06/11/2012 am.pm

Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme. We are expecting the

First Minister to be answering questions later into allegations of

abuse in the North Wales care homes dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.

We know the Prime Minister yesterday announced the inquiry

into historic allegations of child abuse in North Wales were hampered

by the police. The Home Secretary has spoken in the Commons on the

matter. There was Government inquiry has yet to be announced.

The First Minister will be a children's commissioner and later

this afternoon, who has already called for a new inquiry into

pieces in North Wales relating to care homes. You can get in touch

with us if you want to comment on Business in the Chamber is already

under way. Let's take a look at questions to the First Minister.

I call the National Assembly to order. Questions to the First

Minister. TRANSLATION: Will the First

Minister make a statement on unemployment in young people.

The dealing with this is one of the main priorities for a Government.

As a result, up We provided key employability programmes,

established a programme for young people aged 16 to 24 and introduce

measures to extend apprenticeships. Many of those schemes that

endeavour to tackle youth unemployment and the skills gap

among young people are dependent on funding from the European

structural funds and your fellow members of Parliament have voted

for a reduction in the European Union budget, supporting up to 50

right-wing Conservatives. Do you also believe the European Union

budget should be reduced? I believe that the Budget should be

established on A-Level which is of benefit to the people of Wales. We

as a Government would not be in favour of cutting the budget which

is available for funds which assist the people of Wales.

I know you'll agree with me that apprenticeships are an incredibly

useful way of helping young people into work. Some of these

apprenticeships that people are offered involved and having to live

away from home or to undertake extensive travel. It is very costly.

I have had a number of constituents who have not been able to take up

their apprenticeships because they cannot afford to be able to pay for

bed-and-breakfast lodgings or whatever it may be. I have tried

three very his portfolio holders, through grants, games, lottery, all

sorts of possible ways to find them funding and I wondered how

important it was to get our young people to work and could duplicate

this on a cross-party basis to look at what financial support we could

offer young people who need to undertake apprenticeships, because

that apprenticeship they need is not available locally and they have

to do it far away from home. They simply cannot do it and cannot get

a job. Some 1800 young people have started

work through jobs growth Wales and more than 3,500 opportunities have

been created in total today. There is a specific issue regarding the

cost of travel and bought for young people. I will write to her with

more information on the lines that she has requested.

This situation is very difficult at the moment for our young people and

there is a lot of low morale. We you join with me in congratulating

of the council which has recently lost its your apprenticeship scheme

at which is in rolling 33 young people on full-time paid

apprenticeship programmes. What more could be done to encourage

other larger employers locally to do the same?

Local authorities have a very important role in ensuring that

opportunities exist for young people and I commend them for the

initiative they have taken forward. They will be an example to others

both inside and outside the public sector.

Long-term youth unemployment is at a 15 year high here. One in four of

19 to 25 year olds are not in education, employment or in

training. The youth contract in England seems to be denting the

situation over their but the picture is still worsening in Wales.

Are you still satisfied with the performance of jobs growth Wales?

Bear in mind that the youth contract that you talk of is a copy

of 0 our contract! We expect to reach the target of 4,000 places

created by March of next year and in the years beyond. It is through

schemes such as jobs growth Wales. We know that many young people in

Wales would be provided with opportunities that they otherwise

would not have. In my constituency, some 39% of

young people in the 16 to 24 age group are out of work. I have had

the pleasure -- pleasure of meeting a number who are now in work

because of the jobs growth Wales employment. What plans has the

Welsh Government got to actually build on of the growing success of

jobs growth Wales? This scheme is scheduled to run

through to March 2015 and we will be undertaking a robust devaluation

of the programme which will help us to understand the impact of this

invention on the employment prospects for this is could?

What action is the Wells Government seeking to improve economic

activity within the Swansea Bay region?

We are strengthening the conditions for job creation and retention and

investing in infrastructure, skills and innovation.

