:00:39. > :00:43.After the assembly turned down James Bond and Labour rejected a fly on
:00:44. > :00:50.the wall documentary we are allowed to put our questions. It is Prime
:00:51. > :00:56.Minister's questions. Mr Jones does not know the questions in advance.
:00:57. > :00:58.Expect a North Wales theme with questions on the economic links
:00:59. > :01:06.between North Wales and North West England and the finances of the
:01:07. > :01:16.biggest health board in Wales. Expect questions on tidal power and
:01:17. > :01:25.the first tidal lagoon in the world set for Swansea Bay. Time to take a
:01:26. > :01:34.look at the questions to the First Minister. The national assembly is
:01:35. > :01:40.now in session. The first question is from make Anthony. Will he make a
:01:41. > :01:50.statement on the state of industrial relations on wheels -- in Wales. The
:01:51. > :01:59.Welsh government encourages industrial relations in Wales. We
:02:00. > :02:02.can be proud of the good and constructive industrial relations we
:02:03. > :02:07.have in Wales. Partnerships are being formed over many decades and
:02:08. > :02:11.the trade union Bill seeks to undermine that good work. We have a
:02:12. > :02:20.situation in England where we even have junior doctors valeting for
:02:21. > :02:23.industrial action. Do you think that is much the UK Government could
:02:24. > :02:33.learn from the positive experience we have had in Wales? Yes it is
:02:34. > :02:37.appalling what has been going on with the trade union Bill and we
:02:38. > :02:43.will pursue that in terms of public services in Wales. And if we can we
:02:44. > :02:46.will seek to oppose the part of the trade show in the trade show in a
:02:47. > :02:53.bill that affects all public services. Solicitor junior doctors
:02:54. > :03:02.that is a sign of the sorry state of how it is in England and the weight
:03:03. > :03:07.is being managed. Would you join me in joining their concerns about the
:03:08. > :03:12.adverse impact this bill will have on the rights of Welsh worker?
:03:13. > :03:18.Absolutely it is a straightforward attack on Welsh rights for workers
:03:19. > :03:30.and we will follow the lead from Catholic. And it is a fundamental
:03:31. > :03:34.attack on rights and democracy. You will be aware of the current dispute
:03:35. > :03:38.between the PCS union and the Welsh government-sponsored body the
:03:39. > :03:45.National Museum of Wales. The dispute is about a number of issues
:03:46. > :03:49.and about the proportional of senior management to remove premium
:03:50. > :03:57.payments for weekend working which makes up between 12 to 15% of the
:03:58. > :04:08.take on fit -- take-home pay off front of House staff. Will he tell
:04:09. > :04:20.us how the refusal of the National museums to look at paper also is
:04:21. > :04:28.presented by the PCS -- to look at proposals presented by the PCS? Has
:04:29. > :04:32.party has attacked the rights of workers in Wales and in the UK and
:04:33. > :04:38.we are aware of the dispute which is a matter for the National resume to
:04:39. > :04:42.resolve and we went courage employers and employees to work
:04:43. > :04:46.constructively to resolve these issues rather than undermine trade
:04:47. > :04:56.unions which is what the Tories want to do. -- National Museum. At the
:04:57. > :05:02.demonstration I spoke at a few weeks ago were told that the Minister with
:05:03. > :05:06.responsibility in this area would be talking to trade unions so I wonder
:05:07. > :05:10.if in the nature of having a discussion what you have talked to
:05:11. > :05:14.him about in order to try to find agreement here so wheels can be
:05:15. > :05:17.shown in a positive light when we are embarking on discussions is
:05:18. > :05:27.regarding the trade union on advocate level. I have not
:05:28. > :05:37.personally spoken to him about this matter. -- on a UK level. We have
:05:38. > :05:43.heard mention of the National Museum of Wales that can I ask you what you
:05:44. > :05:47.think the government is to be in dissolving disputes when they happen
:05:48. > :05:53.at third-party level? One thing we're not doing is wrecking trade
:05:54. > :05:56.union rights and should be discussion between employers and
:05:57. > :05:59.trade unions. We see on the Conservative Party is not just an
:06:00. > :06:02.attempt to remove the rights of workers back to destroy trees unions
:06:03. > :06:08.and in shouting they know their shame. We recognise trade unions and
:06:09. > :06:13.we look to work with trade unions and we have a record of doing that.
