06/12/2011 am.pm

Good afternoon, welcome to the programme. It's the final First

Minister's Questions of the year today and AMs will be voting on the

budget later. We'll look back on questions to Carwyn Jones and ahead

to the vote on the budget with our Welsh Affairs Editor Vaughan

Roderick, and we'd welcome your thoughts too. You can get in touch

with us via Twitter - the address with us via Twitter - the address

is @walespolitics. If you have lots to say, you can send an e-mail to

Well, the politicians were in early today to make up for the time lost

due to the closure of the Senedd last week because of the public

sector strikes. Here's what happened during First Minister's

Questions a little earlier. The National Assembly of Wales is

now in session and the first item of the agenda this afternoon his

questions to the First Minister. Question 1. Thank you. First

Minister, what discussions has the First Minister had with the UK

government regarding the regulation of high interest agreements? I have

had no discussions. It is not a double for battered but on 19th

July, the UK government announced they would commit a research on the

total cost of credit, particularly the high cost of credit and its

effect on consumers. Whilst the matter of regulation is not

involved, the consequences certainly affect devolved services.

We no increase in numbers of people are turning to high interest credit

to make ends meet and this ends up with thousands of people in deep

financial trouble. I shall he is aware of the Kop campaign in

Parliament to increase regulation of these types of agreement -- Co-

op. Can he confirm that the Welsh government would take a view to

support these regulations? We would support further protection and we

do welcome the UK government's decision to revisit its policy in

this area and commissioned the research as part of the Consumer

Credit. What discussions have you had with the UK government

regarding plants, if any, to curb legal and licensed lenders, who

work from places such as Malta or, and to curb lenders whose model is

to lend more to pull loans to householders on low incomes where

the Ricky of repayments can be anything of 90% of their gross --

at the wicket repayments. And -- wicket. Week Olly support the unit

and it has helped 1,800 people since its launch -- we fully

support. TRANSLATION: First Minister, I know that you share my

support for credit unions, as she demonstrated with a visit to a

credit union in the near future. At this time of the year, they are

appreciated in their role in reducing costs by Christmas, under

the last 13 years, they Llanelli credit union has provided �12

million in loans, with some 218,000 last month, all being spent mope --

locally in credit unions. This can assist people on low incomes to

save more easily by offering an account with interest, so will you

join with me in welcoming the role of credit unions providing

alternative to high interest credits and the role they play

Ehmcke the Fleet. TRANSLATION: I am looking forward to the visit to the

credit union. They are incredibly important to help people borrow

money at a reasonable rate, and that is why we have supported the

growth in credit unions throughout the hall of Wales. TRANSLATION: May

I endorse the calls on you to lead this debate, not only in Wales, but

also with the UK government. It is important we should see regulation

in this area, particularly in the area of normalising these high-

interest loans, for example through mobile phones, which is so easy.

Young people think that borrowing money at the end of the month is

something that can be done normally on the phone or the computer or

online. They don't realise how much more they are paying for these

loans and that there are alternatives available, including

those supported by your own government, so may I urge you to

lead a public debate on this issue. That cry translation I am happy

enough to do that, it is exceptionally important that people

realise there is a very high cost to be paid with some of the

companies that are legal companies -- TRANSLATION:.

First Minister, I welcome your answers to the other speakers on

this matter today. Would you agree it is also essential to continue to

ensure we have first-rate debt advice services to go with the

campaign against high interest rate loans, some of which I noticed

early last night were in excess of 4,000 % per year. Absolutely, it is

important that people are able to access the advice that they need in

order to avoid falling into debt to begin with added being able to

manage debt if they do fall in to that situation. Well the First

Minister outline his strategy for supporting Welsh pubs? The project

was lodged in 20th December 10 aiming to support rural pubs and

support local businesses, available through regional centre services --

December 2010. One thing I know that we both do agree on is the

need to support the Welsh pub industry. Your comments were well

received at the recent event I hosted in the Senedd, an event

which highlighted the importance of pubs to local communities and as

you were aware that they, after the pub is the only facility that in

some local villages when all other services have gone. In the wake of

that that event -- of that event, having had any further follow-up

talks on how we can better support people in Wales were in local pubs

and whether you have considered whether there are certain loopholes,

such as planning loopholes, which could be closed so that when pop-

ups are threatened with conversion or demolition, it does not happen.

