07/05/2013 am.pm

over and Assembly Members are back at their desks. Transport issues

seem to be taking the lead in First Minister's Questions today. And AMs

are also expected to ask about health provisions for children and

the schooling of pupils who are in care. That's what's on the minds of

AMs but what's on your mind? Whether it's something on the programme or

anything else politics related, let us know. We're on Twitter - we're

@walespolitics - or you can send us an email.

Business in the Chamber has already kicked-off - let's take a look at

today's questions to the First Minister. The National Assembly for

Wales to order. Questions to the first Minister. Question one, Mike

Hedges. Will he make a statement on the new first community clusters.

There are no approved and the majority are up and running.

remainder arty King sheet. Delivery plans are making a real impact. Can

I thank him for that response. I welcome setting up the clusters.

This is important in areas of deprivation and shows the commitment

of labour to protect are vulnerable communities. Will he support

extending the community first activities to use areas who have

equal problems. Parts of the same community are masked by other parts

of the community. The plan is to help the most deprived and

vulnerable people in Wales. The cluster areas are designed to take

into account specific needs of communities and be flexible with

boundaries. Therein lies the Pope -- the possibility of trying to extend

activities. How do you respond to concern that, having rejected the

concern for voluntary action for greater community owned dimensional

and away from government dependency, and instead giving

responsibility for a living different bodies to accept

responsibility for different clusters, this ensures that

communities are not involved in the decision-making process. It is a

community focused programme with the strategic outcomes. It is important

there is a league deliver the body to provide leadership and that is

what those bodies will do. Thank you, how will the Welsh government

ensure equality of services in terms of all the previous areas covered by

community first within these new clusters Diolch yn fawr a member of

my staff went to the Neath office to discuss what would happen near and

discuss whether the edges of clusters with the ignored and not

given the same levels of support as under the old system. We would not

want that to happen. It is extremely important the areas get the support

they require in order to succeed. That does not mean that other

communities should not be given any consideration by government. It is

important that communities 1st of April to focus on those communities

in the greatest need. Can I welcome that he tackles poverty using the

communities first trust fund which will cover hundreds of projects. Can

he give any indication as to whether the trust fund will start

operation? The Minister announced on the 1st of February that the trust

fund will be replaced by a new small cancer fund. That is being taken

forward at present. There will be a more detailed timetable. Other first

Minister outline what plans the government has too reduce speed

limits in the vicinity of schools? We support the introduction of a

lower speed limit in the vicinity of schools where appropriate. Most

schools are on local roads which is their responsibility of the local

authority. Would you consider giving your support to the pupils of a

school in my area who recently presented a petition to the Assembly

calling on the speed limit on the A48 page to be reduced from 50 to

30. This is the main route to their school and it also services the

centre of Chepstow. It is notoriously difficult to get across

this exchange. Would you give your backing to this that the speed limit

needs to be reduced as soon as possible? I understand the depth of

feeling. The bridge forms part of the border, so there is joint

responsibility for the bridge. We are conducting a speed limiter

view. The report is due by the end of June. Thank you. The first

minister recently insisted that periods and the community in

Llanelli police who were concerned about safety on the roads

surrounding that school, their campaign has been successful. It has

moved up the county council router to list. Should he not be in favour

of safety in our schools, why should parents would have to fight for

safety? It is important that local authorities ensure that they know

exactly what the position of each school in their area is. They can

see whether we need traffic calming measures around the school. It is

important that the local authorities do this work in order they know

where they should ensure that cars slow down. We moved to questions

from the party leaders. First is the leader of the opposition. Thank you.

Why did the Welsh government that you are leading terminate the

contract with the London women's fertility clinic ends Swansea?

