:00:25. > :00:28.Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly coverage
:00:28. > :00:31.of questions to the First Minister, the final one of 2012. There may be
:00:31. > :00:34.an end of term feeling from our politicians, but this afternoon
:00:34. > :00:37.they will also be voting on the budget for next year. The
:00:38. > :00:41.Government have done a deal with Plaid Cymru which will ensure that
:00:41. > :00:51.the budget is passed but AMs from all parties can have their say in a
:00:51. > :00:52.
:00:52. > :00:55.debate later on. That's later, but now before we take in First
:00:55. > :01:03.Minister's Questions, I'll remind you for the final time this year
:01:03. > :01:09.that you can get in touch with us. You can contact us via Twitter or
:01:09. > :01:19.send us an e-mail. Let's go over to the Senedd to the questions to the
:01:19. > :01:27.First Minister. Good afternoon. It gives me great
:01:27. > :01:37.pleasure to announce that the local government bye-laws Wales that was
:01:37. > :01:41.given Royal Assent on 29th November 2012. Thank you very much. We now
:01:41. > :01:49.move on to questions to the First Minister. The first question, Nick
:01:49. > :01:57.Ramsey. Will the First Minister provide an update on his plans for
:01:57. > :02:01.the NHS? As you will be away, an economist identified that up to
:02:01. > :02:06.half the Welsh population live within 25 miles with the border
:02:06. > :02:08.with England. So cross-border issues are important. A number of
:02:08. > :02:12.constituents have come to me to express concern about the
:02:12. > :02:15.difficulties they faced in receiving care from hospitals just
:02:15. > :02:19.across the border in England where previously they had been accepted
:02:19. > :02:24.for treatment. The health minister has been helpful in a number of
:02:24. > :02:33.these cases. What is your government doing overall to insure
:02:33. > :02:36.that the NHS in Wales is close to the English border and then used to
:02:36. > :02:41.be a cross-pollination between the health service in England and in
:02:41. > :02:46.Wales, what are you doing to make sure that that happens as easy as
:02:47. > :02:53.possible? It is the responsibility it of the health board to ensure
:02:53. > :02:57.high-quality care. The fact that treatment is being made available
:02:57. > :03:07.in England is something that has been the case for many years. We
:03:07. > :03:07.
:03:07. > :03:11.expect that situation to continue in many cases. First Minister,
:03:11. > :03:17.during the committee this morning, we received evidence from two of
:03:17. > :03:22.the health boards who stated that they were facing a deficit of �51
:03:22. > :03:25.million this year, but what was of more concern to the committee was
:03:25. > :03:30.that they said that some of the savings targets were unrealistic
:03:30. > :03:36.and that there were no specific plans behind those savings targets.
:03:36. > :03:41.Are you content that there is adequate monitoring in terms off
:03:41. > :03:49.public health services at a national level and a Welsh level at
:03:49. > :03:56.the moment? Yes, I am, and of course the order to's report will
:03:56. > :04:01.bear this out more this year than last year. -- the Auditor's report.
:04:01. > :04:06.The health boards are currently consulting to changes to Hirst --
:04:06. > :04:13.hospital services and this could take months in some cases and years
:04:13. > :04:22.in others. Can you confirm to me that your government can you
:04:22. > :04:27.continued to approve capital projects in the health service?
:04:27. > :04:33.course, we will carry on with a capital programme in those
:04:33. > :04:41.hospitals not impacted by any other things. The programme has been
:04:41. > :04:44.taken on in order to secure the hospital's future. Will the First
:04:44. > :04:54.Minister please make a statement on the role of consultation procedures
:04:54. > :04:57.
:04:57. > :05:02.in the reorganisation of the wealth Bennett -- Welsh NHS? A we like to
:05:02. > :05:08.thank the First Minister very much -- I would like to thank. I have
:05:08. > :05:16.just received a petition in support of the retention of stroke services
:05:16. > :05:21.at a hospital in Powys. I learned that a recent consultation meeting,
:05:21. > :05:25.the health board employee who was addressing those present stated
:05:25. > :05:29.that the health board were actively monitoring staff responses by
:05:29. > :05:32.cross-checking the addresses of those that were responding. Does
:05:32. > :05:37.the First Minister share the disquiet of clinicians, nursing
:05:37. > :05:40.staff and trade unionists at this approach, especially in the
:05:40. > :05:45.contexts that in the event of the stroke unit moving to Brecon
:05:45. > :05:49.hospital, some of their staff would have to apply for their own jobs?
:05:49. > :05:59.Clearly consultation has to be open and without prejudice. I want to
:05:59. > :06:02.
:06:02. > :06:06.see a situation where people feel able to give their views freely.