-- when pubs. I have not had discussions list that since last

week but we will be open to what camera have to say. I know they do

will be extensively at Westminster. It has been less HISTORICALLY when

it comes to Wales, -- are less of the case. They do act as a

community facilities. When a pub- goers, often a village becomes a

collection of houses. Following on from that question, you will be

aware of some of the historic and I think valued names that public

house is actually have, representing events that have

occurred in communities, industry and many go back several hundred

years, and it is sad seeing the pubs such as the White Hart Hotel

changing its name, and we have a preponderance of slugs and lettuces

all over Wales at the moment. Is there anything we can do to protect

the historic value of some of the pub names around Wales? Yes, it is

difficult of course to implement legislation with regard to this.

Quite often with some licensed premises, a change of name is

needed in order to keep them open, because of the client tell they are

seeking to attract. -- clientele. I would support some of the historic

names, some of which jarred that historic, but have become so over

the past few years -- some of which are not. It is part of the

tradition of our country. TRANSLATION: Made a return to the

last point that you made in your response to the original question

and talk to the impact on communities when they lose the

fundamental services and just exist as a collection of houses. That

means there is very little community feeling or meeting places.

I visited by constituency last week handed back to village, the local

pub is also the local shop -- I visited my constituency last week

and in that village. It is being run in collaboration with the

National Trust landlord. The believe that that kind of pattern,

which is being sustained it to a great extent by volunteers, is the

kind of pattern that could sustain the fundamental services in areas

throughout Wales? Can I invited to come with me to my constituency to

see this at work -- invite you? TRANSLATION: I know that pub and it

is listed in the historic pubs of Wales book. There are other

examples where the local community have taken the pub over and ensured

a future for it, and it is very important that the local community

to make use of the pub. It is also extremely important that the people

running the pub to extend a welcome. That is not always the case in

every pub and for that reason, many have closed. First Minister, many

pubs across Mid and West Wales are struggling at part of the problem

is artificially high beer prices, which prevents local micro-

breweries from selling their products. Can you explain how it

can be relaxed to enable pubs here to sell some of their excellent

beers and ciders? There is no doubt the free houses are in a better

position at the moment. It can be difficult for some of tied houses

to make a reasonable profit. At one point, there were some who were

looking to sell pubs in order to become power -- houses, which is

less of an issue, but nevertheless it is important to see a commitment

from the brewery is that Alan pubs so that they are thriving community

pubs. -- the brewery is that a run pubs. I do applaud some of the

actions of the 1980s and 1990s when they broke the monopoly of some of

the pubs and allowed guest beers, as I welcomed Gordon Brown's

announcement in his budget some years ago when he made it far

easier in terms of small micro- breweries deprive the because of

the cut on duty -- to thrive. will now move to questions from the

leaders. The first question is from the leader of the opposition.

you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, we had the referendum

last March on further law-making powers for this institution and you

said that bad. That the point of the referendum was giving us the

tools to do the job. Seven months later, only one piece of

legislation has come before the Assembly. He promised there would

be three by December. Why, compared to Scotland which has had six bills

before the parliament, has your government been so slow in bring in

legislation forward? We published a detailed programme that includes a

number of bills that will be taken through the course of this Assembly.

The question I ask is why you have been slow in putting them forward?

By your own legislative programme, you were due to have three by

December at we have only had one, which was last week. That is not

the only area where you have been slow to act. We have a review into

micro businesses, we have a review into business rates, in to city

status. He supposedly went before the people of Wales in May of this

year with the most comprehensive manifesto, your words not mine, of

which had been put before the people of work -- Wales. All you

seem to be doing is reviewing, dithering and delay. Why are you

keeping Welsh businesses waiting? He seems to forget the 55 million

that has been invested in Wales, and the retained capital fund. �1.4

billion was announced yesterday for schools. Every time we come to this

Chamber, the leader of the opposition continues with this line

about health at this alleged 1 billion Pandev gap, something his

party used in the election, yet despite spending twice as much as

the party on these benches, his party was still unsuccessful. When

will he learned he needs to be more I haven't mentioned health. I am

glad you have mentioned that because the health boards are

indicating a �50 million deficit at the end of this financial year.

