:00:25. > :00:28.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme. We will whisk you off in
:00:28. > :00:31.a moment for first minister's requests and after that we will see
:00:31. > :00:41.what our Welsh affairs editor thinks about it all. Feel free to
:00:41. > :00:43.
:00:43. > :00:49.get in touch. You can do that via Twitter. Or e-mail us. I promised
:00:49. > :00:54.you First Minister's Question. Here it is. I call the National Assembly
:00:54. > :00:58.for Wales to order. Item one questions to the First Minister,
:00:58. > :01:02.question one, thank you presiding officer. May I ask the First
:01:02. > :01:09.Minister in relation to his strategic energy portfolios how
:01:09. > :01:13.many meetings has the, has he held since May 2011 with private sector
:01:13. > :01:16.companies wishing to invest in energy generation. Well, I
:01:16. > :01:22.regularly meet with private sector companies wishing to invest in
:01:22. > :01:26.Wales, and in addition to meeting with individual companies in June,
:01:26. > :01:34.I had productive round table discussion with a number of
:01:34. > :01:38.renewable energy developers, with projects and in Wales and with key
:01:38. > :01:45.stakeholders. I was pleased First Minister to hear of that meeting,
:01:45. > :01:49.but would it surprise you if you were to look at the evidence that
:01:50. > :01:53.we, as a committee have received currently looking at planning and
:01:53. > :01:59.energy generation, that most of the developers speaking to us, that
:01:59. > :02:03.they have of the opinion that Wales is not open for business. Most odd,
:02:04. > :02:09.considering what was said last week, about Scotland, that businesses
:02:09. > :02:13.believe that Scotland isn't open for business. We, of course, wish
:02:13. > :02:18.to secure businesses for Wales in the field of renewable energy, and
:02:18. > :02:28.we are still speaking to businesses in Britain and outside Britain, to
:02:28. > :02:31.
:02:31. > :02:38.secure jobs for people in these feelt fields. First Minister,
:02:38. > :02:40.having listened to evidence of energy sector over the last few
:02:40. > :02:45.weeks, there are two things that have struck me. They are still
:02:45. > :02:50.uninsure about what your statement last June means for them. That
:02:50. > :02:53.Government policy is still confused and they are reluctant to invest in
:02:53. > :02:58.further renewable technologies in Wales. In order to restore
:02:58. > :03:01.confidence, do you think it is time we have a thorough review of it and
:03:01. > :03:06.we start investing in other technologys that will ensure that
:03:06. > :03:12.we have, we meet our emissions and generations targets. It is
:03:12. > :03:16.pointless reviewing it when it is a UK Government policy that, this is
:03:16. > :03:19.something your party supported in terms of transferring the powers
:03:19. > :03:23.repatriating the powers to use the phrase that is current at the
:03:23. > :03:27.moment, to the people of Wales. It is also important that the
:03:27. > :03:30.renewables obligations certificates are changed as quickly as possible
:03:30. > :03:34.to make marine energy more attractive. Something that has
:03:34. > :03:39.happened in Scotland because they control them in Scotland in a way
:03:39. > :03:44.we don't in Wales. Question two. What assessment has the First
:03:44. > :03:47.Minister made of the potential effect of UK benefit changes will
:03:47. > :03:53.have on those seek private rented accommodation in Wales? I am
:03:53. > :03:56.concerned about increased pressures on household incomes and the
:03:56. > :03:59.possible reduck reduction in affordable housing. We have
:03:59. > :04:06.established a group to monitor the impact of the welfare changes and
:04:06. > :04:09.we are funding a study with the DWP to monitor the impact. I thank you
:04:09. > :04:15.for that answer minister. Because round a third of the people
:04:15. > :04:22.receiving housing benefit in Wales live in the private rented sector,
:04:22. > :04:27.and charities are warning that it will hit low income households,
:04:27. > :04:30.especially those people and their concerns are borne out by the IFS
:04:30. > :04:34.independent assessment. Do you think it is likely we will see a
:04:34. > :04:38.rise in arrears as a result of those change, and do we need to be
:04:38. > :04:43.working closely with the private rented sector to mitigate evictions
:04:43. > :04:47.and other housing emergencies? Would you join me in congratulates
:04:47. > :04:54.Carmarthenshire council that has worked hard with private landlords
:04:54. > :04:57.for the benefit of tenants with 500 lands Lords signed up to the
:04:57. > :05:02.council's accreditation scheme. share the member's concern about
:05:02. > :05:07.the effect of the benefit changes, particularly in terms of arrears
:05:08. > :05:17.and the group will monitor those effects. Can I also congratulate
:05:17. > :05:21.the council on the sics of the scheme. The welfare reforms are
:05:21. > :05:24.also linked to the work programme and we were pleased to hear at a
:05:25. > :05:28.conference to which you contributed last Friday, not only that the
:05:29. > :05:33.Welsh Government is fully engaged with the work programme, but we
:05:33. > :05:37.heard it described by one of the two providers as one of the biggest
:05:37. > :05:40.Welfare to Work programmes the UK has ever seen. So I am sure you
:05:40. > :05:44.would agree the two are interlinked. In terms of benefit reform what
:05:44. > :05:46.action is your Government taking to respond to the evidence given to
:05:46. > :05:51.the communities and culture committee on this matter towards
:05:51. > :05:55.the end of the last assembly, where we heard we need to build better
:05:56. > :06:00.relationships and links between local taits letting agents and
:06:00. > :06:03.private sector land Oland Lords to prefer for and manage the changes.
