:00:25. > :00:29.Good morning and welcome to the programme. We have got a
:00:29. > :00:33.Westminster happy hour coming up. We will take you to Westminster in
:00:33. > :00:40.a moment for Prime Minister's Questions. You can get in touch
:00:40. > :00:44.with us whilst we are on air. But before we head off, a quick chat
:00:44. > :00:53.with my two studio guests - Plaid Cymru's Llyr Huws Gruffydd and the
:00:53. > :01:01.Conservative Suzy Davies. The unemployment figures have been
:01:01. > :01:08.published this morning. If I can just give you a headline -
:01:08. > :01:13.unemployment in Wales and stands at 9%. They have not been that high as
:01:13. > :01:19.long as I can remember. How much of a concern is that? Nobody wants to
:01:19. > :01:25.see a rise in unemployment. We are talking about a quarter where
:01:25. > :01:30.people have left school at which may contribute to it. It does show
:01:30. > :01:38.at there is a responsibility on government in the UK and in Wales
:01:38. > :01:43.before it gets worse. A 9% rate is higher than we have seen before.
:01:43. > :01:51.What can this place do to contribute to bringing back down?
:01:51. > :01:55.Not as much as we like, but the Minister announced the jobs front
:01:55. > :02:01.yesterday and we need to develop our infrastructure. We need to
:02:02. > :02:09.spend money to get people into work to get the economy moving. The
:02:09. > :02:18.biggest concern is a youth unemployment. We are seeing the
:02:18. > :02:22.children of parents who were possibly unemployed in the 1980s.
:02:22. > :02:28.looked through the figures fleetingly this morning. The
:02:28. > :02:32.pretend -- percentage of 16-17 year-olds is 18 %. We hear about
:02:32. > :02:39.youth unemployment being a big problem. How much of a concern is
:02:39. > :02:47.that for you? There might be a seasonal blip, but it looks as if
:02:47. > :02:56.there is an underlying trend. The opposition parties the need to keep
:02:56. > :03:01.a close eye on the Minister's plans. On the UK level, we have got the
:03:01. > :03:06.introduction of the work programme which has been targeted to 16-17
:03:06. > :03:10.year-olds. There are things coming forward. It seems when you get
:03:10. > :03:15.figures like that it is not happening quickly enough. Do you
:03:15. > :03:18.think a finger can be pointed at the UK government? We are facing
:03:18. > :03:22.severe cuts and they are coming primarily from Westminster and that
:03:22. > :03:29.is leading to difficulties in employment. It is not just
:03:29. > :03:34.unemployment, there are other things happening within the economy.
:03:34. > :03:38.There will be huge pressure put on those people in terms of people who
:03:38. > :03:42.are claiming disability payments and other types of benefits that
:03:42. > :03:50.are going to be cut and I think that will create another sub
:03:50. > :03:55.culture, if you like, of hardship. If you put it all into the mix, we
:03:55. > :04:05.know we are facing Quinn times, but it is worse than some people have
:04:05. > :04:06.
:04:06. > :04:15.set. It is about getting people who have been left languishing to get
:04:15. > :04:21.into work. It does not benefit anyone if people have been left on
:04:21. > :04:30.benefits and no-one is helping them to get back into work. Feng KPI. We
:04:30. > :04:40.are going to go over to the House of Commons.
:04:40. > :04:46.
:04:46. > :04:52.Over to our Correspondent. Thank you. Question ands for Wales.
:04:52. > :04:57.latest unemployment figures in Wales are disappointing. We do not
:04:57. > :05:01.need -- need to leave a legacy of the young unemployed people. We
:05:01. > :05:06.will make sure we give them the help they need to find full-time
:05:06. > :05:14.jobs. We are introducing measures to support young people to find
:05:14. > :05:17.employment. 46 % of the workers in my constituency and 45 % of the
:05:17. > :05:22.workers in the Honourable Member's constituency work in the public
:05:22. > :05:27.sector. This government wants to set up to 25 % of these workers.