:06:06. > :06:15.First Minister, the population of one, should are feeling
:06:15. > :06:21.increasingly more marginalised by proposed changes in NHS. As we saw
:06:21. > :06:25.last week, patients are being forced to wake up to 10 weeks
:06:25. > :06:27.longer for elective surgery than anywhere else in Wales. My
:06:27. > :06:31.constituents feel they are being penalised because they live in
:06:31. > :06:36.Powys. Do you agree that in order to safeguard equality of access to
:06:36. > :06:40.health services in mid-Wales, it is time the government looked at a
:06:40. > :06:44.distinct mid-Wales health plan model to ensure that the people of
:06:44. > :06:54.one, share have their health services they deserved -- the
:06:54. > :06:56.
:06:56. > :07:00.people of my constituent? I know that officials have spoken to the
:07:00. > :07:04.Powys Health Board and there is no intention to move away from this
:07:04. > :07:12.policy and that any provide us with in England could have a received
:07:12. > :07:18.this will be contacted to make this clear. Do you agree with me that
:07:18. > :07:24.the consultation that has happened in the area on new services is
:07:24. > :07:29.highly dependent on there being adequate community services in
:07:29. > :07:35.place and that emergency services that should be available in all
:07:35. > :07:38.areas? The population around here have said that they would be
:07:38. > :07:48.willing to see some changes as they can be assured that these two
:07:48. > :07:51.
:07:51. > :07:57.things are in place and a safe -- as long as they can be. That is
:07:57. > :08:04.part of the plans that are in place at present and it is very important
:08:04. > :08:10.that the services are secured, safe and sustainable and that the
:08:10. > :08:16.community services are also safe and sustainable. We have the leader
:08:16. > :08:20.of the opposition now. Thank you. First Minister, your government
:08:20. > :08:25.last week tried to pull the plug on a soap opera because a fictional
:08:25. > :08:29.character disagreed with your government's policy. If Gavin and
:08:30. > :08:34.Stacey got stuck on the M4 because you hadn't built at an M4 relief
:08:34. > :08:41.road, we do seek to pull the prop - - pull the plug on that programme,
:08:41. > :08:45.as well? We shall wait to see what response we get from the BBC.
:08:45. > :08:49.think that speaks volumes, that answer, not seeking to defend their
:08:49. > :08:53.position. It is also important to look at the serious issue of the TB
:08:53. > :08:56.eradication policy that your government has undertaken and look
:08:56. > :09:00.at the Commons and the evidence that has been offered about a
:09:00. > :09:10.programme that you have. The farmers' union for Wales have
:09:10. > :09:14.
:09:14. > :09:19.called it a cowardly betrayal. The senior scientist resigned because
:09:19. > :09:22.you jeopardise the real progress you could have made, and Glasgow
:09:22. > :09:26.University brought forward evidence that highlighted the risk that if
:09:26. > :09:33.you don't tackle TB, you will never get on top of this problem. Is it
:09:33. > :09:41.not the case that your government, it should be dealing with the real
:09:42. > :09:47.issue that is dominating the economy and Raul farming in Wales?
:09:47. > :09:50.Differences though we are doing something and Wales. England
:09:50. > :09:57.doddering nothing at all -- the difference is that we are doing
:09:58. > :10:00.something in Wales. England are doing nothing at all. As usual, the
:10:00. > :10:10.first Mr deflects progress to London when London is making real
:10:10. > :10:12.
:10:12. > :10:15.progress. -- the First Minister. Given the actions that the First
:10:15. > :10:22.Minister and his government undertook last week to try to
:10:22. > :10:30.muzzle the press here in Wales, do not think it is right to look
:10:30. > :10:37.important bad week for my concerns us here in Wales -- do you not
:10:37. > :10:42.think it is very important that we open a consensus here in Wales? So
:10:42. > :10:46.that it is not just a London agenda that is driven over at media
:10:46. > :10:51.regulation and media reform? Do not agree that it is important in that
:10:51. > :10:59.aspect that we have a united front? I do. I would love to know what the
:10:59. > :11:07.Prime Minister is going to do. Nothing is happening in England on
:11:07. > :11:13.TB. They have sat back and promised nothing. He makes criticisms about
:11:13. > :11:18.the Welsh government, let me draw his attention to Iain Duncan-Smith,
:11:18. > :11:22.who made an official complaint to the BBC about the broadcaster's
:11:23. > :11:32.moaning. He said the BBC is locked to the reading of the economy that
:11:32. > :11:37.has run out of Ed Miliband's and Ed Balls's office. He went on to say,
:11:38. > :11:41.criticising a BBC correspondent, when she questioned his policy, he
:11:41. > :11:48.accused her of peeing all over British industry. This is the party
:11:48. > :11:51.that has done nothing but complain about the British Industry and yet
:11:51. > :11:54.they complain about what this government is doing. The reality is
:11:54. > :11:57.that the Conservative Party spent their entire time complaining about
:11:57. > :12:07.the BBC and we take no lessons from them in terms of what they are
:12:07. > :12:22.
