06/03/2012 am.pm

Good afternoon, welcome to the programme. The First Minister is

going to the USA tomorrow to let them know about Wales is open Andre

for business. Before he goes to Heathrow Airport, he has got to

some business to attend to here at Cardiff Bay first. You can contact

a threat the programme to date. -- you can Cont of dust throughout the

Let's get down to business, the Good afternoon, I call the National

Assembly for Wales to order, question one of for the Prime

Minister -- First Minister. Would he make a statement on banding in

primary schools? Yes, banding for primary schools will be introduced

in 2014. Thank you. What reassurance can you give too

concerned parents and pupils across Wales still waiting to drive up

standards that the recent U-turn on the timescale of this banding is

not actually be previewed to the ditching of this manifesto

altogether? We will get it on in 2014 as we promised, and we will

not cut education funding by 20 %. Why don't you ditch the primary

school banding altogether, and instead of waiting until 2014 to

improve standards, why not a concentrate on improving the core

skills of reading and writing in primary school children and

introduce the national reading test and get the support in the primary

schools and forget about banding, it will not have you in this

Parliament. We are introducing this test, we are doing both, we need to

be able to assess primary schools to provide parents with the

information that they need. Howell is the Welsh government supporting

the network of hospitals in Wales? -- house is the buzz Government?

have established a framework to ensure the long-term future for the

services. Last week, you accuse me of scaremongering and misleading

constituents, today, two of your constituents have accused me of the

scaremongering in a Labour press release. 850 people do not travel

three Harrods from Aberystwyth Town to the steps of this assembly

because of scaremongering. This document currently in pre-

consultation has no option for coal rectal surgery or rescued surgery.

There is only one of three options with a full accident and emergency

retained in the area. Do you agree that this is not scaremongering,

this is a proposal of downgrading hospitals. Nothing has changed, the

press release said these were Labour's plans politicising the

issue in an unnecessary way. At least we get some of the truth from

what she says, they are local health board plans and they are to

be consulted on. But as we have said many times, we will not accept

any plans they do not provide safe and sustainable services for all of

the communities in Wales. There is no questions of accident and

emergency closing or maternity closing. There are people saying

that some of these are closing, there are people, there were

banners outside year saying that the hospital will close. Who on

earth told them back? We want to make sure that a hospital continues

to serve the wider area Ian he says, sustainable way and there is no

other ambition that we have. First Minister, which will join with me

in reassuring the people yet again, all of those things you have just

said, that there are no plans of this government to downgrade any

services or close and the hospitals, and that the �32 million we have

invested, there is a real commitment to that hospital,

because time and time again, I'm sure you'll agree, it is a little

bit disappointing to hear people saying that this investment does

not equally commitments. I do find it surprising that the capital

spending that is going in is treated as if it was not happening

by some people. It is a significant commitment by this government for

the future of the hospital and it is an important hospital and an

important district general hospital which serves a wide area and will

continue to serve that area for many, many years to come. One of

the first things that is worrying people across North Wales is the

fact that neonatal units are not even approaching compliance with

the standards on medical staffing. We're told that this is because of

a shortage of specialist members of staff and the or CN has said that

staff were not getting adequate time to train professionally to

provide this care. -- RCN. With record-breaking cuts, how do you

expect a hospitals to have adequate to neonatal care? There are

vacancies in the NHS in Wales that are funded, but the problem is

attracting people in. We accept there would be more practitioners

that want to come to Wales when they look at the chaos occurring in

England. Earlier you acknowledge the vital importance of hospitals

within carried Aegean and also in southern Quebec, do you accept that

in cases such as this, the hospital catchment area, rather than the

Authority boundary should be the statistics of which the future

service provision is based. Yes, we need to acknowledge this. Many

people in some areas go to a close a hospital, that may be one example.