:06:03. > :06:08.It is not matter for this Government but nevertheless it is
:06:08. > :06:11.important, it is important to ensure that as much, that can be,
:06:12. > :06:17.that is needed to be done is done for people who will lose out, as a
:06:17. > :06:20.result of these when fit changes. - - benefit changes. First Minister
:06:20. > :06:26.changes to the housing benefit system by the Westminster
:06:26. > :06:31.Government have been widely acknowledged by a majority of
:06:31. > :06:36.housing organisation that it will have a detrimental impact on
:06:36. > :06:44.homelessness and increase equality. Housing benefit costs have gone up,
:06:44. > :06:46.not because of the supposed generosity of the system, but
:06:46. > :06:48.because of rent inflation in London and the south-east of England. The
:06:48. > :06:52.lack of available one bedroom accommodation is likely to
:06:52. > :06:57.exacerbate the problem, particularly for single people, do
:06:57. > :07:02.you agree First Minister, that this UK one-size-fits-all approach will
:07:02. > :07:08.be damaging to Wales, and that our people here would benefit from
:07:08. > :07:12.greater autonomy, not, or at least the ability to opt out of damaging
:07:12. > :07:15.policy proposals like this prop proposed, like this housing benefit
:07:15. > :07:20.cut. It would be better of the proposals weren't taken forward at
:07:20. > :07:23.all in any part of the UK. The concern we have is we will see more
:07:23. > :07:27.people become homeless and that means there will be a call on the
:07:27. > :07:29.Government's budget here. It is a direct transfer of resources
:07:29. > :07:33.effectively from the Welsh Government to the UK Government if
:07:33. > :07:39.people are not supported through UK Government funds and become reliant
:07:39. > :07:43.on Welsh Government funds. I share your concern both about the housing
:07:43. > :07:47.benefit changes and the transfer of costs to the Welsh Government and
:07:47. > :07:50.to local Government. However, one of the ways that the Welsh
:07:50. > :07:54.Government can tackle this particular concern is by actually
:07:54. > :07:58.increasing the supply of affordable housing as a safety net for those
:07:58. > :08:03.who RAF effected by the changes. Can I ask you therefore, when will
:08:03. > :08:07.we see a strategy and some viable targets and action plan to deliver
:08:07. > :08:14.the targets, in relation to your Government's plans to provide that
:08:14. > :08:19.affordable housing? I can tell you �1.4 million is being provided to
:08:19. > :08:22.local authority to support projects to do with homelessness, that means
:08:22. > :08:25.looking at supporting collaborative projects and those within local
:08:25. > :08:29.authorities. We are look at the capital money that the money rather
:08:29. > :08:34.that will be available to us, as a result of the council tax freeze in
:08:34. > :08:38.England, with a view to including as part of that money, a commitment
:08:38. > :08:43.to spend more on affordable housing in Wales. We move to questions from
:08:43. > :08:47.the party leader, and the first question from leader of the
:08:47. > :08:51.opposition. Thank you presiding officer. First Minister in your
:08:51. > :08:57.document together for health you state NHS success depends from
:08:57. > :09:01.first to last on those who work for it. Last week the Royal College of
:09:01. > :09:06.Nursing brought their staff survey out which high lighted nearly 50%
:09:06. > :09:10.of nurses are thinking of leaving the profession and over 60% have
:09:10. > :09:13.undue stress levels put upon them in their place of work. What action
:09:13. > :09:18.is your Government taking to address these measures? The Royal
:09:18. > :09:21.College of Nuring have been supportive of the policy of the
:09:21. > :09:25.waesh Government which in stark contrast to elsewhere in the UK.
