:00:32. > :00:35.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme. We are expecting the
:00:35. > :00:40.First Minister to be answering questions later into allegations of
:00:40. > :00:44.abuse in the North Wales care homes dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
:00:44. > :00:47.We know the Prime Minister yesterday announced the inquiry
:00:47. > :00:51.into historic allegations of child abuse in North Wales were hampered
:00:51. > :00:56.by the police. The Home Secretary has spoken in the Commons on the
:00:56. > :01:00.matter. There was Government inquiry has yet to be announced.
:01:00. > :01:02.The First Minister will be a children's commissioner and later
:01:03. > :01:07.this afternoon, who has already called for a new inquiry into
:01:07. > :01:17.pieces in North Wales relating to care homes. You can get in touch
:01:17. > :01:20.
:01:20. > :01:27.with us if you want to comment on Business in the Chamber is already
:01:27. > :01:31.under way. Let's take a look at questions to the First Minister.
:01:31. > :01:38.I call the National Assembly to order. Questions to the First
:01:38. > :01:45.Minister. TRANSLATION: Will the First
:01:45. > :01:48.Minister make a statement on unemployment in young people.
:01:48. > :01:55.The dealing with this is one of the main priorities for a Government.
:01:55. > :01:58.As a result, up We provided key employability programmes,
:01:58. > :02:04.established a programme for young people aged 16 to 24 and introduce
:02:04. > :02:08.measures to extend apprenticeships. Many of those schemes that
:02:08. > :02:13.endeavour to tackle youth unemployment and the skills gap
:02:13. > :02:18.among young people are dependent on funding from the European
:02:18. > :02:24.structural funds and your fellow members of Parliament have voted
:02:24. > :02:26.for a reduction in the European Union budget, supporting up to 50
:02:26. > :02:33.right-wing Conservatives. Do you also believe the European Union
:02:33. > :02:38.budget should be reduced? I believe that the Budget should be
:02:38. > :02:40.established on A-Level which is of benefit to the people of Wales. We
:02:40. > :02:45.as a Government would not be in favour of cutting the budget which
:02:45. > :02:48.is available for funds which assist the people of Wales.
:02:48. > :02:52.I know you'll agree with me that apprenticeships are an incredibly
:02:52. > :02:55.useful way of helping young people into work. Some of these
:02:55. > :03:00.apprenticeships that people are offered involved and having to live
:03:00. > :03:04.away from home or to undertake extensive travel. It is very costly.
:03:04. > :03:08.I have had a number of constituents who have not been able to take up
:03:08. > :03:13.their apprenticeships because they cannot afford to be able to pay for
:03:13. > :03:17.bed-and-breakfast lodgings or whatever it may be. I have tried
:03:17. > :03:21.three very his portfolio holders, through grants, games, lottery, all
:03:21. > :03:24.sorts of possible ways to find them funding and I wondered how
:03:24. > :03:29.important it was to get our young people to work and could duplicate
:03:29. > :03:33.this on a cross-party basis to look at what financial support we could
:03:33. > :03:36.offer young people who need to undertake apprenticeships, because
:03:36. > :03:40.that apprenticeship they need is not available locally and they have
:03:40. > :03:44.to do it far away from home. They simply cannot do it and cannot get
:03:44. > :03:49.a job. Some 1800 young people have started
:03:49. > :03:53.work through jobs growth Wales and more than 3,500 opportunities have
:03:54. > :03:59.been created in total today. There is a specific issue regarding the
:03:59. > :04:04.cost of travel and bought for young people. I will write to her with
:04:04. > :04:08.more information on the lines that she has requested.
:04:08. > :04:15.This situation is very difficult at the moment for our young people and
:04:15. > :04:18.there is a lot of low morale. We you join with me in congratulating
:04:18. > :04:21.of the council which has recently lost its your apprenticeship scheme
:04:21. > :04:25.at which is in rolling 33 young people on full-time paid
:04:25. > :04:29.apprenticeship programmes. What more could be done to encourage
:04:29. > :04:32.other larger employers locally to do the same?
:04:32. > :04:36.Local authorities have a very important role in ensuring that
:04:36. > :04:40.opportunities exist for young people and I commend them for the
:04:40. > :04:46.initiative they have taken forward. They will be an example to others
:04:46. > :04:51.both inside and outside the public sector.
:04:51. > :04:54.Long-term youth unemployment is at a 15 year high here. One in four of
:04:54. > :04:59.19 to 25 year olds are not in education, employment or in
:04:59. > :05:03.training. The youth contract in England seems to be denting the
:05:03. > :05:08.situation over their but the picture is still worsening in Wales.
:05:08. > :05:14.Are you still satisfied with the performance of jobs growth Wales?
:05:14. > :05:21.Bear in mind that the youth contract that you talk of is a copy
:05:21. > :05:25.of 0 our contract! We expect to reach the target of 4,000 places
:05:25. > :05:30.created by March of next year and in the years beyond. It is through
:05:30. > :05:33.schemes such as jobs growth Wales. We know that many young people in
:05:33. > :05:40.Wales would be provided with opportunities that they otherwise
:05:40. > :05:44.would not have. In my constituency, some 39% of
:05:44. > :05:49.young people in the 16 to 24 age group are out of work. I have had
:05:49. > :05:54.the pleasure -- pleasure of meeting a number who are now in work
:05:54. > :05:58.because of the jobs growth Wales employment. What plans has the
:05:58. > :06:04.Welsh Government got to actually build on of the growing success of
:06:04. > :06:07.jobs growth Wales? This scheme is scheduled to run
:06:07. > :06:11.through to March 2015 and we will be undertaking a robust devaluation
:06:11. > :06:17.of the programme which will help us to understand the impact of this
:06:17. > :06:20.invention on the employment prospects for this is could?