Assembly? We are going back some time now. In order to insure we have

a service in place in Wales, the licensing process is taking place at

the moment and we expect the new unit to be up and running as soon as

possible. Thank you for that answer. I AM glad you recognise that it was

some time away. Several half percent thousand entries in waiting time for

IVF treatment in Wales cards because of the decision you too. You did not

want the independent sector providing the services. How can it

be fair for people who want to have children, to have that gift ticking

away from them because of the ideological decision you took? It is

clear there were no other reasons why that contract was ripped up and

stop every commitment your government has given to date, that

the service will be up and running on April the 1st of this year, has

not been achieved. That commitment was 12 months late. Do not recognise

you have failed to deliver for parents who hold that gift

pressures. When we start to address the failure of IVF provision in

Wales. As I say, the unit will be in operation as soon as possible. In

the meantime, it has been possible to obtain services elsewhere,

especially in Bristol. We now look forward to the service being

concentrated in Nice and Talbot and giving better value for money.

is an appalling answer. It has cost �1 million so far to try and

replicate the service at Neath and Talbot which is still not open, 12

month after the date you promised. That is a massive increase in

waiting times and many families who have a short window of opportunity

to access IVF services have missed that opportunity because of the

delays. How can you stand there and defend the decision your government

took in their third Assembly, and allowed it to continue in the fourth

Assembly, when you promised your government would be about delivering

for the people of Wales? Is it not clear you have failed to deliver for

people in IVF circumstances in Wales and put huge pressure on clinicians

who are trying to deliver the service in South Wales? Will you

commit to making sure that all the resources of government are put to

addressing the shortfall in the service so that parents can access

IVF services in a timely manner and address build up since this

decision. I would be pleased to see the evidence of people love missed

out in that window. People have had access to a service, services have

been available in Bristol. We now look forward to setting up of value

for money, good service in Neath and Talbot provided by the NHS and I'm

sure people in Wales will welcome that. Thank you. Today, the Chief

Inspector said that she is frustrated at the pace of change in

our schools. Do you share that frustration? The education minister

made his few clear as to how he wants to take forward issues. -- his

view clear. Literacy and new Morrissey remains a major issue for

the Welsh education system, as stated by the Chief Inspector today.

She is concerned had inspectors are not picking up systematic

improvement. If this fourth Assembly is all about delivery, when will our

children in our schools see some? do not think inactivity is a clear

accusation against the education minister. He has put forward a

number of plans. He has made it clear what he feels needs to be done

in terms of taking education forward in Wales, including new Morrissey

and C. This is something he is committed to. -- including literacy

and new Morrissey. Your party has been in charge of the education

system for 14 years. You and your education minister had been in post

for four years. It is now approaching three years since the

appalling result prompted that 20 point plan that was meant to turn

things around. In that statement to the Chamber, your education minister

said he was setting clear targets, he was aiming to improve results in

the next assessment in 2012. It is still your expectation that when

those results are published later this year, that results will have

improved and if they do not, what will you do about it? We expect to

see improvement in the results of any tests which are taking place.

The reading tests start this week, if I remember rightly. This will

show that our literacy and new Morrissey levels are competing to

the best of Europe. -- new Morrissey. The education minister

has improved things. Back in January 2012, it was announced that 20% of

children start secondary school with a reading age below nine years old,

which is generally considered to be their level of functional literacy.

You took this Chamber and we are confident those figures will be

improved on in years to come. However, the chief inspector said

this morning inspectors are not picking up the systematic

improvements which are required for dramatic changes which our system

needs. Activity does not equal results. Can you please explain to

us why the chief schools inspector thinks parents will have to wait

before changes begin to surface? is supporting the position of the

education minister. This is why the new changes have been introduced.

The implementation of your improvement programmes has been

criticised. A national support programme has not begun. The

national literacy framework has not started and will not start until

September. Like on the belief that is a lot more which could be done to

improve our education system, for example early intervention, better

training for teachers and making sure our young boys are not failed

in the way they have been to date. It looks as if your education

minister has become obsessed by structure and change within the

education system at the expense of delivery. When will the national

literacy and new Morrissey framework begin to deliver? We expect to see

results to improve in the near future. As far as early

intervention, that is being done. We look at the foundation phase, the

way that was done, many children were in Key stage one. We expect

these things to deliver in order to ensure the education system is the

best in Europe. I don't know if she has policies to improve things, but

our record speaks for itself. Minister, you've just said that

process has begun and that things will improve in the future. Could

you clarify exactly what the position is? Last week, Plaid Cymru

held a debate about accountability within the NHS. You tell us that it

is the responsibility of the local health board, the NHS, just the same

as when you are asked questions about education. More often or not,

you tell us it is the responsibility of local education authorities.