:06:14. > :06:25.It is a shame the UK Government prefers conflict to consensus. Will
:06:26. > :06:33.the Minister make a statement in the regeneration of city centres? I
:06:34. > :06:46.policy supports industrial regeneration in many areas across
:06:47. > :06:51.Wales. In Newport there is collaboration between the public
:06:52. > :06:57.centre and Civic Centre. That is much development. On Thursday you'll
:06:58. > :07:02.be helping to open the Friars walk retail redevelopment which I believe
:07:03. > :07:07.is a further example of what I believe to be very impressive to
:07:08. > :07:12.city centre regeneration. Will you join me in looking forward to the
:07:13. > :07:22.reopening on Thursday and agree that Newport is leading the way. Yes it
:07:23. > :07:28.is an excellent example of a Labour lead counsel leading the way and
:07:29. > :07:32.many retail companies who have signed up to be in the sector and
:07:33. > :07:37.once we have not provided direct funding for the scheme, we have been
:07:38. > :07:42.involved inside assembly in pre-project assessment support and
:07:43. > :07:46.in support delivered through Newport Unlimited. It is a good example of
:07:47. > :07:50.government and business working together under a Labour council. For
:07:51. > :07:55.the First Minister acknowledge that during the previous Conservative
:07:56. > :08:00.administration in Newport that was what brought forward the money title
:08:01. > :08:06.to make this important development take place in Newport which is vital
:08:07. > :08:08.to the future of the city. What we saw under the previous
:08:09. > :08:19.administration was prevarication and what we see now is the mother of. We
:08:20. > :08:35.all welcome the development. -- what we see now is delivered it. Has any
:08:36. > :08:44.research being undertaken under the question of the impact on these
:08:45. > :08:54.towns? A study has to be made of the impact around any shopping centre in
:08:55. > :09:01.the city 's and where you have large out-of-town shopping centres there
:09:02. > :09:06.is an effect on town centres such as in Bridgend infinitely. In
:09:07. > :09:23.Carmarthen Debenhams is in the town centre which is helped invigorate
:09:24. > :09:28.the town centre. -- --and Llanelli. One of the best ways of making sure
:09:29. > :09:31.that our city centres are vibrant as making sure that existing small
:09:32. > :09:35.independent businesses are able to stay in business is there but I've
:09:36. > :09:40.had reports from Cardiff of the City Council been very aggressive in
:09:41. > :09:43.pursuing business rates arrears from independent traders and in
:09:44. > :09:47.particular may not using the hardship provisions that are within
:09:48. > :09:49.their powers adequately for those businesses who are having struggling
:09:50. > :09:55.times. I wonder if they would agree to conduct a review of the use of
:09:56. > :09:58.the hardship provisions within the business rate system to see how they
:09:59. > :10:04.are being applied across Wales to make sure our small traders can
:10:05. > :10:10.continue to stay in business. I will write to her on that and she weighs
:10:11. > :10:17.has appointed is to be looked at. The Leader of the Opposition. Can I
:10:18. > :10:32.welcome your U-turn on Cabinet decision reports? Last week you said
:10:33. > :10:42.on television that the M4 Black route could be delivered way below
:10:43. > :10:51.the projected figure that is commonly understood as being a cost
:10:52. > :10:57.of that project. The figure is one we will be coming in well below. We
:10:58. > :11:04.are not going to show the figure because that movie like showing your
:11:05. > :11:08.hand in a card game. We will not reveal beforehand what our target
:11:09. > :11:12.figure will be is not always a wise move in the world of business. I
:11:13. > :11:16.fully understand that and there will be a parameter you will be working
:11:17. > :11:25.in, surely, and for you to go out and say that the figure will be way
:11:26. > :11:45.below the million pound figure that the governments on colleagues -- own
:11:46. > :11:57.colleagues Arup have put forward. How can you have with confidence and
:11:58. > :12:09.ability to say it will be way below the billion pound figure? I am not
:12:10. > :12:16.prepared to Lisa figure is that the good information to those who might
:12:17. > :12:23.be about to tender what a potential figure might be. The Minister of the
:12:24. > :12:27.economy indicated that 160 staff members were working on this project
:12:28. > :12:34.from within her department and that is a quarter of her department
:12:35. > :12:37.working on this particular project. The First Minister has come out now
:12:38. > :12:42.on the radio and in previous press quotes to see that the figure will
:12:43. > :12:48.be substantially below people thought was the accurate figure
:12:49. > :12:52.provided to the worst government by surveyors commissioned by yourself
:12:53. > :12:55.and paid for by yourself. It is not unusual to ask for clarity around
:12:56. > :13:00.his figures and these numbers when so much effort by the worst
:13:01. > :13:05.government in civil service time has been put into it and ultimately they
:13:06. > :13:09.gain more support for the project if you could be more transparent and
:13:10. > :13:15.the actual making so I'm not asking you to pinpoint figure but I ask you
:13:16. > :13:17.to say to us today what new information has come forward that
:13:18. > :13:23.gives you confidence to say that the figure is way below are we talking
:13:24. > :13:35.hundreds of millions are tens of millions? I know his party is
:13:36. > :13:42.written in half by this issue. -- riven. He has said that he
:13:43. > :13:45.understood you cannot reveal a figure and in the world of business
:13:46. > :13:49.that will not happen. We expect it to come in below the figure of 1
:13:50. > :13:58.billion and actually putting a figure to it at this stage and to
:13:59. > :14:02.say to any potential tenderer this is the figure we are looking to
:14:03. > :14:13.offer is an attempt nation for everybody to come in at the same
:14:14. > :14:17.figure. Kirsty Williams. Yesterday I showed a group of children from
:14:18. > :14:23.primary school around assembly and when asked who the assembly belongs
:14:24. > :14:29.to one child applied the government. Wrong, said the two manager, this
:14:30. > :14:36.building belongs to you. Is it not shameful that Labour have vetoed the
:14:37. > :14:41.BBC and ITV from filming a behind-the-scenes documentary in
:14:42. > :14:45.this building. That is not a government decision about a matter
:14:46. > :14:51.for the Labour group who took this decision. I am asking you as First
:14:52. > :14:58.Minister whether you think it is regrettable. Let me move on. Let's
:14:59. > :15:03.turn to your disgraceful decision and subsequent U-turn to stop
:15:04. > :15:08.publishing business reports on your government website. Considering that
:15:09. > :15:11.you have now done that will you now apologise for the ludicrous comments
:15:12. > :15:15.by you now apologise for the ludicrous comments by your wasting
:15:16. > :15:18.government resources when we were doing was scrutinising your
:15:19. > :15:25.government which after all is what an opposition party is meant to do?