Waiting times are going up. If you want to talk health, I'm quite

happy to talk health time and time again. There are representatives of

the Royal College of Nurses upstairs who have indicated over

half their members wish to leave the Welsh NHS... PRESIDING OFFICER:

Order. Why do you blame the tools for doing such a poor job? It is

time you led for the people of Wales? His party's mantra, which he

keeps on repeating, cost the job of the health spokesperson of his

party in May. That was an advantage to him! Let me give him a challenge.

One of the reasons why nurses are so worried is because of his party,

because of his party's desire to cut the pay of nurses in Wales. To

make sure that nurses in Wales are paid less to do exactly the same

job as in England. Something that was announced by the Chancellor

last week. I ask him now, will he condemn the Chancellor, will he

stand up for Welsh nurses and will he make sure they are paid the same

as everyone in the UK? PRESIDING OFFICER: You have had three

questions. Order. Can we just quieten down and listen to the

leader of Plaid Cymru. You might learn something! LAUGHTER During

the CSR period, First Minister, you know, the Welsh bloc reduces by

11.3% or in real terms �1.9 billion. We know that the Welsh Audit Office

has indicated that as a result of those cuts, 21,000 jobs will be

lost in the public sector in Wales. We know that as a result of the

economic crisis, worsening since May, that will lead to thousands of

jobs being lost in private sector. If that wasn't bad enough, the

Autumn Statement added more gloom to the doom. What assessment have

you made of the further cuts to public spending announced by the

Chancellor last week? One of the problems that we have is we still

don't know what the revenue consequence shalls of the statement

will be. We have asked the Treasury, they seem unable to tell us how

much revenue conseqential will accrue to Wales. In terms of

investment in jobs, we have the �38.9 million on the freeze of

council tax in England. We had the �90 million, the �55 million that

is going direct to SMEs, and of course the �1.4 billion that was

announced for schools yesterday. That is a substantial investment in

the future in Wales and will help and retain many jobs. The 1.4

billion still depends on each local authority putting forward business

cases for their schools. If those business courses are not

satisfactory, they won't go ahead. That is the position on the

statement that was made yesterday. What the question I asked you, what

is the impact on Wales of the public spending cuts announced in

the Autumn Statement? What the Chancellor said in his Autumn

Statement is that there will be substantial further cuts to public

spending in Wales, in 2015 and 2016. He is saying they will on the same

scale as the cuts we have already faced. So in addition to the 1.9

billion already we have lost as a result of the current, we will lose

another �00 million in 2015 and 2016. What assessment have you made

of the impact of that on your policies? -- �800 million. There

will be a negative impact. The leader of Plaid Cymru is correct in

his assertions. It is true to say that despite the efforts that this

Government will be making to reduce poverty, we are fighting against a

tide coming the other way from the Chancellor. I come back to this

point about regional pay. The objective of the Chancellor is to

ensure that people in Wales and some parts of England are paid less

to do the same job as people in the South East of England. That is

unfair, it is inequitable and frankly that is something that on

these benches we will fight tooth- and-nail. Well, one way of course

of approaching the cuts is to blame Westminster which you have done.

You have a responsibility as well. You are the First Minister of Wales.

And what you said to the people of Wales in the election was that you

would stand up for the people of Wales. But we haven't seen much

evidence of that so far. I have been questioning you every week now,

First Minister, as you have probably realised, on the economy.

