:00:27. > :00:32.Good afternoon, a welcome to the programme. We will bring you
:00:32. > :00:35.comprehensive coverage of First Minister's questions at shortly and
:00:36. > :00:39.we have a crack team of reporters to pick through what the
:00:39. > :00:44.politicians have to say for themselves. If you want to comment
:00:44. > :00:52.on anything on the programme or any of the political news, you can
:00:52. > :00:56.reach us on Twitter. Or you can send us an e-mail. Business in the
:00:56. > :01:02.chamber is already under way for the afternoon, so let's take a look
:01:03. > :01:06.at questions to the First Minister. The National Assembly is now up in
:01:06. > :01:13.session and the first item on the agenda is questions to the First
:01:13. > :01:17.Minister. First Minister, what consideration has the Welsh
:01:17. > :01:22.Government given to the impact of the UK Government's welfare reforms
:01:22. > :01:32.on the people of Wales. We have given a great deal of consideration
:01:32. > :01:35.
:01:35. > :01:40.to this. First Minister, there has been a massive cut in welfare
:01:40. > :01:43.spending and more is in the pipeline. Has any further
:01:43. > :01:51.consideration been given to what the impact will be if this
:01:51. > :01:55.Government decides to make the poorest paid by reducing a further
:01:55. > :01:59.�10 billion of welfare benefits making the poorest and most
:01:59. > :02:04.vulnerable suffer in our society? Many of the people who claim
:02:04. > :02:08.benefit, particularly housing benefit, are in work. Effectively
:02:08. > :02:14.the state is subsidising the low- pay they get paid by their
:02:14. > :02:19.employers. Those people work very hard. The UK Government seems not
:02:19. > :02:23.to make any distinction between anybody on low income. According to
:02:23. > :02:27.them they are all scroungers. There are plenty of people who work hard
:02:27. > :02:30.who need benefits and there are many unemployed looking for jobs
:02:31. > :02:36.who need the support of the state at this time and they deserve the
:02:36. > :02:40.support of the state when times are difficult for them. The UK
:02:40. > :02:47.Government is currently evolving the council tax benefit scheme to
:02:47. > :02:53.local authorities enhancing the UK localism agenda, whilst at the same
:02:53. > :02:58.time saving �490 million. Your Government has decided against this
:02:58. > :03:04.initiative on the grounds it could bring about a postcode lottery. Yet
:03:04. > :03:08.several of the Welsh Government initiatives, for example council
:03:08. > :03:14.tax paid to pensioners, follow the exact localism principles. How do
:03:14. > :03:18.you account for this blatant contradiction? Why didn't the UK
:03:18. > :03:24.Government give us the full Budget when they devolved council tax?
:03:24. > :03:27.They have left us �20 million short. Unlike the UK Government we are not
:03:28. > :03:32.prepared to pass the responsibility to local councils so they can be
:03:32. > :03:41.blamed instead of that UK Government. At least devolve the
:03:41. > :03:51.whole budget rather than top slicing it by around 10%. SPEAKS
:03:51. > :03:57.
:03:57. > :04:02.WELSH. TRANSLATION: We do not agree with any cap on benefits as
:04:02. > :04:06.regarding where people live. At the cross-party group on disability
:04:06. > :04:11.this morning I was horrified to hear a woman at saying how she is
:04:11. > :04:14.having to scavenge bins out of supermarkets to feed herself. Do
:04:14. > :04:19.you share my horror that this is how some people with disabilities
:04:19. > :04:26.are living and it will only get worse? Absolutely because these
:04:26. > :04:30.people have been targeted by the UK Government. On Saturday I saw
:04:30. > :04:36.people raise their awareness of a food bank. Is this the Tory and
:04:36. > :04:39.Lib-Dem Britain that we live in? Where have we come? We are going
:04:39. > :04:44.backwards and when we see the economic figures now which suggests
:04:44. > :04:54.the deficit is worse than Greece's, I think people are perfectly
:04:54. > :04:56.
:04:57. > :05:00.entitled to ask whether direction of the UK Government is taking us.
:05:00. > :05:09.Would the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's
:05:09. > :05:19.policy of inward investment and international trade. TRANSLATION:
:05:19. > :05:20.
:05:20. > :05:23.In my first conference I out lined the options to boost Welsh exports
:05:23. > :05:33.further and to attract more investment into Wales by overseas
:05:33. > :05:34.
:05:35. > :05:41.companies. TRANSLATION: Regarding the way it is moving forward, does
:05:41. > :05:50.the First Minister accept that there is a challenge in India in
:05:50. > :05:55.particular because the market in science and pharmaceuticals is
:05:55. > :06:00.competitive, but generally can the First Minister tell us which of the
:06:00. > :06:07.nine growth sectors does he believe demonstrates the greatest potential
:06:07. > :06:10.for inward investment and trade and does he accept that energy and
:06:10. > :06:20.environmental services are one of the most important sectors?