But nevertheless, there is a wide catchment area which we fully

acknowledged and you cannot plan services on the basis of containing

services within an area. Questions now from the party leaders. First,

the Leader of the Opposition. you. Last week, was Welsh tourism

week, what did you do to support this? I would be promoting Welsh

tourism in America this week to remind the people of United States

that Wales is a wonderful destination, building on the

success of the Ryder Cup. Thank you. I appreciate you're going to

America tomorrow. I understand relieving from Heathrow rather than

Cardiff, despite the fact you can go from Cardiff to Amsterdam and

fly over. If you look at the facts of tourism, there are less UK

visitors than there were two Wales ten years ago. If you look out to

overseas visitors, there were 113,000 fewer visitors coming to

Wales than the wires in 2004. If you look at expenditure for tourism

here in Wales, that is less than what it was ten years ago. Those

figures indicate that the policies that your government have been

exercising in promoting Wales as an attractive tourist destination are

failing. Why is that? As the not notice there has been an economic

downturn since 2008. -- has he not noticed? The reality is, we are

working hard to attract tourism to Wales, the Ryder Cup was a

fantastic success last year, even though the weather, as not doing

well. -- the world economy was not doing well. Wales is a wonderful

place to come, the fact that we had the Ryder Cup was indicative of

that. You could not give me one example of any action you took up

interest week last week, and to say there is a downturn in expenditure,

but these government figures do not captured the most recent

information, they capture up to 2010. I offered a ten-year stock

shot. Scotland have a very aggressive campaign for what they

have available. Today, Westminster are launching a promotional

campaign for visitors to stay in the UK and spend their money here

in the UK. From your previous two answers, you clearly indicate that

you have no strategy and no understanding of how to support the

very positive offering that we have here in Wales and that the tourist

operators want to get behind. I ask you again, what will you be

proactive lead to win over the next 12-18 months to turn these

disappointing figures around and engage with tour operators across

Wales to promote Wales and a positive light? The problem is, he

cannot deviate from a script when he gets unexpected answers! I would

be in the United States meeting with tourism operators there to

promote Wales he in the United States and I will continue to do so.

Unlike income I take the view that it is important for somebody in my

job to promote Wales abroad, even if he wants to stay at home!

Questions from the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales. One in

200 pregnancies ends in the tragedy of a stillbirth, a figure that has

not improved for more than 20 years. Figures released last week show the

rate of stillbirth is rising in Wales. In 2010, there were 190

known and recorded stillbirths compared to 155 in 1999. From being

one of the best countries, Wales and the UK have become one of the

worst. Watch proposals does the Government have to address this

issue? As she will know, we're looking at the best way to

configure services in Wales so we can ensure the safest and most

sustainable service. One of the ways in which early signs can be

identified is by a baby being underweight through poor growth. In

Wales, as in the rest of the UK, the way that remastered the size of

an unborn baby is very rudimentary. -- the way that we measure the size.

In other countries, pregnant women are offered more scans which are

accurate in predicting the birth weight of a baby. We consider

undertaking such approaches in Wales so expectant mothers can have

more regular scans so we can be aware if a baby is struggling to

thrive? If there are ways of improving the outcome of a birth,

then we will, of course, examine and the way in which it would

improve that outcome. If the member is aware of other countries where

she feels that there are better ways of monitoring a child like

this, then clearly, we would like to examine this to see if it can be

done in Wales. I can do the way further example, another sign of

distress in the foetus is reduced movement towards the end of

pregnancy. Timely access to the foetal heart monitoring and

scanning can make a real difference to the outcome of this pregnancy.

We you insurer, has to undertake reviews of your services here in

Wales, that women will be guaranteed timely access to foetal

heart monitoring and subsequent scans if there a doctor feels it is

necessary. -- Willie you insure? this is crucial that we give this

helped to expectant mothers, and that means the right level of

specialised services are available Speaking of the local health board,

the Labour MP said, and I quote, taking little notice of pace --

taking little notice of their patients and staff. Ambulances are

bypassing of Prince Philip's, and taking patients to Carmarthen and

Swansea. Patients demand accident and emergency services that Prince

Philip. Are they scaremongering? had no plans to change accident and

emergency there. Ambulances have always gone to our hospitals. That

is a specialist cardiac centre. see it is only members from other

parties who are scaremongering. Can I say this to you first minister,

the Labour peer, Lord Morgan, said last week, when they are the health

board came to being, that process was accelerated with gusto. A big

majority of medical staff there have no confidence in the health

board. Are they scaremongering? were in government for four years.

You must take responsibility as well. The reality is that it has

been hard to attract consultants there for many years. That is the

way the medical profession has organised itself. I have said this

many times. I come back to this, we have made sure that we have

launched a recruitment campaign in order to attract more senior staff

west of Swansea. Can I say first minister, it is not just Plaid

Cymru who is worried. Can you give this assembly an assurance that at

the end of this assembly term, Prince Philip's will have a full

accident and emergency department? There is no doubt that both the

best hospitals will have that. to be written agenda. This is an

opportunity to question of the first minister, not to give a long

speeches. -- not to give a long speeches. What discussions with the

first minister had with the UK government talking that the future

of the UK? -- talking about the future of the UK? That have been no

discussions. I have written a to the Prime Minister to say that this

would be a good idea in order to guarantee the future of the UK.