:09:25. > :09:29.First Minister how you can dismiss those concerns which are nurses on
:09:29. > :09:33.the ground n the front line, on their day-to-day and they high
:09:33. > :09:37.light a great disparity here in Wales, they were saying now only
:09:37. > :09:46.37% of nurses agree, that the nursing structure provides a secure
:09:46. > :09:50.career as opposed to 70% in 2009. 47% have indicateed there are less
:09:50. > :09:54.nurses in Welsh hospitals on their day-to-day environment. Also a
:09:54. > :10:01.quarter have said they are less health support workers on the wards
:10:01. > :10:05.in Wales. Why are you so flippant when the serious concerns need to
:10:05. > :10:14.be addressed by your Government to address the short fall in the Welsh
:10:14. > :10:20.NHS? We take no lectures from parties running the Health Service
:10:20. > :10:27.elsewhere. We know data shows a third of NHS trusts are breaching
:10:27. > :10:37.it. Four times the number last year, we know in Buckinghamshire many
:10:37. > :10:40.
:10:40. > :10:44.have been denied funding. I am willing to bet if you ask Welsh
:10:44. > :10:50.nurses where they would rather work, they would choose Wales. You
:10:50. > :10:55.are supposed to be the First Minister for Wales, this survey was
:10:55. > :10:59.undertaken, undertaken on Welsh nurses working in the Welsh NHS,
:10:59. > :11:04.that you and your Government are responsible for. I have offered you
:11:04. > :11:08.the opportunity to outline what measures your Government would be
:11:08. > :11:11.undertaking, to address these concerns. All you seem to be
:11:11. > :11:17.interested in, is having governmental bashing sessions f you
:11:17. > :11:20.want to look at waiting times by all means look at the English
:11:20. > :11:24.waiting times because they are better than any you have presided
:11:24. > :11:30.over. I ask you again, and I offer you the opportunity. Given the
:11:30. > :11:35.figures that I have put to you, and in your role as First Minister for
:11:36. > :11:41.Wales, what actions will you and your Government be undertaking to
:11:41. > :11:46.address these very real concerns, by front line health workers in the
:11:46. > :11:50.Welsh NHS. I will be meeting with the RCN in the very near future. I
:11:50. > :11:52.can discuss the matters with them. It takes the biscuit to say somehow
:11:52. > :11:58.this is something a Government bashing is something that comes
:11:58. > :12:01.from me. I mean there are many of us on the side of the chamber who
:12:01. > :12:07.admired, admired Nick born in the years he was Welsh Conservative
:12:07. > :12:14.minister. Now we have seen the lead other of the opposition dismantle
:12:14. > :12:22.in in three months. It shows he does nothing unless he is told to
:12:23. > :12:26.do it by the Secretary of State. Leaders of the Welsh.... To have a
:12:26. > :12:32.discussion with the Silk Commission. I asked you a pointed question
:12:32. > :12:37.about the Health Service in Wales. You turned your back on the nurses
:12:37. > :12:42.of Wales with your... And they will watch your performance in disgust.
:12:42. > :12:47.This is the party that holds the NHS in contempt this is the party
:12:47. > :12:50.that turns round and cuts funding to patients in England. This is the
:12:50. > :12:59.party who has always believed in the private sector this is the
:12:59. > :13:07.party that takes its instrickions from London and does Wales down.
:13:07. > :13:11.think leaders questions, three questions. Can we have the leader
:13:11. > :13:16.of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. First Minister, as you know, the
:13:16. > :13:20.Welsh Liberal Democrats have pushed for many months, for the Welsh
:13:20. > :13:24.Government to accomplish all expenditure over �25 thousand and I
:13:24. > :13:29.am very pleased those first set of figures have now been accomplished
:13:29. > :13:34.this week. An analysis of the figures shows that some companies
:13:34. > :13:38.in Wales are still receiving not repayable grants several months
:13:38. > :13:41.after a new economic strategy proposed to scrap them. Could you
:13:41. > :13:47.explain why? They will be some commitment that will be continued
:13:47. > :13:53.from the previous grant regime. Well, so much for the fleetness of
:13:53. > :13:57.foot and a speed of response that Welsh businesses need. Some nine
:13:57. > :14:00.months after the single investment fund was closed down, are you
:14:00. > :14:06.seriously suggesting you have ongoing commitment, and it takes
:14:06. > :14:11.nine months for this Government to get a grant out to business? Let me
:14:11. > :14:16.quote you from your economic renewal strategy. Offering grants
:14:16. > :14:20.is perceived to distort competition, and consume resources that could be
:14:20. > :14:23.deployed elsewhere, to greater economic impact. Therefore, all
:14:23. > :14:28.finance that the Department of Economy and transport provides
:14:28. > :14:32.directly will be repayable. Is that still the Government's stated