:06:20. > :06:23.What action is the Wells Government seeking to improve economic
:06:23. > :06:27.activity within the Swansea Bay region?
:06:27. > :06:31.We are strengthening the conditions for job creation and retention and
:06:31. > :06:36.investing in infrastructure, skills and innovation.
:06:36. > :06:42.I a fortnight ago, due -- attended the launch of a specific pilot
:06:42. > :06:46.project which was researching into commercialisation, us getting
:06:46. > :06:52.economic out synergies. What is the wealth Government propose to put in
:06:52. > :07:00.place to encourage new investments so Swansea Bay businesses could get
:07:00. > :07:03.support? The academic expertise for a
:07:03. > :07:10.business programme, which fosters collaborative links between
:07:10. > :07:13.academic institutions and businesses. These smart Comrie
:07:13. > :07:16.programme, so biding support for SME and none has any programmes
:07:16. > :07:19.made in the Belmont and research. On the Business Innovation
:07:19. > :07:22.programme which provides specialist report by emigration and
:07:22. > :07:25.intellectual property, manufacturing and design
:07:25. > :07:32.specialists for companies engaged in benefit of new product process
:07:32. > :07:36.and service of on and. You will be aware of the growing
:07:36. > :07:40.interest in the opportunities provided by tidal Power generated
:07:40. > :07:44.in the waters beyond Swansea Bay and the then Swansea Bay, both for
:07:44. > :07:46.the economy and the green energy targets. What steps as you
:07:46. > :07:50.Government taken to establish the impact on those opportunities by
:07:50. > :07:55.crowding those waters with the likes of Atlantic array or gas
:07:55. > :08:01.extraction operations and further, the cumulative effect of all those
:08:01. > :08:04.operations on local tourism? In terms of the sea come up our
:08:04. > :08:08.responsibilities like only up to one megawatt, which is very small
:08:08. > :08:11.point The rest of it lies in hands of the UK Government. We believe
:08:11. > :08:15.that the new resources in Wales should properly be enhance of the
:08:16. > :08:20.people of Wales and therefore, we want to see devolution of the
:08:20. > :08:23.powers to approve offshore her wind and tidal and we have to the
:08:23. > :08:30.elements and that we believe is the proper way forward for the people
:08:30. > :08:34.of Wales in order to maximise the economic benefit.
:08:35. > :08:38.In the letter of 15th October to Assembly members, the minister for
:08:38. > :08:42.business are, enterprise technology and science refers to the change of
:08:42. > :08:47.policy in 2008 to remove capital receipts which have been put aside
:08:47. > :08:52.for Swansea and spend those on a Wales wide basis instead. In her
:08:52. > :08:55.letter, she says that that decision was taken by senior management
:08:55. > :08:57.within their them departments of economy and transport. It appears
:08:57. > :09:01.from that letter that no minister was involved in that decision
:09:01. > :09:04.whatsoever. Is the normal practice for ministers not to be involved in
:09:04. > :09:08.decisions of that magnitude which would have such an impact on
:09:08. > :09:11.Swansea and visitor Government's policy not to put resources into
:09:11. > :09:15.this as was previously determined by the old was an element agency in
:09:15. > :09:23.2003? Major decisions are taken by
:09:23. > :09:28.ministers, that is always the case. I would investigate the issue and
:09:28. > :09:31.write to the member, but I was in Swansea on Sunday and was impressed
:09:31. > :09:34.by the progress that had been made in the City of the last few years
:09:34. > :09:39.as somebody who worked in the city in the 1990s, and it is testament
:09:39. > :09:42.of course to the great progress that was made by S A one and the
:09:42. > :09:51.developments that have been made in the city centre and the old
:09:51. > :09:54.Victoria Dock. The leader of the opposition.
:09:54. > :09:57.First Minister, he issued a statement this morning regarding
:09:57. > :10:01.allegations that have been in the press over the weekend and I'm
:10:01. > :10:05.grateful for that statement that you clarified some positions from
:10:05. > :10:08.the last Government's perspective and I concur entirely with your
:10:08. > :10:11.sentiments in the opening remarks about how the allegations in the
:10:11. > :10:14.first instance need to be addressed to the police and to the relevant
:10:14. > :10:18.authorities so that they can be investigated fully and that people
:10:18. > :10:23.who do have concerns field of those investigations are going to be done
:10:23. > :10:25.in an open and transparent manner. You go one in that statement to
:10:25. > :10:30.highlight their children's commissioner's appointment if and
:10:30. > :10:33.the creation out of the Waterhouse review that that a wide band was
:10:33. > :10:36.one of the recommendations. But you also say that he invited the
:10:36. > :10:40.current commission its to explain his position and a call for a new
:10:40. > :10:42.inquiry. Is this the first time that these observations have come
:10:42. > :10:46.out of the Chilterns Commissioner's Office were have there been
:10:46. > :10:51.discussions with the Wells Government around that have been
:10:51. > :10:54.highlighted in the press recently? The meeting is taking place this
:10:54. > :10:58.afternoon between my place -- myself and the children's
:10:58. > :11:02.commissioner. I received a letter from him when he asked what kind of
:11:02. > :11:06.inquiry will take place within the last Government's competence. I'm
:11:06. > :11:09.aware of the Home Secretary said this afternoon. I will take account
:11:09. > :11:13.of that and devil take account of what the children's Commissioner
:11:13. > :11:16.says this afternoon. There are a number of issues that were caught
:11:16. > :11:20.within the allegations that have been made. Some of the murder
:11:20. > :11:23.Bolton some of them are on the ball. It is important that any future
:11:23. > :11:29.inquiry, should that take place, as cover most of those areas and would
:11:29. > :11:32.require joint approach by both governments.