:15:26. > :15:32.I would have thought the leader of the Liberal Democrats would welcome
:15:33. > :15:37.this decision. I took the decision that we had to re-introduce a system
:15:38. > :15:40.with it was possible to see what the decisions were, and a brief
:15:41. > :15:48.explanation of what those decisions were. I do indeed welcome the
:15:49. > :15:54.decision, and given that your in listening mode, and are particularly
:15:55. > :15:56.interested it seems in transparency and openness, and now you have
:15:57. > :15:59.admitted you got it wrong in the decision reports, would you now
:16:00. > :16:04.commit to bringing forward the puzzles to open the doors of
:16:05. > :16:08.government by publishing details of meetings between you, your ministers
:16:09. > :16:13.and officials, with lobbyists and external pressure groups? It is not
:16:14. > :16:19.our policy to meet with lobbyists, and it is not our policy to meet
:16:20. > :16:23.with pressure groups, not professional lobbyists. In terms of
:16:24. > :16:27.transparency, that is something we are fully aware of. We are
:16:28. > :16:31.accountable to the people of Wales and we know that the Liberal
:16:32. > :16:36.Democrats understand this full well, following the result of the general
:16:37. > :16:42.election. We now move to the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood. Do you
:16:43. > :16:47.agree that the key to effective inspectorate in health care is it is
:16:48. > :16:54.sufficiently resourced and enjoys full freedom to pursue the interests
:16:55. > :16:56.of patients? Phil freedom, yes, resource and, yes, bearing in mind a
:16:57. > :17:00.financial squeeze we have received from the UK Government. We are not
:17:01. > :17:06.able to resource every single aspect of government as we would want.
:17:07. > :17:10.Thank you. You may well be aware of the evidence given this morning to
:17:11. > :17:17.the Public Accounts Committee, where the health inspectorate Wales Chief
:17:18. > :17:19.Executive was asked if she felt her organisation was adequately
:17:20. > :17:24.resourced, and she answered, I think the answer to that would have to be
:17:25. > :17:30.no, I would like to do more. Would you accept that as correct? I am
:17:31. > :17:34.sure all organisations would like to be more, including the government
:17:35. > :17:38.itself. But there is no suggestion they are unable to fulfil the
:17:39. > :17:41.functions delegated to them. The health committee first raised its
:17:42. > :17:48.concerns about staffing and resource in health inspectorate Wales 18
:17:49. > :17:52.months ago. And the revelation this morning in committee suggests you
:17:53. > :17:56.have not taken sufficient steps to deal with that. How can patients
:17:57. > :17:59.have full confidence that their interests and concerns are being
:18:00. > :18:06.properly furthered, when the inspectorate body is not being
:18:07. > :18:13.properly financed? And you have just accepted it is not being properly
:18:14. > :18:15.resourced. Several standards of care have emerged in recent years, and
:18:16. > :18:21.the inspectorate itself has admitted it has not had full sight of all
:18:22. > :18:25.patients complaints. When will Labour finally deliver properly
:18:26. > :18:29.resourced health inspectorate, and is it not time now that that
:18:30. > :18:34.inspectorate was independent of government? The inspectorate is
:18:35. > :18:40.independent of government, and what you have just said is an
:18:41. > :18:44.illustration of that. If it was not independent of government, you would
:18:45. > :18:54.not have somebody using those words about resource and. Is it the case
:18:55. > :18:59.that the inspectorate cannot carry out the functions it has? I do not
:19:00. > :19:03.believe it is, they are carrying out more inspections, and rightly so,
:19:04. > :19:08.because people expect that. They can also bid for more resources in the
:19:09. > :19:18.future, bearing in mind the squeeze on public finances. Question three,
:19:19. > :19:20.Darren Miller. Will the First Minister make a statement on the
:19:21. > :19:25.future of the National Health service in North Wales? Yes, a
:19:26. > :19:30.statement was made on supporting Betsi Cadwaladr on the 4th of
:19:31. > :19:35.November. One of the symptoms of many problems in North Wales that
:19:36. > :19:40.emerged in the health board area where large volumes of complaints
:19:41. > :19:43.about particular services, but we heard from the health care
:19:44. > :19:51.inspectorate, who said they do not routinely receive information on
:19:52. > :19:55.complaints from community health councils or from boards themselves
:19:56. > :19:59.prior to undertaking inspections or scooping their work. Is that a
:20:00. > :20:05.concern to you, and what action will you take to make sure the gold mine
:20:06. > :20:13.of information within the complaints system is available and accessed as
:20:14. > :20:18.part of the inspection regime? When that events are publicised in a way
:20:19. > :20:27.that was never done before. Health inspectorate Wales are part of the
:20:28. > :20:31.process of this. -- we know that events are publicised. The audit
:20:32. > :20:38.office and the health care inspectorate are part of the process
:20:39. > :20:41.of reviewing progress as the local health board moves forward. However
:20:42. > :20:48.it is the case that this is not routinely done in terms of
:20:49. > :20:56.information being shared, -- if it is the case, I will look into this.