I a fortnight ago, due -- attended the launch of a specific pilot

project which was researching into commercialisation, us getting

economic out synergies. What is the wealth Government propose to put in

place to encourage new investments so Swansea Bay businesses could get

support? The academic expertise for a

business programme, which fosters collaborative links between

academic institutions and businesses. These smart Comrie

programme, so biding support for SME and none has any programmes

made in the Belmont and research. On the Business Innovation

programme which provides specialist report by emigration and

intellectual property, manufacturing and design

specialists for companies engaged in benefit of new product process

and service of on and. You will be aware of the growing

interest in the opportunities provided by tidal Power generated

in the waters beyond Swansea Bay and the then Swansea Bay, both for

the economy and the green energy targets. What steps as you

Government taken to establish the impact on those opportunities by

crowding those waters with the likes of Atlantic array or gas

extraction operations and further, the cumulative effect of all those

operations on local tourism? In terms of the sea come up our

responsibilities like only up to one megawatt, which is very small

point The rest of it lies in hands of the UK Government. We believe

that the new resources in Wales should properly be enhance of the

people of Wales and therefore, we want to see devolution of the

powers to approve offshore her wind and tidal and we have to the

elements and that we believe is the proper way forward for the people

of Wales in order to maximise the economic benefit.

In the letter of 15th October to Assembly members, the minister for

business are, enterprise technology and science refers to the change of

policy in 2008 to remove capital receipts which have been put aside

for Swansea and spend those on a Wales wide basis instead. In her

letter, she says that that decision was taken by senior management

within their them departments of economy and transport. It appears

from that letter that no minister was involved in that decision

whatsoever. Is the normal practice for ministers not to be involved in

decisions of that magnitude which would have such an impact on

Swansea and visitor Government's policy not to put resources into

this as was previously determined by the old was an element agency in

2003? Major decisions are taken by

ministers, that is always the case. I would investigate the issue and

write to the member, but I was in Swansea on Sunday and was impressed

by the progress that had been made in the City of the last few years

as somebody who worked in the city in the 1990s, and it is testament

of course to the great progress that was made by S A one and the

developments that have been made in the city centre and the old

Victoria Dock. The leader of the opposition.

First Minister, he issued a statement this morning regarding

allegations that have been in the press over the weekend and I'm

grateful for that statement that you clarified some positions from

the last Government's perspective and I concur entirely with your

sentiments in the opening remarks about how the allegations in the

first instance need to be addressed to the police and to the relevant

authorities so that they can be investigated fully and that people

who do have concerns field of those investigations are going to be done

in an open and transparent manner. You go one in that statement to

highlight their children's commissioner's appointment if and

the creation out of the Waterhouse review that that a wide band was

one of the recommendations. But you also say that he invited the

current commission its to explain his position and a call for a new

inquiry. Is this the first time that these observations have come

out of the Chilterns Commissioner's Office were have there been

discussions with the Wells Government around that have been

highlighted in the press recently? The meeting is taking place this

afternoon between my place -- myself and the children's

commissioner. I received a letter from him when he asked what kind of

inquiry will take place within the last Government's competence. I'm

aware of the Home Secretary said this afternoon. I will take account

of that and devil take account of what the children's Commissioner

says this afternoon. There are a number of issues that were caught

within the allegations that have been made. Some of the murder

Bolton some of them are on the ball. It is important that any future

inquiry, should that take place, as cover most of those areas and would

require joint approach by both governments.

I agree entirely with you with the joint approach because you're quite

right. Obviously, there are two areas of confidence. There are one

with Westminster among the there was Government. If you go on and

the cement to highlight how you that reports to be made to you

about allegations about actions of the was Government for and what

could be taken as a matter of urgency. We are aware, of Bisley,

of the statement that has been made in a house of Commons today by

Theresa May. When were you a in a position to enlighten members about

the outcome of those reports and the decisions that you're going to

take as to whether the Welsh Government needs to play a more

proactive role in any of these inquiries? Off I plan to issue a

statement following the meeting with the children's commissioner

this afternoon. The final part of the question I

would like to draw your attention to is obviously p Waterhouse did

highlight -- Waterhouse reports did highlight the appointment of the

Children's Commissioner. There were a whole load of other

recommendations made in that report. So are you aware of any of the

recommendations, particularly at the cosy, but as there has been

suggestions that it remains morning's press that the support

and at it is that was it was a consort from the Waterhouse

recommendations has not been called for it, so is the Government and

yourself in particular aware of any of the key recommendations that

need for the scrutiny and need support to make sure that they do

become a reality for many of the victims from the initial inquiry?

No such representations have been made to me, but the Waterhouse

inquiry was important in terms of what it did before the future of

for abducted children in Wales, particularly the establishment of

the children's Commission- children's commissioners position.

I am not aware of any issues that remain outstanding due to the

allegations that have been made. I well of course we visit the

recommendations made by the Waterhouse inquiry in order to get

understand whether there is more that can be done. I will explore

those issues that the children's commissioner as well.

And now the leader of the last Liberal Democrats.