:05:27. > :05:34.The theory is they will be employed by the private sector. With today's
:05:34. > :05:38.huge increases in unemployment, where will these jobs come from?
:05:38. > :05:43.The Honourable Gentleman will know this government inherited the most
:05:43. > :05:49.appalling economical legacy from the party opposite. A party
:05:49. > :05:53.opposite seems to think there is a bottomless purse to fund public
:05:53. > :05:58.sector jobs. He will however be pleased to note that in his
:05:58. > :06:03.constituency there are, according to the latest figures, some 273
:06:03. > :06:13.vacancies and I suggest he encourages his constituents to seat
:06:13. > :06:19.there's places. Are you aware of the recent reports which make it
:06:19. > :06:22.clear that the fivefold increase in youth unemployment in a Wales is
:06:22. > :06:27.the legacy left to this government by those on the benches opposite.
:06:27. > :06:34.In those context, bearing in mind the success of the Prince's Trust
:06:34. > :06:37.in getting 75 % of young people into employment, work or training,
:06:37. > :06:45.will he commit the Government to working closely with the Prince's
:06:45. > :06:52.Trust in involving them closely in the work programme? Well, I commend
:06:52. > :06:57.the work of the Prince's Trust. I would remind the House that the
:06:57. > :07:05.Welsh government has a significant role to play. It is in charge of
:07:05. > :07:12.economic development and and it is in charge of training which is keep
:07:13. > :07:18.to reducing youth unemployment. that cutting the benefits of young
:07:18. > :07:21.people to encourage them to search for non- existent jobs crawl?
:07:21. > :07:26.think the member will find that the work programme that this government
:07:26. > :07:31.has introduced has introduced a level of tailored support for young
:07:31. > :07:34.people and other people seeking work. The most important thing for
:07:34. > :07:44.those people in the position he mentioned is to regain work as
:07:44. > :07:46.
:07:46. > :07:51.quickly as possible. In my constituency young people are being
:07:51. > :07:55.equipped with the skills they need. Does he share my concern that the
:07:55. > :08:00.grants have been cut and there are fewer apprenticeships and
:08:00. > :08:03.opportunities for young people to get back into work? The issue of
:08:03. > :08:08.economic development is firmly in the hands of the Assembly
:08:08. > :08:13.government, as indeed is training. That is entirely a matter for them,
:08:13. > :08:15.but I am bound to say that I was surprised to see given the economic
:08:15. > :08:22.backdrop that the economic development budget was cut last
:08:22. > :08:29.week. One of the flagship government policies that was meant
:08:29. > :08:36.to help the private sector growth in Wales was the National Insurance
:08:36. > :08:40.holiday. It has only supported 300 businesses, less than 0.7 %. Will
:08:40. > :08:44.the Minister tell the Chancellor it is not working in Wales and he
:08:44. > :08:51.needs to help the 16,000 people who found themselves on the dole as a
:08:51. > :09:00.result of this government? I think he will find that the increase in
:09:00. > :09:04.unemployment is a preferable to be incompetent management of the
:09:04. > :09:12.economy of -- by the government he supports. The Chancellor does keep
:09:12. > :09:18.these matters under constant review. I am keen to attract more inward
:09:18. > :09:28.investment to Wales as it is crucial to the recovery of the
:09:28. > :09:29.
:09:29. > :09:34.Welsh economy. I am working to make sure we can improve the situation.
:09:34. > :09:43.One of Our best asset is a what rugby team. They are a powerful
:09:43. > :09:48.advocate for inward investment into Wales. Inward investment can be
:09:48. > :09:52.helped through enterprise zones. There has been a delay of six
:09:52. > :09:59.months in making a decision on enterprise zones by the Welsh
:09:59. > :10:03.administration. Mike honourable friend is right and echoes my work
:10:03. > :10:10.on many occasions. I do work as closely as I can with the Welsh
:10:10. > :10:14.government and I encourage them to introduce enterprise zones. It has
:10:14. > :10:17.been six months of wasted opportunities though. There is
:10:17. > :10:26.every indication that these enterprises may look similar to
:10:26. > :10:36.those announced across the board in England, but I am delighted that
:10:36. > :10:37.