:20:57. > :21:09.TRANSLATION: Many of us were surprised that Betsi Cadwaladr
:21:10. > :21:15.health board had spent millions of pounds on external management
:21:16. > :21:23.consultants, and that had happened in contract, some of them worth
:21:24. > :21:24.hundreds of thousands of pounds, without a competitive tendering
:21:25. > :21:24.process. 11 of the 12 were laid without competition. Do you find
:21:25. > :21:25.that acceptable, and will you look into the issue? Of course, it is
:21:26. > :21:28.very important that there is a proper tendering system, and
:21:29. > :21:30.sometimes it is cheaper to get someone in temporarily as a
:21:31. > :21:36.consultant, rather than employing someone permanently, which is how it
:21:37. > :21:39.is, that is how things are done in England and Scotland, but we would
:21:40. > :21:44.expect the health boards to be open about how much money they are
:21:45. > :21:51.spending and also to be open and the tender where that is possible. Will
:21:52. > :21:54.he make a statement on the importance of economic links between
:21:55. > :22:00.North Wales and the north-west of England? We recognise the importance
:22:01. > :22:10.of this, and we continue to support the Mersey de Alliance, particularly
:22:11. > :22:15.in relation to identifying economic and if both regions. -- Dee. Our
:22:16. > :22:20.Welsh Labour government has been leading the way in promoting these
:22:21. > :22:28.economic links by engaging with the Mersey Dee line, improving road and
:22:29. > :22:30.rail links, and has established a partnership approach between the
:22:31. > :22:37.regions, seeing a Northern Powerhouse as an opportunity rather
:22:38. > :22:39.than as a competitor. Do you agree that it is vital that the UK
:22:40. > :22:44.Government shows the same level of commitment by ensuring North Wales
:22:45. > :22:46.is fairly linked into the Northern Powerhouse initiative by playing its
:22:47. > :22:51.part in delivering improved connections between the regions? I
:22:52. > :22:56.think the Secretary of State, late though he was to the discussion, was
:22:57. > :22:59.not correct when he said Manchester was a competitor. There is great
:23:00. > :23:10.scope for the North of Wales and North England to work together.
:23:11. > :23:12.There is a great deal of cross-border flow, and we seek to
:23:13. > :23:17.facilitate that and improve it for the benefit of those in the
:23:18. > :23:23.north-west of England. It would be useful to see further commitment
:23:24. > :23:25.regarding electrification, the rail line and the North Wales Main line,
:23:26. > :23:32.where there are no plans to electrify at the moment. First
:23:33. > :23:36.Minister, the Secretary of State for Wales was in North Wales yesterday,
:23:37. > :23:39.highlighting the business organisations have important to
:23:40. > :23:46.Northern Powerhouse project in north-west England could be to the
:23:47. > :23:48.Wales economy. Could you outline what discussions your government has
:23:49. > :23:56.had with the Secretary of State to ensure that North Wales maximises
:23:57. > :23:59.the benefits that are successful -- a successful powerhouse could bring
:24:00. > :24:13.to us? I was aware that the Secretary of State was in North
:24:14. > :24:19.Wales. I have not had direct discussions with the Secretary of
:24:20. > :24:22.State, but had discussions with the Mersey Dee Alliance, and we have
:24:23. > :24:25.emphasised what we want to see in terms of making sure there is
:24:26. > :24:33.greater prosperity cross-border, which is something we are promoting
:24:34. > :24:41.through the Alliance, and it is good to see the Secretary of State coming
:24:42. > :24:46.behind us. TRANSLATION: Thank you. The railway is a very important part
:24:47. > :24:52.of the cross-border links. Does the First Minister agree that we must
:24:53. > :25:00.ensure that decisions taken by the UK Government on the future of the
:25:01. > :25:02.railways reflect the fact that services in North Wales to the times
:25:03. > :25:06.in the north-west of England are crucial services for people living
:25:07. > :25:10.in North Wales, and that those services therefore should not be
:25:11. > :25:16.taken out of the Wales and Borders franchise? Yes, we have figures at
:25:17. > :25:20.the moment that indicate that Wales received less than 1% of the rail
:25:21. > :25:24.improvement funding from Network Rail over the last few years. There
:25:25. > :25:53.has not been any improvement as regards the North Wales rail lines,
:25:54. > :26:05.apart from two lines. Therefore, our viewers Welsh government is that
:26:06. > :26:25.they would be in a better position to deal with or manage the funding
:26:26. > :26:29.of the railways in Wales, but that is not the view of the UK Government
:26:30. > :26:32.at present. Question six. What discussion has the Welsh government
:26:33. > :26:34.had regarding this power station? We have an open dialogue with the UK
:26:35. > :26:37.Government regarding the supply industry. When I met with RW D a
:26:38. > :26:38.while back, they said... The case has gone to court, and a lot of
:26:39. > :26:41.opencast mines rely on this as a customer. Has your official
:26:42. > :26:44.designated to look at this had any indication of what would happen if
:26:45. > :26:54.the legal action goes against the company? Will it close, for example?