I have been quite astonished and surprised at your Government's

failure to grasp the enormity of the crisis facing us. Let's put

that in a nutshell. This economy in Wales will grow slower than at any

time since the 19th Century. Families will suffer job losses on

a scale not seen since the 1980s. Our children and grandchildren will

not have the life chances that we have had in Wales. Isn't it time,

First Minister, that we had a bold, ambitious, innovative Government

fighting for the people of Wales? Does this exist within you, First

Minister? Well, the leader of Plaid Cymru seems oblivious to the fact

that 1.5 billion has been announced in support for business and jobs. I

have given him the opportunity to listen to what I just said. The

reality is there is a budget before this Assembly this afternoon, there

is a budget for jobs and growth. I offer him this opportunity to move

away from the place where he has led his party whereby his party

will be voting with the Tories this afternoon. I can promise, I will

take every opportunity as will my party to remind the people of Wales

that when the chips are down, Plaid Cymru will side with the Tories.

PRESIDING OFFICER: We now move... Thank you. Order. Order. Order! I

know where you are. You are supposed to do as you are told. The

leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Thank you very much. First Minister, at the weekend a senior adviser to

the NHS in Wales said he was "depressed and disappointed at the

limited progress of change the Health Service had achieved in the

last few years". Do you agree with him? No, I think the Health Service

in Wales has moved forward to continue to provide an excellent

service to the people. First Minister, he then said, "In the

past, we had plenty of money and perhaps we spent it wrongly. Now,

when money is tight, the warning is stark. Without reform the richer

will get better, and the poorer will get poorer and their health

will deteriorate." If statements like that won't inject a sense of

urgency into the Welsh Government about reforming our Health Service

what will? I see no evidence to support that. If you mean reform

along the lines of what is happening in England, I'm not going

to do that. That is not what the people of Wales voted for in May.

We want to ensure the Health Service delivers as locally as

possible and as effectively as possible. That of course is what we

will be looking to do over the next year. What he is saying, Presiding

Officer, is that poor public services do poor people down the

most. First Minister, this isn't the first warning of this kind from

senior advisers. In 2004, Sir Derek Wanless was commissioned to write a

report on the state of the NHS in Wales. He said that things needed

to change. He said then that Wales does not get as much out of its

spending as it should. He said then that there is an unacceptable

variation in performance between NHS Trusts. He said then that the

overall conclusion is that the current position in the Welsh NHS

is unsustainable. That was almost a decade ago. He also concluded that

every person and every organisation had the leadership role to play.

Isn't it time that you as First Minister and your Government showed

some leadership in protecting the services that are most vulnerable -

- that the most vulnerable depend on the most? That is not correct.

We have a fine record on the NHS. Waiting lists are dropping. We know

that. We also know that when it comes to treatment, we don't have

any hidden waiting lists as has been admitted by the UK Government.

We have a proud record in terms of being able to provide a holistic

service for our people including free prescriptions. I don't believe

there is any evidence to suggest the NHS is unsustainable now in the

same way as I don't believe there is any evidence to suggest it would

become unsustainable. PRESIDING OFFICER: Question three. Will the

First Minister outline discussions held between the Welsh Government

and the football authorities in Wales concerning the increase in

unacceptable behaviour at junior and searior team football matches?

