06/12/2016 am.pm

Good afternoon and welcome to AM:PM, our coverage of questions to the

first Minister. Carwyn Jones will be expected to be asked about topics

including bank closures, climate change and the South Wales Metro. We

are on Twitter way you can follow the latest from the Assembly from

Welsh politics. Business has already started. We will cross to today's

questions. I call the National Assembly to order and the first item

on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the first Minister and

the first question is from Kewell Gruffydd. What assessment has the

first Minister made a bank closures in Wales? Although branch closures

are a commercial matter for banks we recognise the negative impact the

closures can have on local business. We welcome the weeks and review

which has made recommendations to improve the way in which banks

engage with communities. Thank you for that response. We know the FSB

report in October demonstrated a clear impact it has on small

businesses, for example, having to close earlier and losing business

because they have to travel further to bank their money. The bankers

Association has clearly demonstrated that learning to companies whether

banks are closed has fallen substantially. You mention that in

your report. Can you expand on what the Government is going to do and

what discussions have you had with the banks in order to look at

alternative models of retaining services in some of these places

were branches have been lost? One of the things we have done is to make

sure funding is available to post offices, especially in rural areas,

so they can make sure that the services currently provided by banks

are kept by them, for example, paying in checks, withdrawal of

money, and so on. But what I would tell the banks is that it is

important to make sure that where businesses do use banks at the

moment in order to provide caching of takings, recalls those should be

made available in future to do that in the post office or whatever is

convenient for those businesses. -- cashing in takings. Branches have

closed in Flint, Barclays and Holywell in NatWest has announced

closures as well. I recognise the steps these banks have taken to make

sure that personal customers can access their accounts within the

post office but in many areas the future of the post offices are part

from certain, as well. Last week I discussed this in Holywell and I can

confirm people only walked out with their hair cut in the barbers. The

problem created by this other bank closure and the impact on rural

communities and businesses mean people have to travel further with

substantial amounts of money. I'm sure you concern -- share my concern

about the effect of these closures. What advice and support is available

for small businesses and town centre is impacted by the closures? It

comes down to making sure the post office is able to deliver the kind

of services businesses would expect. The nature of banking has changed

over the years. Fewer people visit banks. What is vital is people have

the facility to withdraw money, to deposit cheques and cash into

financial institutions and also that small businesses can deposit cash at

the end of the day when businesses close. It is very important that

were banks leave communities the post offices can do that. They are

providing continuity of service and that is why we have provided support

to post offices to make sure communities do have their post

offices to deliver a wide range of services. Paul Davies. TRANSLATION:

Thank you, you may be aware that some banks are proposing to close

three branches in my constituency and I should declare an interest in

this question as a former employee of Lloyd's. Not only are these

closure is my constituency out of keeping with the numbers closing at

a UK level but they are vital for many people who live around those

communities and their closure would have a destructive impact. I accept

that this is a commercial matter for the bank. But following on from

previous questions, what specific support can be Welsh government

provide to these communities? And what can be Welsh government do to

assist to mitigate the negative impact these closures will have on

communities? I understand Newport Fishguard and Milford Haven are

going to close, or there are plans to close them. What is vitally

important is those services available now through the banks are

available in alternative methods and means of working through the post

office will make sure those services are available there. That of course

we'll make sure that those services are available for local people and

also makes sure that there is work and business for the post offices to

make sure they are still sustainable. But of course this is

something that has not happened in rural areas in the past, namely

seeing post offices closing and services being wiped out completely

from the community. We do not wish to see that and we have been

supporting them financially. We'll be first Minister make a statement

on the section 68 of the planning and compulsory purchase act 2004? --

will the first Minister. It enables a development plan if enabled by the

local authority. Thank you. Last week you describe this as nonsense.

Clearly, it is not. Do you accept you were wrong last week? I ask

again, we support in this chamber the saving of Cardiff greenfield

sites by voting button marked these are matters for Cardiff --?