:26:55. > :27:32.If the decision goes against that, it will make it more difficult for
:27:33. > :27:33.it to operate, which is bound to have an effect on it long-term. Just
:27:34. > :27:34.to inform the member, as she said, it is now in litigation phase, and
:27:35. > :27:34.the commission has since admitted that applied to the Court of the
:27:35. > :27:35.UK, and has until December to submit more information. We have a role,
:27:36. > :27:40.but legally the dispute is between the commission on one hand and the
:27:41. > :27:44.UK Government on the other. Power stations have always been a major
:27:45. > :27:56.concern on the impact on the areas around the power stations. In Port
:27:57. > :28:05.Talbot, the power station has been purchased, which has raised
:28:06. > :28:10.concerns, so can hear reassure us that the inner quality will not be
:28:11. > :28:23.affected? We would not like to see this, but it is a matter for any RW
:28:24. > :28:27.to monitor these things. There is room for further improvement, so in
:28:28. > :28:37.2013 we did a short-term action plan to tackle particle levels in that
:28:38. > :28:43.area, and I can see that -- say that government officials meet regularly
:28:44. > :28:51.in order to seek solutions to reduce the level of the particles in Port
:28:52. > :28:57.Talbot. We would not want expect in quality to deteriorate. The owners
:28:58. > :29:01.of the power station has been at the heart of a couple of controversial
:29:02. > :29:07.applications in South Wales West in recent years. They are seeking new
:29:08. > :29:14.funding for the power station and they continue to push for a wind
:29:15. > :29:19.farm in the face of concerted civil opposition. I appreciate that the
:29:20. > :29:24.role of Welsh government is different in these cases, but how do
:29:25. > :29:30.you weigh up public disapproval of any project? First, when it is
:29:31. > :29:39.limited to making representations, and when it is up to local
:29:40. > :29:41.government to make a decision? The issue of public opinion is a factor
:29:42. > :29:51.in terms of a decision being made, but the technical advice is an
:29:52. > :29:55.important document, and the UK Government has to decide what it
:29:56. > :30:01.wants to do with new power generation. We are hearing nothing
:30:02. > :30:06.about the tidal lagoon, which seems to have gone to sleep, they are keen
:30:07. > :30:11.to promote nuclear, we have seen that with the enormous loan given to
:30:12. > :30:16.Hinkley point, but there is no coherent overall energy policy being
:30:17. > :30:18.put forward, we do not know what energy will come from in the next
:30:19. > :30:24.decade, but we're not seeing high-energy users such as the steel
:30:25. > :30:27.industry. We have called and called for the steel industry to have the
:30:28. > :30:34.respect from the UK industry that it deserves, to make sure energy cost
:30:35. > :30:34.which are hampering the steel industry to be addressed, but the UK
:30:35. > :30:46.Government has done nothing. TRANSLATION: Although the First
:30:47. > :31:00.Minister make a statement on North Wales Railways? I suggest question
:31:01. > :31:07.earlier. TRANSLATION: They did not answer the question but I'm sure I
:31:08. > :31:10.can discuss that with the Minister for transport. There will be a
:31:11. > :31:29.meeting held on to know this Thursday about the gratification of
:31:30. > :31:34.the line. --Llandudno. It is also an important link to Ireland. To what
:31:35. > :31:38.extent is the First Minister prepared to intervene personally to
:31:39. > :31:42.persuade the UK Government to put electrification of the North Wales
:31:43. > :31:46.mainline is a priority when it comes to real infrastructure because
:31:47. > :31:54.whilst we agree that the power and decision should be taken in Wales
:31:55. > :32:04.that is not to be taken as happening. TRANSLATION: We have seen
:32:05. > :32:09.cuts of 30% and I do not see how that works in ensuring the whole
:32:10. > :32:13.network will be modernised and improved. Having said that, let a
:32:14. > :32:19.petition of the North Wales mainline is something that I have mentioned
:32:20. > :32:22.publicly and number of times and we do not even know about the South
:32:23. > :32:29.Wales mainline at the moment which has been promised but with no start
:32:30. > :32:36.date. I'm concerned that if I do not see the education of the line to
:32:37. > :32:45.North Wales, the InterCity line will terminating crew and that is where
:32:46. > :32:52.electrification ends of the present time --in Crewe. We want to bring
:32:53. > :32:58.pressure on the UK Government to electrify dodger societies but also
:32:59. > :33:14.North Wales. As the result of the withdrawal of three service routes
:33:15. > :33:24.in Wales I understand that the TTS -- DFT will be making cuts. We want
:33:25. > :33:34.to invest more in our rail network I do not understand how that equates
:33:35. > :33:37.with a 30% cut announced today at Westminster. We cannot move ahead
:33:38. > :33:42.with a notification of the Metro without the mainline being done and
:33:43. > :33:47.this far we are not being given a date and until that is done the
:33:48. > :33:52.promise that was given and made by her party will remain unfulfilled.