All of us here will be concerned about allegations of child abuse in

North Wales and I know there is an urgent question tabled for me from

this afternoon. By party is committed to co-operating with he

and others on the serious issues and we endorse the approach that

you have taken as First Minister in working with the UK Government on

this important manner. First Minister, why can't the people of

Scotland -- can have the people of Scotland and England making a

merger dabblers Caltha expect an ambulance to arrive that in eight

minutes semi by % of The Times, but under Labour in Wales, people have

to settle for a 65% target. ambulance signs have hit their

target more often than not over the last few months. We always seek to

improve the service in the future. I am surprised that the First

Minister has chosen to repeat that line, a line that he told me last

month. Actually, in fact, for the nine months of 2012, Ambulance

performance and targets that have been published, they have been met

just four times and have been missed five times. But those

targets are already less ambitious than those in England and Scotland

and in fact the response times have been going down for the last three

months running. Are you satisfied, First Minister, that was response

raised for ambulances are improving in Scotland and England, the

picture in Wales, despite what you say, if you do it at figures, is

I know that there has to has allocated �1 million to the health

boards, to deliver a riddance improvement proposals as part of

the �10 million fund. What we do know is that that up until last

week, the ambulance trust doesn't even have an agreed budget for this

financial year, let alone the next one. The UN are bridging the winter

months. The government didn't meet its own inadequate targets during

this midsummer. Two years ago, there was a massive deterioration

in abundance response times are very 45 % of candidates is actually

reaching emergency calls within 80 minutes. What extra measures have

been put in place by or health and a step to ensure that ambulances

will be able to adequately cope with winter pressures this year?

The number refers to when the weather was particularly bad and

that is when response times did drop. -- for member. We have been

looking at ways to ensure that the roads are kept open as much as

possible through an adequate supply of salt and to ensure that people

do choose well, in terms of insurer will that they know when to call an

ambulance and when not. First Minister, much of the information

collected by Waterhouse was never made public on the assumption that

a legal action would follow on the the 20th perpetrators who were

identified by the review, but whose identities were never published. In

many cases, this has not happened. Can you tell us what discussions

you've had with the UK government on this matter, as to why this

follow-up never happened? Would you also agree with me that now is the

time for that information to be published? The UK government has

today announced that it is looking again at the remit of the inquiry

at whether it was broad enough. Also, they have asked for the

National crime agency to conduct investigations into the allegations

that have been made. It seems right to make that approach. Do you

believe it is important that information is published because

we've also had another report, which was pulped, and that was an

inquiry into abuse at the former county of Clwyd. That report and

never saw the light of day. Would you agree to do whatever you can

have to ensure that a copy of that report is obtained? Would you agree

that if you can obtain without report, you publish the findings?

agree there should be as much transparency as possible, which is

why I am talking of to the Children's Commissioner this

afternoon at have been in touch with the UK government. The last

thing we should do is have a go of completing inquiries. That is in

nobody's interest, let alone... I would agree and I welcome the

fact you are meeting with the children as commissioner. Would you

agree, First Minister, that all child protection services in Wales

and the children as commissioner's office should be fully funded, so

that children and adults can feel that they can go to the Children's

Commissioner and get a full and fair hearing? Yes, I do. I do

regret the words of the leader of Plaid Cymru who suggested this

morning that the government was standing in the way of an inquiry.

I did know where she get that impression from because it is far

from the case. I also think it is important to remind those people

who have suffered, that they should get in touch either with the police

of the traditions commissioner. In that way, the allegations can be

investigated had they can be directed towards cancer. I do not

think it should be -- it is in -- appropriate that they get in touch

with for politicians. They should get in touch with the authorities

who can do things for them and probably investigate their

complaints. -- properly. What action is the Welsh government

taking to improve child protection? The written statement by the deputy

minister for children of 18th October set out the details of the

safeguarding of protection arrangements that would be included

in the well-being of the bill. is of course seven years since a

government rejected a committee proposal on an independent advocacy

service for children and as late as this year, the children Angela

People's Committee are reminded... The failure of advocacy services,

saying, the situation must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

In response to your earlier reply, perhaps I can assist with a quote

from the children's Commissioner's Annual General report this here?

Wales has been on an advocacy Ginnie for 10 years following the

publication of the Waterhouse report and yet still find itself

without a clear set of sex -- are checks and balances. Children must

be heard. Do you regret your Government's decision not to

introduce an independent advocacy service years ago? Freda that

broadly, are our child protection arrangements are robust but

throughout mechanisms such as the Bill, when we hope it is a past, we

can ensure that children are safeguarded to an even higher

standard than before over the past few days, evidence has emerged...