It is Welsh ministers that have that power. In the original legislation

in 2004 the Assembly was mentioned but those powers were transferred to

the executive after the act of 2006. There is no vote on the floor of

this Assembly. It is a matter for a local authority to apply to revoke

the local development plan and it is for ministers to consider and not

the National Assembly itself. One of the problems with local development

plans is local authorities are constrained by guidance issued by

you and your cabinet. The big problem we have got in Denbighshire

and areas I represent is there are requirements to create a lot of new

housing and it is unsustainable in terms of local infrastructure. What

are you doing to improve your guidance on the infrastructure which

will be required to make sure there are GP services, schools, roads and

other community services available to those areas of new development

which will be created? The local authorities are responsible for that

and tools are available. Section one enables them to look for areas to

see infrastructure development, building for schools, roads, by

section 106, the levy will soon be devolved, that is another way in

which benefit can be drawn to a local community. It depends how

clever a local authority is willing to be. It should never be the case

that a major development takes place without any contribution by the

developers to infrastructure and that is something we support local

authorities in doing. TRANSLATION: Questions from the party leaders.

Leanne Wood. Labour has led the Welsh government

for 17 years. Do you take responsibility for today's piece

results? We have seen some imprudence in some areas and

disappointment in others. We would like the journey to continue. If you

believe the PISA tests are important, you have to believe the

assessment which said we are doing the right things and we are on the

right journey. It is vital we continue with what we have been

doing. Not my words, the words of the OECD. We cannot be complacent.

Nobody can accept the situation as it is. We have seen some improvement

but not enough. We had to stay on the calls we have been advised to

do. That sounds pretty complacent to me. -- the course. You will not take

responsibility for the results we have seen today. The Labour

government has predicted improvement. We have heard it all

before. Last year the education minister said a lot has happened

since the disappointing 2012 test results. He also said, I would

anticipate and would hope for palpable improvement. Labour has

promised improvement and you have yet to deliver. First Minister, you

yourself have admitted you have taken your eye from the ball when it

came to education. As a result, today Welsh schools for reading are

worse than a decade ago, scores for maths are worse than a decade ago,

for science, worse than a decade ago. People deserve the improvement

you said would happen. When will we see improvement? If you can answer

that question, can you also tell us how can we believe you? Look at the

GCSE results and you will see those results have greatly improved since

2010. 10% in terms of getting the right grades at GCSE 's. They are

encouraging. We have seen improvement in mathematics

performance, disappointment with reading and signs. We are seeing the

gap closing. -- science will stop we are confident the gap --. We are

being provided with evidence the education system is going in the

right direction. The Leader of the Opposition does not have to believe

what I say but if she can accept that the PISA tests are important,

and she does, she must accept the OECD who set the test are saying we

are moving in the right direction and should stay on course. We should

not have wild reform, or widespread reform now, but rather the direction

is correct. If she has other alternatives she wants to put before

the House that is a matter for her. We listen to the OECD. We see there

is room for improvement but we hear what they say that we are on the

right track. You were the Government, you were the ones who

promised improvement. The reason I ask you about those improvements is

you have got a record of moving the goalposts. You are the ones who

chose to fully participate in PISA and use it as a benchmark. In

October 2014 the target of reaching the top 20 in the world by 2016 was

dropped. Labour brought in a new target at that point to reach the

average of 500 points for reading, mathematics and science by 2021. Are

you still committed to that or will you move the goalposts again? I am

confident when the next result, we will see more improvement. I say

that because we mentioned the GCSE and A-level results. We are seeing

the first imprudence in mathematics and the gap is closing in reading

and science, but not good enough. There is still work to be done. We

know improvements take years and cannot been turned around in three

years. Yes, of course we take responsibility. We were the garment

who went into PISA in the first place and we must accept PISA is a

way in which the education system of Wales will be measured. There is

more work to be done. The education secretary will be outlining that in

more detail when she makes her statement. We are seeing improvement

in some areas but things are not as they should be and we will never be

content and we will always want improvement in the system, that is

entirely and exactly what we wish to see and what we will do.

TRANSLATION: The Welsh Conservatives.