:12:22. > :12:32.If you just speak, I'm sure someone will hear you. Oh, there is a man
:12:32. > :12:43.
:12:43. > :12:47.down their! -- there. In February this here, a spokesperson for your
:12:47. > :12:51.government said that it was your government's intention to improve
:12:51. > :12:55.the NHS and that local health boards across Wales were setting
:12:55. > :13:00.out to establish how services can be improved to make them safe,
:13:00. > :13:03.sustainable and defective and as near to home as possible. In
:13:03. > :13:07.October this year, the Health Minister said it would not be
:13:07. > :13:14.appropriate for her or any of her Welsh government ministers to
:13:14. > :13:20.comment on specific options brought forward by health boards. Since --
:13:20. > :13:26.because if they did that, it would compromise any judicial function
:13:26. > :13:30.that you have. Can you ensure that this remains the case? It is the
:13:30. > :13:34.case we want to build a safe and sustainable health service.
:13:34. > :13:41.Ministers in their capacity as ministers were not be commenting.
:13:41. > :13:46.fat is the case, can you explain this letter written by your
:13:46. > :13:51.education minister -- if that is the case? Your Minister says he and
:13:51. > :13:58.his fellow Labour MP Chris Bryant are concerned about the proposals
:13:58. > :14:06.put forward to buy the local health board in his area. -- put forward
:14:06. > :14:10.by. He is an Assembly member. me remind you of some other
:14:10. > :14:15.comments made by other Labour Assembly members on this matter.
:14:15. > :14:21.Joyce Watson said in July last year about ambulance journeys. Sometimes,
:14:21. > :14:28.an hour can be too long. In many cases, it could prove fatal. Ann
:14:28. > :14:36.Jones, the removal of services from her constituency could create a
:14:36. > :14:40.real risk from -- for mothers-to-be. We do agree that your government is
:14:40. > :14:45.not compromised by the statements of the ministers and backbenchers
:14:45. > :14:50.wet -- which are in fact misleading to the Welsh public? Are you, as
:14:50. > :15:00.the government, backing the plans of the health board or are you not?
:15:00. > :15:02.
:15:02. > :15:06.The legislature did get separated in 2007 and backbenchers are not
:15:06. > :15:11.members of the government. I do expect them to boys used on behalf
:15:11. > :15:16.of their constituencies. I expect ministers to do the same, I see no
:15:16. > :15:21.difficulty with that. We are going through a process of consultation
:15:21. > :15:27.over NHS reconfiguration, that is the process Welsh ministers are
:15:27. > :15:31.overseen. I see no problem at all with Assembly members acting as
:15:31. > :15:41.Assembly members, raising issues regarding their local area. That is
:15:41. > :15:44.
:15:44. > :15:47.Labour -- leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. In your
:15:47. > :15:53.Government's evidence to the Leveson inquiry, you say of your
:15:53. > :15:56.meetings with the media that those meetings tend to focus on economic
:15:56. > :16:01.development and public policy issues and not an editorial matters.
:16:01. > :16:07.You are on record as saying in your view, editorial independence of S4C
:16:07. > :16:16.is absolutely vital. Is it right for your government disbanded Stein
:16:16. > :16:22.muttering the seemingly subversive outfought - -- output of a S4C? And
:16:22. > :16:27.what can we expect next? reality is that soap operas are run
:16:27. > :16:31.by producer guidelines but editorial independence. We await
:16:31. > :16:38.the BBC and S4C and Ofcom's response to the concerns that week
:16:38. > :16:42.raised. There is a public policy that has to be debated. It would be
:16:42. > :16:45.farcical if the issues that the Government's actions raised were
:16:45. > :16:51.not so serious. Your own manifesto says that a Welsh Labour believes
:16:51. > :16:55.that a healthy, vibrant democracy and civil society needs a plurality
:16:55. > :16:58.of news media and public broadcasting, and isn't that the
:16:58. > :17:01.point? At the Welsh media is relatively weak and one of our
:17:01. > :17:05.biggest struggles it is to ensure that people actually take notice of
:17:05. > :17:12.what goes on in Cardiff Bay. Do you think your government actions have
:17:12. > :17:22.encouraged the Bharati that you claim the support? This is a soap
:17:22. > :17:22.