:06:20. > :06:24.
:06:24. > :06:34.TRANSLATION: We are pleased with the response in India and also the
:06:34. > :06:35.
:06:35. > :06:41.investments Itar-Tass. We continue to visit Nations so we maintain the
:06:41. > :06:47.momentum and strengthened the offices we have abroad to ensure
:06:47. > :06:52.that we work closely with everyone. I know the First Minister is well
:06:52. > :06:57.aware of health care in my constituency in Cardiff North. Does
:06:57. > :07:01.he welcome the new cell therapy in laboratories that are in the
:07:01. > :07:10.process of being developed? Does he not agree this is an excellent
:07:10. > :07:16.example of inward investment? much so. This will provide capacity
:07:16. > :07:23.for future business growth and we have confidence in the Cardiff
:07:23. > :07:28.operation. First Minister, according to the UK trade and
:07:28. > :07:32.investment the number of active foreign direct investment projects
:07:32. > :07:38.in Wales where only 23 last year. His is below the number of projects
:07:38. > :07:43.in any region of other devolved nations of the UK. Indeed, the 23
:07:43. > :07:47.projects in Wales represent only 1.6% of the United Kingdom total.
:07:47. > :07:53.What is the Welsh Government doing to attract more foreign direct
:07:53. > :08:00.investment in Wales? Does he regret the decision that he abolished the
:08:00. > :08:05.Welsh Development Agency which would probably go down in history
:08:05. > :08:11.as the worst policy decision made in Wales in living memory? What do
:08:11. > :08:19.you say about this? There is an interest on behalf of Professor
:08:19. > :08:24.Morgan. The figures in the UK are not entirely our own figures and
:08:24. > :08:29.the latest figures are far more optimistic. With regard to the
:08:29. > :08:32.development agency, what did it bring in? In the 70s and 80s lots
:08:32. > :08:37.of jobs came to us on the basis Wales was the cheapest place to go
:08:37. > :08:43.in terms of paying people and that was their policy it. It started to
:08:43. > :08:53.fall apart 10 years ago. The 21st century deserves 21st century
:08:53. > :08:54.
:08:54. > :09:00.solutions. We now move to questions from the party leaders. First we
:09:00. > :09:04.have the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty Williams.
:09:04. > :09:09.Last year Labour's manifesto said the community's first programme had
:09:09. > :09:13.made huge strides in the generating deprived areas and tackling poverty
:09:13. > :09:18.in providing training and skills and improving the health of local
:09:18. > :09:22.people, generating businesses in tourism and improving community
:09:22. > :09:27.safety. It communities first was such a success, why has your
:09:27. > :09:34.Government had to go back to the drawing board on it? Not at all, we
:09:34. > :09:39.are seeking to improve it. reality is you have spent 11 years
:09:39. > :09:45.and �300 million on communities First and now you have had to
:09:45. > :09:49.reduce the 150 projects to 50 cluster areas. In 2009, the Wales
:09:49. > :09:52.Audit Office said it was unlikely to deliver objectives without
:09:52. > :09:55.significant change. The Public Accounts Committee said it had
:09:55. > :10:00.failed to deliver good value for money and the Government management
:10:00. > :10:04.of the programme was to blame. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said
:10:04. > :10:11.your flagship policy had led to only marginal improvements in the
:10:11. > :10:15.poorest communities. In your own analysis, why did communities First
:10:15. > :10:25.failed to deliver? It would help me if she was to indicate whether she
:10:25. > :10:30.is against communities First or not? I the areas in her own
:10:30. > :10:33.constituency the ones that she is criticising? We want to further
:10:33. > :10:36.strengthen communities and I have been around Wales and I have seen
:10:36. > :10:42.the difference it makes to communities in many parts of Wales
:10:42. > :10:47.as well. We will move forward with communities First in order to
:10:47. > :10:51.strengthen the partnerships further. 11 years, �300 million to make
:10:51. > :10:59.these poorest communities better off and buy all independent
:10:59. > :11:07.analysis you have failed to do so. In my own constituency Communities
:11:07. > :11:11.First has been characterised by into nursing warfare. A decade ago
:11:11. > :11:16.you set about it that the goal was for better education and skills
:11:16. > :11:20.training, more job opportunities, improved health and well-being and
:11:20. > :11:25.to make communities safer, yet you have not be able to offer any
:11:25. > :11:29.statistics that prove any of those points, but by 2010, you're telling
:11:29. > :11:34.me in this chamber it was not necessarily an economic development
:11:34. > :11:40.programme, it was about capacity building. Why should the people of
:11:40. > :11:47.our poorest communities now believe that the new Communities First will
:11:47. > :11:50.do better than its failed predecessor? I have seen
:11:50. > :11:55.Communities First areas in Wales and I have seen hope given to those
:11:55. > :11:59.communities. I went to Wrexham where older people were saying they
:11:59. > :12:03.felt safer to walk the streets and they were happy to see their
:12:03. > :12:08.community rejuvenated. It was a message I got from many other parts
:12:08. > :12:16.of Wales. We in the Labour Party will never believe it was a waste
:12:16. > :12:21.of money. We now move to questions from the opposition. Last Wednesday,
:12:21. > :12:25.First Minister, week tabled a debate in this chamber on neonatal
:12:25. > :12:30.services, a very important debate, a debate that is going on around
:12:30. > :12:34.the whole of Wales and many members have been lobbied by health
:12:34. > :12:44.professionals and constituents. Your Government and your group
:12:44. > :12:44.