:11:32. > :11:36.I agree entirely with you with the joint approach because you're quite
:11:36. > :11:40.right. Obviously, there are two areas of confidence. There are one
:11:40. > :11:43.with Westminster among the there was Government. If you go on and
:11:43. > :11:45.the cement to highlight how you that reports to be made to you
:11:45. > :11:49.about allegations about actions of the was Government for and what
:11:49. > :11:52.could be taken as a matter of urgency. We are aware, of Bisley,
:11:52. > :11:56.of the statement that has been made in a house of Commons today by
:11:56. > :12:00.Theresa May. When were you a in a position to enlighten members about
:12:00. > :12:03.the outcome of those reports and the decisions that you're going to
:12:03. > :12:07.take as to whether the Welsh Government needs to play a more
:12:07. > :12:09.proactive role in any of these inquiries? Off I plan to issue a
:12:09. > :12:13.statement following the meeting with the children's commissioner
:12:13. > :12:19.this afternoon. The final part of the question I
:12:19. > :12:22.would like to draw your attention to is obviously p Waterhouse did
:12:22. > :12:24.highlight -- Waterhouse reports did highlight the appointment of the
:12:24. > :12:28.Children's Commissioner. There were a whole load of other
:12:28. > :12:31.recommendations made in that report. So are you aware of any of the
:12:31. > :12:33.recommendations, particularly at the cosy, but as there has been
:12:33. > :12:37.suggestions that it remains morning's press that the support
:12:37. > :12:40.and at it is that was it was a consort from the Waterhouse
:12:40. > :12:43.recommendations has not been called for it, so is the Government and
:12:43. > :12:47.yourself in particular aware of any of the key recommendations that
:12:47. > :12:51.need for the scrutiny and need support to make sure that they do
:12:51. > :12:55.become a reality for many of the victims from the initial inquiry?
:12:55. > :13:00.No such representations have been made to me, but the Waterhouse
:13:00. > :13:02.inquiry was important in terms of what it did before the future of
:13:02. > :13:06.for abducted children in Wales, particularly the establishment of
:13:06. > :13:10.the children's Commission- children's commissioners position.
:13:10. > :13:14.I am not aware of any issues that remain outstanding due to the
:13:14. > :13:18.allegations that have been made. I well of course we visit the
:13:18. > :13:21.recommendations made by the Waterhouse inquiry in order to get
:13:21. > :13:26.understand whether there is more that can be done. I will explore
:13:26. > :13:32.those issues that the children's commissioner as well.
:13:32. > :13:35.And now the leader of the last Liberal Democrats.
:13:35. > :13:39.All of us here will be concerned about allegations of child abuse in
:13:39. > :13:42.North Wales and I know there is an urgent question tabled for me from
:13:42. > :13:45.this afternoon. By party is committed to co-operating with he
:13:46. > :13:50.and others on the serious issues and we endorse the approach that
:13:50. > :13:54.you have taken as First Minister in working with the UK Government on
:13:54. > :13:59.this important manner. First Minister, why can't the people of
:13:59. > :14:01.Scotland -- can have the people of Scotland and England making a
:14:01. > :14:04.merger dabblers Caltha expect an ambulance to arrive that in eight
:14:04. > :14:09.minutes semi by % of The Times, but under Labour in Wales, people have
:14:09. > :14:14.to settle for a 65% target. ambulance signs have hit their
:14:14. > :14:20.target more often than not over the last few months. We always seek to
:14:20. > :14:23.improve the service in the future. I am surprised that the First
:14:23. > :14:28.Minister has chosen to repeat that line, a line that he told me last
:14:28. > :14:32.month. Actually, in fact, for the nine months of 2012, Ambulance
:14:32. > :14:35.performance and targets that have been published, they have been met
:14:35. > :14:39.just four times and have been missed five times. But those
:14:39. > :14:42.targets are already less ambitious than those in England and Scotland
:14:42. > :14:47.and in fact the response times have been going down for the last three
:14:47. > :14:50.months running. Are you satisfied, First Minister, that was response
:14:50. > :14:54.raised for ambulances are improving in Scotland and England, the
:14:54. > :15:04.picture in Wales, despite what you say, if you do it at figures, is
:15:04. > :15:06.