:17:22. > :17:30.opera, not a current affairs And I have to say to the leader of
:17:30. > :17:34.the Liberal Democrats... Order, order. There are producing
:17:34. > :17:38.guidelines here that have to be observed. There was an election on
:17:38. > :17:42.Thursday, on the day that the broadcast at -- programme was
:17:42. > :17:46.broadcast. I offered the opportunity to give me examples,
:17:46. > :17:51.but I'm not aware of any soap opera where direct criticism of a
:17:51. > :17:59.government has been included in the script ever in history in the UK.
:17:59. > :18:03.Give me an example. Order, order. The First Minister is absolutely
:18:03. > :18:06.right. It is a soap opera, but maybe you have a lot of experience
:18:06. > :18:13.of that, First Minister, looking at the way you handle some of the
:18:13. > :18:17.public services in Wales. On the day the Leveson report was
:18:17. > :18:21.published, you were busy trying to protect your government by
:18:21. > :18:28.censoring a public service broadcaster, when Welsh people
:18:28. > :18:33.would have expected U2 joined with the likes of Nick Clegg and Ed
:18:33. > :18:38.Miliband -- would have expected you to join with the likes of Nick
:18:38. > :18:43.Clegg and Ed Miliband. That should have been it your priority. Will
:18:43. > :18:46.you now add to your voice to those who are calling for the full
:18:46. > :18:51.implementation of the Leveson inquiry? She fails to answer the
:18:51. > :18:55.question that was put to her, but I agree, I think there should be full
:18:55. > :19:00.implementation of a Leveson. I wait to see what the Prime Minister's
:19:00. > :19:06.view is, if it is appalling that those people who have had their
:19:06. > :19:12.lives wrecked by breast intrusion have no recourse. -- press
:19:12. > :19:16.intrusion. It is absolutely appalling that we see newspapers,
:19:16. > :19:20.and Wales has largely free of this, but newspapers in London publishing
:19:20. > :19:26.allegations that are known to be untrue, they publish them anyway
:19:26. > :19:30.Gabon they do not care whose lives they Iraq. They wrecked the lives
:19:30. > :19:35.of Milly Dowler's parents, the lives of the McCanns, the lives of
:19:36. > :19:41.people who died at Hillsborough, their families, and the people in
:19:41. > :19:46.Bridgend, who had the coverage distorted to the point of the line.
:19:46. > :19:49.Yes, I do agree with Leveson being implemented, I am saddened that the
:19:49. > :19:52.Prime Minister and the Conservative Party here take the view that is
:19:52. > :19:58.not important. Once again the leader of the opposition makes more
:19:58. > :20:03.noise sitting down that he does on his feet. Let him declare his
:20:03. > :20:10.position. I am with the Liberal Democrat peer, where are the
:20:10. > :20:15.Tories? Questions on the paper up. Will you outline the engagement
:20:15. > :20:19.strategies are currently undertaken by the Welsh government to inform
:20:19. > :20:24.potential investors of the benefits of coming to Wales? Or will take a
:20:24. > :20:32.wide range of activities to provide the energy sector in Wales. Thank
:20:32. > :20:37.you for that expensive replied. I am sure that you will be sure --
:20:37. > :20:43.aware that a river have signed up a deal to put up a new factories in
:20:43. > :20:49.Europe, bringing with it 750 jobs. Only about eight months ago,
:20:49. > :20:53.another company considered locating here, moved again to Scotland, with
:20:53. > :20:56.green jobs that totalled 900. It seems to me something isn't working.
:20:56. > :21:01.I wonder what you are going to do to try and get some of this big
:21:01. > :21:06.potential in our so-called Green economy, that you wish to promote,
:21:06. > :21:10.to come here and opened jobs in Wales. Those are the kind of jobs
:21:10. > :21:13.that Wales could have got. can't on the one hand oppose wind
:21:13. > :21:16.energy and then complain that the jobs are not coming to Wales
:21:16. > :21:22.because of that, that is a situation that is impossible to
:21:22. > :21:25.reconcile. In Scotland, these are controlled by the Scottish
:21:25. > :21:29.government he can offer more subsidies. We can never compete
:21:29. > :21:34.with it because we are tied to the level that exists in England. We
:21:34. > :21:37.want to make sure we are able does of the subsidy level in Wales, as
:21:37. > :21:41.Northern Ireland and the Scots can. The UK government is determined
:21:41. > :21:46.that we shouldn't. I cannot understand the reasoning, but I
:21:46. > :21:56.want to ensure Wales is any level playing field, which has been
:21:56. > :21:56.