:12:44. > :12:49.chose to abdicate responsibility on that debate. Why was that? No, we
:12:49. > :12:52.did not. That is rubbish. The presiding officer gave the
:12:52. > :12:56.indication that the debate was perfectly in order and you were
:12:56. > :13:02.entitled to table amendments to any debate that if you felt there was
:13:02. > :13:06.an issue around the legality of the debate which would have precluded
:13:06. > :13:11.your ministers, you could have deleted that point and spoke on
:13:11. > :13:17.part of the motion that many residents have raised with Assembly
:13:17. > :13:21.members will stop your health minister chose to tweeted in the
:13:21. > :13:27.debate, or her press officer did. That was the level of engagement
:13:27. > :13:31.from your Government to a very serious issue in Wales. Is your
:13:31. > :13:37.Government so void of any ideas and is your group so disrespectful of
:13:37. > :13:40.this institution that you are not prepared to debate the issues? It's
:13:40. > :13:44.his party deliberately misled the public on days into thinking that
:13:44. > :13:49.the debate was something Welsh ministers could vote on and it is
:13:49. > :13:54.not the case. It is an established principle of public law that
:13:54. > :13:58.weather is an ongoing consultation any opinion voiced by ministers
:13:58. > :14:04.prejudices that consultation and renders it void. I know this is not
:14:04. > :14:08.understood by Conservatives because we saw the mess they made over
:14:08. > :14:12.solar panels. They took a decision when the consultation was ongoing
:14:12. > :14:17.and the court said you cannot do that. You cannot express a view
:14:17. > :14:21.until the consultation is finished. That is a long-established area of
:14:21. > :14:27.public law and I am not prepared for ministers to act illegally
:14:27. > :14:30.despite what the opposition may want. What a load of rubbish. Again
:14:30. > :14:34.the default position going to Westminster again instead of
:14:34. > :14:38.dealing with the issues that you and your ministers that
:14:38. > :14:43.responsibility for. More galling is the instruction you would have
:14:43. > :14:47.given to your group not to vote on that. I have had help professionals
:14:47. > :14:54.come and say how this place was brought into disrepute by your
:14:54. > :15:01.group. I can hear the Deputy First Minister talking away there. Do not
:15:01. > :15:05.listen to those people, please. your Government so void of ideas
:15:05. > :15:12.and so disrespectful of this institution and above all a
:15:12. > :15:15.democracy in Wales that you offer absolutely nothing? He cannot go
:15:16. > :15:19.off the script. If he gets the answer he does not like, he has got
:15:20. > :15:25.to stick to the script. His own Prime Minister suggested his party
:15:25. > :15:32.should take part in an insurgency it. That is an organised movement
:15:32. > :15:35.involving armed conflict. Is he the Che Guevara of Wales? You can see
:15:35. > :15:40.these people apparently who talk about democracy back at the same
:15:40. > :15:46.time want to take part in armed conflict. We take no lessons from
:15:46. > :15:50.him at all. I listened very carefully to what David Jones the
:15:50. > :15:55.Secretary of State said and I took great notice. I very much
:15:55. > :15:58.appreciated the way in which he put forward the case for Wales. He
:15:59. > :16:08.talks Wales down and he has got a lot to learn from the next
:16:09. > :16:16.
:16:16. > :16:22.We now reached the end of the bilateral talks between the Welsh
:16:22. > :16:26.and UK governments. You said you wanted the Barnett floor to be set
:16:26. > :16:33.at 115 Key. Is that still an indicator of success? You can
:16:33. > :16:38.expect an announcement in the next few days. I warned in June that the
:16:38. > :16:42.calculations regarding Welsh needs required Updating as several years
:16:42. > :16:46.had passed. Did you asks you several servants to investigate
:16:46. > :16:51.this and provide updated figures and can you tell us which figures
:16:51. > :16:55.you used as the basis for your discussions? -- your civil servants.