:15:06. > :15:12.I know that there has to has allocated �1 million to the health
:15:12. > :15:16.boards, to deliver a riddance improvement proposals as part of
:15:16. > :15:19.the �10 million fund. What we do know is that that up until last
:15:19. > :15:23.week, the ambulance trust doesn't even have an agreed budget for this
:15:23. > :15:28.financial year, let alone the next one. The UN are bridging the winter
:15:28. > :15:31.months. The government didn't meet its own inadequate targets during
:15:32. > :15:36.this midsummer. Two years ago, there was a massive deterioration
:15:36. > :15:39.in abundance response times are very 45 % of candidates is actually
:15:39. > :15:45.reaching emergency calls within 80 minutes. What extra measures have
:15:45. > :15:50.been put in place by or health and a step to ensure that ambulances
:15:50. > :15:54.will be able to adequately cope with winter pressures this year?
:15:54. > :15:59.The number refers to when the weather was particularly bad and
:15:59. > :16:03.that is when response times did drop. -- for member. We have been
:16:03. > :16:07.looking at ways to ensure that the roads are kept open as much as
:16:07. > :16:12.possible through an adequate supply of salt and to ensure that people
:16:12. > :16:21.do choose well, in terms of insurer will that they know when to call an
:16:21. > :16:25.ambulance and when not. First Minister, much of the information
:16:25. > :16:30.collected by Waterhouse was never made public on the assumption that
:16:30. > :16:35.a legal action would follow on the the 20th perpetrators who were
:16:35. > :16:39.identified by the review, but whose identities were never published. In
:16:39. > :16:44.many cases, this has not happened. Can you tell us what discussions
:16:45. > :16:49.you've had with the UK government on this matter, as to why this
:16:49. > :16:53.follow-up never happened? Would you also agree with me that now is the
:16:53. > :16:56.time for that information to be published? The UK government has
:16:56. > :17:01.today announced that it is looking again at the remit of the inquiry
:17:01. > :17:06.at whether it was broad enough. Also, they have asked for the
:17:06. > :17:14.National crime agency to conduct investigations into the allegations
:17:14. > :17:18.that have been made. It seems right to make that approach. Do you
:17:19. > :17:23.believe it is important that information is published because
:17:23. > :17:28.we've also had another report, which was pulped, and that was an
:17:28. > :17:32.inquiry into abuse at the former county of Clwyd. That report and
:17:32. > :17:38.never saw the light of day. Would you agree to do whatever you can
:17:38. > :17:43.have to ensure that a copy of that report is obtained? Would you agree
:17:43. > :17:45.that if you can obtain without report, you publish the findings?
:17:45. > :17:49.agree there should be as much transparency as possible, which is
:17:49. > :17:51.why I am talking of to the Children's Commissioner this
:17:51. > :17:56.afternoon at have been in touch with the UK government. The last
:17:56. > :18:02.thing we should do is have a go of completing inquiries. That is in
:18:02. > :18:06.nobody's interest, let alone... I would agree and I welcome the
:18:06. > :18:13.fact you are meeting with the children as commissioner. Would you
:18:13. > :18:16.agree, First Minister, that all child protection services in Wales
:18:16. > :18:21.and the children as commissioner's office should be fully funded, so
:18:21. > :18:26.that children and adults can feel that they can go to the Children's
:18:26. > :18:29.Commissioner and get a full and fair hearing? Yes, I do. I do
:18:29. > :18:33.regret the words of the leader of Plaid Cymru who suggested this
:18:33. > :18:36.morning that the government was standing in the way of an inquiry.
:18:36. > :18:39.I did know where she get that impression from because it is far
:18:39. > :18:44.from the case. I also think it is important to remind those people
:18:44. > :18:47.who have suffered, that they should get in touch either with the police
:18:48. > :18:51.of the traditions commissioner. In that way, the allegations can be
:18:51. > :18:56.investigated had they can be directed towards cancer. I do not
:18:56. > :18:59.think it should be -- it is in -- appropriate that they get in touch
:18:59. > :19:03.with for politicians. They should get in touch with the authorities
:19:03. > :19:12.who can do things for them and probably investigate their
:19:12. > :19:16.complaints. -- properly. What action is the Welsh government
:19:16. > :19:21.taking to improve child protection? The written statement by the deputy
:19:21. > :19:23.minister for children of 18th October set out the details of the
:19:24. > :19:30.safeguarding of protection arrangements that would be included
:19:30. > :19:34.in the well-being of the bill. is of course seven years since a
:19:34. > :19:38.government rejected a committee proposal on an independent advocacy
:19:38. > :19:45.service for children and as late as this year, the children Angela
:19:45. > :19:50.People's Committee are reminded... The failure of advocacy services,
:19:50. > :19:55.saying, the situation must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
:19:55. > :20:00.In response to your earlier reply, perhaps I can assist with a quote
:20:00. > :20:04.from the children's Commissioner's Annual General report this here?
:20:04. > :20:08.Wales has been on an advocacy Ginnie for 10 years following the
:20:08. > :20:12.publication of the Waterhouse report and yet still find itself
:20:12. > :20:17.without a clear set of sex -- are checks and balances. Children must
:20:17. > :20:21.be heard. Do you regret your Government's decision not to
:20:21. > :20:25.introduce an independent advocacy service years ago? Freda that
:20:25. > :20:29.broadly, are our child protection arrangements are robust but
:20:29. > :20:33.throughout mechanisms such as the Bill, when we hope it is a past, we
:20:33. > :20:43.can ensure that children are safeguarded to an even higher
:20:43. > :20:43.