After 14 years of a Labour education minister, why has not one single

local education authority been judged as excellent when you've got

special measures? You were in government for four years to try and

somehow suggest that you have not been is unbelievable. It is a level

of amnesiac I am surprised even Plaid Cymru have demonstrated. The

reality is that when it comes to education, we have the policies in

place to improve literacy and numeracy in Wales. I don't remember

anything anything different to what was being

done by Labour education ministers in Wales. We have selected amnesiac

on the Plaid Cymru benches which the lead of Plaid Cymru typifies.

move back to questions from the paper. Question three. What is the

Welsh government doing to support the construction industry in Wales?

We are committed to supporting the sector and working with the sector

panel, we are delivering a range of support packages. I thank you for

that answer. I welcome the latest funding boost for affordable housing

in Wales. Above all, the construction industry needs work.

Thank goodness this government understands that breathing life into

the economy is more productive than suffocating it with delusional

austerity. Take the Carmarthen Council's approach to building

bungalows for older people. The first such developer and since the

80s. I understand there are plans for more. Do you agree first

Minister that projects like the one in Carmarthenshire which employ

local constructors are what the economy needs at this time, and will

you encourage other local authorities to follow this lead?

welcome what, rather than is doing. We only -- using local contractors.

Bungalows developed to achieve level four, the code for sustainable

homes. It is meeting for home standards. It is a good example of

the local authority delivering homes under labelled the -- Labour

leadership. It is clear the industry still requires stimulus and support

to ensure further expansion over the next few years and that is why it is

surprising why the new buy scheme has been scrapped. Given the new

scheme doesn't start till next year, what discussions have you had with

the housebuilders Federation to make sure prospects are boosted for the

construction sector? There was a meeting last Thursday. The minister

is now working with the bodies involved in order to examine a new

scheme which could be put in place with the support of the homebuilders

Federation and the Council of mortgage lenders. Thank you. Every

construction contract of any significant size goes to management

project company, they subcontract that contract onwards. Very often

local and smaller companies that at the very end of the chain. Will you

ensure the original contract safeguards the rights and

opportunities of local and smaller companies? That is of course

important and Carmarthenshire has showed the way in terms of using the

local companies to construct these new homes. It is very important

local authorities to understand what their responsibilities and duties in

terms of ensuring local businesses are used to construct new homes.

Thank you. The new bike company scheme was quite important for the

construction industry, in terms of people getting onto housing ladder.

Given from the briefing that various spokespeople had a week ago, it is

difficult to put together an interim scheme but you do have to refight

like the assisting scheme. Can I ask, have you now got the financial

institutions more interested in coming back to this scheme? The

housebuilders had never not been interested but the financial

institutions are part of that. the UK's scheme was introduced,

certainly the lenders became unenthusiastic and the housebuilders

Federation became sceptical. We're working with them to work on a new

scheme that will be able to work effectively and get the support of

both lenders and homebuilders. Minister, we know that one of the

outstanding challenges and problems facing the construction sector is

the continuing matter of blacklisting. I'm sure you are aware

of the recent report of the Scottish affairs select committee on this

matter and there are hundreds of Welsh workers we know were on the

consulting associations blacklist. Do you support calls for a Pablo

enquiry -- public enquiry in this matter? And members on the backers

should be told by the information Commissioner they are on that list

and intimate aspect that employment prospects in the past and future?

do. People should be aware of what is done about them by outside

organisations so that they have a chance to challenge the

blacklisting. And that we see the blacklisting is done openly rather

than secretly. We condemn blacklisting. Where it happens, that

should be done in an open manner. At the moment, people don't have a fair

chance to reply. Question for. the first Minister make a statement

on improving your passenger services in Wales? Yes. We have recently seen

the redoubling of the railway line between Gallatin and the huff.