Evidence has emerged which can not be -- could not be considered as

part of the original inquiry. The abuse that took place in care homes

was truly sickening had horrific. My concern is that with so many

inquiries being commissioned, it may be time for an overarching

criminal investigation into child abuse. Would you agree with me that

operation you tree should be expanded to include an

investigation into all allegations of abuse? -- Operation Yewtree.

There is a link between a piece which has taken place in the UK and

beyond. It would make sense that the police investigation is as

wide-ranging as possible and I would certainly discuss his points

with the appropriate authorities in London to make sure that in this

area, as much work is done in order to investigate the very serious

allegations that have been reiterated again over the past week.

Following the recent publicity around Jamie Saville also

activities, statutory and voluntary organisations say they have been

inundated with calls from victims of abuse. -- Savile. We are now

hearing about abuse which may have gone back decades. Those victims

may need immediate cancer. Were you ensure that those services are made

available? -- immediate counselling. People must be directed towards

appropriate counselling. They can then provide information to the

children as commissioner and get the help they need. TRANSLATION:

Thank you. Will the first minister make a statement all health service

reconfiguration plans in west Wales? TRANSLATION: The health

board has recently concluded it public consultation and the board

will now consider the consultation responses. TRANSLATION: As you say,

first minister, the health board Commission concluded last week and

I'm pleased that the Minister will make a statement in light of these

consultations, in order to give their views of your government on

other plans. Come the first was to tell us when other health minister

will make such a statement, because it is important that that statement

should be made as soon as possible. People in my constituency are

concerned about some of these plans. TRANSLATION: Well, of course I

understand that the board is going to announce the latest plans by the

end of this year or very early in the following year. Of course, the

timing of that will impact on any state would the minister makes.

Royal College of Nursing has expressed concerns that many of the

proposed developments will depend on the new India sing roles. There

is no evidence of a nursing strategy within the health

consultation document. What discussions has the wild government

had with the board regarding its strategy for the recruitment,

training and deployment? understand the director has

developed a preliminary missing plan for the health so -- Health

Board. His plan will be modified once the analysis has been

completed. TRANSLATION: York government policy is to move health

care from hospitals into the community. -- your government

policy. Or you aware of the financial concern that local

authorities have about this policy, as the health board plans to

transfer some of the responsibility? There is no mention

of a financial transferred to the local authority. It also has a

Mariko of course, I understand and we would expect a the Budget to

follow the service. -- TRANSLATION: Of course. Will the First Minister

make a statement called the Welsh Government's transport priorities

for mid-Wales? Yes, they are to be finding the national transport plan

for stock thank you. I know you will agree with me that the Newtown

will bypass is a priority for the future growth of mid-Wales and it

is in your national transport plan as a priority. A colleague, the

minister, has confirmed to me in a written will question that the

project will start construction in late 2014. -- your colleague. The

announcement for the preferred contractor or was due to be made

this autumn but will now be made next year, as I understand. I would

be grateful if you would tell me why there has been this slippage

and further grateful if you could tell me if you will agree to

provide me with a detailed timetable for the project, so I can

keep my constituents updated. right to say that the intention is

to appoint the successful contractor or early in the new year.

That will not affect the share deal in terms of construction. Non-

emergency plantation transport remains a serious concern for

people mid-Wales. -- patient transport. People say the service

doesn't operate smooth defeat at a doesn't need to Leeds. -- operate

smoothly. I understand that the Palace Health Board pilots on

developing a mixed delivery of Transport to make better use of

resources and to further improve performance and utilisation. The

performance indicators are the last year show a reduction in waiting

times and improved efficiency. Other health boards are considering

other issues, as part of the plans to improve their services.

TRANSLATION: Your government and Network Rail have invested some �60

million in Anusol ignore a system on the camera will live. --

Cambrian line. However, there has been no improvement in the service

for those people who are using the trains through Aberystwyth, become

Sheth -- and other North Wales towns, so when will we see and an

hourly service on that live in mid- Wales? The hope is that the service

will improve during 2014 and 2015. We are working with a network rail

on the timetable in -- to ensure that there are more daily services,

or services during the daytime on the mid-Wales line. Of course, we

wished to progress our national transport plan. A well the first

minister give an update on government bills proceeding through

the assembly? -- will the first minister. It there are three bills

-- there are three bills at the moment. Can I congratulate the

First Minister on the legislative programme? There is a danger... If

we had the same devolution settlement as Northern Ireland as

Scotland,... The reserve powers model is undoubtedly easier to

One of the bills that year poses a Planning Bill, that many members of

the public would be appreciated of. I understand there has been a

degree of slippage in this bill coming forward. Can you update the

timetable? The plan is to introduce it before

the end of next year. TRANSLATION: The First Minister

will be aware that in at the School Standards Bill, it is a requirement

for local authorities to assess the demand for Welsh medium education.