:20:43. > :20:48.standard than before over the past few days, evidence has emerged...
:20:48. > :20:52.Evidence has emerged which can not be -- could not be considered as
:20:52. > :20:56.part of the original inquiry. The abuse that took place in care homes
:20:56. > :21:00.was truly sickening had horrific. My concern is that with so many
:21:00. > :21:05.inquiries being commissioned, it may be time for an overarching
:21:05. > :21:09.criminal investigation into child abuse. Would you agree with me that
:21:09. > :21:19.operation you tree should be expanded to include an
:21:19. > :21:24.
:21:24. > :21:29.investigation into all allegations of abuse? -- Operation Yewtree.
:21:29. > :21:33.There is a link between a piece which has taken place in the UK and
:21:33. > :21:35.beyond. It would make sense that the police investigation is as
:21:36. > :21:39.wide-ranging as possible and I would certainly discuss his points
:21:39. > :21:44.with the appropriate authorities in London to make sure that in this
:21:44. > :21:50.area, as much work is done in order to investigate the very serious
:21:50. > :21:55.allegations that have been reiterated again over the past week.
:21:55. > :21:59.Following the recent publicity around Jamie Saville also
:21:59. > :22:09.activities, statutory and voluntary organisations say they have been
:22:09. > :22:10.
:22:10. > :22:15.inundated with calls from victims of abuse. -- Savile. We are now
:22:15. > :22:20.hearing about abuse which may have gone back decades. Those victims
:22:20. > :22:27.may need immediate cancer. Were you ensure that those services are made
:22:27. > :22:35.available? -- immediate counselling. People must be directed towards
:22:35. > :22:40.appropriate counselling. They can then provide information to the
:22:40. > :22:46.children as commissioner and get the help they need. TRANSLATION:
:22:46. > :22:49.Thank you. Will the first minister make a statement all health service
:22:49. > :22:54.reconfiguration plans in west Wales? TRANSLATION: The health
:22:54. > :22:59.board has recently concluded it public consultation and the board
:22:59. > :23:07.will now consider the consultation responses. TRANSLATION: As you say,
:23:07. > :23:11.first minister, the health board Commission concluded last week and
:23:11. > :23:15.I'm pleased that the Minister will make a statement in light of these
:23:15. > :23:21.consultations, in order to give their views of your government on
:23:21. > :23:25.other plans. Come the first was to tell us when other health minister
:23:25. > :23:29.will make such a statement, because it is important that that statement
:23:29. > :23:35.should be made as soon as possible. People in my constituency are
:23:35. > :23:40.concerned about some of these plans. TRANSLATION: Well, of course I
:23:40. > :23:47.understand that the board is going to announce the latest plans by the
:23:47. > :23:53.end of this year or very early in the following year. Of course, the
:23:53. > :23:56.timing of that will impact on any state would the minister makes.
:23:56. > :24:00.Royal College of Nursing has expressed concerns that many of the
:24:00. > :24:04.proposed developments will depend on the new India sing roles. There
:24:04. > :24:08.is no evidence of a nursing strategy within the health
:24:08. > :24:13.consultation document. What discussions has the wild government
:24:13. > :24:17.had with the board regarding its strategy for the recruitment,
:24:17. > :24:21.training and deployment? understand the director has
:24:21. > :24:28.developed a preliminary missing plan for the health so -- Health
:24:28. > :24:38.Board. His plan will be modified once the analysis has been
:24:38. > :24:43.
:24:43. > :24:45.completed. TRANSLATION: York government policy is to move health
:24:45. > :24:49.care from hospitals into the community. -- your government
:24:49. > :24:55.policy. Or you aware of the financial concern that local
:24:56. > :24:58.authorities have about this policy, as the health board plans to
:24:58. > :25:02.transfer some of the responsibility? There is no mention
:25:02. > :25:08.of a financial transferred to the local authority. It also has a
:25:08. > :25:18.Mariko of course, I understand and we would expect a the Budget to
:25:18. > :25:19.
:25:19. > :25:23.follow the service. -- TRANSLATION: Of course. Will the First Minister
:25:23. > :25:27.make a statement called the Welsh Government's transport priorities
:25:27. > :25:31.for mid-Wales? Yes, they are to be finding the national transport plan
:25:31. > :25:34.for stock thank you. I know you will agree with me that the Newtown
:25:34. > :25:39.will bypass is a priority for the future growth of mid-Wales and it
:25:39. > :25:43.is in your national transport plan as a priority. A colleague, the
:25:43. > :25:53.minister, has confirmed to me in a written will question that the
:25:53. > :25:54.
:25:54. > :25:59.project will start construction in late 2014. -- your colleague. The
:25:59. > :26:03.announcement for the preferred contractor or was due to be made
:26:03. > :26:07.this autumn but will now be made next year, as I understand. I would
:26:07. > :26:12.be grateful if you would tell me why there has been this slippage
:26:12. > :26:15.and further grateful if you could tell me if you will agree to
:26:15. > :26:20.provide me with a detailed timetable for the project, so I can
:26:20. > :26:24.keep my constituents updated. right to say that the intention is
:26:24. > :26:31.to appoint the successful contractor or early in the new year.