:10:37. > :10:41.finally the Welsh government has announced enterprise zones. When
:10:41. > :10:46.the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom comes in and sit next to
:10:46. > :10:49.her during questions, or she asked him to put the Welsh flag up over
:10:49. > :10:59.Number 10 Downing Street this weekend, like he did with the cross
:10:59. > :11:01.
:11:01. > :11:07.of St George for the England football team in the World Cup?
:11:07. > :11:11.Members wish to head the reply! can heartily endorse that
:11:11. > :11:20.recommendation! Whether the powers that be will be able to fight that
:11:20. > :11:30.flag or not, I do not know. I cannot give him that guaranteed --
:11:30. > :11:34.guarantee. One of the issues my constituents raised his business
:11:34. > :11:39.rates. What discussion has the Secretary of State had with the
:11:39. > :11:43.Assembly to build on the excellent work local authorities are doing to
:11:43. > :11:50.reduce the burden of business rates to these companies that wish to
:11:50. > :11:53.expand? This is a matter for the world government, but I do think
:11:53. > :11:57.the Welsh government needs to look carefully at the conditions that
:11:57. > :12:02.exist on the other side of the border in England and ensures that
:12:02. > :12:08.inward investing companies and other companies in Wales are not
:12:08. > :12:12.disadvantaged in terms of tax and non-tariff barriers. I would
:12:12. > :12:21.encourage him to make his representations to be watched
:12:22. > :12:27.government himself. As she will be a fair, at least two coalmines in
:12:27. > :12:33.South Wales have been in receipt of inward investment which is growing
:12:33. > :12:38.there employment and output. Can I thank them both for resource in the
:12:38. > :12:44.rescue and investigation work following the terrible tragedy at
:12:44. > :12:49.the mine in the Swansea Valley which caused the death of four
:12:49. > :12:53.experienced Colliers. Could a or so spent the Secretary of State for
:12:53. > :12:56.her support over this tragedy, including ensuring that equivalent
:12:56. > :13:06.to be charitable gift aid that could have been claimable, the
:13:06. > :13:10.
:13:10. > :13:16.government has agreed to give be 25 % up left to the fund, which is
:13:16. > :13:25.nearly at �400,000. Can I also thank the principal inspector of
:13:25. > :13:29.mines and the police for their dedicated and heroic work. I would
:13:29. > :13:39.like to pay tribute to those foot so it brilliantly led the rescue
:13:39. > :13:40.
:13:40. > :13:44.efforts in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy last week. But he
:13:44. > :13:50.and I saw those efforts first hand. I note the impact this event will
:13:50. > :13:53.have had on his local community. As the Shadow Secretary of State says,
:13:53. > :14:03.up I have agreed that the government will contribute to the
:14:03. > :14:09.Swansea Valley fund. I am pleased to say that charitable status has
:14:09. > :14:13.been secured and we are working in the Wales office with the fund
:14:13. > :14:19.organisers on the details of the government payment. I am grateful
:14:19. > :14:29.to her for that. I believe there are a number of important lessons
:14:29. > :14:30.
:14:30. > :14:36.to be learnt for the future. Can she ensure the report due at the
:14:36. > :14:46.end of this map is delayed so that account can be taken of a suspicion
:14:46. > :14:54.
:14:54. > :14:59.-- of a submission I plan for her He issued a call for evidence in
:14:59. > :15:03.May as an in the process of writing up his report. As this is an
:15:04. > :15:08.independent of you, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in
:15:09. > :15:13.the timing of the report. However, I am sure that any lessons that can
:15:14. > :15:21.be learned from the investigation into the tragic events at the
:15:21. > :15:31.Gleision Callery, any recommendations are taken forward.