If I can take the point on the PISA again, it was notable in your

response that not one backbencher behind you went to listen to you,

all were looking at their computers, rightly so. The Labour Party should

be embarrassed by these results today, after 17 years of leadership

of education in Wales. It is a damning indictment on your failure

as first Minister and the Labour Party's ability to lead education in

Wales. When you took office almost seven years ago, I think the

anniversary is on Saturday, you rightly pointed out education was a

cornerstone of York positioning as first Minister and you rightly point

to the heritage you have of being the son of two teachers. You also

pointed out education was the key to unlocking success for the Welsh

economy. Why on earth has that key not turned to the benefit of pupils

in Wales when you look at the PISA results today? I have already given

answers and accepted there is no room for complacency and much room

for improvement. When I went to school in the 1980s, the schools

were awful, the buildings were awful. We had no library, it was

falling apart, the buildings, the Windows were broken, they remained

broken, the standard of teaching was good. We were lucky to have good

teachers. That is the reality of it for those who went to a

comprehensive and will remember it as it was under the Tories. Let's

examine his party education policy... Lets quieting down .Mac...

They are still saying that schools funding should be kept. We accept

there is work to do but what we will never accept is that schools have

less money which is it sadly what he advocates. For goodness sake, show

some humility. Referring back to the 80s and policies, you are in

government, you are the First Minister. The Labour Party have been

in government since 1999. You have written of a generation, are you

prepared to write off another one? It's your own Education Secretary to

come to this chamber time and time again. Huw Lewis in 2013 said I

expect to see the pact of our reforms reflected in the next set of

results. These are the set of results we are looking at today.

What has happened? What has happened in reading and science? So why can

we not expect from you to show some leadership? You have new mandate. I

congratulate you on that mandate. What we cannot add up with is more

of the same so we write off another generation. Give us some vision. You

have got the keys, and lock the door. The clanging of an empty

vessel. Let me repeat to him what I said to the leader of Plaid Cymru.

The OECD have said the last thing we should be doing is having wholesale

change in education policy. They have said we are on the right track.

What he is advocating it through everything into the air, have

complete disruption, which might be justified. If the OECD said were on

the track, you might be right. But they have said we are moving in the

right correction, stick at it. That is exactly what we are doing. We are

seeing the approved mincing maths and GCSEs and A-levels and we will

continue to see it in the years to come. When you are looking at some

of the changes that have gone on in other parts of the UK, I am holding

you to account about the vision that you obviously do not have medication

in the future. I have quoted Hugh Lewis. Somebody we do miss is

Leighton Andrews and at least he had a go. He told us in 2010, honesty,

leadership and a new approach to come -- to accountability was what

was required. They wanted by this stage in the cycle for the Welsh

Government to have got Wales into the top 20. You said you were

confident you are going to hit the 500 mark next time around. We have

not heard anything to give us confidence that we won't be in the

same place in three years' time. Why on earth can you not give us some

hard and fast can once today where we will be in three years' time when

has its next set of tests so at least we can mark the scorecard

then. As I say to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, he cannot say