I know they are looking to improve standards of behaviour at all

levels. You will know very well that football provides one of the

most popular options for children to participate in regular outdoor

exercise and hopefully in time adopt a healthy lifestyle. It is

clearly sad that these opportunities are being denied by

the actions of a few, particularly between players and spectators. In

your talks, could you perhaps make this remark and see that these

occasions are minimised? Yes, the FAW understand this. Their Fair

Play Scheme does focus on better player behaviour. They are

developing a Get Behind The Line Campaign. Thank you. There have

been problems at football matches, over decades. I watch 40 to 50

matches a year locally and I haven't seen any problems at all

for the last two or three years. It is not only in football, it is

other sports, too. When the First Minister does speak can you ask

them to do more to get more neutral referees for these contests? That

does tend to lead to problems and can I ask if he can get, if you can

ask the FAW to redouble their efforts in getting more neutral

referees? There is a difficulty in recruiting referees. It is a

vicious circle. People are less inclined to be referees the more

they see abuse on the touchlines. People will step in as a result. I

can assure the member for Swansea East that as somebody who used to

referee rugby that no matter where you are from the home crowd will

think you are always biased! PRESIDING OFFICER: Question four,

Mohammad Asghar. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh

Government's priorities for sport and active recreation in Wales over

the next 12 months? We will create more opportunity for people in

Wales. Thank you. I welcome the report that talks are ongoing

concerning the possibility of bringing NFL US football games to

Cardiff. During the 2010 Ryder Cup you were boasting that lots of

contacts were made with American sporting authorities and

individuals. Could you tell the Chamber how many other sporting

events are you planning to bring to Cardiff alongside the NFL? Not just

Cardiff, it's Wales. The 2015 Ashes, the 2014 Senior Open Championship,

the Commonwealth Judo Championship and we are working with the

Millennium Stadium to attract an NFL game to the Millennium Stadium.

Thank you. First Minister, you may be aware of the recent furore over

the Sports Personality of the Year event which failed to include a

single woman athlete on Is shortlist. We know that just 2% of

mainstream media deals with women's sport and which attracts 0.5% of

corporate sponsorship. Would you agree that there is an urgent case

to do more to promote the profile of women's sports? Absolutely. We

have a better story to tell in Wales. Many of our female athletes

are in line for medals at the next Olympics, we hope, particularly in

sports where over the years we have been not particularly strong, like

swimming. We know that wasn't the case at the last one and it was the

female, the women's swimming team that led the way.

TRANSLATION: Since the news that the Olympics was to come to London,

some of the funding sources for sports capital programmes have been

frozen. As those sources re-open, particularly the Lottery, do you

believe that there is room to have a capital sports project for Wales

as a whole and that a multi-purpose running track which has been long-

awaited in Aberystwyth should be TRANSLATION: And certain that will

be supported by the community in Aberystwyth. We saw the statement

being made yesterday in London considering whether there will be

any benefit to Wales at growing from that statement. I am pleased

that the First Minister agrees the Olympics will provide good sporting

role models for women and girls in particular, and will he be

supporting role models like Hannah Mills, he has been selected for the

Olympic sailing team and actually did her training on the reservoir

in my constituency in Cardiff North, which is sadly drain that the

moment? Indeed so and there are many others I wish the best of luck

to in the Olympics in the middle part of next summer. I am pleased

that so many of Our women athletes are in a position where they will

be able to realistically expect to win a medal. TRANSLATION: First

Minister, you should add the Rugby League World Cup to your list,

which will be coming to Wrexham next year, but there is a problem

in terms of staging international matches on the racecourse, because

the stadium doesn't have reached the conditions set by Uefa. Would

your government support a campaign to improve the facilities in the

stadium? TRANSLATION: I did, of course, mention the Rugby League

World Cup, as someone who hasn't forgotten that the Crusaders have

moved from Bridgend to Wrexham. It is still good to see them playing

next year in the championship, in Division One. But of course, there

are plans to upgrade the Racecourse, particularly the seating it, we

would be willing to discuss that issue with the company who own the

stadium. TRANSLATION: Will the First Minister make a statement on

his government's plans to support the agriculture industry?

TRANSLATION: As I said last week, I am committed to securing a

prosperous future for Welsh agriculture. TRANSLATION: With

bovine TB a real problem across the country, it is irresponsible that

the Westminster government have cut back on animal laboratories here in

Wales, and your government says it wants to stand up for Wales so why

didn't she present evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee who have

carried out an inquiry into this issue and it's detrimental effect

for Wales? TRANSLATION: We have expressed our views about the

closure of these laboratories. We must ensure as regards TB that a

policy is established in Wales that deals with all facets of TB. First

Minister, your government's decision to remove the less

favoured area up lived in the Last Tear has been a concern to the

agricultural industry. You stated in October that changes had been

forced on us by the European Commission, as it would not accept

an hour left eight element, that is clear and a matter of public record

-- and L F A. Can you explain why the Minister for Agriculture has

written to be denying this point, and can you assure me he will

apologise to Welsh farmers for the confusion that your contradictory

statements have caused? No, because the reality is this is what we were

able to get past the European Commission. It is important for the

Conservative Party to understand that every farmer in Wales will be

able to benefit because of the changes. We had a good record of

standing up for farmers in Wales and we will carry on standing up

for farmers, despite the UK government's view, that is so

different to ours and so different to the interest of Welsh farmers.