:14:32. > :14:37.policy, when will that policy be implemented and can you guarantee
:14:37. > :14:40.that no more direct grants will be used in this way? Well, that is our
:14:40. > :14:45.current policy, bear in mind there will be have been commitments made
:14:45. > :14:50.some months ago in terms of giving grants. You saying we should renege
:14:50. > :14:54.on that? That doesn't make sense. am surprised that some nine months
:14:54. > :14:59.after a scheme was closed down, the Government and its departments are
:14:59. > :15:04.so slow in dealing with their companies there is such a great
:15:04. > :15:09.time lag. But First Minister, at a time when Welsh business needs
:15:09. > :15:13.clarity from this Government, about what its economic strategy is, and
:15:13. > :15:19.what help is available to business, there is now confusion as a result
:15:19. > :15:23.of publication from the figure, I quote the director of the senator
:15:23. > :15:26.for reseech of futures and innovation. He says its clarity we
:15:26. > :15:31.need and I think all companies would appreciate that in terms of
:15:31. > :15:35.knowing what the playing field is. And whether the rules of the game
:15:35. > :15:41.are the same for everyone. You give business that clarity this
:15:41. > :15:48.afternoon, and state clearly that this, this position of paying non-
:15:48. > :15:50.replayable grants is finished.. there is a council tomorrow at
:15:51. > :15:56.which that will be provided further if it is needed. The reality is
:15:56. > :15:59.that Government makes commitments, some months in the future. If
:15:59. > :16:03.commitments have been given to businesses they will receive grants
:16:03. > :16:07.in the future, surely it can't be right to remove that commitment if
:16:07. > :16:17.the policy has changed. There will still be some commitment that will
:16:17. > :16:22.
:16:22. > :16:28.Do you want to come back for a fourth question, special offer
:16:28. > :16:33.today?! You fail to name a capital scheme that had been started since
:16:33. > :16:41.the election. Yesterday, you gave the press a list of capital project.
:16:41. > :16:51.I thought progress at last. But this is the list that you and I and
:16:51. > :16:52.
:16:52. > :16:59.the finance minister announced in March this year. This First
:16:59. > :17:09.Minister... You forgot to mention those completed. How can that help
:17:09. > :17:12.
:17:12. > :17:15.the Welsh economy? Yesterday, the announcement was about spin. In is
:17:16. > :17:20.the first time I have heard government criticised for carrying
:17:20. > :17:28.out the commitment. This is what the leader of Plaid Cymru is
:17:28. > :17:32.suggesting. Substantial money has been committed. There will be a
:17:33. > :17:39.further announcement at the end of the month with regard to more
:17:39. > :17:45.projects that will be financed. Given the scale of what we face, it
:17:45. > :17:49.is an achievement to deliver on the capital programme agreed before the
:17:50. > :17:59.election. You have failed to announce a single capital scheme
:18:00. > :18:00.
:18:00. > :18:08.since May. May I remind you that on 15th March, we announced 18 capital
:18:08. > :18:14.projects to the value of �105 million. That list has been
:18:14. > :18:19.repeated in this year's draft budget. I have been unable to find
:18:19. > :18:26.a starting date for these projects. You are not helping the
:18:26. > :18:36.construction sector to retain jobs. Why this inactivity? Since May we
:18:36. > :18:37.
:18:37. > :18:47.have allocated a substantial amount of money. �8.2 million for asbestos
:18:47. > :18:53.
:18:53. > :19:00.management. �8.5 million elsewhere. On 13th July, there was the
:19:00. > :19:08.community Ward, �34.5 million. There has been a substantial number.
:19:08. > :19:13.Not a single scheme has started. The economy is waiting for you to
:19:13. > :19:21.make a single announcement on a capital project that has started. I
:19:21. > :19:27.remember well you telling us it is a �77 million project. The business
:19:27. > :19:35.case has not been agreed yet. The announcement was, in March, in May,
:19:35. > :19:39.when there was an outline business case. We have not had the full
:19:39. > :19:49.business case. You are announcing schemes before they have started.
:19:49. > :19:50.
:19:50. > :19:54.We want to know when the projects will start. Since May, we have not
:19:54. > :20:02.had a single piece of legislation. We have had a programme for
:20:02. > :20:12.government that contains no targets. We have had no action on the
:20:12. > :20:15.
:20:15. > :20:22.economy. The only conclusion I can draw on the failure to act is they
:20:22. > :20:25.have decided to let the economic crisis do the worst and blame the
:20:25. > :20:30.Tories for everything. First Minister, do not think young people
:20:30. > :20:35.deserve better than that? ground has changed. The suggestion
:20:35. > :20:41.now is that capital projects have not started. We are doing as much
:20:41. > :20:46.as we can to protect the people of Wales from the cuts being imposed.