:16:55. > :17:00.There have been a number of detailed discussions and there will
:17:00. > :17:07.be in the next month regarding the conclusion of those discussions in
:17:07. > :17:13.about two weeks. The party of Wales estimated the under-investment in
:17:13. > :17:20.Wales is now around �540 million per year, that is money which
:17:20. > :17:27.should be invested in our hospitals and schools, and shops. De Barnett
:17:27. > :17:31.formula has squeezed that money out of Wales and fair funding is only
:17:31. > :17:34.achievable on and lead spaces. Did you make that argument in your
:17:34. > :17:38.discussions with the UK government? Of course it has been established
:17:38. > :17:44.for a while. We would like to see full reform and in the absence of
:17:44. > :17:48.that we would like to see an adequate Barnett formula. The
:17:48. > :17:53.leader of Plaid Cymru plot about the Barnett formula, if she had her
:17:53. > :17:56.way, they would not be one. We would not be part of the UK. We are
:17:56. > :18:00.standing up for Wales and at the same time ensuring that Wales is
:18:00. > :18:07.very much part of the UK. That message resonates with the people
:18:07. > :18:12.of Wales. We move to the questions on the paper. Questions 3 and 4
:18:12. > :18:15.have been withdrawn. Question 5. Will the First Minister make a
:18:16. > :18:19.statement on the last government's appetite for life policy?
:18:20. > :18:24.agenda for improving the food and drink provided throughout the
:18:24. > :18:30.school day is contained in that. There are new standards that will
:18:30. > :18:33.become statutory in all schools next year. For many children, the
:18:33. > :18:38.school breakfast and school dinner are the only meals they may get in
:18:38. > :18:44.the day. The recommended calorie intake is 1,800 calories in
:18:44. > :18:47.children aged 5-10 but you guidelines, they would ensure that
:18:48. > :18:54.child gets only 650. I have had complaints that the guidelines are
:18:54. > :18:59.overly restrictive. In some schools there have been a 20% drop-off as a
:18:59. > :19:04.result. We have a look at those guidelines again so as to enable an
:19:04. > :19:08.element of flexibility for schools as how to meet the needs of pupils?
:19:08. > :19:12.There are regulations we will introduce next year. We want to
:19:12. > :19:15.ensure that the food and drink provided in our schools makes a
:19:15. > :19:21.positive contribution towards giving children and young people
:19:21. > :19:26.healthy had balanced diet. Before I ask my question, can I thank you
:19:26. > :19:30.for your comments made and for all the members who have come together
:19:30. > :19:33.in a united way over the tragic events that occurred in Machynlleth.
:19:33. > :19:37.Others will join with me in the praise an aberration of the
:19:37. > :19:41.emergency services and the vast number of volunteers who have
:19:41. > :19:46.helped and come forward and our bottom prayers are very much with
:19:46. > :19:50.the parents, family and friends of April Jones. How much progress has
:19:50. > :19:59.the Government made with the establishment of a national
:19:59. > :20:03.database to gather information on individual schools' Food Programme?
:20:03. > :20:08.First of all, can I join with the member in what he has said. I know
:20:08. > :20:13.all members will share the views he expressed. The trustee that
:20:13. > :20:19.occurred within his own constituency. We understand. -
:20:19. > :20:28.Write the tragedy. In terms of the national database, we await further
:20:28. > :20:33.information. TRANSLATION: With Russell George's
:20:33. > :20:36.comments, could I ask, free school meals are linked to the number of
:20:36. > :20:41.specific benefits and qualifications for free school
:20:41. > :20:46.meals is dependent on the benefits. Those are going to be swept away by
:20:46. > :20:49.the Westminster government over the next year or so. Plaid Cymru would
:20:49. > :20:56.ensure that children who need school meals will continue to
:20:56. > :21:02.receive them. What steps are you taking to ensure that the most
:21:02. > :21:06.deprived children in Wales still get a healthy meal? We are going to
:21:06. > :21:11.protect them, this is something we are dealing with. We have not
:21:11. > :21:18.received every answer yet from the UK government, but we wish to
:21:18. > :21:23.ensure that all those presently eligible will continue to be so.
:21:23. > :21:27.TRANSLATION: Were he make a statement on the provision of
:21:27. > :21:31.proper and services? -- Wilkie.
:21:31. > :21:37.The next generation brought current project her and the broadband
:21:37. > :21:47.support scheme will ensure that 97% of Welsh people will have access to
:21:47. > :21:47.
:21:47. > :21:53.proper and by 2015. We need to ensure that 96% of homes in Wales
:21:53. > :22:01.to have access to proper and by 2015. You have told me that your
:22:01. > :22:09.government is considering assisting that 4% of homes that will not be
:22:09. > :22:13.able to access problem. How do you intend to support those? We are
:22:13. > :22:23.looking at present at exactly where these homes are. Once that analysis
:22:23. > :22:31.is complete, a statement will be made on the way to assist them.