If that assessment then demonstrates that the demand is

greater than the provision, will the Government be willing to accept

an amendment which will make it a requirement for the authority to

improve the Welsh medium provision? TRANSLATION: The time to consider

that is when the bill itself actually progresses through the

Assembly and I'm sure that we will consider any sensible amendments

proposed in order to strengthen Welsh medium education.

Question seven will not be asks. Question eight.

What's discussion has the Welsh Government had put the UK

Government to abolish living buns has since?

More meetings are planned on the future of the Independent living

Fund, which we believe will have a final decision made upon it by the

end of this year. At the consultation meeting that

took place in Cardiff in August, many carers are expressed

considerable concern at the impact this will have on their disables

loved ones and their very concerns that this money which enables these

disabled people to have some sort of normal life, to have social

contacts, to go shopping etc, that they could be deprived of that if,

when the money is devolved to Wales, that the UK Government use this as

an opportunity to actually cut the amount of money available.

Our preferred position would be that the fund remains as it is. If

responsibility is transferred to Wales, we would wants to be

reassured that the level of any transfer is sufficient to meet the

ongoing needs of our population and that it is allocated fairly.

I think it is important that there is a fair allocation of these

resources. If they do come to Wales. Can I ask what preparatory work is

being done by the Welsh Government with local authorities about the

possibilities of this been devolved and how it might be implemented if

the devolution was actually made available?

There have been a number of discussions between officials but

we do not know yet what the final decision will be. Nor do we know

what the final amount of money to be transferred will be, either. The

experience shows that where this happens, the opportunity is taken

by the Treasury to cut the level of funding in order to meet the same

level of service. We certainly hope this will not be repeated with the

Independent living Fund. Thank you for your previous answers

and I appreciate your hands are somewhat tied, but have there been

any contingency measures that there was Government can take to insure

that disabled people living in Wales will not be fully

disadvantaged if this living fund is closed?

We do not know what the final decision is. Until we have

certainty in regard to how much money will be given to us, it is

hard to plan for the future. If the UK Government wishes to devolve the

Independent living Fund, at we would like it is a refund the month

that is in place at the moment. It is not just a case of fully

funding the current usage, because the previous Labour Government

actually closed the Independent living Fund to new entrants and

2008. There are curdy people living in Wales who historically were

receipt of payments, whereas new entrants are not going to be in

receipt of those. I would urge the Government to undertake some

preparatory work on this, given that we may be faced that the

situation where we only have 15 months as a Government to respond

to the situation. If we get the decision by the end

of the year, we can decide what consultation needs to take place

and that will leave us time to plan transitional arrangements up to and

beyond 2015. Will the First Minister provide an

update on what the last Government is doing to ensure that those

suffering from hearing loss or deafness can play a full are active

part in their communities? I joined in the member with

aspirations that those with hearing loss are deaf this can play an

active part in their communities. A consultation document on the

framework for action for independent living sets out how we

aim to support this. The All Party Group on deaf issues

recently received a report that has some alarming statistics and it.

Only seven of the 22 local authorities in Wales are able to

identify how much they spend unassisted equipment. Only five of

those terrible to provide a breakdown for the last five years.

40% of local authorities do not have a sensor what more can we us

Government do to ensure that local authorities develop a more

consistent and co-ordinated approach on this front?

We published guidelines in 2009 to integrate community services

between local authorities and the NHS. That was backed was �12.8

million to improve the infrastructure of those services.

All of Wales as I covered by partnerships between the NHS and

local Government underpinned by formal partnership agreements.

My local hospital has given me excellent advice on hearing loss.