First Minister, last week, the deputy minister announced the

beginning of a reflection exercise on the future of European

programmes from 2014-2020. What specific measures will be taken to

publicise this decision, which we broadly welcome, to ensure there is

maximum participation in this important consultation,

particularly from the widely dispersed farming community? We do

have records of every farmer, and we do have good communications with

farmers, and we have been able to consult all of the time because

many of them are known to us and are on the database of claimants.

Well the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh government's

efforts to improve community safety? Whilst we work closely with

Community Safety Partnership in Wales or a faulty partnership

approach to preventing crime. South Wales Police are facing cuts of 250

officers and 432 civilian police staff. Do you believe that these

cuts will damage community safety? Yes, I do. The fewer police that

are on the streets to more crime areas, we know that from history. -

- the more crime areas. Nothing deters people more than police

officers in uniform and the fewer there are, the more likely crime

will increase. First Minister, would you agree that community

safety would not be improved by the creation of costly police

commissioners? And which you be giving evidence to the newly

announced Commission on the future of policing back policing are, in

fact, should be devolved? That is something for the Silk commission

to consider. We will give evidence as appropriate to the policing

commission, but nevertheless it is an area which has been widely

debated in this Chamber and one which I believe needs to be

considered by the Silk Commission. First Minister, across Wales, arson

attack caused severe damage to safety in the community. Can you

provide an update on your administration's response to the

most recent statistics, which suggest that 11% of arson attacks

across Wales had increased, 8% higher call-out. How are you

working with various bodies and to ensure these rising deliberate

fires are not allowed to continue in our part of the world? This is

an area that isn't involved, but I am able to reiterate that we have

of course be able to recruit another 500 CBSO's in Wales and

work is going to begin on that recruitment -- community police

support officers. Will the First Minister outline the

Welsh government's priorities for south-east Wales in the coming

Assembly term? Yes, the priorities are outlined in the programme for

government. Thank you for that answer. A report published in 2010

concluded that for every �1 invested in the book Start scheme,

the state sees the return of �25 in terms of the value to society,

ensuring all children have access to books no matter where they are

from. A statement of opinion I tabled earlier this year in support

of Book Start received backing from across the Chamber, despite the

fact that funding has been slashed by the Tories in England. While I

understand resources are incredibly scarce, will you join me in

commending the excess -- commending the success down the years and

continue funding be on the 2012? Book Start shows how work between

Welsh government departments, public libraries and health

ministers can change children's lives and one of our key priorities,

improving literacy. I thank all those who have been involved in the

programme in ensuring the success. First Minister, will you recommit

your government's intention to create as many jobs as possible in

Wales, particularly following the closure of the steel mill, losing

115 jobs, which compounded 70 jobs lost the month before on

construction projects, and 75 now being lost in Blackwood. Cat basket

to review the options of a further Enterprise Zones in Newport -- can

I ask you? An enterprise zone wouldn't have made a any jobs in

the steel industry, and I sympathise with those people. There

is a depression in the market for steel across the world. We know

many jobs have been lost on the Continent of Europe as well, and

that is why we are in constant touch with steel producers in Wales

to make sure we are able to offer help where it is required. First

Minister cannot what discussions have you had on training facilities

for the military in Wales -- First Minister, what discussions. I have

had no discussions regarding training facilities but we are

constantly discussing wider matters. From 1959 to 1965, the All Arms

junior leader of Regiment was based in Mary on a share. They climbed

mountains on a weekly basis, where over time, they erected a small hut

near the summit of Cadair Idris. Currently, there is nothing on the

site which marks their achievement, despite the had been in regular use

but by climbers and ramblers. -- the heart. Would you join me in the

supporting calls for abiding York plaque to be placed at the site to

commemorate the regiment's lasting contribution to the area -- binding

you will. Yes I welcome that what you should write to me with further

details. First Minister, in my constituency, I have two a very

