46. > :27:47.something that is monitored by the Welsh government. Follow-up
:27:48. > :27:52.appointments are not reported to the Welsh government is and it is very
:27:53. > :27:57.difficult for people to get a picture of the problem across Wales
:27:58. > :28:00.-- government. What work is the government doing to make sure people
:28:01. > :28:05.get timely access to follow-up appointments, the degree people with
:28:06. > :28:09.problems that might deteriorate -- particularly. It could deliver a
:28:10. > :28:14.devastating outcome for them and their families. I expect clinicians
:28:15. > :28:19.to prioritise people they need to see, it is in their hands and that
:28:20. > :28:22.cannot be done before they see a patient. When a patient has been
:28:23. > :28:27.seen or has had to treatment, I would expect clinicians to ensure
:28:28. > :28:31.that patient is seen as quickly as is appropriate for them. It is
:28:32. > :28:36.difficult for a government to make that intervention is clinicians have
:28:37. > :28:38.to decide what is appropriate for each patient's -- each patient and
:28:39. > :28:48.we expect them to do that. Will we First Minister provide an
:28:49. > :28:54.update us on Mark all local authorities have submitted their
:28:55. > :28:56.draft strategic plan to do was comment and they have received
:28:57. > :29:01.informal feedback from Welsh Government officials before
:29:02. > :29:07.submitting their final plan to us post-consultation.
:29:08. > :29:11.Thank you for that response. The plans are to be operational from the
:29:12. > :29:18.1st of April onwards. There are problems in terms of a fort tee
:29:19. > :29:24.shortage -- there are problems in terms of a shortage of Welsh
:29:25. > :29:29.language teaching. The consultation in some North Wales countries will
:29:30. > :29:35.not conclude until the day before which is the 31st of March. How will
:29:36. > :29:40.the government ensure that these plans are operational according to
:29:41. > :29:44.the original timetable? If there is a problem with the consultation, we
:29:45. > :29:48.will consider that. If the plans themselves are not adequate or good
:29:49. > :29:55.enough, the local authorities will have to rethink the plans. Thank
:29:56. > :30:00.you. One of the aims of Pembrokeshire county council in
:30:01. > :30:05.their Welsh and education plan is for more students between the ages
:30:06. > :30:10.of 14 and 19 to study for qualifications through the medium of
:30:11. > :30:13.Welsh. Can you tell us what assistance the Welsh Government is
:30:14. > :30:21.providing to ensure the provision for the 14 to 19-year-old learners
:30:22. > :30:26.complies with the measures so that there is provision for students
:30:27. > :30:36.enrol and remote areas and that the students can attend Welsh medium
:30:37. > :30:42.courses? -- students in rural and remote areas. I do not want to give
:30:43. > :30:48.a few on one part of one plan. We have to consider the plan in its
:30:49. > :30:52.entirety to see whether it is adequate. Having said that, it is
:30:53. > :30:58.also very important that the authorities stick to the law. Thank
:30:59. > :31:01.you. First Minister, we look forward to seeing these plans to see how
:31:02. > :31:06.they will promote Welsh medium education according to the statute
:31:07. > :31:11.book. It is also important that people have access to Welsh medium
:31:12. > :31:17.schools and that is most often by travelling to those schools because
:31:18. > :31:20.the schools are relatively long distances apart. A number of
:31:21. > :31:25.recommendations have been made to change travel arrangements. Those
:31:26. > :31:30.have been put to one side for the time being. Would you agree that it
:31:31. > :31:35.would be appropriate to review the regulations on pupil travel to
:31:36. > :31:40.ensure that the language choice does not affect how close a school is?
:31:41. > :31:48.You have a right to be transported to whichever school, Welsh or
:31:49. > :31:50.English medium. We considered this in great detail on the measure came
:31:51. > :31:56.into force, the school transportation bill. The statistics
:31:57. > :32:00.show that the local authorities must promote Welsh language as part of
:32:01. > :32:05.the bill. But if you say the people can get transport to any school
:32:06. > :32:14.whatever the language, that would mean some pupils in Gwynedd would
:32:15. > :32:19.have to go to Holyhead or elsewhere to receive their education through
:32:20. > :32:25.English. The aim of the bill was to ensure there was transport to Welsh
:32:26. > :32:29.medium schools without making it incumbent upon local authorities to
:32:30. > :32:38.insure that transport was available to all, whatever the distance. Or to
:32:39. > :32:41.the relevant school, I should say. Would he make a statement on Welsh
:32:42. > :32:51.comment action to support the economy in mid and West Wales? --
:32:52. > :32:56.Welsh Government action. We have transport infrastructure
:32:57. > :33:00.arrangements and IT support. The news that a company in Pembroke Dock
:33:01. > :33:06.has gone into administration is a bitter blow for the area. How will
:33:07. > :33:10.the wasp and give support and assistance to the 66 workers and how
:33:11. > :33:13.can you help them work towards safeguarding the remaining jobs?