:21:56. > :22:02.denied to us by your government. Try Central Station does the First
:22:02. > :22:09.Minister welcome that -- welcome the sale of Horizon two Hitachi,
:22:09. > :22:16.which has now been completed? Or will he ensure, along with many of
:22:16. > :22:18.us in this Changer, that appropriate jobs will come to the
:22:19. > :22:24.north-west and West Wales in general following that investment -
:22:24. > :22:27.- in this chamber. It happens mainly because there are effective
:22:27. > :22:36.skills in engineering and particularly nuclear engineering
:22:36. > :22:39.available in North Wales. Yes of course, it is in -- important that
:22:39. > :22:48.those jobs come to Anglesey and the skills are available to support
:22:48. > :22:54.those posts. Will the first minister provide an update on the
:22:54. > :23:00.progress of capital transport schemes in the oven constituency?
:23:00. > :23:05.The programme for improving transport infrastructure in a while
:23:05. > :23:12.to set out in the national transport plans. May I refer
:23:12. > :23:17.specifically to the largest scheme in the area, namely the proposed
:23:17. > :23:25.bypass which is extremely important to the residents of that area, but
:23:25. > :23:30.more important perhaps to those that travel back and forth to their
:23:30. > :23:34.work, and can I ensure that the government is continuing with this
:23:34. > :23:38.important scheme, I also ask whether the First Minister will
:23:38. > :23:46.continue to consider options in relation to this route if evidence
:23:46. > :23:53.comes to light. This is to be progressed, in the early part of
:23:53. > :23:57.next year. A technical consultants will be appointed and following
:23:57. > :24:02.that, an agreement will be signed in order to proceed with the scheme
:24:02. > :24:09.itself, bearing in mind how important this bypass is. Not only
:24:09. > :24:13.did his constituency but anyone travelling that route. Referring to
:24:13. > :24:17.that bypass, the Welsh government has said it in the press this week
:24:17. > :24:23.that the proposed Pope Paul Read, the favoured route of the Welsh
:24:23. > :24:30.government, has the least impact on biodiversity and heritage --
:24:30. > :24:36.proposed a purple route. Despite the submissions being made at an
:24:36. > :24:40.early stage and then it is up to dimmest -- decision-makers. These
:24:40. > :24:44.matters should be investigated further at a later stage. How do
:24:45. > :24:48.you respond to the concerns that in a consultation, only a small number
:24:48. > :24:52.of respondents's views have been considered despite a Welsh
:24:52. > :24:56.government official recommending that further submissions should be
:24:56. > :25:04.made, signed by 1500 people, calling for the black option to be
:25:04. > :25:07.considered, despite a 700 petition from a foreign signed by 200
:25:07. > :25:13.residents, and had you respond to the statement on August night, a
:25:13. > :25:19.meeting between the consultants, Welsh government officials that a
:25:19. > :25:28.full economic impact appraisal had not been carried out. I think you
:25:28. > :25:30.have asked the question. All I can say is he is opposed to the bypass.
:25:30. > :25:33.There Sean Lock public consultations. It is inevitable
:25:33. > :25:38.when there is a scheme such as this that there will be some discontent
:25:38. > :25:41.and opposition. But the scheme does need to be taken forward for the
:25:41. > :25:48.good of the people in the area and those who travel along this section
:25:48. > :25:52.of road which is very congested at the moment. Will the First Minister
:25:52. > :25:56.make a statement on tackling youth unemployment in Wales? We see this
:25:56. > :26:02.as a key priority which is why we have established a key programmes
:26:02. > :26:07.such as jobs growth Wales. Cardiff West constituency has been
:26:07. > :26:10.badly affected, with the rates doubling in some of the most
:26:10. > :26:15.disadvantaged parts of the constituency. It is all the more
:26:15. > :26:20.welcome to see that 614 new job opportunities have already been
:26:20. > :26:24.created in Cardiff a loan through the jobs growth Wales scheme. Is
:26:24. > :26:29.there any an early evidence emergent of the rate at which
:26:29. > :26:33.chances taken up under the scheme are converted into permanent
:26:33. > :26:37.employment opportunities for your people, and how does that
:26:37. > :26:40.information compare with the record of similar schemes elsewhere?
:26:40. > :26:44.not often in government be get the opportunity to say something is
:26:44. > :26:49.exceeding your wildest expectations, but jobs growth Wales is such a
:26:49. > :26:55.programme. We know we have initial suggestions that some defy per cent
:26:55. > :27:05.of those who are part of the programme get taken on -- 75%. That
:27:05. > :27:08.