:22:31. > :22:37.First Minister, any public money used to strengthen broadband should
:22:37. > :22:41.go to those areas where broadband is because at present. In a new
:22:41. > :22:45.contract, will you give them guidance in order to ensure the
:22:45. > :22:51.initial first investment goes to those communities that are
:22:51. > :22:54.currently suffering the weakest broadband service? A great deal of
:22:54. > :22:59.this is dependent on the technology available at the time. In some
:22:59. > :23:05.areas, that will be available, we need to roll it out and use it. In
:23:05. > :23:12.other places, the technology will not exist. What we have discovered
:23:12. > :23:16.is that some are been areas of Wales are without broadband because
:23:16. > :23:21.of faulty telephone exchanges, but we wish to insure that everyone
:23:22. > :23:26.gets this as soon as possible. -- ensure. Well first Minister
:23:26. > :23:32.outlined the last government. Plans to grow the economy in North Wales?
:23:32. > :23:38.Those plans are set out. As you are aware, this week we have had more
:23:38. > :23:41.devastating news about how fragile the UK economy is. As a consequence,
:23:42. > :23:45.the Tory government in the UK believes we can cut our way to
:23:45. > :23:51.economic growth. Infrastructure is crucial to economic growth. With
:23:51. > :23:55.this regard, in North Wales, the airports, in Manchester, Liverpool
:23:55. > :23:59.and Birmingham are crucial. As the UK are much reduced the airport
:23:59. > :24:02.capacity across the UK, will you ensure that the needs of North
:24:03. > :24:09.Wales are taken into account and that new capacity is opened up in
:24:09. > :24:14.the Midlands and North West? fully understand that for many
:24:14. > :24:18.people, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool are convenient airports.
:24:18. > :24:23.Much of the future depends on what position is taken on Heathrow. I am
:24:23. > :24:27.on record as saying that I think the idea of a new national airport
:24:27. > :24:32.somewhere of the Thames estuary is never going to work. It is too far
:24:32. > :24:35.away for most people in the west of Britain. I think we should consider
:24:35. > :24:41.Anglesey airport, who want to see that developed as a gateway to the
:24:41. > :24:48.North West of Wales. For example, it would be useful to have air
:24:48. > :24:53.passenger duty devolved to ensure that Cardiff and Agassi airport has
:24:53. > :25:01.potential to act as there focus of economic growth. -- Anglesey
:25:01. > :25:07.airport. First Minister, tourism is a massive contributor to the North
:25:07. > :25:10.Wales economy. We have many thousands of visitors who come to
:25:10. > :25:15.experience the natural beauty of the landscape in North Wales. But
:25:15. > :25:18.there is an area of North East Wales which is relatively
:25:18. > :25:22.undiscovered, the caladium range. There is no duty to promote it
:25:22. > :25:26.because it is not an National Park. Although it is a protected
:25:26. > :25:29.landscape. Will you give consideration, working with the
:25:29. > :25:34.Minister for the Environment, to look at this issue to see whether
:25:34. > :25:41.he can be addressed in order to get the maximum benefit for this area
:25:41. > :25:49.for our local economy? There was an answer to this question the week or
:25:49. > :25:59.- like the week before. But it look with the regard to walking tours
:25:59. > :25:59.
:25:59. > :26:03.and. The husk what case we have we have presented to the UK come up
:26:03. > :26:08.with regards to be a letter vocation of the North Wales will
:26:08. > :26:12.line? We welcome that the decision that has been taken on South Wales
:26:12. > :26:17.in the valleys. It is very important that consideration is now
:26:17. > :26:25.given to North Wales and also other parts of Wales. We want to see the
:26:25. > :26:35.UK government publishing the long term plans that will show where
:26:35. > :26:42.
:26:42. > :26:51.electricity - like a letter vocation comes. -- electrification.
:26:51. > :26:59.The renewal fund, they have been reports that includes �20 million
:26:59. > :27:05.from the sale of land and resources. There are a number of organisations
:27:05. > :27:12.complaining that the funds are not available. Can you tell us what
:27:12. > :27:16.exactly the fund has achieved, how many clubs from that fund and how
:27:16. > :27:23.many jobs have been created directly from that? -- how many
:27:23. > :27:30.drugs. If he could write to me with examples of where people have been
:27:30. > :27:33.unsuccessful in the grant application, I will reply. Have you
:27:33. > :27:39.had any discussions with companies and businesses in Wales about the
:27:39. > :27:45.impact of rising energy prices? have had many discussions on this.