:15:31. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:39.I look forward to receiving his submission on this. West commission,
:15:39. > :15:47.Mr Speaker, I will answer questions three and four together. I have
:15:47. > :15:56.regular discussions with Ministers on how we can improve job
:15:56. > :16:02.conditions. We will continue to work with the Welsh Government to
:16:02. > :16:07.achieve that aim. I thank the Secretary of State for that answer.
:16:08. > :16:10.Can she look at the Bristol Channel and the Severn because as the
:16:10. > :16:14.second higher rise and fall in the tide. There is a power there that
:16:14. > :16:22.could be produced and jobs that could be produced by harnessing
:16:22. > :16:28.tidal pools. Could I ask her what we are doing about it? I think he
:16:28. > :16:33.knows we have looked at this and we do not intend to review the Severn
:16:33. > :16:39.tidal power before 2015. It would be irresponsible to rule out such
:16:39. > :16:44.an important source, circumstances are likely to change down the line.
:16:44. > :16:48.As I have said before, if the private funding for this project
:16:48. > :16:56.comes forward, this is something we would look at particularly
:16:56. > :17:06.seriously. Under the last Government, there was fast too much
:17:06. > :17:08.
:17:08. > :17:12.onerous employment regulation. Will they welcome the fact that this
:17:12. > :17:20.Government will be double in the period to qualify to go to an
:17:20. > :17:23.unfair dismissal tribunal and also charging fees? I think the
:17:23. > :17:30.honourable gentleman knows we are trying very hard to create the
:17:30. > :17:34.right conditions to can -- to allow public sector growth. He will know
:17:34. > :17:44.that we are also exempting them from audit requirements which will
:17:44. > :17:46.
:17:46. > :17:50.save some up to �200 million a year. The point that he has raised is
:17:50. > :18:00.just another way in which we are trying to help private business
:18:00. > :18:06.grow in the UK. Alpine report estimated that 30,000 people in
:18:06. > :18:10.Wales would lose the Incapacity Benefit as a result of the changes.
:18:10. > :18:15.How optimistic argue that the private sector will be able to
:18:15. > :18:20.create that level of employment questioned the honourable lady
:18:20. > :18:24.makes a valid point. I know with the labour market statistics today
:18:24. > :18:31.they have not brought good news. I am pleased to report there are
:18:31. > :18:34.90,000 vacancies across the UK at the moment, of which there are
:18:34. > :18:40.12,688 and Wales. I know that with the excellent job that is being
:18:40. > :18:48.carried out between working links and JobCentre Plus, there will be
:18:48. > :18:52.opportunities for people to find themselves back into work. This
:18:52. > :18:58.morning we have seen the shocking increase in unemployment. 16,000
:18:58. > :19:03.more people in Wales desperate to find work. A massive 13.5% in
:19:03. > :19:07.crease in the last few months as a direct result of this Government's
:19:07. > :19:14.policies. Can the Secretary of State explain how given this huge
:19:14. > :19:19.rise in employment -- unemployed and the squeeze on household
:19:19. > :19:24.incomes, the reduction in the real purchasing power of pensions and
:19:24. > :19:28.the cruel slashing of the winter fuel allowance at a time of
:19:28. > :19:38.rocketing prices, can she explain how her Government policies will
:19:38. > :19:40.
:19:40. > :19:49.stimulate consumer demand in Wales and get growth going? How they will
:19:49. > :19:55.stem... We are grateful to the honourable lady. Can I extend a
:19:55. > :19:58.warm welcome to the honourable lady who is now on the front bench. She
:19:58. > :20:05.and I have exchanged many conversations together and I wish
:20:05. > :20:10.her well. I am sure she will complement the right member for May.