:27:08. > :27:13.is an extraordinary figure when the UK scheme has a rate of 2%. We know
:27:13. > :27:17.that the scheme has already been fulfilled, there are 2300 and
:27:17. > :27:21.rising young people who are now receiving training, that is why we
:27:21. > :27:27.are proud to say we have fulfilled what is an important commitment of
:27:28. > :27:35.our manifesto. First Minister, the West as the Government is tackling
:27:35. > :27:40.youth unemployment through a youth contract scheme which provides new
:27:40. > :27:45.opportunities for 18 did ready for years old, including
:27:45. > :27:50.apprenticeships and placements -- 18-24 year-olds. Will he welcomed
:27:50. > :27:55.this appointment in this scheme are being set up in other areas to
:27:56. > :28:00.provide additional help for young, unemployed people in these and a
:28:00. > :28:05.point it hot spots? We know the UK government schemes have been a
:28:05. > :28:10.shambles so far, we know that from their own figures. Whenever jobs
:28:10. > :28:20.growth Wales has been highly effective. I do hope the UK
:28:20. > :28:26.government gets its act together. TRANSLATION: Does he agree that a
:28:26. > :28:30.small and medium-sized enterprise have a large part to play it,
:28:30. > :28:34.particularly in Wales, to give training and apprenticeships to
:28:34. > :28:39.young people? If the First Minister does agree, does he agree we should
:28:39. > :28:46.encourage some of these small and medium-sized enterprises to promote
:28:46. > :28:52.them, to take on the young people on apprenticeships. TRANSLATION:
:28:52. > :28:56.That something -- this is something we are always considering, it is
:28:56. > :29:03.also true to say that small and medium-sized enterprises do have an
:29:03. > :29:06.important role to play in dealing with youth unemployment. Will the
:29:06. > :29:10.First Minister make a statement on the discussions he has held with
:29:10. > :29:16.local authorities regarding the development of the Severn barrage?
:29:16. > :29:18.A I have had discussions, but not with local authorities it yet.
:29:18. > :29:22.regard to the English local authorities, does the first
:29:22. > :29:26.minister consider that because of some of the potential issues raised
:29:26. > :29:30.with regard to road and rail that it would be appropriate to be
:29:30. > :29:40.having discussions with the south- west authorities and the Welsh
:29:40. > :29:46.
:29:46. > :29:55.government, because of matters of When it is appropriate, as the
:29:55. > :29:58.project progresses, we will speak to the relevant a authorities.
:29:58. > :30:03.project needs to get a green light for the next three years or is
:30:03. > :30:07.likely to was -- to risk stalling. Is now not the time to set up a
:30:07. > :30:12.full project to look at the evidence of both sides support -- a
:30:12. > :30:17.full picture can emerge? Yes, it is important this is taken forward as
:30:17. > :30:23.quickly as possible. There are issues that need to be resolved.
:30:23. > :30:26.They also need to be certainty in terms of the electricity it all the
:30:26. > :30:29.energy market in the UK. That has been partly resolved by the actions
:30:29. > :30:33.of the UK government in the past few weeks, but I would like to see
:30:33. > :30:38.this progress as quickly as possible. The opportunities are
:30:38. > :30:42.great in terms of jobs in Wales. Will the Minister please give an
:30:42. > :30:46.undertaking that any scheme will include the protection of the
:30:46. > :30:52.marine and wildlife and in particular the wetlands that
:30:52. > :30:54.attract over 100,000 visitors each year and do further recognise that
:30:54. > :30:59.conservationists will fight to protect this unique corner of our
:30:59. > :31:03.country? Yes, it is crucial that the environmental impact is
:31:03. > :31:13.understood. It is crucial that any scheme has the smallest impact
:31:13. > :31:14.
:31:14. > :31:24.possible on the environment. What plans does the First Minister have
:31:24. > :31:25.
:31:25. > :31:31.for the newly elected police and crime commissioners in Wales?
:31:31. > :31:35.Quarterly meetings have been Scheduled. In view of the fact that
:31:35. > :31:40.there are no women police commissioners in Wales and that in
:31:40. > :31:44.the hall of the UK There are only six women commissioners out of 41,
:31:44. > :31:51.how can you help to ensure that issues that are important to us all,
:31:51. > :31:55.specifically to women, are a major part of their gender? Such as
:31:56. > :32:00.domestic abuse, the new stalking law and the low conviction rate for
:32:01. > :32:06.sexual assault? At the meeting on 20th November, the Minister
:32:07. > :32:12.highlighted key areas which they should be prioritising. Dealing
:32:12. > :32:15.with domestic abuse, victims of crime, sexual assault referral
:32:15. > :32:21.centres, and that. Will continue to be made the commissioners over the
:32:21. > :32:27.course of the next year. -- that matter will continue to be made.
:32:27. > :32:30.I'm sure you will join me in welcoming the new police and crime
:32:30. > :32:34.commissioners to their new roles. Given the willingness of your
:32:34. > :32:44.government to meet with them, do you have specific plans to work
:32:44. > :32:46.