:20:47. > :20:53.In 1983, then Labour Party was accused of producing a long suicide
:20:53. > :21:00.note in that election. We move to question three. The was it the
:21:00. > :21:06.Welsh government's priority -- what is it for the north of Wales? I was
:21:06. > :21:12.set at out. How will the enterprise zones operate? Businesses are
:21:12. > :21:16.lacking detail in how they will work in practice. Your minister has
:21:16. > :21:20.refused a Freedom of Information request to disclose her discussions
:21:20. > :21:26.relating to capital allowances. Do you agree it is reasonable for
:21:26. > :21:31.businesses to expect your government to respond with a sense
:21:32. > :21:37.of urgency and in an open and collaborative way to the challenges
:21:37. > :21:43.the North Wales economy faces? Can you confirm the practical work and
:21:43. > :21:47.details for enterprise zones and when they will be published?
:21:47. > :21:57.Officials have met Treasury officials to discuss options for
:21:57. > :21:58.
:21:58. > :22:03.the effective deployment of incentives. Discussions are ongoing.
:22:04. > :22:08.Last we could, the member who just asked the question mentioned
:22:08. > :22:18.regeneration money that has been invested. It seems the new Tories
:22:18. > :22:20.
:22:20. > :22:26.or class of 2011 have a foot in the past. They echo the words of John
:22:26. > :22:30.Redwood. Sending money back from Wales to the European Union. Can
:22:30. > :22:36.you pledge this will not be considered? I note the excellent
:22:36. > :22:46.work that has been done and Investment put in over the years by
:22:46. > :22:53.
:22:53. > :23:00.the Welsh government. The decision by the energy department to half
:23:00. > :23:07.the feed in tariffs has shocked the solar panel industry in North Wales.
:23:07. > :23:12.Also contractors who want to work on ambitious schemes. Will the
:23:12. > :23:17.First Minister contact ministers in London to express discomfort with
:23:17. > :23:23.the decision. I agree with what there member has said. Many
:23:23. > :23:31.individuals will lose out because of changes. The letter is on its
:23:31. > :23:41.way to London in order to expand my views on their energy policy.
:23:41. > :23:41.
:23:41. > :23:47.economic priority for North Wales is to create a new internet domain
:23:47. > :23:52.for Wales. I understand the Welsh government will be asked to endorse
:23:52. > :23:58.bids to run the domain before the application. I believe the top
:23:58. > :24:01.level domain offers potential for Wales to market ourselves
:24:01. > :24:09.internationally. Is it the economic potential for Wales that will be at
:24:09. > :24:13.the top of the list of criteria? applications have been made for a
:24:13. > :24:18.letter of support. Two have expressed an interest. We will
:24:18. > :24:27.shortly invite interested parties to submit this for evaluation to
:24:27. > :24:30.understand what the potential is. Will he make a statement on the
:24:30. > :24:40.membership of the British-Irish Council. The council plays an
:24:40. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :24:52.important role in developing the different administrations.
:24:52. > :24:56.British-Irish Assembly met recently. Many delegates attended. They
:24:56. > :25:02.called for closer working between the Assembly and the council. There
:25:02. > :25:09.is much good work that is not well known. Also some form of scrutiny
:25:09. > :25:19.role for the Assembly would seem appropriate as we see the co-
:25:19. > :25:26.operation between various governments. We move too wide a
:25:26. > :25:33.matter of policies. We take this issue up in meetings of the council
:25:33. > :25:43.and perhaps urged that a member of the council reports to the
:25:43. > :25:48.
:25:48. > :25:55.Assembly? I do not know whether the membership of the Association is
:25:55. > :26:05.coterminous. I am not aware, though it is easy to clarify. It is an
:26:05. > :26:07.
:26:07. > :26:12.issue I will raised informally. attended the Assembly in Brighton.
:26:12. > :26:22.We had a presentation from the Northern Ireland Office. It said
:26:22. > :26:22.
:26:22. > :26:29.about the progress towards devolving aspects of power. They
:26:29. > :26:34.seem to be progressing faster than we are. What discussions do you
:26:34. > :26:42.have with colleagues in the north of Ireland and Scotland to have a
:26:42. > :26:49.cohesive approach when you come to council meetings so we can argue
:26:49. > :26:54.for more devolution across the country's? The view of the Welsh
:26:54. > :27:01.government, Scottish government, and Northern Ireland is that air
:27:01. > :27:11.passenger duty should be devolved. What action is the Welsh government
:27:11. > :27:11.