:20:10. > :20:14.We would also like to extend our best wishes far. I take no joy from
:20:14. > :20:21.the figures this morning but I do take joined from the fact that we
:20:21. > :20:24.have announced sector are based work academies. I hope she will
:20:24. > :20:28.explain that the Labour Party in the Welsh Government is cutting the
:20:28. > :20:35.Enterprise budget and not using the party to fees the council tax in
:20:35. > :20:39.Wales as it is being frozen in England. Mr Speaker, through our
:20:39. > :20:44.economic policies we are committed to delivering sustainable growth
:20:44. > :20:52.across the UK including Wales and not just Condon -- concentrated in
:20:52. > :21:01.Wales -- London and under -- the South East. We are creating the
:21:01. > :21:05.right conditions for the private sector to grow in Wales. The UK
:21:05. > :21:09.Government, at the time of high unemployment, high inflation and
:21:09. > :21:14.rise in borrowing, has taken money out of the economy by putting VAT
:21:14. > :21:22.up. Does the Minister agree with the Federation of Small businesses
:21:22. > :21:29.it is time to take a look at a change in it seek to increase
:21:29. > :21:33.employment levels and Wales? These are matters that the Chancellor
:21:33. > :21:36.keeps on to review. I am surprised to see that the honourable
:21:36. > :21:40.gentleman does not regret the fact that the Welsh Assembly Government
:21:40. > :21:49.has decided to cut its economic development budget at this
:21:49. > :21:52.difficult time. The enterprise those could create private sector
:21:52. > :21:58.employment in the most needed parts of Wales. Does he not think that
:21:58. > :22:08.the Welsh Government's approach has been disjointed at best where some
:22:08. > :22:13.of the areas in some of the most needy parts has not. He is not
:22:13. > :22:17.responsible for the Welsh Assembly Government. I agree with my
:22:17. > :22:22.honourable friend that enterprise zones are key to economic
:22:22. > :22:30.development and I regret the Welsh Assembly Government has still not
:22:30. > :22:38.clarified his intentions in this regard. It was reported that the
:22:38. > :22:44.sharpest decrease and private sector him -- employment happened
:22:44. > :22:51.this month. I am sure that the honourable gentleman will welcome
:22:51. > :22:56.today's announcement of sector apply to the whole of the United
:22:56. > :23:05.Kingdom, including Wales. This will give young jobseeker's the tools
:23:05. > :23:10.they need to find employment more easily. I have regular discussions
:23:10. > :23:14.with ministerial colleagues on promoting economic growth and Wales.
:23:14. > :23:18.My business advisory group is meeting for the North time later
:23:18. > :23:27.this month. We discuss a wide range of issues that affect the Welsh go,
:23:27. > :23:32.Amy. -- economy. Would she agree it that as well as exempting small
:23:32. > :23:38.businesses from domestic regulation, the Government must continue its
:23:38. > :23:42.approach to reduce red tape and regulation from Brussels? I agree
:23:42. > :23:46.with my honourable friend. I think it is extremely important in this
:23:46. > :23:50.day and age when we're up against such economic barriers that we
:23:50. > :23:59.ensure that it is easy for businesses to thrive in the UK so
:23:59. > :24:02.the UK becomes the best placed to do business. Can the Secretary of
:24:02. > :24:10.State talk about how the Welsh Office is aborting economic growth
:24:10. > :24:15.in the newly announced enterprise zones and will she meet with me to
:24:15. > :24:20.talk about this. In her constituency, unemployment has gone
:24:20. > :24:24.up by 11.7%. I need to remind the honourable gentleman that the
:24:24. > :24:31.enterprise zones are a be devolved matter and they fall to the Welsh
:24:31. > :24:35.Government. I would ask him to make his representations to the Minister
:24:36. > :24:40.for business. Can I tell what we're doing. We are increasing capital
:24:40. > :24:44.spending on roads and railways. We are creating a superfast broadband
:24:44. > :24:48.network. We're cutting corporation tax and we're cutting regulation,
:24:48. > :24:53.we are doing a lot to support businesses and I won the Welsh
:24:53. > :24:56.Government to rise to that challenge as well. There are too
:24:56. > :25:02.many private conversations taking place. I wanted you bought the
:25:02. > :25:07.questions and the answers. Speaker, we will consult on
:25:07. > :25:12.proposed changes to the tariff scheme up and reduce the effects
:25:12. > :25:21.across the UK in the autumn. We have spoken to a number businesses
:25:21. > :25:28.across the UK and understand their concerns in this regard. Labour in
:25:28. > :25:34.Surrey. They created 300 jobs in my constituency. The Tories have
:25:34. > :25:39.increased unemployment in Wrexham but in the last six months by 12%.