support the first minister. It is important that Wales his boys

should be heard. -- about Wales's voice should be heard. We were part

of the United Kingdom before Scotland. We should have a say on

the future of the Union. Were the first minister explain to the Prime

Minister that the United Kingdom has never been a year Terry -- a

unit very centralised system. constitution of the United Kingdom

has to be constituted so that all parts have an assembly, it's not

right, in my view, that the United Kingdom Parliament has the power to

dissolve it this assembly next week without any kind of boat from the

people of Wales. We must have a constitution which recognises the

fact that this cannot happen, even if it is only theoretical. Does the

first Minister agree that the referendum that we should all be

seeking is one that is up around the UK, and a modern Britain

constitution suitable for the 21st century? We can't carry on with a

constitution that was designed by a 19th century. -- that was designed

for the 19th century. Thank you presiding officer. As for the

future of the United Kingdom, I would like to see parity across

Britain in order to safeguard and protect the interests and future of

the United Kingdom. One way to do that is to see a real federal

system developed in the near future. Does the first Minister agree with

this, and if so how is his cupboard going to develop that agenda? --

how is his government go to develop that agenda? That is an option. We

have to consider all issues as regards the constitution, and the

West Lothian question is one part of that. What representations does

the first minister did regard the health board plans? -- regarding

the health board plans? People will give a petition asking that

services in Prince Philippos but will be returned -- Prince Philip's

Hospital be retained. There will be an urgent care centre available.

Can you explain the difference between a major emergency

department and an urgent care centre, which is the safest option

for the people there? As regards the service, there is hardly any

difference at all regarding the service is available. I hope they

take comfort in that. First Minister, as you will appreciate,

this is a unique situation, they don't have a district hospital,

therefore isn't it time that we have a specific and comprehensive

sustainable plan for mid-Wales, so that whenever you live you have

access to the best health services? People in the east look to

hospitals across the board. There is no plan to change that. What is

the government doing to improve the transport ever structure in west

Wales? The priorities are available in the national transport plan,

published last year. Thank you very much first minister. I note from

that plan that the government has prioritise Investment it in

transport projects in order to secured economic and social

interests in that area. There are no projects in West Wales in that

list. Will there be any projects in West Wales that the Government will

invest in in the near future in order to reassure that your

transport plan is truly national? Of course new services have

commenced in Fishguard, in that member's constituency, we are

looking at redoubling the liner there. We've also commenced work on

the A477, so there are three projects there that have commenced

for the benefit of the people of west Wales. The completion of the

new road travelling south past Royston, the right -- that are a

number of plans there. Some companies in west Wales are be

companies in west Wales are be forced to reduce the number of

journeys because of cost. They face much more difficult journeys. The

increase in fuel charges is a big problem for people using cars. The

UK Cabinet representative for Transport is calling for a

reduction in fuel prices at the pump. would this be a great help?

recall people protesting about fuel taxes, and the Chancellor saying

they are too high. The price of your has gone up again. -- the

price of fuel has gone up again. The Chancellor has rejected that

increase. It is clear that the UK government isn't going to cut fuel

prices. That will not benefit the people of Wales. First Minister,

may I refer you to two schemes that are under consideration in south-

west Wales. Namely that the relief road third and congestion relief.

There are big congestion problems there. Improving those roads would

secured much better links from the north to the south for my

constituents. I'm grateful to the minister for transport for allowing

his officials to come and talk to me about these schemes. Is there

any commitment that you can give on behalf of the Welsh government that

both schemes will be given serious consideration and priority,

accepting restrictions that are coming in the way of cuts.

bypass is coming in 2014, that is the target. We don't know when the

road will start because of the cut. Could you outline it changes to the

disability equality duty? That was repealed in 2010, and those duties

came into force on 6th April last year. We previously discussed Guide

Dogs for the Blind, and certain streets becoming no-go areas for

those who are blind or partially sighted. I joined a charity for a

walk in Carmarthen, walking a mile to highlight these issues. What

action is the Welsh government are now taking to reassure greater

design consistency to help access groups? We need to ensure that

those barriers are removed. Ministers are now required to

publish a report on compliance every four years. An interim report

will be published every two years as they progress update. The first

to Welsh ministers report will be published no later than 31st

December 1920 16. -- 2016. There has been a serious problem with

disability a crime. What action will be be taking a to make schools

and colleges foster a more proactive attitude towards those

with disabilities? We want children to understand the effects of

actions on those who are disabled, and of course to understand how

appalled people are by crimes against disabled people. I expect

schools to ensure that children are fully aware of the need to be aware

of, and to report, disability crime. Well the first minister make a

statement regarding support for the third sector? Of course we want to

work in partnership with the third sector. It has an important role to

play in terms of community development for the future,

particularly in terms of the local economy. Thank you for that

response. In Wales There is a tradition that of collaboration.