:26:31. > :26:34.That will not affect the share deal in terms of construction. Non-
:26:34. > :26:40.emergency plantation transport remains a serious concern for
:26:40. > :26:47.people mid-Wales. -- patient transport. People say the service
:26:47. > :26:54.doesn't operate smooth defeat at a doesn't need to Leeds. -- operate
:26:54. > :26:57.smoothly. I understand that the Palace Health Board pilots on
:26:57. > :27:01.developing a mixed delivery of Transport to make better use of
:27:01. > :27:06.resources and to further improve performance and utilisation. The
:27:06. > :27:09.performance indicators are the last year show a reduction in waiting
:27:09. > :27:17.times and improved efficiency. Other health boards are considering
:27:17. > :27:27.other issues, as part of the plans to improve their services.
:27:27. > :27:27.
:27:27. > :27:35.TRANSLATION: Your government and Network Rail have invested some �60
:27:35. > :27:39.million in Anusol ignore a system on the camera will live. --
:27:39. > :27:44.Cambrian line. However, there has been no improvement in the service
:27:44. > :27:52.for those people who are using the trains through Aberystwyth, become
:27:52. > :27:58.Sheth -- and other North Wales towns, so when will we see and an
:27:58. > :28:05.hourly service on that live in mid- Wales? The hope is that the service
:28:05. > :28:10.will improve during 2014 and 2015. We are working with a network rail
:28:10. > :28:18.on the timetable in -- to ensure that there are more daily services,
:28:18. > :28:23.or services during the daytime on the mid-Wales line. Of course, we
:28:23. > :28:28.wished to progress our national transport plan. A well the first
:28:28. > :28:34.minister give an update on government bills proceeding through
:28:34. > :28:38.the assembly? -- will the first minister. It there are three bills
:28:38. > :28:46.-- there are three bills at the moment. Can I congratulate the
:28:46. > :28:49.First Minister on the legislative programme? There is a danger... If
:28:49. > :28:56.we had the same devolution settlement as Northern Ireland as
:28:56. > :29:06.Scotland,... The reserve powers model is undoubtedly easier to
:29:06. > :29:13.
:29:13. > :29:18.One of the bills that year poses a Planning Bill, that many members of
:29:18. > :29:21.the public would be appreciated of. I understand there has been a
:29:22. > :29:27.degree of slippage in this bill coming forward. Can you update the
:29:27. > :29:34.timetable? The plan is to introduce it before
:29:35. > :29:39.the end of next year. TRANSLATION: The First Minister
:29:39. > :29:46.will be aware that in at the School Standards Bill, it is a requirement
:29:46. > :29:49.for local authorities to assess the demand for Welsh medium education.
:29:49. > :29:52.If that assessment then demonstrates that the demand is
:29:52. > :29:56.greater than the provision, will the Government be willing to accept
:29:56. > :30:01.an amendment which will make it a requirement for the authority to
:30:01. > :30:05.improve the Welsh medium provision? TRANSLATION: The time to consider
:30:05. > :30:10.that is when the bill itself actually progresses through the
:30:10. > :30:16.Assembly and I'm sure that we will consider any sensible amendments
:30:16. > :30:21.proposed in order to strengthen Welsh medium education.
:30:21. > :30:25.Question seven will not be asks. Question eight.
:30:25. > :30:29.What's discussion has the Welsh Government had put the UK
:30:29. > :30:32.Government to abolish living buns has since?
:30:32. > :30:37.More meetings are planned on the future of the Independent living
:30:37. > :30:45.Fund, which we believe will have a final decision made upon it by the
:30:45. > :30:49.end of this year. At the consultation meeting that
:30:49. > :30:53.took place in Cardiff in August, many carers are expressed
:30:53. > :30:59.considerable concern at the impact this will have on their disables
:30:59. > :31:04.loved ones and their very concerns that this money which enables these
:31:04. > :31:09.disabled people to have some sort of normal life, to have social
:31:09. > :31:14.contacts, to go shopping etc, that they could be deprived of that if,
:31:14. > :31:17.when the money is devolved to Wales, that the UK Government use this as
:31:18. > :31:25.an opportunity to actually cut the amount of money available.
:31:25. > :31:27.Our preferred position would be that the fund remains as it is. If
:31:27. > :31:32.responsibility is transferred to Wales, we would wants to be
:31:32. > :31:39.reassured that the level of any transfer is sufficient to meet the
:31:39. > :31:42.ongoing needs of our population and that it is allocated fairly.
:31:42. > :31:49.I think it is important that there is a fair allocation of these
:31:49. > :31:53.resources. If they do come to Wales. Can I ask what preparatory work is
:31:53. > :31:58.being done by the Welsh Government with local authorities about the
:31:58. > :32:02.possibilities of this been devolved and how it might be implemented if
:32:02. > :32:05.the devolution was actually made available?
:32:05. > :32:09.There have been a number of discussions between officials but
:32:09. > :32:14.we do not know yet what the final decision will be. Nor do we know
:32:14. > :32:18.what the final amount of money to be transferred will be, either. The
:32:18. > :32:22.experience shows that where this happens, the opportunity is taken
:32:23. > :32:26.by the Treasury to cut the level of funding in order to meet the same
:32:26. > :32:34.level of service. We certainly hope this will not be repeated with the
:32:34. > :32:38.Independent living Fund. Thank you for your previous answers
:32:38. > :32:41.and I appreciate your hands are somewhat tied, but have there been
:32:41. > :32:44.any contingency measures that there was Government can take to insure
:32:44. > :32:47.that disabled people living in Wales will not be fully
:32:47. > :32:53.disadvantaged if this living fund is closed?