:33:14. > :33:18.Which? how will the government give support Western Mark for those
:33:19. > :33:24.threatened with redundancy, of course those in that position will
:33:25. > :33:30.be offered support and advice -- will the government give support? I
:33:31. > :33:38.would like to put on the record my gratitude to the Minister for their
:33:39. > :33:42.efforts in trying to help the situation at the company. I have had
:33:43. > :33:47.a number of in-depth on the stations with the key players. I have two
:33:48. > :33:53.direct requests. The first is that you and the team get to work with
:33:54. > :33:58.Grant Thornton, the administrators, in an effort to save the company
:33:59. > :34:02.which is a substantial maintenance business which provides a
:34:03. > :34:12.significant input into the local economy. Secondly, would you look at
:34:13. > :34:15.what caused the decline of eight proud and long-standing business
:34:16. > :34:21.with a ?9 million turnover which was doing well until its recent
:34:22. > :34:24.partnership with other local partners? I think that needs to be
:34:25. > :34:29.investigated thoroughly because West Wales can ill afford to lose this
:34:30. > :34:37.kind of anchor company and it was an anchor company in the anchor 's --
:34:38. > :34:40.in the enterprise zone. We are already in discussions with the
:34:41. > :34:44.administrator and we will continue to work with them and the company
:34:45. > :34:49.with a view to exploring all options. Also, I know the Minister
:34:50. > :34:54.herself is greatly interested in getting an understanding of how
:34:55. > :34:57.things emerged as they are now. I am sure she will make those
:34:58. > :35:06.investigations and right back to you. First Minister, in the south,
:35:07. > :35:08.the concept of city regions has been promoted by your government to
:35:09. > :35:14.promote the economy on a regional level, but there is no similar
:35:15. > :35:16.initiative on the western coast where the link between economic
:35:17. > :35:21.success and the future of the Welsh line which is so important. Can I
:35:22. > :35:25.ask you what plans you have to coordinate economic policy in a
:35:26. > :35:29.strategic regional manner across the West Wales coastline to promote the
:35:30. > :35:36.economy in that area and to secure the future of the Welsh language? Of
:35:37. > :35:42.course, we do have some zones at present, such as the one in the
:35:43. > :35:50.valley and also we continue to consider whether there is a debate
:35:51. > :36:03.for having some kind of city region around the Aberystwyth -Carmarthen
:36:04. > :36:09.area and other cities. Tourism is vital to the success of the economy
:36:10. > :36:12.in mid-Wales and in particular in my constituency, Brecon and Radnor
:36:13. > :36:20.chef. Government changes to support for tourism is causing some concern
:36:21. > :36:26.in mid-Wales that efforts that have gone on in the past might be diluted
:36:27. > :36:29.or taken away? Could you outline what steps your government is taking
:36:30. > :36:35.to make sure the tourism industry is supported appropriately? I can say
:36:36. > :36:37.very clearly that we understand that tourism is exceptionally important
:36:38. > :36:42.to all of Wales and particularly to parts of Wales such as the mid and
:36:43. > :36:48.West. Any new structure would be designed to enhance the promotion of
:36:49. > :36:51.tourism in those parts of Wales and weak will continue to promote all
:36:52. > :37:09.parts of Wales -- we will continue to promote. Carbon transition sets
:37:10. > :37:13.out the Welsh Government's ambition to promote a low carbon Wales. The
:37:14. > :37:18.plan will be published on the 15th of March. It is quite clear to me
:37:19. > :37:22.the recommendations contained in the Silk Commission report yesterday, if
:37:23. > :37:26.implemented, they would go is essential distance to making sure
:37:27. > :37:31.that we can use our energy resources in a way that is beneficial to the
:37:32. > :37:39.primate and the people of Wales. -- to the environment. In an earlier
:37:40. > :37:43.exchange, reference was made to the community benefits declaration
:37:44. > :37:48.established last year and which has been something of a success. What
:37:49. > :37:54.steps are you prepared to take to roll that out to all regional levels
:37:55. > :37:59.so that communities affected by wind farm development particularly in the
:38:00. > :38:05.construction phase can benefit more fully from the community investment
:38:06. > :38:07.that it would make available? I can say developers have been
:38:08. > :38:13.commissioned to provide information for inclusion in the register. That
:38:14. > :38:21.will be formally launched on the 3rd of April. I wonder if you could
:38:22. > :38:31.update us on the steps that you are taking us a Welsh Government to look
:38:32. > :38:35.at the cables potential for running to Anglesey, in particular whether