you. With regards to the quality of services the passengers experience,

the quality of the rolling stock is important. With the electrification

of the valleys lines forthcoming, can you tell us what steps you've

taken to ensure the best quality of rolling stock has been made

available and whether or not you've investigated the option of acting as

a guarantor to ensure new rolling stock can be bought to serve the

root? We cannot act as a guarantor, it isn't within our budget

responsibility. What the member is arguing is that if the UK government

censors ancient rolling stock, somehow we should pay for it. That

is not right. What we are aware of his the situation. The last thing we

want to see as old rolling stock being shipped to Wales because it is

convenient. It is important that as the South Wales Metro takes place,

there is rolling stock of sufficient quality. In order to make sure

people have confidence in it. Minister, I recently met with a

member of passenger focus. Travellers who use the valleys line

register lower satisfaction rates than those who use other rail

networks across Wales. What measures can the Welsh government take to

change this? We can take measures in terms of our investment. We see the

new platforms at several stations. The central improvement as well,

funded by the Welsh government. We also need to see the investment

brought forward as quickly as possible -- by the UK government

into the South Wales Metro so we can have a commuter train system for the

21st-century. First Minister, you find has abated my question. Given

the �40 million investment in the line from Swansea with the duelling

of the line, what steps is the government taking to ensure that

full advantage is being taken by the operators to make sure they stop at

additional stops? The fact the stations are verbal mean the

operators will use those stations. Somebody who uses the trains

frequently, I can see the demands for it. The only do was on a train

going to his party conference, and the very fact this was seen as

newsworthy the Leader of the Opposition was on the train was very

strange! We have to be mindful of the passengers on the train. They

had to suffer him making station announcements. We have to feel sorry

for them because they would have listened to the station

announcement, heard his voice, and known for sure they were going in

the wrong direction. That was the problem they would have faced. The

fact the Leader of the Opposition was on a train is something he would

see as newsworthy but some of us use the trains far more frequently.

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Evidence of the United

Kingdom government to the silk commissions suggests there is a

possibility of devolving some of the powers franchising to Welsh

government. Is it the Welsh government's intention to make a

detailed statement on the railway policy and when will that happen?

depends on the funding and the budget. We are willing to look at

powers over the railways if that funding follows. Experienced and

strengths that if new powers are provided to the Assembly, the

funding doesn't tend to follow. In terms of the franchise, that is

something that we want to see in Wales, managed in Wales, but in

terms of taking action on railways themselves, there would have to be a

fair settlement in terms of funding to ensure that could happen. What

discussions has the first Minister had with the UK government in

relation to the content of the Queens speech? Well, we've discussed

many issues with the United Kingdom government as regards possible bills

that may have implications for Wales. Of course, we are now

awaiting confirmation of the United Kingdom's legislative programme in

the Queens speech tomorrow. Thank you, first Minister. In your letter

to George Osborne you made it very clear that you see early action on

the first part of the silk commission as being crucial to

retain the union, given there is a vote on independence in Scotland.

Now, unless there is action outlined in the Queens speech and steps

outlined there as to how this should be implemented, what would your

response because Mac I will support it. We support the conclusions of

it. We don't need legislation but what we need is a letter from the

Treasury as regards taxation powers, and we believe that could be

something which could be part of a finance bill in the Westminster

government. Most important is that all the conclusions in their

entirety are progressed by the United Kingdom government.

referred to my train journey, first Minister. All the passengers arrived

on time. If they had relied on you, they would still be waiting at the

station! Back to the question in hand. It has been muted from the

Cabinet Office they could potentially be a civil service bill

in the Queens speech tomorrow. I don't know whether that is the case

or not, it is press speculation. Have you had any discussions with

the Westminster government given the close relationship regarding the

civil service here in Wales and in Whitehall, and given your experience

in government, do you believe any changes do need to be made to the

structure of the civil service to make government more efficient and

deliver better services across Wales? He makes the point the

train... I wouldn't want to drive the train which, apparently, he did.