:32:46. > :32:52.with them and how will you a aligned their roles? As far as we
:32:52. > :33:00.are concerned, we will continue to suggest priorities to the PCCs over
:33:00. > :33:10.the next year. It is up to them to inform the chief constables of what
:33:10. > :33:11.
:33:11. > :33:16.their roles will be. First Minister, you say that the commissioners do
:33:16. > :33:19.not have a role in the intervening in police services, but they do
:33:19. > :33:24.manage the budgets of the police and triggering that they can
:33:24. > :33:29.influence the way that the police operate -- and through doing that.
:33:29. > :33:32.Considering the kind of statements we have heard from the
:33:32. > :33:35.commissioners that had been appointed, are you concerned that
:33:35. > :33:39.we are going to have police laboratories throughout Wales
:33:39. > :33:42.operating in different ways? May I draw your attention to the clear
:33:42. > :33:47.difference between the statements from the commissioner in North
:33:48. > :33:52.Wales compared to the new commissioner in South Wales? That
:33:52. > :33:55.is bound to happen. Of course, if you have four commissioners, it is
:33:55. > :33:58.entirely reasonable to expect that things will be different in
:33:58. > :34:07.different parts of Wales. We will see if that is positive or
:34:07. > :34:17.otherwise. There's an important point about the role of women PCCs.
:34:17. > :34:18.
:34:18. > :34:25.I wonder if the government could be pressed to raise the issue of how
:34:25. > :34:32.much is spent on these hidden problems, and elder abuse is rising
:34:32. > :34:36.up the agenda in terms of a matter of extreme concern. The BCCs are
:34:36. > :34:41.accountable to the community, including older people -- the IPCCs.
:34:41. > :34:49.It is something that all police and crime commissioners must take very
:34:49. > :34:59.seriously. Will have First Minister make a statement on improving
:34:59. > :35:09.
:35:09. > :35:14.health in the Callum Ballee? -- Cynon Valley. Uptake of the food
:35:14. > :35:18.Jabez low. Figures for November showed that only 26.9 % of pregnant
:35:18. > :35:22.women have so far been immunised against blue. What steps is the
:35:22. > :35:26.world government taking to address this and would you agree that in
:35:26. > :35:29.light of the recent whooping cough epidemic which has sadly killed a
:35:29. > :35:35.number of babies in England, immunisation is more important than
:35:35. > :35:41.ever? Absolutely. We are concerned about below it uptake of seasonal
:35:41. > :35:44.flu vaccination. It seems to be a UK wider trend but nevertheless the
:35:44. > :35:49.Chief Medical Officer has been embedded -- regular contact with
:35:49. > :35:54.their health boards to identify any barriers that much exist. -- that
:35:54. > :35:57.might exist. Could the First Minister please indicate, has any
:35:57. > :36:01.assessment been taken about the NHS redress measure that has been
:36:01. > :36:05.brought in by the previous Assembly government and its effectiveness? A
:36:05. > :36:08.lot of people have very successful procedures and the health service,
:36:08. > :36:12.but when things do go wrong, it is important that the issues are
:36:12. > :36:17.corrected promptly so we don't see a lot of court cases and distress
:36:17. > :36:22.caused to the people who have had his case against them. Yes, these
:36:22. > :36:28.are the evidence is that the measures are working very well. --
:36:28. > :36:32.this is the evidence. People didn't have to fill their had to go to
:36:32. > :36:38.court in order to get a redress, but there with a faster and cheaper
:36:38. > :36:42.way of achieving that. -- there was a faster. We have achieved that.
:36:42. > :36:47.For three after the last five years for which we have figures, male
:36:47. > :36:52.suicides in Wales have been higher than any other region of England --
:36:52. > :36:58.any region of England. The number of suicides in men is higher than
:36:58. > :37:01.that of women. Can you tell us what to work your government is
:37:01. > :37:07.undertaking to prevent suicides, particularly amongst young men from
:37:07. > :37:13.working-class communities? Yes, we are lining efforts to it improve
:37:13. > :37:23.mental health services. The general trend has been downwards over the
:37:23. > :37:24.
:37:24. > :37:28.last decade, but the figures mean there is still more work to be done.
:37:28. > :37:31.We need to see why there is this apparent spike in the number of
:37:31. > :37:39.male suicides. We are working with local health boards to understand
:37:39. > :37:44.what has caused it and then address the causes. Will the First Minister
:37:44. > :37:50.provide an update on the plans to introduce next generation broadband
:37:50. > :37:54.in Wales? The European Commission has now approved the UK
:37:54. > :37:58.government's national broadband scheme. We now expect to receive
:37:58. > :38:06.formal approval for the Wales scheme from the UK government
:38:06. > :38:14.shortly. Next Generation Board ban will be important to allowing
:38:14. > :38:24.broadcasting on line. -- broadband. The new Office minister responsible
:38:24. > :38:27.