My daughter is having an implant operation next week and has

received excellent support from the council, the Health Board and the

UK Government access to work schemes for disabled people and

work. But I can be sure that those three key agencies are made known

to people when their first diagnosed with hearing loss, rather

than leaving them often struggling with something that is new, and

quite frightening. I would hope that the partnership

agreements that foreign place would be able to help people in terms of

understanding how to get the help that they need to. I can say that

the minister has received a report on the provision of communication

aids and equipment and has submitted that review for scrutiny

by an expert panel on the third sector. That will report earlier in

the new year. TRANSLATION: The guidelines on a

deaf and blind people do give people their rights for a needs

assessment by a person who is properly qualified. As we have

already heard, there are not many people in local authorities that

have the necessary skills and qualifications. They're usually the

first point of contact in call centres or her a receptionist at

the front desk or so on. What steps were you Government do to ensure

that local authorities follows statutory guidelines and that staff

have in the 30s can identify some of the specific needs and refer

people to those who are appropriately qualified and when

you're also won sure that the new Social Services Bill will

strengthen rather than dilute the guidance?

TRANSLATION: I am not aware of local authorities that do not

follow the guidelines. If you do have examples, then I would be very

pleased to lick at any evidence. As regards our funding for bodies to

assist deaf or blind people, we do that with the support of the

British Deaf Association and of course Sense, which gives us

assistance. Will the First Minister provide an

update on the last Government's energy policy?

It is our aim to enhance the economic, social and environmental

well-being of the people, and communities of wheels through

providing low carbon energy system. Would you agree with me that one of

the biggest disincentives to large energy companies investing in Wales

is the Welsh Government's processes? It stick Empire six

years to gain the relevant permits for the Pembrokeshire Power plants.

Equivalent applications in England usually take two years. Even with

the new natural resources body, this performance is not acceptable

if Wales is to promote itself as a beater and venue for large energy

products. How is this being addressed and I got this message be

communicated to large energy companies looking to invest in our

country in the future? The formation of natural resources

Wales is designed to ensure that the promising process is robust and

Swift's where appropriate. Instead of having three bodies that reflect

the environment, there will be one body to take all decisions. That

will lead to a situation where decisions will be taken robustly

but within a proper amount of time. TRANSLATION: What other bus

Government's plans to increase renewable energy?

TRANSLATION: Energy Wales set up the Government's approach to the

transition to a low carbon and renewable forms of energy

generation. TRANSLATION: There are figures that

demonstrate that the increase in renewable energy in England is

17.8%. It is 9.9% in Scotland and only 2.7% in Wales. Wide you

believe that the increase here in Wales is so paltry in comparison to

the increase in a neighbouring countries?

TRANSLATION: As regards Scotland, it is the fact that there is more

money available for energy companies, because the fact that

Scotland's controls the rocks and they can then control investment

into Scotland. We believe that Wales should be in the same

position and we are still telling the UK Government that. We should

be given the same treatment as Scotland and Northern Ireland.

You Government designated its Anglesey has the energy Isles. As a

result of that, there will likely have to be some substantial

upgrades to the National Grid. And energy enterprise zone in Anglesey.

But when you Government had the opportunity to influence the new

infrastructure on the energy network strategy group,

particularly in relationship to pile on white, which will affect

communities in North Wales, you're officials did not stand up and say

a word for Wales, despite the fact that Scottish officials fought

repeatedly and vocally to defend their national interests. When you

give people in the North Wales the assurance that when you Government

has the opportunity to stand up and speak up for people in North Wales,

you will take that opportunity? I am not sure what the member

defines as Wales's national interests? You should declare your

interests against the job opportunities that we will provide.

I met with National Grid two weeks ago. It was not my first meeting.

We have regular meetings with them what they view to ensuring that the

grid structure is robust, but also that there is maximum benefit for

the people of Wales. I know the member keeps on saying that

officials haven't done this and that, but member-ministers are

doing a tremendous amount for the people of Wales.

What is the last Government doing to help improve services for those

with speech and language difficulties? Off we propose to

replace the statutory framework for assessment and planning provision

for children and young people special educational needs were the

simple and or personal system and we hope that this will have a

positive impact on a all learners, including those with speech and

language difficulties. A few weeks ago, I opened the

British stammering Association's open day in Cardiff although

success of films like the King's Speech have highlighted the

difficulties that people who stammer face, there are still major

problems. What more can we us Government do to help people who

stammer? To add to what I said to remember

earlier in the June of this year, the minister announced the launch

of the forward in partnership for children and young people with

additional needs consultation, which sets out our proposals for

reform as a mention earlier wrongs. The attention is to create a truly

personal system which will help all those with speech and language

difficulties and those who stammer. We believe First Minister's

Questions there for today. You can see more coverage of the National

Assembly on line. That is on democracy live. That is it from us