large training grounds. Both of which are doing an awful lot in

terms of training soldiers to go into theatres of war. I wondered if

he would acknowledge the importance of those training grounds to not

only the soldiers and their training but to the local economy

of Pembrokeshire, and also just the superb support that the people of

Pembrokeshire give to our soldiers and those training grounds. They

are important to the local economy and this is an him -- an

opportunity to raise Burma very important aspects. I know they are

doing excellent job in terms of training. Many young men and women

who find themselves in danger when they leave, that is something we

take very seriously. Castle Martin and the others have been part of

the economy in Pembrokeshire for many years, Castle Martin was part

of a controversy because German troops were based there in the

1960s. I can't pretend I remember it but I recognised a strong role

both establishments play in the economy of Pembrokeshire. What does

the First Minister's delivery unit made of the impact of the eurozone

crisis on the Welsh government objectives? The eurozone crisis

will continue to impact on economic growth in Wales and the rest of the

UK, and a range of what government objectives. We continue to analyse

the eurozone crisis on a regular basis, there are regular briefings

on economic issues that I have given to the Cabinet by the chief

economist. You may know that your party colleague Ed Balls was in

Cardiff and it did South Wales more widely last week, when he warned

that Wales faces been hit disproportionately by the eurozone

crisis. I wonder if that is your assessment as well and whether you

would bring forward some kind of statement to say how you will

modify some of your policies to ensure what -- we could mitigate

some of the worst implications of this incredible crisis? I see no

evidence to see that Wales will be disproportionately hit, but it is

right to say that all countries in Europe, particularly those in the

EU, will be hit whether or not they are in the eurozone. The great

question has to be considered on the part of the UK, should we see

ourselves as a central part of the EU, but not necessarily in the

eurozone, or should we stay on the sidelines? At the moment, my great

worry is that the UK is perceived as being a bit player and not a

central part of Europe, where we should be.

Well, that's where we leave First Minister's Questions this week. And

for this year, actually. And you can see more proceedings from the

National Assembly on BBC Wales's Democracy Live online coverage.

Just go to bbc.co.uk/walespolitics. Vaughan Roderick is here. For the

last time this year. That is the last one of the here and if we

think back to January, that session has changed quite a bit. It has

changed a lot, because at the start of the year, Iwan Jones was the

Deputy First Minister and we have these group of leaders questions. I

had dared at the beginning, but I thought today you saw it working at

its best -- doubts. You saw an intensely political hard-hitting

exchange between the poor leaders in the Assembly and I think it does

up the game of the First Minister's Questions, to have that constant --

concentrated block. What do you think about the flexibility or the

lack of it? The leaders get three questions each at Carwyn Jones's

final answer challenged Andrew RT Davies and he wasn't allowed to ask

another question. It is six questions that they getting

Westminster and frequently, you will hear the Prime Minister, who

were British, saying in the last question, "and if he wants to

denied for the rights to his feet now..." and he can't. It is an old

trick. Looking to the budget discussions, there was a discussion

between Carwyn Jones and Ieuan Wyn Jones. We mentioned it last week

and it seems that Ieuan Wyn Jones does feel like the bright jilted at

the altar in these negotiations because Labour have agreed a deal

with the Liberal Democrat and they will be reminding Plaid Cymru that

they will vote with the Tories against it. As Labour's have voted

with the Tories against the SNP's budget in Scotland. Oppositions to

vote together but it is a good slogan for Labour to use in the

run-up to the local elections, even though one suspects they know it is

pretty synthetic as an argument. You can't expect opposition parties

to vote against each other, they voted relation to look government.

-- they vote in relation. And what do we expect to happen in terms of

the budget? It will go through without any great difficulty

because of the agreement between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

What is interesting is that the tenor has changed. Last week, paid

camera and the Conservatives were firing at the Lib Dems, saying they

were selling out -- played come true. Now they are saying they're

going to go after a Labour. It is interesting that Plaid Cymru and

the Conservatives, up to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, have been

attacking Labour as a do-nothing government that has sat on its

hands for seven months at that is what they will be throwing back at