:38:27. > :38:32.for communication -- the new First Minister authorised a letter.
:38:32. > :38:36.relation to broadband, this is something we want to see very soon
:38:37. > :38:41.and we will be announcing further information about these schemes to
:38:41. > :38:48.put the programme in place. In relation to the other question on
:38:48. > :38:56.broadcasting, a letter was sent by press officials considering a
:38:56. > :38:59.serious complaint made. We wait for a response. You have no doubt where
:38:59. > :39:06.the Welsh Affairs Committee's recent report on broadband, which
:39:06. > :39:09.recommended that the first priority must be to ensure that the needs of
:39:09. > :39:14.approximately 90,000 homes in Wales which do not currently have access
:39:14. > :39:18.to broadband are addressed as soon as possible. Given the fear in
:39:18. > :39:22.rural communities that they will be left behind when next generation
:39:22. > :39:27.broadband is rolled out elsewhere, don't you agree that these 90,000
:39:27. > :39:31.homes deserve access to a basic services first? And do you accept
:39:31. > :39:37.the criticism that the broad band support scheme is only scratching
:39:37. > :39:42.the surface of the problem in rural spots? We have committed to ensure
:39:42. > :39:49.that 96 % of premises do have access to super-fast ball bound by
:39:49. > :39:52.2015. That is a promise and the government intends to carry it out.
:39:52. > :39:57.Although it is important to get super-fast broadband ruled out come
:39:57. > :40:00.a lot of businesses also depend on 4G, which is very important. Can I
:40:00. > :40:06.ask what were you doing with the UK government to ensure we have a
:40:06. > :40:09.thorough roll-out of 4G across Wales, as well? We know Cardiff its
:40:09. > :40:17.in the pilot project of 4G. The concern I have is because the model
:40:17. > :40:21.in the UK it is to auction frequencies for mobile phone
:40:21. > :40:31.coverage, that the trains the coffers of mobile phone companies
:40:31. > :40:35.in terms of their ability to invest in the 4G masts. It is something we
:40:35. > :40:44.do need to address, but it is right to say that 4G needs to be rolled
:40:44. > :40:48.out as quickly as possible from Cardiff to the rest of Wales.
:40:49. > :40:56.There we are. You can see more coverage of the National Assembly
:40:56. > :41:02.online from our democracy life page which is that bbc .co.uk.
:41:02. > :41:06.Our Welsh affairs officer is in the Assembly newsroom. Good afternoon.
:41:06. > :41:16.Let's concentrate on what we learned from that edition of first
:41:16. > :41:24.
:41:24. > :41:29.Mr's questions. -- First Minister's questions. We learned about the
:41:29. > :41:36.letter for a programme to be taken off air. Yes, that cropped up three
:41:36. > :41:41.or four times, and Carwyn Jones made it clear that he had
:41:41. > :41:46.authorised press officers to write the BBC and he claimed that no
:41:46. > :41:51.other soap opera in the UK had ever criticised a government directly. I
:41:51. > :42:01.suspect there will be people coming through records to see if that is
:42:01. > :42:05.
:42:05. > :42:09.true -- combing. Leanne Wood took a different tack, and she attempted
:42:09. > :42:19.to embarrass the First Minister by quitting some of the abuse from
:42:19. > :42:21.
:42:21. > :42:28.some of his Labour backbenchers on the health reorganisation. Yes, a
:42:28. > :42:33.Conservative debate, the government refused to take part. They said,
:42:33. > :42:39.this is a protest in which we have a judicial role and therefore we
:42:39. > :42:47.cannot state opinions. What Leanne Wood came in with was examples of
:42:47. > :42:52.Labour ams including the education minister giving examples of
:42:52. > :42:58.hospital decisions and choices in their areas. She did have the
:42:58. > :43:03.example of Carwyn Jones giving his opinion. For some reason, she
:43:03. > :43:12.didn't use that, but Carwyn Jones hat a theological view that you
:43:12. > :43:16.could divide the Trinity that and am could do something without being
:43:16. > :43:22.an am, or some such argument. Legally, Carwyn Jones is right, but
:43:22. > :43:25.it does highlight this rather odd situation where the government is
:43:25. > :43:35.saying that the am cannot say something in the chamber but he can
:43:35. > :43:35.
:43:35. > :43:39.say something in a press release or a letter. Thank you very much. I