:27:11. > :27:17.taking to increase availability of affordable childcare? We are
:27:17. > :27:22.investing in childcare through family support programmes that will
:27:22. > :27:27.enable parents to participate in work, education or training.
:27:27. > :27:33.thank him for the response. Following the publication of making
:27:33. > :27:35.work pay, which was published by Save the children, they called for
:27:36. > :27:41.more affordable child care particularly for low income
:27:41. > :27:50.families. Would it be possible to review the existing provision and
:27:50. > :27:58.see if any more government help could be given? The child care
:27:58. > :28:08.policy statement called Supporting families, nurturing children makes
:28:08. > :28:16.clear affordable childcare will be made available to parents. Beyond
:28:16. > :28:23.that, we will see what can be done to help those outside the scope of
:28:23. > :28:30.VAT. Updated national minimum standards for childminders and day-
:28:30. > :28:35.care centres came into effect in April. For a lack of formal
:28:35. > :28:40.consultation, it resulted in childminders feeling uncertain and
:28:41. > :28:48.worried about what is being asked of them and about their future
:28:48. > :28:55.viability. I am told it is exacerbated by a postcode lottery
:28:55. > :29:05.as a result of white lead differing feedback. The child minders have
:29:05. > :29:06.
:29:06. > :29:10.been given conflicting advice -- wisely differing. What action it
:29:10. > :29:20.with your government take to ensure that registered childminders in
:29:20. > :29:26.Wales are receiving consistent guidance on minimum standards?
:29:26. > :29:31.Beyond what the member said, I am not aware of inconsistency in
:29:31. > :29:41.advice. If there is evidence, I will consider ensuring greater
:29:41. > :29:42.
:29:42. > :29:49.consistency. 65,000 people in Wales will soon lose their incapacity
:29:49. > :29:55.benefit. 20,000 of those will be switched to jobseeker's allowance.
:29:55. > :30:03.These people will have to look for work. How does this impact on your
:30:03. > :30:08.efforts to improve the availability of affordable child care? Will UK
:30:08. > :30:14.government decisions wipe out any advance and? The study carried out
:30:14. > :30:21.by the Sheffield Hallam University suggests 75,000 people in Wales
:30:21. > :30:26.will not be eligible for the new form of benefit. It has been
:30:26. > :30:33.difficult for many people who have health problems to gain employment.
:30:33. > :30:39.There is an element of the employer resistance to employing people with
:30:39. > :30:48.difficult health records. We know with the Flying Start scheme it
:30:48. > :30:54.targets help to those who need it most. We will be seeing through the
:30:54. > :30:58.steering group whether there is a need to look at that scheme and
:30:58. > :31:00.others to see if they need to be extended in the light of the 75,000
:31:00. > :31:03.people not being eligible. I wonder if I can ask about heart can not
:31:03. > :31:10.only being affordable, but also flexible, particularly for families
:31:10. > :31:15.not currently in work and for whom we know that... In families where
:31:15. > :31:22.nobody is working, getting a job is no sure fire way of getting
:31:22. > :31:32.families out of poverty? Can you tell asked how child care is
:31:32. > :31:34.
:31:34. > :31:37.flexible enough to enable parents Well, local authorities have a duty
:31:37. > :31:44.under the Childcare Act to support and develop local childcare
:31:44. > :31:48.provision. We have transferred �6 million to the RSG in 2008, to
:31:48. > :31:52.provide local Taits with the resources to undertake that. That
:31:53. > :31:56.has increased in the financial year gone to �7 million. We will work
:31:56. > :32:02.with Local Authorities in order to ensure as childcare is provided
:32:02. > :32:09.that it is flexible. Clearly it is important it has to be accessible
:32:09. > :32:15.as well as available. Will the First Minister provide an update on
:32:15. > :32:20.any discussions with the kphuern commission? I can assure the member
:32:21. > :32:24.I know who he is. Discussions are ongoing with the UK Government and
:32:24. > :32:29.the European Commission, and we are campaigning of course for the
:32:29. > :32:33.continuation of adequately resourced European structural funds
:32:33. > :32:36.programmes in Wales beyond 2013. Pleased to hear that First Minister.