on the one hand that the PISA tests are robust. And on the other hand

say the OECD advice we've had should be ignored. He is exceeded -- he is

saying exactly that. The OECD said we should continue on the track were

on. I listened carefully to him and his party in terms of policies. It

is uncomfortable reading, I don't deny it. It's a sign we can never be

complacent. It's a sign there is work to be done although there are

some signs of improvement. Not good enough, still more to do. What we

will not do is panic, through everything in the air when we know

that the advice we've had says we are staying on the track we are

wrong. If we are prepared to disagree with the OECD and throw

their advice in the bin that is a matter for him. It's not something

we will do as a government. Neil Hamilton. Since last Tuesday I had

the advantage of reading the government's case in the Supreme

Court and apart from what it says at the beginning that the result of the

referendum to leave the EU should be respect and it completely ignores

the fact that the British people gave the government mandate to

trigger article 50. That mandate includes 26 of the 29 seats Labour

on in the election for this assembly. Although fine words at the

start of this case a that the referendum result should be

respected the rest of the government's case is an obstacle in

the way of respecting that result. I am not a Supreme Court justice and

he thank the Lord is not a lawyer so we will have to see whether his

submissions are correct. I am a member of the bar as is he. It's not

the first time the First Minister has displayed his ignorance in this

chamber. In the last ten years the Parliament at Westminster... Allow

the member to be heard, please. In the last ten years the Parliament

has passed two important facts. To restrict the government's powers in

respect of the prerogative in relation to European Union

legislation. The 2008 European Union Amendment act and the 2011 union

act. They provide the government should not take any decisions

without a resolution or an act of the House of Commons or an act of

Parliament or a referendum. In none of those axed as it referred to

article 50. Therefore the prerogative powers of the Crown were

not intended to be restricted by Parliament in this respect. The

Welsh Government's attempt to frustrate the expressed a wish of

the British people in a referendum with 17.5 million people voted to

leave their was absolutely disgraceful. Could I tell all

Cabinet secretaries that the First Minister does not need any support

from cabinet members. Unless the member is registered as a practising

barrister he is not a lawyer. I am not. I have not been in court since

2000. We shall wait and see what the Supreme Court does but I did notice

is former party leader threatened to lead a march of 100,000 people to

the Supreme Court yesterday and it didn't happen. Judges should be able

to make up their own minds without the Douglas pressure being applied

on them by the media and politicians. This is the most

important constitutional case since Charles the first. There are

important issues you, not just the prerogative but in terms of what it

means for the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland legislative. These

are issues that must be resolved as a matter of law. It's not something

that. The referendum result from happening. But it has to be done in

a lawful way. I entirely agree but the Welsh Government has intervened

in the court case to frustrate the wishes of the British people.

Otherwise there would be no point in intervening in the case in the first

place because the First Minister has said many times that Labour will

respect the result of the referendum and therefore Labour MPs ought not

to be whipped to vote against triggering article 50. If Labour MPs

are not to vote against article 50 watts the point of the case in the

first place? I am not the Leader of the Opposition at Westminster. The

principle is this, we have taken the view there are issues regarding

Article 50 that would affect the powers of this place. It's therefore

important the situation for the people of Wales, Scotland and

Northern Ireland is examined so we know what the process should be. We

will not accept the situation with the prerogative will be used to

reduce the powers of this assembly and that's why it's important the

Supreme Court examines these issues to make sure what is done is done

but is then legally. Brexit was not a vote about ignoring court saw the

law. We were told it was about empowering the UK Parliament, except

when it's inconvenient. Let the Supreme Court which work, let it

examine these issues in detail and then we will have the answer that is

needed before the process moves on. Leanne Wood. What initiatives are

the Welsh Government working on two tackle climate change? We are now

developing further interventions that work towards a long-term target

of an 80% emissions reduction by 2050 by maximising economic and

cultural benefits. Seven years ago the one Wales government laid out

plans to achieve self-sufficiency with energy generation within 20

years. One third of that time frame has already passed and you are still

way off target, lagging way behind Scotland when it comes to generating

energy from renewable sources. According to an energy trends report

from September of this year Scotland generates four times more renewable

energy than we do here in Wales. What has happened to your ambition

on renewable energy and tackling climate change? Are you still aiming

for that self-sufficiency? The Scots had an advantage which will not be

there in 2018 with a control the consenting gnosis of major energy

projects. In the North Sea of course the Scots have been successful in

terms of developing offshore wind in a way that we have no control over.

So we were not able to develop renewable energy in the way we would

want to. With the new powers in 2018 that will give us the opportunity to

catch up with Scotland. Jeremy Miles. The first moved to

regard our capacity to generate green energy from the sea as a

significant asset to tackling climate change. As we await the

decision from the Westminster government on the Swansea Bay tidal

lagoon and welcome the first-ever large-scale tidal energy farm off

the coast, did he join me in hoping the remaining regular tree steps to

be taken in Wales to proceed with the lagoon can be taken quickly?

Absolutely. We are well placed to take advantage of tidal energy in

particular. We know the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon could create an

estimated 1900 jobs during construction and beyond. It's

important the UK Government makes that step of ensuring that what

would be an energy source that will last 100 years or more will come

into being. It will generate energy more cheaply over 100 years but also

in a clean and Greenaway. Last week it was announced that Swansea 's

number 13 in a list of the UK's most congested cities. Three years ago

Swansea Council installed via now system to monitor if pollution

levels but it's still not ready despite the Welsh Government

committing ?100,000 to that system. In aiming to tackle climate change

how will you collect carbon emissions data on how will you use

the data and how will you take to task any partners that rely upon to

get that data if they don't come up with the goods? The data is

collected via a number of organisations. We know with if

traffic is idling that creates worse equality. We know Swansea has

challenges in the sense it's real letter disappeared in the 1960s.

There are plans moving forward now for a Swansea Bay Metro which will

do much in terms of a neighbouring people to get out of their cars.