:32:53. > :32:56.We do not know what the final decision is. Until we have
:32:56. > :33:02.certainty in regard to how much money will be given to us, it is
:33:02. > :33:06.hard to plan for the future. If the UK Government wishes to devolve the
:33:06. > :33:11.Independent living Fund, at we would like it is a refund the month
:33:11. > :33:16.that is in place at the moment. It is not just a case of fully
:33:16. > :33:19.funding the current usage, because the previous Labour Government
:33:19. > :33:24.actually closed the Independent living Fund to new entrants and
:33:24. > :33:28.2008. There are curdy people living in Wales who historically were
:33:28. > :33:32.receipt of payments, whereas new entrants are not going to be in
:33:32. > :33:36.receipt of those. I would urge the Government to undertake some
:33:36. > :33:39.preparatory work on this, given that we may be faced that the
:33:39. > :33:43.situation where we only have 15 months as a Government to respond
:33:43. > :33:47.to the situation. If we get the decision by the end
:33:47. > :33:51.of the year, we can decide what consultation needs to take place
:33:51. > :33:57.and that will leave us time to plan transitional arrangements up to and
:33:57. > :34:00.beyond 2015. Will the First Minister provide an
:34:00. > :34:04.update on what the last Government is doing to ensure that those
:34:04. > :34:08.suffering from hearing loss or deafness can play a full are active
:34:08. > :34:11.part in their communities? I joined in the member with
:34:11. > :34:15.aspirations that those with hearing loss are deaf this can play an
:34:16. > :34:18.active part in their communities. A consultation document on the
:34:18. > :34:22.framework for action for independent living sets out how we
:34:22. > :34:26.aim to support this. The All Party Group on deaf issues
:34:26. > :34:30.recently received a report that has some alarming statistics and it.
:34:30. > :34:34.Only seven of the 22 local authorities in Wales are able to
:34:34. > :34:38.identify how much they spend unassisted equipment. Only five of
:34:38. > :34:43.those terrible to provide a breakdown for the last five years.
:34:43. > :34:47.40% of local authorities do not have a sensor what more can we us
:34:47. > :34:50.Government do to ensure that local authorities develop a more
:34:50. > :34:54.consistent and co-ordinated approach on this front?
:34:54. > :34:59.We published guidelines in 2009 to integrate community services
:34:59. > :35:02.between local authorities and the NHS. That was backed was �12.8
:35:02. > :35:05.million to improve the infrastructure of those services.
:35:05. > :35:12.All of Wales as I covered by partnerships between the NHS and
:35:12. > :35:19.local Government underpinned by formal partnership agreements.
:35:19. > :35:22.My local hospital has given me excellent advice on hearing loss.
:35:22. > :35:26.My daughter is having an implant operation next week and has
:35:26. > :35:29.received excellent support from the council, the Health Board and the
:35:30. > :35:35.UK Government access to work schemes for disabled people and
:35:35. > :35:40.work. But I can be sure that those three key agencies are made known
:35:40. > :35:43.to people when their first diagnosed with hearing loss, rather
:35:43. > :35:50.than leaving them often struggling with something that is new, and
:35:50. > :35:53.quite frightening. I would hope that the partnership
:35:53. > :35:58.agreements that foreign place would be able to help people in terms of
:35:58. > :36:02.understanding how to get the help that they need to. I can say that
:36:02. > :36:05.the minister has received a report on the provision of communication
:36:05. > :36:10.aids and equipment and has submitted that review for scrutiny
:36:10. > :36:18.by an expert panel on the third sector. That will report earlier in
:36:18. > :36:22.the new year. TRANSLATION: The guidelines on a
:36:22. > :36:26.deaf and blind people do give people their rights for a needs
:36:26. > :36:30.assessment by a person who is properly qualified. As we have
:36:30. > :36:37.already heard, there are not many people in local authorities that
:36:37. > :36:40.have the necessary skills and qualifications. They're usually the
:36:40. > :36:44.first point of contact in call centres or her a receptionist at
:36:44. > :36:48.the front desk or so on. What steps were you Government do to ensure
:36:48. > :36:52.that local authorities follows statutory guidelines and that staff
:36:52. > :36:56.have in the 30s can identify some of the specific needs and refer
:36:56. > :36:59.people to those who are appropriately qualified and when
:36:59. > :37:02.you're also won sure that the new Social Services Bill will
:37:02. > :37:06.strengthen rather than dilute the guidance?
:37:06. > :37:11.TRANSLATION: I am not aware of local authorities that do not
:37:11. > :37:19.follow the guidelines. If you do have examples, then I would be very
:37:19. > :37:27.pleased to lick at any evidence. As regards our funding for bodies to
:37:27. > :37:32.assist deaf or blind people, we do that with the support of the
:37:33. > :37:40.British Deaf Association and of course Sense, which gives us
:37:40. > :37:45.assistance. Will the First Minister provide an
:37:45. > :37:47.update on the last Government's energy policy?