:27:45. > :27:48.I certainly met in London with high energy users once again where they
:27:48. > :27:54.express their concerns to me. I have raised the issue several times
:27:54. > :27:57.with the UK government. I have recently written again to the
:27:57. > :28:03.Secretary of State for business, innovation and skills to reiterate
:28:03. > :28:08.that priority must be given to reducing energy prices. Thank you.
:28:08. > :28:12.I am aware of the discussion you have had with companies like Tata.
:28:12. > :28:16.But it is clear that the Welsh Government used the situation with
:28:16. > :28:19.concern that has fears about investment and the future should
:28:19. > :28:26.the situation continue. Can I ask that you continue to discuss with
:28:26. > :28:31.the UK government what they can do and to act with urgency of what is
:28:31. > :28:36.an urgent situation? I have emphasised this point many times.
:28:36. > :28:41.The difficulty is, as we see energy prices may go up again, members of
:28:41. > :28:45.the public and businesses cannot see what market exists in energy.
:28:45. > :28:49.There is no transparency, no market information for the consumer to
:28:49. > :28:53.know which tariff to choose because there is a plethora of tariffs.
:28:53. > :28:58.That is the problem. A market has been created where no such market
:28:58. > :29:04.actually exists for most people. Innately more transparency and
:29:04. > :29:12.competition. -- there needs to be. There needs to be measures in place
:29:12. > :29:19.to ensure that energy prices become more competitive. First Minister,
:29:19. > :29:22.you stated business and industry will play a key role in driving
:29:22. > :29:26.transition to a low carbon economies. We recognise that we
:29:26. > :29:31.must do all we can to create a sustainable environment for the
:29:31. > :29:34.necessary long-term investment. Can I ask, when will the Government be
:29:34. > :29:39.delivering on this policy are looked upon as a broad range of
:29:39. > :29:43.renewable technologies beyond wind, which will achieve what was said
:29:43. > :29:48.yesterday, and increased home energy sector which will benefit
:29:49. > :29:53.both business and individual consumers? I would be more happy to
:29:53. > :29:59.see development of wave and tidal energy in Wales. The problem is, we
:29:59. > :30:02.cannot put money on the table, like the Scots can. They are able to
:30:02. > :30:09.provide subsidies at a far higher level than those that exist in
:30:09. > :30:16.Wales. So wave and tidal technology is going to Scotland. The problem
:30:16. > :30:20.is, we have no control over this. We should have control in the
:30:20. > :30:30.future so we can properly develop wave and tidal energy in Wales,
:30:30. > :30:52.
:30:52. > :30:56.creating jobs in Wales at a level TRANSLATION: Scottish Power have
:30:56. > :31:05.been offering a bilingual service for a few years. Would you join
:31:05. > :31:09.with me and tell these companies that it is quite reasonable to
:31:09. > :31:14.receive a bilingual service in Wales and the people in Wales
:31:14. > :31:22.should be treated in the same manner. TRANSLATION: It is quite
:31:22. > :31:26.reasonable and I see this as some sort of excuse. We in Wales are a
:31:26. > :31:33.bilingual nation and I do not see why they should have an impact on
:31:33. > :31:43.prices in Wales. If they will increase prices because of the
:31:43. > :31:44.
:31:44. > :31:54.Welsh language, it would not work. It is important to say that the
:31:54. > :31:54.
:31:54. > :32:00.correct language is used. Supermarkets had put up a sign in
:32:00. > :32:05.Irish Galic rather than in Welsh. They should be considered by the
:32:05. > :32:10.big companies. It is critical that we packed our energy intensive
:32:10. > :32:14.industries, but we do not lose sight of the underlying cause. The
:32:14. > :32:18.energy companies continue to rake in huge and swelling profits from
:32:18. > :32:23.energy intensive companies and from us as taxpayers to subsidise those
:32:23. > :32:28.costs and from us again as domestic consumers. Can I ask you whether
:32:28. > :32:31.you have had discussions with the UK Government about the
:32:31. > :32:34.strengthening of the regulatory framework to force the gas and
:32:34. > :32:41.electric giants to pass on the wholesale price cuts to their
:32:41. > :32:46.customers? The fact is that it is regulated and it does not work. We
:32:46. > :32:49.have seen is in many areas. A market working properly sees proper
:32:49. > :32:53.competition and consumer choice and none of these things apply when it
:32:54. > :32:59.comes to the energy market and that is why it sardine is a regulator.