With the First Minister agree that rather than spending millions of

pounds on wind turbines which are said to be only around 35%

efficient, and environmentally damaging and cost the poorest in the

country in increased energy costs whilst incidentally putting large

amounts of money into wealthy landowners pockets, it would be a

better idea to spend the money on home improvements such as

installation, double glazing and new boiler installation which would not

only be more efficient at cutting pollution but would also positively

benefit the poor in society. That was a cheap shot, I thought. It

is Christmas, after all. The reality is that there is no point in simply

providing people with the means to make their homes more energy

efficient. Yes, it is important but not of itself. It is important we

continue accessing energy reserves, have a mixture of energy, you cannot

have everything done by wind power, but it has a role to play and stars

in many world economies. He mentions environmental damage. -- and it

does. It is done in a very environmentally damaging way and

communities will have something strong to say about that. In

reality, everybody would like lights to come on and we have to generate

power. Wind is free, the infrastructure has to be built, the

tide will always be there as long as the moon is there. It makes sense to

harness this source of power, not only clean and green but in the long

term, cheaper. TRANSLATION: Question four. Our community cohesion

strategy was launched in 2009. It was recently updated. The delivery

is supported across Wales by eight regional coordinators based in local

authorities and funding will continue in 2017-18, as approved

last month by Cabinet. Last week the member of Parliament said we must

move away from multiculturalism and towards assimilation, we must stand

for one group, the British people. Will he condemned these comments in

no uncertain terms? Will he reassure the Assembly that these views do not

represent Welsh government policy and will he join me in celebrating

the rich diversity of this country? I did not hear the comments, if I am

honest. What I can say is there has never been an occasion ever in the

history of this island where there has been one culture, ever. It has

always been multicultural, whether it is in terms of religion,

linguistic diversity, in terms of the colour of skin. In reality they

have been people with black skin on these islands since the third

century. It has always been the case Britain has been multicultural and

that is something to celebrate and not be afraid of. In the Welsh

government cohesion delivery plan the then Minister Leslie Griffith

for communities in tackling poverty stated we are moving to a new

climate where cohesive communities are enshrined in the national goals

for the well-being act of 2015 and will make sure of cohesion remaining

at the heart of how public bodies deliver policies and services in

future. Will he outline how the Welsh government currently sees the

state of community cohesion in Wales and what future actions can be taken

to enhance further? I refer to the answer I gave earlier in terms of

the community cohesion plan and the work of the original coordinators in

making sure it goes ahead. We know they have been challenges in the

aftermath of Brexit. In some communities there has been an

increase in hate crime. I hope it is temporary and it is not a worrying

trend for the future. We know cohesive communities are happier

communities. If they are not in conflict their lives are better as a

result and we will continue to make sure that what we do in terms of

promoting community cohesion helps raise a sense of well-being. It will

fall in line as well with the future generations act. Mark Isherwood.

Although the future generations Commissioner has said the aim is to

make public bodies think more about the long-term work going with

communities and each other and tackle issues by a more joined up

approach, something also reflected in responsibilities required under

the social services and well-being act, too many local authorities

interpret it as a hierarchy and we decide first and then consult

requirement. How will you finally therefore work with the brilliant

all Wales co-production network for Wales, which is on the ground

delivering projects on this basis, enabling professionals and citizens

to share power and work together in equal partnership? And one of the

organisations specifically has called on your government to embed

the sustainable livelihood approach in all policy and service delivery

in Wales and is helping people identify their own strengths in

order to tackle root problems preventing them and their community

from reaching their potential. It cannot be imposed. It has to grow

organically from grassroots in order for it to be sustainable and robust.

I would expect authorities to work in genuine partnership with

organisations that have experience of delivering on the ground in order

to make sure cohesion is robust within the community the local

authorities server. TRANSLATION: Question five, Simon Thomas. We'll

be first Minister make a statement on the cultural policy after the

decision to leave the European union? -- will the first Minister.

It is a vital industry and culture to Wales in terms of the food

production, the economic contribution and the wider public

benefit delivered. Following the Referendum, we have actively engaged

with stakeholders on the vision for the future for what is a fully

devolved area. Thank you, first Minister. I agree agriculture is as

much a culture as it is an industry and maintained culture but it is now

clear there are some who oppose devolution and they are using the

opportunity the decision to leave the union of lacking through the

black door the devolution process which has provided powers for

agriculture and the environment and the Conservative leader in the

chamber is unfortunately one of those people. Will you join with

Plaid Cymru and anybody else in this chamber in a cross-party campaign

with rural organisations and farming unions to make sure that no matter

what happens in the wake of leaving the European Union we would not lose

a single power for agriculture? I have said this from the very

beginning, of course. Agriculture is devolved and it is not an

opportunity to take away powers from the people of Wales. Not at all.