:37:47. > :37:51.It is our aim to enhance the economic, social and environmental
:37:51. > :37:57.well-being of the people, and communities of wheels through
:37:57. > :38:01.providing low carbon energy system. Would you agree with me that one of
:38:01. > :38:05.the biggest disincentives to large energy companies investing in Wales
:38:05. > :38:12.is the Welsh Government's processes? It stick Empire six
:38:12. > :38:16.years to gain the relevant permits for the Pembrokeshire Power plants.
:38:16. > :38:19.Equivalent applications in England usually take two years. Even with
:38:19. > :38:22.the new natural resources body, this performance is not acceptable
:38:22. > :38:27.if Wales is to promote itself as a beater and venue for large energy
:38:27. > :38:29.products. How is this being addressed and I got this message be
:38:29. > :38:35.communicated to large energy companies looking to invest in our
:38:35. > :38:39.country in the future? The formation of natural resources
:38:39. > :38:45.Wales is designed to ensure that the promising process is robust and
:38:45. > :38:50.Swift's where appropriate. Instead of having three bodies that reflect
:38:50. > :38:54.the environment, there will be one body to take all decisions. That
:38:54. > :39:03.will lead to a situation where decisions will be taken robustly
:39:03. > :39:08.but within a proper amount of time. TRANSLATION: What other bus
:39:08. > :39:18.Government's plans to increase renewable energy?
:39:18. > :39:18.
:39:18. > :39:21.TRANSLATION: Energy Wales set up the Government's approach to the
:39:21. > :39:26.transition to a low carbon and renewable forms of energy
:39:26. > :39:30.generation. TRANSLATION: There are figures that
:39:30. > :39:38.demonstrate that the increase in renewable energy in England is
:39:38. > :39:42.17.8%. It is 9.9% in Scotland and only 2.7% in Wales. Wide you
:39:42. > :39:45.believe that the increase here in Wales is so paltry in comparison to
:39:45. > :39:49.the increase in a neighbouring countries?
:39:49. > :39:54.TRANSLATION: As regards Scotland, it is the fact that there is more
:39:54. > :39:57.money available for energy companies, because the fact that
:39:57. > :40:03.Scotland's controls the rocks and they can then control investment
:40:03. > :40:05.into Scotland. We believe that Wales should be in the same
:40:05. > :40:10.position and we are still telling the UK Government that. We should
:40:10. > :40:16.be given the same treatment as Scotland and Northern Ireland.
:40:16. > :40:19.You Government designated its Anglesey has the energy Isles. As a
:40:19. > :40:24.result of that, there will likely have to be some substantial
:40:24. > :40:31.upgrades to the National Grid. And energy enterprise zone in Anglesey.
:40:31. > :40:33.But when you Government had the opportunity to influence the new
:40:33. > :40:37.infrastructure on the energy network strategy group,
:40:37. > :40:43.particularly in relationship to pile on white, which will affect
:40:43. > :40:50.communities in North Wales, you're officials did not stand up and say
:40:50. > :40:55.a word for Wales, despite the fact that Scottish officials fought
:40:55. > :40:59.repeatedly and vocally to defend their national interests. When you
:40:59. > :41:03.give people in the North Wales the assurance that when you Government
:41:03. > :41:08.has the opportunity to stand up and speak up for people in North Wales,
:41:08. > :41:16.you will take that opportunity? I am not sure what the member
:41:16. > :41:20.defines as Wales's national interests? You should declare your
:41:20. > :41:25.interests against the job opportunities that we will provide.
:41:25. > :41:28.I met with National Grid two weeks ago. It was not my first meeting.
:41:28. > :41:32.We have regular meetings with them what they view to ensuring that the
:41:32. > :41:36.grid structure is robust, but also that there is maximum benefit for
:41:36. > :41:39.the people of Wales. I know the member keeps on saying that
:41:39. > :41:44.officials haven't done this and that, but member-ministers are
:41:44. > :41:49.doing a tremendous amount for the people of Wales.
:41:49. > :41:52.What is the last Government doing to help improve services for those
:41:52. > :41:55.with speech and language difficulties? Off we propose to
:41:55. > :41:58.replace the statutory framework for assessment and planning provision
:41:58. > :42:02.for children and young people special educational needs were the
:42:02. > :42:06.simple and or personal system and we hope that this will have a
:42:06. > :42:12.positive impact on a all learners, including those with speech and
:42:12. > :42:17.language difficulties. A few weeks ago, I opened the
:42:17. > :42:21.British stammering Association's open day in Cardiff although
:42:21. > :42:26.success of films like the King's Speech have highlighted the
:42:26. > :42:30.difficulties that people who stammer face, there are still major
:42:30. > :42:35.problems. What more can we us Government do to help people who
:42:35. > :42:38.stammer? To add to what I said to remember
:42:38. > :42:40.earlier in the June of this year, the minister announced the launch
:42:40. > :42:45.of the forward in partnership for children and young people with
:42:45. > :42:49.additional needs consultation, which sets out our proposals for
:42:49. > :42:52.reform as a mention earlier wrongs. The attention is to create a truly
:42:52. > :42:58.personal system which will help all those with speech and language
:42:58. > :43:01.difficulties and those who stammer. We believe First Minister's
:43:01. > :43:09.Questions there for today. You can see more coverage of the National
:43:09. > :43:15.Assembly on line. That is on democracy live. That is it from us