:33:53. > :33:56.Tell us of when the mainline in South Wales will be electrified. It
:33:57. > :34:03.is a simple question and we have no answer. TRANSLATION: There is a risk
:34:04. > :34:07.that the real winner in North Wales as you said will be disconnected
:34:08. > :34:12.from the wider UK network if it is not electrified that there was a
:34:13. > :34:18.statement yesterday and further delays in the link between Wrexham
:34:19. > :34:24.Manchester and the worst government plan and also problems in terms of
:34:25. > :34:27.the line issues Billy which is funded by the worst government, have
:34:28. > :34:34.you therefore cemented any complaints as part of the UK
:34:35. > :34:38.Government review into Network Rail to state how to set aside you are is
:34:39. > :34:45.a government with the way Network Rail is operating at the moment.
:34:46. > :34:53.TRANSLATION: Yes, we have done so a number of times and we do not
:34:54. > :34:56.actually control Network Rail and it should be managed within wheels as
:34:57. > :34:59.it is within Scotland to make sure that the people of Wales have
:35:00. > :35:04.complete control over the railway as they have elsewhere. We have seen
:35:05. > :35:10.problems arising such as the closing of the Severn Tunnel when there is a
:35:11. > :35:12.major match on in Cardiff and that demonstrates that we need more
:35:13. > :35:19.powers in Wales over the real of Wales. Will the first Mr provide an
:35:20. > :35:25.update and worst government policies and supporting the Farmington
:35:26. > :35:27.Minister? We have ambitious new strategies under the worst
:35:28. > :35:33.government rural communities programme. That will put farming the
:35:34. > :35:38.best possible footing for the future. I recently visited a
:35:39. > :35:43.livestock market in Monmouthshire and that is an open invitation for
:35:44. > :35:46.you to visit. There are ongoing concerns about changes by the Welsh
:35:47. > :35:52.government to the basic payment scheme which will see many farmers
:35:53. > :35:55.lose out as a consequence of the transition to a flat rate. I
:35:56. > :35:59.appreciate things do change but within this new scheme that is no
:36:00. > :36:04.recognition of the benefits of production and no account taken of
:36:05. > :36:08.the fact that Upland animal densities are far lower than in the
:36:09. > :36:11.lowlands. Is the problem not that of the new scheme does not actually
:36:12. > :36:20.favour farmers who actually want to farm? Upland farmers would find that
:36:21. > :36:24.a very difficult line. Lowland farmers and Upland farmers are in a
:36:25. > :36:27.different position in this regard. There are plenty farmers who do not
:36:28. > :36:33.agree with that for you and I have met many farmers do. It Upland
:36:34. > :36:35.farmers and less far than lowland farmers, I would have to say I
:36:36. > :36:42.disagree with that viewpoint and lowland farming is an important
:36:43. > :36:47.contributor to sustainability in Wales and the great stress to
:36:48. > :36:51.farming is the loss of the European market because if farmers do not
:36:52. > :36:56.have easy and unrestricted access to the European market then the farming
:36:57. > :36:59.in Wales has no future because that is where a major marketers and
:37:00. > :37:05.anything that interferes with that is bad for Welsh farming. In
:37:06. > :37:13.accordance with their members could have conduct, I let the chamber to
:37:14. > :37:18.the fact I'm a partner the small Upland farming business in receipt
:37:19. > :37:34.of CEP support. Nonetheless you have often stated in this chamber the
:37:35. > :37:37.importance of the CEP -- CEP. --CAP To the sustainability of Welsh
:37:38. > :37:41.farming and what came up was the possibility of delayed payments this
:37:42. > :37:47.year partly through legal action and for other reasons. In the context of
:37:48. > :37:54.unprecedented levels of indebtedness within the farming sector and the
:37:55. > :38:00.banks would you consider convening a farm finance summit with yourself
:38:01. > :38:04.and the Deputy Minister for farming and food, key stakeholders in the
:38:05. > :38:09.finance sector, and the farming unions to address this issue before
:38:10. > :38:14.it becomes a crisis? I think farmers want to see action and payment can
:38:15. > :38:19.denote the basic pay scheme will pay farmers to hundred million pounds
:38:20. > :38:23.annually and we are looking to make a part payment of 80% of the full
:38:24. > :38:29.payment to the majority of farmers in December. The vast majority of
:38:30. > :38:32.part payments will be made in the New Year and final part payments and
:38:33. > :38:36.the balance of payments will be made by the end of April and May be in
:38:37. > :38:45.some cases that is propping issue and payment will take longer that is
:38:46. > :38:51.what we're trying to do. TRANSLATION: What steps have been
:38:52. > :39:01.taken regarding the financial situation of the health board under