:32:36. > :32:42.While I appreciate European structural funds and funding in
:32:43. > :32:48.general not the most digestable subject in Wales, there is an
:32:48. > :32:54.important issue in tirms of future qualification. Can I ask you, with
:32:54. > :32:59.regards our qualification for the next round of European funding, the
:32:59. > :33:04.third conebgtive period, as I am sure you are airway MEPs have said
:33:04. > :33:09."I think there is recognition the first round of European funding, we,
:33:09. > :33:14.was not spent as wisely as it might have been." I am sure you agree
:33:14. > :33:18.First Minister we want to make the most of future European funding,
:33:18. > :33:21.particularly at this different time. Can you tell us what discussion you
:33:21. > :33:27.are having with the UK Government to ensure we maximise that funding
:33:27. > :33:30.that Wales might be able to access? Well The well the level of funding
:33:30. > :33:34.available will be subject to intense debate because of the
:33:34. > :33:37.pressure to reduce the proposed levels of funning in the draft
:33:37. > :33:41.annual financial framework. We of course will be campaigning to
:33:41. > :33:45.ensure that vubg churl funds are available, in western Europe,
:33:45. > :33:48.secondly, of course that, the amount of money in those funds are
:33:48. > :33:58.more than qat for the purpose, and whoep of course the UK Government
:33:58. > :34:06.will be able to support us in our position. Thank you very much. It
:34:06. > :34:09.is vital that European project of of eof course create more lively
:34:09. > :34:13.economy and promote entrepreneurship and one of the
:34:13. > :34:18.schemes that had the intention of doing that is the pos which project
:34:18. > :34:21.which has been brought to a close. A pledge was made that a summary of
:34:21. > :34:27.the auditors' report which is the basis of the establishing of the
:34:27. > :34:32.scheme, that is the report to the welfare would be made public. Why
:34:32. > :34:37.don't you release the full reports so we can see what the basis for
:34:37. > :34:47.doing away with the Powys scheme was as a Government that preaches
:34:47. > :34:48.
:34:48. > :34:52.openness? Of course. Any internal audit report or no internal audit
:34:52. > :35:00.report have made public as a rule. That is why a summary report will
:35:00. > :35:03.be made. A copy will be sent to members. First Minister can you
:35:03. > :35:06.confirm whether the Welsh Government has had discussions with
:35:06. > :35:10.European regions and nation, who have previously received structural
:35:10. > :35:15.fund, but have managed to lift themselves above the qualification
:35:15. > :35:19.threshold. If so, what lessons do you believe we could learn from
:35:19. > :35:23.their successst Well, we, it is both wies, because there are
:35:23. > :35:29.lessons for other regions that have had structural funds as well. We
:35:29. > :35:36.have regular discussions as does uefr fis in Brussels with a number
:35:36. > :35:42.of European regions, struck eventual funds is one of them.
:35:42. > :35:47.the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh government's bilingual
:35:47. > :35:51.policy and its implementation. Government published its revised
:35:51. > :36:00.Welsh language scheme, approved by the Welsh language board in March
:36:00. > :36:05.this year, together with the corporate action plan. First
:36:05. > :36:10.Minister, in my role as commissioner with responsible for
:36:10. > :36:15.the Commissions bilingual policy, the Commission held a consultation
:36:15. > :36:19.throughout Wales and did so over the past few months and I regularly
:36:19. > :36:25.received complaints that the fact the Welsh Government was released
:36:25. > :36:30.documents in only in English, responding to correspondence only
:36:30. > :36:34.in English even though it was originally sent in Welsh. Are you
:36:35. > :36:40.aware of the failings and what do you intend to do about it? Well, of
:36:40. > :36:45.course, the aim of the Government is that we work in a bilingual way,
:36:45. > :36:50.and those documents should be available in Welsh, sometimes it
:36:50. > :36:54.may be possible there maybe a problem about doing that, but
:36:54. > :37:00.routinely we would expect documents to be available in Welsh, bearing
:37:00. > :37:04.our objective as a Government. First Minister n a letter to the
:37:04. > :37:09.constitutional affairs committee, you noted that the need to consider
:37:09. > :37:13.best use of limited resources could, on occasion, mean that some
:37:13. > :37:19.statutory instruments that impact on Wales are not accomplished in
:37:19. > :37:23.Welsh. How is this consistent with your commitment to give equal
:37:23. > :37:28.status to both languages? This is something which has been true for
:37:28. > :37:33.12 years, particularly as regards statutory instruments that are
:37:33. > :37:37.accomplished on behalf of England and Wales, but of course it is very
:37:37. > :37:43.important to consider that the Government and assembly itself
:37:43. > :37:52.should table and accomplish documents in Welsh, in a way that
:37:53. > :37:56.people couldn't even imagine, that was a decade or 15 or 20ing a.