:38:36. > :38:40.or not you have established that Deeside can be used for Welsh
:38:41. > :38:44.electricity generation and whether you have looked at the issue of
:38:45. > :38:49.running the cable down into Pembrokeshire? The member will know
:38:50. > :38:54.none of it is devolved. We can have a view on it and as I have said many
:38:55. > :39:00.times in the past, any means of transmission of electricity should
:39:01. > :39:04.be as unobtrusive as possible. It is a point I understand as far as
:39:05. > :39:11.Anglesey is concerned. I look forward to the member's deeper
:39:12. > :39:16.question. She wishes of course that these matters would evolve and I
:39:17. > :39:23.look forward to her support on this issue as on many others. Thank you,
:39:24. > :39:28.Presiding Officer. Plaid Cymru is a target of producing what would
:39:29. > :39:32.correspond to 100% of the energy used in Wales from renewable sources
:39:33. > :39:39.by 2030. What is the Welsh comment's target? We have targets,
:39:40. > :39:44.of course, in the plan -- what is the Welsh Government's target? We
:39:45. > :39:49.must consider the fact that we do not have every tool to be able to
:39:50. > :39:54.reach our target is at our disposal. In Scotland, it is true to say they
:39:55. > :40:03.have gone Scotland with their marine energy because of... Wales should
:40:04. > :40:07.have the power to do the same thing and it is encouraging to see that
:40:08. > :40:10.the Silk Commission has made recommendations to ensure that the
:40:11. > :40:16.people of Wales have reasonable control over Welsh weasels is --
:40:17. > :40:23.over Welsh resources. Would he make a statement on commitments for
:40:24. > :40:28.economic growth? It will be published in May and will contain an
:40:29. > :40:32.update on progress made. Inward investment is vital for economic
:40:33. > :40:39.growth in Wales. The foundation of small businesses said that your
:40:40. > :40:42.government's inward investment strategy was crowded and confusing.
:40:43. > :40:48.They went on to say that there was a lack of brand awareness and a lack
:40:49. > :40:53.of visibility since the devolution of Welsh development agency. Will
:40:54. > :40:58.the First Minister listen to the FSB and consider that the Welsh
:40:59. > :41:03.Conservative proposal of setting up an investment consultant to attract
:41:04. > :41:09.and develop inward investments to Wales, please? I do not agree that
:41:10. > :41:12.setting up a quango of your mates is the best way of dealing with the
:41:13. > :41:17.Welsh economy. I refer to the point I have already made. Foreign direct
:41:18. > :41:26.investment has increased over the past year. What do the WDA do than
:41:27. > :41:30.15 years? They lost its way and had people all around the world
:41:31. > :41:34.delivering absolutely nothing. They produced targets they never met and
:41:35. > :41:38.spent huge amounts of money. I watering amounts of money. I can
:41:39. > :41:44.promise members it would not have been done today. It frosted in the
:41:45. > :41:48.late 90s when all they did was put a huge amount of money on the table
:41:49. > :41:57.and come to Wales, there is money on the table. When the money went, the
:41:58. > :42:01.business went as well. They had their day 20 years ago. For the
:42:02. > :42:13.whole of the last decade, it delivered absolutely nothing. Thank
:42:14. > :42:16.you. Your government has been consulting recently on reducing the
:42:17. > :42:21.number of statistics that you publish. In terms of the economy,
:42:22. > :42:29.the most recent figures we have put GDP at 2011 figures. They are not
:42:30. > :42:35.ones you can take pride in. Do you not believe in order to assess the
:42:36. > :42:39.success of your policies you need more consistent figures and more
:42:40. > :42:50.detailed figures? It is a fair point to say that the GDP figures are so
:42:51. > :42:54.old and GBA are almost as old. It is different in the way it is
:42:55. > :42:58.collated. It is something we should consider to see whether it is
:42:59. > :43:04.possible to have figures for Wales. That would be more up-to-date than
:43:05. > :43:11.the ones alluded to. But of course, in looking at recent figures from
:43:12. > :43:18.the ONS, it appears the situation in Wales has improved immensely over
:43:19. > :43:22.the past few years. We are in a position where we can compare with
:43:23. > :43:26.the best in the UK. We will leave First Minister's
:43:27. > :43:30.Questions berm. You can see more coverage of the National Assembly
:43:31. > :43:38.online from BBC Wales Democracy Live page. That is it for today. We will
:43:39. > :43:44.be back next week with more coverage of First Minister's Questions. If
:43:45. > :43:50.you want more Welsh politics before then, don't forget Y Sgwrs
:43:51. > :43:54.tomorrow. From all of us on the programme, goodbye.