:39:02. > :39:07.under the mac special measures. TRANSLATION: the government will be
:39:08. > :39:11.making sure that Betsi Cadwaladr health board maintains a high
:39:12. > :39:18.standard to serve the people of Wales. One of the problems was the
:39:19. > :39:23.natural management at the time and in June the board stated that ?14.2
:39:24. > :39:35.million would be the deficit for this year. By torpor that had a --
:39:36. > :39:39.increased to 30 million. What additional measures would you put in
:39:40. > :39:42.place as government in terms of problems are financial management
:39:43. > :39:46.and can you give a commitment to the people of Wales that the health
:39:47. > :39:50.board will not be able to use measures they have in the past such
:39:51. > :39:56.as cancelling treatments, particularly treatments commissioned
:39:57. > :40:03.in England to save money over the winter months? Betsi Cadwaladr No
:40:04. > :40:08.and it is very important that produces a plan which balances the
:40:09. > :40:15.services and secures balance regarding financial matters and this
:40:16. > :40:22.will be done as part of the action taken under the special measures and
:40:23. > :40:30.under those browsers blinds will be developing in order to make sure
:40:31. > :40:38.that it is sustainable. -- and under these measures. In relation to
:40:39. > :40:42.waiting times for orthopaedic and other services, I wonder what
:40:43. > :40:46.specific targeted support the worst government might be able to give to
:40:47. > :40:50.bring down waiting times for orthopaedic surgery in North Wales.
:40:51. > :40:54.Many people have been waiting up to 53 weeks for the surgery are clearly
:40:55. > :40:59.that is unacceptable and is leading to very poor quality of life for
:41:00. > :41:08.some and more serious conditions as a result when they do get the
:41:09. > :41:13.treatment. Ambulance response times and amongst the best in the North
:41:14. > :41:17.Wales and we expect the health board to allocate the appropriate of love
:41:18. > :41:28.resource to the people do not have to wait and unacceptable period of
:41:29. > :41:32.time for treatment. TRANSLATION: Along the same lines, waiting lists
:41:33. > :41:42.Cosgrave concerned and that is a constituent of mine who was
:41:43. > :41:45.diagnosed with a serious illness and 2013 and a similar illness affecting
:41:46. > :41:50.other organs of the body a year later. The specialist said she
:41:51. > :41:54.needed surgery soon and a year on she still has not received that
:41:55. > :41:57.surgery and are still awaiting treatment to stock is this
:41:58. > :42:01.acceptable to you and do you believe that a shortage of funding is at the
:42:02. > :42:08.heart of the problem or is it some other problem? TRANSLATION: No,
:42:09. > :42:12.because of her doctors told somebody they need to have surgery soon I
:42:13. > :42:18.would expect that surgery to happen quite soon and not wait for the
:42:19. > :42:22.year. If you could give me more details in a letter to consider the
:42:23. > :42:27.case in greater detail but I would expect that surgery to have taken
:42:28. > :42:31.place. But the first Mr make a statement on the support the Welsh
:42:32. > :42:34.government has provided to the steel industry in Wales Christmas we
:42:35. > :42:37.recognise the importance of the steel industry to the Welsh economy
:42:38. > :42:41.and a meeting was held last week with industry and trade union
:42:42. > :42:44.representatives to consider what action could be taken to support
:42:45. > :42:51.industry and she will be updating members. I welcome the work that is
:42:52. > :42:55.being done by the worst government in so far but do you agree that the
:42:56. > :42:59.steel industry has been failed by both this and UK Government and the
:43:00. > :43:02.previous one despite the numerous warnings we've seen from the
:43:03. > :43:07.industry and the Welsh government and the calls for urgent action in
:43:08. > :43:11.Gaza Lehigh intensive cost of industry and the cheap imports that
:43:12. > :43:15.we're seeing in Wales here now? Will you raise this with the Prime
:43:16. > :43:19.Minister as a matter of urgency to ensure that we end up with the steel
:43:20. > :43:24.industry in Wales and even within the UK? You do get the impression
:43:25. > :43:29.listening to the responsible minister in Westminster this deal is
:43:30. > :43:32.not important. This is seen as a relic of the past. That is not the
:43:33. > :43:38.case for us in Wales, it is an important industry. I read the
:43:39. > :43:43.comments of a professor in regard to EU membership that said
:43:44. > :43:47.manufacturing was not important and the future lay entirely in service
:43:48. > :43:54.industries. I do not agree for one minute. There is better because of a
:43:55. > :43:58.glut of steel on the market and that is the pressure that all steel
:43:59. > :44:03.producers face the steel producers themselves tell us that high energy
:44:04. > :44:07.costs in the UK are an immense problem in terms of competitiveness.