There may be a case for considering some issues, such as animal welfare,

to have a pan British policy, but only through agreement and not by

Westminster imposing it and saying that you will not have any choice.

What we are after is consensus and agreement, nothing else. It may be

worth talking about some kind of loose framework, but it is

discussion and agreement which is all-important. It is not an

opportunity to take away powers from the farmers, the Government of

Wales, or the Welsh people. You are no doubt aware that there are

administration issues for farmers who have land straddling the Welsh

and English border in terms of the basic payment scheme which each year

leads to payment being delayed. European rules concerning

cross-border claimants require each single payment agency, England and

Wales, to have a separate agency. Do you feel as a result of the decision

to leave the EU there is an opportunity to find a system which

can resolve the issue, because clearly this is significant for many

farmers? This would mean the Welsh government taking over for payments

for farmers in England because we are far superior as a payment agency

and have been for years in terms of payment, speed of payment in the

last thing Welsh farmers would want is an involvement in delivering

farming subsidies in Wales. We have issues in cross-border farms because

the RPA have been slow in delivering data to us. There are better ways of

doing things, that is true. But I think it would send chills down the

spines of Milstead Welsh farmers if they felt they would have to face

the same delays as colleagues in England. -- of most Welsh farmers.

Will he agree that leaving the European Union gives us a great

opportunity in Wales to fashion a cultural policy according to our own

needs? Ukip will play a full part in helping the Welsh government to

develop such a policy. It makes it all the more incompressible that the

Government should be pursuing the line in the Supreme Court today that

the powers of this Assembly are in some way going to be diminished. As

a result of leaving we will get more power in the Assembly, not less.

This is something we should look forward to and welcome, and not try

and frustrate and prevent. He is ploughing his own furrow on that, to

use a term he would be familiar with, whether he is speaking as a

proxy to the UK government, only he will know. He says he thinks it is

an opportunity to remove power from the people of Wales and the Welsh

government, a view not shared by the farming unions, so he is hoisted by

his own petard in that regard. The one issue farmers have correctly

identified this morning is we need to get access to the single market

absolutely right. They know how much of a disaster it would be if they

cannot sell on that market on the same terms. When it comes to free

trade agreement agriculture is almost always omitted, that is the

difficulty. Countries are protective of their agriculture. We know the

rules if they were imposed on agriculture would mean a 70% tariff

on Welsh land going into Europe. Welsh farming cannot withstand that

tariff. I take him at his word that I have to say that what is vital,

two things for Welsh farming, certainty over subsidy after 2020

and a fair division of money, not a Barnett Formula share, or we would

be 70% down from now, and an ability to share in the major market, the

European Union. Any kind of barrier if Welsh farmers face that in terms

of selling to Europe would be, and I choose my word deliberately,

disastrous for Welsh farming which is why access to the single market

has to be the defining principle for any UK government in negotiating

with the EU. TRANSLATION: Question six, Gareth Bennett. Wilby first

Minister provide an update on funding for the south wales metro?

Phase two has been estimated at 734 million. The final cost will be in

the procurement negotiation and that is dependent on funding from the

development fund which we expect the UK government to honour in terms of

providing this funding. Thank you. I am glad he refer to the pledge by

the UK government to match the funding. Paul Maynard, the UK

transport Minister specifically advised of the Welsh government to

apply for the funding. Would you agree that the Brexit vote is not

necessarily any impediment to going ahead with the Metro project? Not to

going ahead with it but in terms of scope, it will potentially reduce

the scope. If the funding is not made up by the UK government,

clearly the Metro cannot go ahead at the same speed and in terms of the

same ambition it otherwise would have done. Yes, if there is a ?125

million gap in the UK garment has to make it up, otherwise it cannot be

as we would want. But clearly it can move forward but not in quite the

way we would have wanted. TRANSLATION: Question seven. Will

the first Minister provide an update on ambulance performance in South

Wales? Since the introduction of the clinical pilot it has been extremely

positive, exceeding the target in every month of the first year, the

national target, in every month in the first year. That is extremely

positive and I welcome that news. It is vitally important to my

constituency, because the response time for those that are with life

threatening issues makes it clearly a major difference to their lives

and also their families, knowing they have that reassurance that an

ambulance will be on a red call and we'll be there in time. But it is

noticeable however that we have this ongoing problem in England, Wales

and Northern Ireland with a wasted time of ambulance at a and E units.