Any number of cases, buildings have become vacant, would you agree that

the local authorities should be given further responsibilities to

support local organisations and agencies to increase the

opportunity for a third set up It would be censored bow to

consider how vacant school buildings are used. -- it would be

important to consider. We need to look get the use of these

facilities in the future. The UK government is expanding the

citizen's service to offer a 30,000 places to people in 2012, 60,000 in

2013 and 90,020 14. The Scottish government is also showing

enthusiasm for the idea. What is your reaction to establishing a

citizen's service here in Wales? have received nothing to find

anything from the Government of Westminster, but we have got a

volunteering place that is giving opportunities in Wales.

Volunteering is made accessible and did increases the quality of

opportunities so we do not believe that the national citizenship

service would add anything to the schemes already in place. I noted

last week that the family of Gary Speed decided to give the proceeds

of their memorial match to a charity that helps men better

thinking of committing suicide. It does a lot of good work in

Liverpool and London and I recognise there are organisations

in Wales that two very good work, this organisation specifically

targets men. Would you be interested in holding a pilot of

this work in Wales so that we can bring his work into Wales and

recognise the support that Gary Speed's family has given this

charity? I would like to understand more of the work of this charity

and I would like to receive more information about the charity and

what it promotes. Following the publication of the latest UK Civic

Society of map showing how the voluntary sector has been hit by

the recession, does he have any plans for a further support for

organisations like the hospice movement which we depend on so much

in Wales and were 70 % of its funding depends on voluntary

donations? Yes, we already provide funding for the hospice service and

we recognise the important work they do in society and we hope that

the work of hospitals will continue at the same level as has been the

case before. -- hospitals. We will monitor the situation to make sure

we have an appropriate hospice service in Wales. Does he have any

plans to visit our constituency to look at the regeneration programme?

I am aware of the regeneration programme and I will consider any

invitation that comes my way. may be aware there is a �10.5

million regeneration programme and also there is a new train station

development and a new precincts to the value of �6 million so eight

�50 million investment, it does he agree that this form of multi-party

approach to improve at town centre provides a tremendous example to

other local authorities and would he commit to visiting as in the

near future to see the regeneration? I would very much

enjoy coming to see the regeneration and I remember going

their shopping as a young boy because it had a different closing

time that everywhere else. It also had Marks & Spencer which if you

lived in Bridgend was very exotic! And would be very happy to go there

again to examine the good work that has been done there. Thank you. I

remember also going their to the nightclub as well! We do not want

to reminisce that too much! One of the key things about regeneration

is Transport and the ability to have sustainable options for

transport. The Government has had schemes in Cardiff and had the

sustainable Towns initiative, has there any analysis been done that

could be rolled out to there towns and villages across Wales so that

sustainable transport options are available to help regenerate town

centres in the country? I do not recall seeing him in the nightclub!