:37:56. > :38:01.First Minister, you mention the action plan, the corporate action
:38:01. > :38:05.plan. There are a number of targets contain within that plan. Target 19
:38:05. > :38:12.it is a requirement that every department in Government should
:38:12. > :38:16.have adopted a language scheme by April 2011, and that should be
:38:16. > :38:24.monitoring of every scheme by the unit, on a four monthly basis. Are
:38:24. > :38:28.they meeting the requirements of the scheme? Well, we follow the
:38:28. > :38:34.recommendation made by the kphirgs, and of course as a Government we
:38:34. > :38:38.have followed -- the Commission. We have followed the recommendation of
:38:38. > :38:42.the Commissioner. Of Will the First Minister make a statement on the
:38:42. > :38:48.production of the Government's White Paper on organ donation the
:38:48. > :38:53.Wales. The minister for health and social service and I were delighted
:38:53. > :38:57.to launch the White Paper following its publication yesterday. Thank
:38:57. > :39:01.you. Could I support the Welsh Government's decision to proceed in
:39:01. > :39:05.this matter by means of a White Paper in the first instance because
:39:05. > :39:09.it remains a topic on which there are many different views that need
:39:09. > :39:11.to be brought together in shaping the legislation, can you give us an
:39:11. > :39:15.assurance in conducting the consultation that the Government
:39:15. > :39:21.will carry out on the White Paper, that the view fs of staff
:39:21. > :39:25.association, patient group, third sector organisations such as the
:39:25. > :39:28.kidney foundation, British Lung Foundation and so on will form a
:39:28. > :39:34.comprehensive approach to consultation, so we have a wide
:39:34. > :39:38.iping range of views and an effort to to spread information which is
:39:39. > :39:41.so important in this area. welcome a wide range of views on
:39:42. > :39:45.this issue. It is the Government's intention to bring forward the
:39:45. > :39:49.organ donation bill. But the form of the bill is a matter for
:39:49. > :39:53.consultation. We want to make sure it is got right. It is an important
:39:54. > :39:58.piece of legislation for the people of Wales and so many who will
:39:58. > :40:03.depend on it literally to get a better life or extend their lives.
:40:03. > :40:08.That is where we leave first minute teers questions this week. You can
:40:08. > :40:13.see more on BBC we'll's democracy line coverage. The address is on
:40:13. > :40:20.the screen. Well, as promised Vaughan is here on the sofa. I
:40:20. > :40:26.think we have to start today, with don't we, with the ence change, is
:40:26. > :40:32.that the fiercest one you have seen? Not quite. You have to go a
:40:32. > :40:39.long way back. It is really great political theatre. The time it was
:40:39. > :40:42.was in the dying days of the Alun Michael regime, but through the
:40:42. > :40:48.First Ministership's of Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones it is rare
:40:48. > :40:51.for your to get really angry exchanges, we saw one today,
:40:52. > :40:56.between Andrew and the First Minister, where he is getting more
:40:56. > :41:00.and more annoyed by the fact that Carwyn Jones just bats back every
:41:00. > :41:04.question, from him, with a reference to what is going on over
:41:04. > :41:10.the border in England. It caused a level of niggle, such that, I don't
:41:10. > :41:18.know if you noticed this, but Andrew Davis was only entitled to
:41:18. > :41:22.three questions. He railroaded rote Mary Butler, hence that over of
:41:22. > :41:26.bonus questions, but really really tense anythingly exchange, and I
:41:26. > :41:30.have to say, if I was asked who came out on top in that exchange, I
:41:30. > :41:34.would have to say it was the Leader of the Opposition but only by a
:41:34. > :41:38.short head. He did say that the nurses will watch you answer with
:41:38. > :41:42.disgust, and I will make a plea to nurses if you are watching, get in
:41:42. > :41:52.touch with us, tell fuss you were watching with disgust. Let us move
:41:52. > :41:56.on. Ioane Wyn Jones focused on finance questions. Where did you
:41:56. > :41:59.think his questions left Plaid Cymru? I think this is fascinating.
:41:59. > :42:06.I get a stronger feeling that the Government could be in real trouble,
:42:06. > :42:10.in terms of getting its budget through. He is chasing up a
:42:10. > :42:16.question where he damaged Carwyn Jones over capital spending. He
:42:16. > :42:20.went at it again, accused the First Minister of letting the Welsh
:42:20. > :42:24.economy go bad so he could blame the Conservatives for it. That is a
:42:24. > :42:27.extraordinaryry strong allegation, very difficult to see Plaid Cymru
:42:27. > :42:32.reaching an agreement with the Government on the budget, having
:42:32. > :42:36.made that sort of accusation, unless they there are pretty major
:42:36. > :42:40.changes to the budget and not just how the extra �40 million is
:42:41. > :42:44.splattered about but changes to Labour's core budget. Briefly,
:42:44. > :42:48.where do you see support coming from if not Plaid Cymru? In the end
:42:48. > :42:52.it will have to come from Plaid Cymru. What Plaid pld are doing is
:42:52. > :42:55.making clear is price will be substantial, and Labour shouldn't