As if it is something he could pick up just like that! It is quite an

assumption on his part. With Pat discussions with the UK government

many times over the civil service and we've taken a view there should

be greater devolution of the senior civil service. There needs to be

more formal devolution in terms of the appointment of a permanent

secretary and we hope they civil service bill will reflect devolved

reality rather than the situation at the moment were in theory if not

perhaps in practice the appointment of the most senior civil servant can

be made by the Prime Minister without any input from the first

Minister. I hasten to add that wasn't the case last time around but

it remains in theory. Thank you. It is likely that in the next term of

Parliament, there will be a government of Wales Bill once again

to amend the way we elect members, both on the lists and in

constituencies. Isn't it about time that we had a third government of

Wales act that devolves the electoral system to this place? And

allows us to elect 80 members through transferable vote system in

multimember constituencies as have worked so excellently? Well, as

regards the electoral system, at present it is not clear whether the

power has the power to amend the local authority electoral

procedures. It is not clear in the act itself. It is very important

that we have the powers to ensure that we control the electoral

system. That is more or less agreement on that throughout this

Chamber. When this came before the Assembly and we debated the issue,

there was a suggestion that 66% of the members, 66% of their members to

vote in favour of a change. I support that very much. We should

actually be controlling the electoral system for the National

Assembly for Wales is a very important principle indeed. Thank

you. Will he make a statement on what the Welsh government is doing

to improve transport links between West Wales and other parts of the

country? And other investments had taken place in the infrastructure

between West Wales and other parts of the country. As I mentioned

earlier, the railway route between Gavin Martin -- between Gowerton.

Also the fact that there are fish guard station has reopened which

shows the commitment of the government to the West. He will be

away I campaigned to make the A40 dual carriageway, I think this would

improve standards locally and improve the quality of services to

tourists and businesses as well. Your deputy ministers said that he

recognised there was a time possibly when their A40 could be made into a

dual carriageway. Can you confirm that your government will not

actually dismiss the issue of making the A40 dual carriageway in the

future? We are not avoiding that as a principle but we are looking at

the financial reality. Improvements have taken place on the road. There

will be improvements to improve the A40 which will progress, considering

the financial position. One of the most important roots in West Wales

is the link to Aberystwyth from Carmarthen. Significant improvements

have been made to the section intends again and the last few

years, but there have been no improvements on the car marred

inside. -- car marred them. What role do you envisage your party

taking as this is a nationally important route, inputting Drescher

on the Carmarthen Council to prioritise this route which is

important to not only them but West Wales in general? The road between

car and Lampeter has improved because there is no bypass in car

marred them. There used to be a problem there. The road has been

introduced in two other parts as well. Improvements have taken parts

-- taken place in that area. People have been assisted in their travels

to Pembrokeshire. In recent weeks, Carmarthenshire county council has

committed to carrying out a feasibility study into the project

of the opening scene clear station which would help commuters and

reduce pressure on road traffic and improve the wider county's

sustainability. Should that study come through with a positive

recommendation, will the first Minister commit to working with the

Minister for business and enterprise to deliver such a scheme? I have two

cautioned that capital budgets are now being destroyed over the next

few years. Revenue budgets are being hammered. The government cannot give

any commitment knowing the financial pressures which are being imposed on

us by the UK government. Will he make a statement on the provision of

health care for children in South Wales? This is part of our plans and

priorities set out in our policy documents. There are long-standing

worries about sustainability for children's services at Royal Gwent

Hospital and other hospitals is becoming more acute, primarily due

to staffing problems. What defines how is he to attract staff with the

relevant skill sets? The network is monitoring performance standards in

South Wales. There has been an improvement. The reallocation in

federally /0, there is care was transferred to a high dependency

skier -- here. The 2013 neo-natal capacity review ensured change to

maintain sustainability of service. These are matters for their health

department to take forward as a matter of course. When does the

Welsh government expect to make a decision about whether or not

children with cerebral palsy and receive selectors drugs on the NHS?

Children in England can get this drug but at the moment it is

restricted to those who can afford to go to the United States. I

understand it was due to be discussed in March but was

postponed. There are many parents who have children with this

condition who are anxiously awaiting to see whether they can have access

to this which would materially improve the mobility of their

children. It is a portal that the treatment is appropriate. I know a

lot of hopes raised without treatment but not always fulfilled.

-- it is important. Of course, it is possible to make a case for this

service is to be accessed in England, if it is deemed to be

appropriate for that individual by the consultant. The situation

regarding that procedure is being kept under review. I understand many

children in deprived areas suffer from depression and pure mental

health, what is the Welsh government doing as part of its child poverty

strategy to reduce the number of children living in poverty in

south-east Wales to improve their mental health? We have been tackling

poverty in the poverty action plan. We have communities first and the

numerous employment and apprenticeship schemes in place. We

are trying to deal with the after-effects of welfare reform will

stop we cannot do with all the native effects which are being

imposed on people as a result of that. Will the first Minister make a

statement on recent discussions he has had with the UK government

relating to get Aleutian? I have many discussions over the course of

the last few weeks with regard to demolition, as regards -- also

formal meetings with the Secretary of State regarding his views on

revolution. Last year, he urged the Chancellor not to drag his feet on

demolition and powers. I heard your answer to Simon Thomas this

afternoon. Which you clarify if you have the full support of your Labour

MPs and the Shadow Chancellor, and will this be a priority for them?