It has been long and injuring. Freedom of information requests

suggested over 500,000 hours within the UK were wasted. These ambulances

could be out doing the good work they need to do very efficiently.

What can he say in terms of how we address this issue, not only now

with winter pressures coming on top of us, but in years to come, as

well? Tremendous inroads we have done into red call response times

but how do we deal with wasted hours sitting outside accident and

emergency? It is not only a Wales issue. How do we do this across

other nations, as well? We need to make sure people are properly

assessed when they arrive in terms of where they go for treatment.

Making sure and villains is able to get away as possible and that means

focusing on accident and emergency centres. -- making sure ambulances

are able to get away. We know it provides a better outcome. I would

say we see the improvement in terms of ambulance waiting times in

accident and emergency through the response times to the most life

threatening calls. The fact that more and more of them are being got

to within the time allocated is a sign they are getting their more

quickly. As a general rule. Yes, there will be pressures now and

again on some dates where there are a larger number of people than

expected coming through. But if we look at the most immediate

life-threatening calls, the response time in Northern Ireland, 51.2%,

England, about 65%, Scotland 66.4%, Wales, 79%. It is a tribute to the

Welsh paramedics and ambulance trust. TRANSLATION: Will the

Minister make a statement on what the Welsh government is doing to

support farmers in Pembrokeshire? We are working to support the industry

in Pembrokeshire has in all parts of Wales to make sure the industry can

become more profitable, sustainable and resilient. Farmers in

Pembrokeshire are very concerned about your government proposals to

introduce nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales, because this will be

challenging for farmers to comply with new regulations which are

proposed in consultation. Considering your comments in the

summer that it is up to the Welsh governance to decide which laws

should be kept and should not be kept at the UK decision to leave the

EU, can you explain why the Welsh government has proceeded with this

consultation to introduce nitrate vulnerable zones, which is as a

result of a European directive, because the introduction of such

regulations will certainly leave farmers in my constituency at a huge

disadvantage? Nitrates are a problem in many parts of Wales and we have

to deal with it because the negative impact has on the environment. The

consultation is open until Christmas. But a meeting was held

between officials and also representatives of the farming

unions and farmers in October to deal with these issues and it was a

very positive meeting. The farmers themselves wanted to make sure that

we consider ways of ensuring fewer nitrates go into the water system

and they wanted to collaborate with each other and the Government to

make sure that was the case. A statement on the additional capital

money the Welsh government will receive after the announcement by

the UK government audit statement? It is about the 442 million

additional capital. It will still be 21% lower in 2019-20 compared to

2009-10. The Welsh government has done its best to protect services in

the face of Tory cuts from Westminster but continued austerity

has meant difficult choices have had to be made. There has been a

significant budget reduction in community facilities and activity

programmes. I know many community groups find this an invaluable

source of funding and young people in my constituency do a sterling job

and have recently submitted a proposal only to find the future of

the prop -- programme is in doubt. In the light of the additional

monies, will you discuss this with Cabinet to make sure we can try and

continue this invaluable lifeline for community groups in Wales? I

thank my colleague for that question. There are many things we

consider as a government in terms of allocating new monies. In terms of

the programme, there has not been an evaluation yet and it is quite early

in the life of the programme, but visits have been carried out and

indicate the facilities are well used and sustainable into the

future. They are difficult choices as to what we do with future

finance. I think it is probably fair to say that only the very best

applications can expect to attract funding in the future and we will

see what can be made available in the course of discussions we have in

terms of dealing with any extra resources we get from the UK

government. STUDIO: That was first minister's questions. For more

coverage, you can go online to BBC Wales. The live pages on BBC .co

.uk. For all the latest political news, watch Wales Today later at

half six on BBC One and we will be back at nine o'clock. From all of us

here, thank you for watching, goodbye.