:32:59. > :33:03.The fact that energy prices are so high speaks for itself. As far as
:33:03. > :33:07.industry is concerned it is a serious issue and will hamper
:33:07. > :33:11.severely our chances of bringing investment into Wales and the rest
:33:11. > :33:16.of the UK in future if the UK carries on being non-competitive in
:33:16. > :33:20.terms of its energy costs. While the First Minister outline what
:33:20. > :33:30.action he believes the worst Government needs to take next in
:33:30. > :33:33.order to establish city regions in Wales? We have arranged a briefing
:33:33. > :33:36.sessions for Assembly members tomorrow. What consideration has
:33:36. > :33:42.the Welsh Government given in terms of the governance and
:33:42. > :33:46.accountability structure for any city regions? Have we looked at how
:33:46. > :33:52.it places like Greater Manchester being so successful as a city
:33:52. > :33:57.region, but also those sub regions like Bolton not losing their own
:33:58. > :34:03.identity and does he not agree that those areas do not get consumed
:34:03. > :34:06.into the larger region? We have to make sure there is a proper and
:34:06. > :34:11.effective governance at all levels when it comes to service delivery
:34:11. > :34:19.and we will ensure the city regions become a reality and deliver
:34:19. > :34:26.effectively. Good afternoon. In terms of the next city regions I am
:34:26. > :34:31.interested in what action your Government has to take over the
:34:31. > :34:35.planned electrification of the South Wales lines. Paucity regions
:34:35. > :34:42.to work in South Wales people need to travel across South Wales with
:34:42. > :34:48.ease and speed. Specifically what are you doing to ensure a review of
:34:48. > :34:55.and bringing strategic transport investment forward on day one so we
:34:55. > :35:00.have an integrated transport system? One of the things that is
:35:00. > :35:04.important is when the electrified network is in place for the Ballets
:35:04. > :35:11.and particularly further west that it is seen as a Metronet work for
:35:11. > :35:16.the whole of South Wales. For that to be run effectively a thought
:35:16. > :35:20.needs to be given to what sort of organisation needs to be in place.
:35:20. > :35:23.There might be other models out there, but it is clear there would
:35:23. > :35:29.have to be a collective organisation that would be able to
:35:29. > :35:38.run the matter as a whole. party of Wales believes the
:35:38. > :35:43.potential of Cardiff, and we are committed to this, what you want to
:35:43. > :35:47.see is the benefits and shared around the wider South Wales area.
:35:48. > :35:55.We also believe passionately in our smaller towns and their potential
:35:56. > :35:58.as well. Any plans put into action will always take into account and
:35:58. > :36:03.involve the local authorities and the businesses in our smaller towns
:36:03. > :36:07.and cities in the area, particularly Newport, and those
:36:07. > :36:13.towns whose proximity to Cardiff can sometimes be seen as a
:36:13. > :36:18.disadvantage, do you agree? I would hope that being close to Cardiff is
:36:18. > :36:21.not a disincentive to investment, but it is important there is as
:36:22. > :36:28.much consultation as possible and that is what the Government will be
:36:28. > :36:36.seeking to do. Well the First Minister make a statement on his
:36:36. > :36:40.priorities for the residents of South Wales in the next few months?
:36:40. > :36:46.Last week, regrettably the AA announced they were relocating some
:36:46. > :36:49.of the jobs they had in the City of Cardiff, 400 in total, and that is
:36:49. > :36:56.troubling news given that Cardiff has been identified as an
:36:56. > :37:01.Enterprise Zone. The Welsh Government allocated some �30
:37:01. > :37:06.million in fairness, yet if you try to access information on support
:37:06. > :37:10.for Cardiff, there is precious little information out there to
:37:10. > :37:15.support businesses to stay within Cardiff. Indeed the AEA are
:37:15. > :37:20.locating many of these jobs to the North East, a similar economic
:37:20. > :37:23.region to Cardiff. Are you able to indicate what support you are
:37:23. > :37:27.giving to get businesses to relocate to Cardiff and support
:37:27. > :37:36.job-creation measures? There are a number of ways in which we are
:37:36. > :37:42.doing that. We have the grace fund, -- growth fund, the life science
:37:42. > :37:45.funds and schemes which will bear fruit for Wales in the future.
:37:45. > :37:50.Unfortunately we know what has happened with the AA announcement.
:37:50. > :37:54.We regret that and we will give an update on that on 4th October. It
:37:54. > :38:04.is worth emphasising that over the last two-and-a-half years
:38:04. > :38:05.
:38:05. > :38:11.employment in Wales has increased by over 3500. Wales now has the
:38:11. > :38:20.lowest level of economic activity since records began in 1992. That
:38:20. > :38:27.illustrates the Welsh Government's economic policies are bearing fruit.