Yes. We hope for it to be implemented in school and there

needs to be an end to the opposition to the implementation of the Silk

Report. The Welsh government would hope to see the full part of the

Silk Report implemented. Does the first Minister think that reports of

the weekend that the Chancellor is preparing to announce a new tool

waterway to ease congestion on the M4 illustrates the lack of

understanding of demolition in the Treasury? Yes, I know that has been

discredited since what the reality is the Treasury has no power to

impose a new tool on roads in Wales. They are devolved. I understand this

was a story which appeared in one of the newspapers and was denied by the

Chancellor. This raises the question of who could it be in the first

place. It clearly came from someone in government. It makes no sense in

practical terms. No one is going to pay at all on this road. The

attractiveness of using a tall to finance that roads is not practical

because it does not make any money. We understand maintenance costs are

so high, it is not a way to make money effectively. There seems to be

some confusion in the UK government. Someone planted this story in the

papers. I welcome the view of the Chancellor on this, he said it would

not be taking forward. We are working with UK Government and we

expect to see a decent deal with regard to the Severn Bridge. It

cannot work that people will be charged to come into their own

country by a government in England. That cannot be right. That is

something we will not tolerate in the future. During June this year,

the silk commission will be holding a series of meetings about

revolution with the public. Can you tell me what the Welsh public will

-- Welsh government will be doing to encourage the public to take part in

the meetings and will you help assist people take part in those

discussions? It is not our commission, it is for the English

government to do that. We do not interfere in the workings of the

Silk Commission. We have made clear a substantial body of evidence of

what we could deliver. There we are, we will be first

Minister's Questions there. You can see more on the BBC website. Let us

pick up with some of that on our web -- with our Welsh affairs editor who

has been watching. I think it was interesting that both the Liberal

Democrat leader and the Plaid Cymru leader went on about numeracy and

literacy rates in Wales. Yes, I do not think they were quarter meeting,

there was not a plot. It was an obvious subject to choose. It was in

the news and the government is vulnerable on that subject. They

approached it from different angles. It can be awkward if you are the

second person talking about the same subject will stop that did not

happen today. The problem the opposition parties have is that the

one minister or a last minister you could accuse of inactivity is the

education Minister, Leighton Andrews. They had to come down to

the question of effectiveness. Carwyn Jones batted the questions we

easily. There are some big statistical measures coming up,

figures are due later this year for instance. That could cause him

little grief. This is perhaps peering at the ground for a tax to

come between now and the next Assembly election. There was a lot

about transport today. Yes, it was a funny PMQ's today. There were a lot

of local papers stories, stories about specific issues about speed

limits are in schools, reopening stations and road improvements.

Perhaps those were designed mainly for the local papers, but that is

part of first Minister questions, it is to try and raise the profile of

local issues. A lot of it today was very parish orientated. When it came

from the opposition, Carwyn Jones just said, you keep suggesting all

these nice things, new stations and dualling the roads, we will be get

the money from it given what the Westminster Government gives us?

did see that political ribbing between Carwyn Jones and Andrew

Davies about his political stunt recently, the trip on the train to

the conference in Swansea when he did the station announcements.

That's right. There were a couple of good jokes there. They probably took

it too far. Taking the neck out of your opponents's photo opportunities

is fairly easy grist to the mill. also held about calling for 80

Assembly Members. -- heard about. was talking about the single

transferable vote which we do not think will happen. Across the

parties there is agreement that the voting procedure should be decided

in Cardiff is, to prevent a single party forcing through changes which

might be to their chain -- to their advantage. That could happen. That

is a feeling that it is embarrassing all-round to have been Assembly

voting system set in Westminster. will watch with interest. Thank you.

I'll be back at the same time next week with more coverage of First