:44:08. > :44:11.It is absolutely crucial that the UK Government takes action now to help
:44:12. > :44:16.not just the steel industry but all our high energy industries in order
:44:17. > :44:18.to make sure they can be as competitive as other plants ills
:44:19. > :44:26.within Europe and that is not the case at the moment. TRANSLATION: It
:44:27. > :44:30.is important that your government does what it can to support the
:44:31. > :44:35.industry know that we have heard from politicians are level how
:44:36. > :44:37.crucial agreement is that the Steelers Street and the Ministry for
:44:38. > :44:41.the economy and science and transport is committed to
:44:42. > :44:44.strengthening procurement practices to secure the steel industry more
:44:45. > :44:51.effectively in response to a cross-party debate that took place
:44:52. > :44:53.in this place earlier this year and given that procurement
:44:54. > :44:56.responsibilities within the remit of the government and I do accept that
:44:57. > :45:00.the Minister will be making a statement tomorrow, can you tell us
:45:01. > :45:06.what specific steps worst government has taken sense the debate in March
:45:07. > :45:13.of this year to strengthen procurement processes and to support
:45:14. > :45:17.the sector more effectively? TRANSLATION: At present we are
:45:18. > :45:22.reviewing the model contractual documents concerning the delivery of
:45:23. > :45:28.major transport projects in order to make sure that the standard is
:45:29. > :45:31.accepted and we are looking at what they are the government has said
:45:32. > :45:32.about the procurement of steel which is something we are considering at
:45:33. > :45:47.present. All we are doing at present is
:45:48. > :45:56.adhering to what we have been told, making sure conditions agreed. How
:45:57. > :46:00.much of it used in the UK is used by the Ministry of Defence? We do not
:46:01. > :46:06.know. At present we are moving towards a situation where there will
:46:07. > :46:11.not be sufficient steel available in the UK to ensure the departments of
:46:12. > :46:15.the UK Government can use British steel. So we must have a guarantee
:46:16. > :46:19.now that the United Kingdom government will deal with the
:46:20. > :46:23.high-energy cost because if they do not, I have been saying this for
:46:24. > :46:27.five years, if they do not, there will be problems ahead, so they have
:46:28. > :46:31.to do something now to help the workers of Wales. You will know that
:46:32. > :46:34.the European steel Summit took place in Brussels yesterday, and you will
:46:35. > :46:37.know that many people in this sector and those who work in the Port
:46:38. > :46:41.Talbot plant have said to me that they were happy with the outcome,
:46:42. > :46:45.which is what they see as UK Government contributing to the
:46:46. > :46:51.mishandling of the issue. Do you share their concerns that granting
:46:52. > :46:56.China market status, in spite of the country failing to abide to EU rules
:46:57. > :46:58.on their trade, will make the dumping of cheap steel and European
:46:59. > :47:03.markets worse, not better? And have you or any of your ministers had any
:47:04. > :47:08.additional conversations to this end? That is exactly one of the
:47:09. > :47:17.points that unfair trade practices are one of the problems the industry
:47:18. > :47:24.faces. Trade practices do not help. We know that energy costs are an
:47:25. > :47:31.issue, and the modernisation of the industry is important, and Tata have
:47:32. > :47:35.invested hundreds of millions into Port Talbot, as a result of our
:47:36. > :47:41.discussions. We have the European global adjustment fund which is also
:47:42. > :47:47.a factor. There was no one factor, but the factor within the control of
:47:48. > :47:52.the UK Government is energy. We cannot control the production around
:47:53. > :47:55.the world, but anything that improves the competitiveness of the
:47:56. > :47:58.Welsh steel industry, for example Port Talbot against the Netherlands,
:47:59. > :48:02.has the be welcomed, and that is not where we are at the moment, which
:48:03. > :48:11.does not will dwell for the steel industry. -- does not bode well.
:48:12. > :48:17.Improving the competitiveness is important. Have we looked at what
:48:18. > :48:20.the Welsh government can do to help with that? I know it is small in
:48:21. > :48:26.comparison to the energy costs, but other issues can specifically help
:48:27. > :48:30.Tata in terms of being more competitive. I know this is
:48:31. > :48:32.something the Minister is considering, but we have to be
:48:33. > :48:37.careful it is not favouring one industry from the other. It is
:48:38. > :48:42.something we are examining. It comes at a cost, as members would know. In
:48:43. > :48:47.terms of high energy costs, that is not a cost to government and, which
:48:48. > :48:50.is something that could be done by the UK Government now. We will do
:48:51. > :48:59.what we can to help, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to what
:49:00. > :49:01.the UK Government can do. That was First Minister's Questions.
:49:02. > :49:13.If you want more coverage you can go online to BBC Wales page. We are all
:49:14. > :49:18.back next Tuesday afternoon, in the meantime you can follow all you need
:49:19. > :49:23.to know about Welsh politics on Twitter, and you can get in touch as
:49:24. > :49:31.well, if you like. Moron BBC One at 6:30pm. -- there will be more on BBC
:49:32. > :49:36.One at 6:30pm. Have a great afternoon.
:49:37. > :49:44.Tom Jones and Rob Brydon invite you to One Big Night of entertainment
:49:45. > :49:52...along with a host of celebrity favourites.
:49:53. > :50:00.AS WOGAN: I shall be doing a much better impersonation of Terry Wogan