Nevertheless, if he does not tell, I will not tell I there! Cardiff is

in a slightly different position as a big city, and the travel needs

would be different to a smaller towns, but we would expect to see

good practice rolled out across Wales and good practice where they

are appropriate in other towns across Wales. I do not remember

seeing the Leader of the Opposition in the nightclub are there! -- e

there! There are very many small independent businesses, you may

recall calling them exotic, but they are long established on the

High Street, and some of them are worried about the impact of the

recession and the impact of the large supermarkets that was

referred to earlier that has been built on the format Brownfield site,

because people feel there would be a dip as has been seen by other

small businesses when supermarkets have opened close by. Will you

agree to monitor the situation to see if there is a detrimental

impact on local traders from this supermarket? And if it is proven to

be detrimental, which you consider supporting a supermarket tax as it

is being proposed in Northern Ireland which would help to create

more of a level playing field between supermarkets and local

business. I do nothing that would work, I think the trouble and is

more complex than that. -- the problem is more complex. If they do

not have a shop on their doorstep, they would go somewhere else,

rather than going to a town centre. The way for the High Street to

prosper is for shops to look at stocking items that the

supermarkets do not stock and offer services that supermarkets do not

offer and to look at developing on- line provision. It has happened in

some parts of Wales in town centres were shops are doing well based on

this model, but the difficulty is, if people feel that they cannot

shop in the supermarket locally, they were shopped elsewhere, and

twice the supermarket is condemned, people do tend to shop there, which

is part of the problem and something that causes difficulty

for 10 centres. It is looking inventively had our town centres

can be encouraged and how businesses can be encouraged rather

than turning back the tide which has been well established for 10 or

20 years. I would deny ever having been to the nightclub, but when I

crossed into about the economic development strategy last year

listing what was not mentioned by the document, you said that very

little of the list that the member produced is anything to do with the

council. Can you confirm that you really do believe that car parking,

bus services at the University of Glamorgan have nothing to do with

the economic success of the area? do not recall saying anything of

this sort from last week. It is quite clear that from the

regeneration, what we have seen there is a very good local

authority leading the regeneration of one of its major towns, and that

is something that I very much to applaud. What discussions are

taking place with the UK government to allow the publication of figures

that compare expenditure on education in England and Wales?

Statisticians were in contact with the Department of Education and the

Department of local committees and government to investigate if

comparative information could be published and those discussions

will continue in the next week and month, but at the moment, the

decision on that she started soon is that it is not possible to

published these figures. -- the decision of the chief statistician

is it is not possible. The number of academies being created in

England, we are guaranteed that it is important that we have an

opportunity to have information on what impact the extra expenditure

has on board side of the borders and without seen these figures, it

is hard to know how to raise educational standards. This was not

a decision taken by Ministers, but by a statistician, so at the moment,

it is difficult to compare England and Wales because of the changes

taking place in England and that was the decision taken. I would be

more than confidence to compare Wales with England on education

always, but at the moment it is impossible because of the financial

structures that are very difficult between England and Wales. Wouldn't

such a comparison be unfair, because as you know, and number of

local authorities in England and Wales, and places like Swansea,

they spent less than what they are allocated based on education

assessment and taking out of education it would be bad for

services? We expect the local authority to spend appropriate

money on their education and not for it to be low, and slower than

what they have received so? At a conference this morning for

represent us in the primary and secondary schools sectors, the

issue of the funding gap between England and Wales was raised by a

number of delegates. I wonder if you could update the chamber on

what steps the Government is taking to ensure that this funding gap is

solved because one of the ways you could do it is by implementing some

of the recommendations of the Price Waterhouse Cooper report on the

cost of administrating the system in Wales which has one third of the

budget being spent on red tape and bureaucracy. Coming from a party

that wanted to change the Budget and it was changing all the time,

the reality is, this was money better not go to the school and to

education. We're happy to publish our statistics, but there is such a

funding foggy in England, it is difficult to provide comparisons

between Wales and England. That were the first Minister's

questions from this week, you can see more on the website. To not go

there yet, first, our Welsh Affairs Editor is here to look at what

happened. I hesitate to use this word, you were excited at the

quality of first Minister's questions today? Yes, I thought it

was very good. Very strong exchanges over the hospital, no

great surprise there. Similar exchanges last week, but really, a

lot going on between car Lyn Jones and Plaid Cymru, and they are co-

ordinating their attacks with the possible future leader, and then

the Labour leader following, so we thought of the three opposition

leaders, I thought it was really Labour's day today. Kirsty Williams,

she was taking a step back, she was not bringing a bit confrontational

issue, so we slightly different approach. What can be read into the

fact that Elin Jones was going toe- to-toe and we also heard from

another Assembly Member praising the First Minister. It was very

interesting because it has been noticeable because there had not

been many exchanges about the constitution and what is going on

in Scotland in first Minister's questions, but when you are outside

the chamber, it is what a lot of people are talking about, so what

would happen to Wales and Scotland became independent? A lot of people

think this is something that is talking about in speeches and not

in the chain work -- in the chamber. Today, it reached the chamber and

the First Minister was pushing the constitutional Convention and it is

difficult to see how bad would happen before the Scottish

referendum, because the Scottish government would not take part in a

convention aimed at keeping the UK together, but ahead of what might

be comment after the Scottish referendum whatever way it goes.

The First Minister is going to America tomorrow, he is flying from

Heathrow and this was mentioned this week, but can we begin to him

making a big plate if he was in Brussels last week, the United

States this week? He was to be seen waving the flag for Wales. Does

that relate to the Scottish position perhaps? I am not sure it

does, but the Government is aware that Scotland has a much higher

profile because of what is going on politically so there might be an

element of saying, do not forget about us? The airport thing, I

thought that was quite. I do not understand why he brought that up