:38:27. > :38:31.45 jobs in my constituency are under threat and the statutory
:38:31. > :38:35.consultation period is now under way. Union representatives inform
:38:35. > :38:41.me that as well as losing defence contracts and number of others have
:38:41. > :38:46.also been lost. This is a very long-standing employer and I am
:38:46. > :38:50.sure you will agree that the news is a huge blow to the workers
:38:50. > :38:54.involved and the area as a whole. I have contacted the business
:38:54. > :38:59.minister, but will you ensure the factory receive the appropriate
:38:59. > :39:02.support and advice Park officials. At officials have already spoken to
:39:02. > :39:10.the company on Friday. They have indicated they will be happy to
:39:10. > :39:16.talk to us and a meeting will take place on 10th October. The First
:39:16. > :39:23.Minister, I listened carefully to your answer about the job losses at
:39:23. > :39:28.a earlier. Despite this, the jobs situation is pretty grim and those
:39:28. > :39:34.400 job losses in that call centre in Cardiff, there are jobs we
:39:34. > :39:38.cannot afford to lose. The AA has created 200 jobs over the border in
:39:38. > :39:42.Newcastle at the same time as getting rid of 400 jobs in Cardiff.
:39:42. > :39:46.These private sector jobs are valuable not only to people in
:39:46. > :39:50.Cardiff, but also to people who commute from the valleys. Can you
:39:50. > :39:54.tell us what assessment your Government has made of the reasons
:39:54. > :40:00.behind this decision to invest in Newcastle as opposed to Cardiff?
:40:00. > :40:06.These are issues that have been discussed with AA at the moment.
:40:06. > :40:13.But it is the reality that we have the different funds that I have
:40:13. > :40:21.mentioned and on top of that the �38.9 million economic stimulus. It
:40:21. > :40:26.is a reality that the jobs in Wales are being created and three-and a-
:40:26. > :40:31.half 1000 opportunities have been created. Skills growth in Wales
:40:31. > :40:35.will support the creation of jobs. It is regrettable jobs appear to be
:40:35. > :40:41.going at the age even though the consultation period is not yet up
:40:41. > :40:47.and we will do all that we can to help those workers who may be made
:40:47. > :40:52.redundant. We have put in place a detailed programme to help the
:40:52. > :41:02.economy. That is set for a First Minister's Questions and you can
:41:02. > :41:03.
:41:03. > :41:09.see more coverage of the National Assembly on lie-in. We have been
:41:09. > :41:15.watching First Minister's Questions. Good afternoon, Brian. Why don't we
:41:15. > :41:21.pay through what the leaders had to say? There was a bad-tempered
:41:21. > :41:25.exchange between Andrew Davies and the Conservative leader very
:41:25. > :41:30.credible of the Government's response to the debate a hat last
:41:30. > :41:34.week. They debate last week was around neonatal care and there has
:41:35. > :41:39.been a lot of concern raised about the provisions of neonatal care
:41:40. > :41:42.across the whole of Wales will stop Carwyn Jones's position is this is
:41:42. > :41:47.currently being consulted on and it would be inappropriate for
:41:47. > :41:53.ministers to discuss this and it would be illegal, he says, and he
:41:53. > :41:57.is not prepared to allow ministers to act illegally. That was
:41:57. > :42:02.dismissed by Andrew Davies who said it was rubbish. It descended from
:42:02. > :42:06.there into something slightly more farcical, actually, with Carwyn
:42:06. > :42:10.Jones Bennett up a comment that was made by David Cameron last week
:42:10. > :42:15.that the Tory conference when he said the Welsh Conservatives should
:42:15. > :42:20.lead an insurrection against Labour. He described Andrew Davies as the
:42:20. > :42:24.Che Guevara of Wales. A I'm not sure he will be pleased with that.
:42:24. > :42:31.Kirsty Williams attacked the Government over what has been the
:42:31. > :42:35.Labour Government's flagship scheme Communities, First to target
:42:35. > :42:40.improvement in the poorest communities. It was a very precise
:42:40. > :42:45.question and it was very effective because of that. She brought up a
:42:45. > :42:50.lot of independent analysis that she said proved this flagship
:42:50. > :42:54.policy had not been particularly successful in her view and in the
:42:54. > :42:59.view of some of the people who looked into it. She brought up the
:42:59. > :43:04.figures of 11 years and the �300 million that had been spent. But
:43:04. > :43:09.Carwyn Jones absolutely battered that off saying it had been a huge
:43:09. > :43:13.success across the whole country. For I suppose sometimes the chamber
:43:13. > :43:19.comes together behind an issue and they certainly did that today we
:43:19. > :43:23.first saw George for Montgomerie share raising the support
:43:23. > :43:27.volunteers had given to the search for a prop Jones, the missing five-
:43:27. > :43:31.year-old from Machynlleth. It was a very moving comment from Rassau
:43:31. > :43:36.George. Machynlleth is in his constituency and he paid tribute to
:43:36. > :43:43.those people who have gone a long, including the police who have been
:43:44. > :43:46.looking for April Jones. That sentiment was also echoed by Carwyn