:25:39. > :25:43.Why are they reversing the successful Labour policy that is
:25:43. > :25:53.creating private sector jobs when they are supposed to be favouring
:25:53. > :25:59.jobs and growth? I agree with the honourable gentleman that they are
:25:59. > :26:03.an important employer in hand -- in his constituency. He will be aware
:26:03. > :26:08.that they were favouring solar farms and not domestic
:26:09. > :26:16.installations. He will welcome the announcement that they have secured
:26:16. > :26:25.a multi-million pound contract. They will install solar panels in
:26:25. > :26:30.3,000 council homes. One of the grande technology companies that
:26:30. > :26:35.could boost job creation in Wales. Strong Government support for these
:26:35. > :26:43.industries will not put the country out of business but will help to
:26:43. > :26:48.stimulate growth in this area. honourable friend is right. We are
:26:48. > :26:55.committed to the growth of green industries and Wales. It is still
:26:55. > :27:02.far too noisy. I know we will all be united and wanting to hear the
:27:02. > :27:06.next question. With permission, I will answer questions it and 10.
:27:07. > :27:16.Yesterday I announced the terms of reference of membership of the
:27:16. > :27:23.commission on devolution in Wales, the cell commission. It will look
:27:23. > :27:28.at the current regulations and it will aim to report in the autumn of
:27:28. > :27:35.next year. It will report on the constitutional arrangements and
:27:36. > :27:41.report and 2013. Over �9,000 per person spent on public expenditure.
:27:41. > :27:46.In my constituency it is �2,000 less. Yet again Labour has left
:27:46. > :27:54.Wales in a mess and we want to know what the Prime Minister and the
:27:54. > :27:58.Secretary of State is going to do about it. Mrs Bone is right. She
:27:58. > :28:04.says the economy of this country was left in a complete mess by that
:28:04. > :28:09.lot over there. But he is asking back to a complex questions. The
:28:09. > :28:13.Barnett Formula is not being looked at by this commission. It is the
:28:13. > :28:23.subject of bilateral communications between the Treasury and between
:28:23. > :28:26.
:28:26. > :28:30.the devolved in this racial -- Ministry of -- Government.
:28:30. > :28:35.welcomed the announcement on the commission of devolution and Wales.
:28:35. > :28:43.This was a commitment of the coalition Government in Wales. Can
:28:43. > :28:48.I ask the Secretary of State why are the recommendations
:28:48. > :28:52.specifically not be looked at. If all of the recommendations are
:28:52. > :28:57.going to be dismissed, then there will be difficult it ensuring
:28:57. > :29:00.cross-party support which is important for this commission.
:29:00. > :29:04.Speaker, can I thank the honourable gentleman to give me the
:29:04. > :29:09.opportunity to correct them. He has misunderstood the terms of
:29:09. > :29:13.reference that were agreed across all four parties. I am delighted to
:29:13. > :29:18.see his party taking part in this commission. What they sell
:29:18. > :29:22.commission will be looking at his part two of the Halton report. I
:29:22. > :29:26.know the First Minister is not keen on because it is about taxation
:29:26. > :29:30.powers and what is excluded is the Barnet formula and something called
:29:30. > :29:34.a halt and flop which is part of the bilateral communications. Can I
:29:34. > :29:38.reassure him that I want to move forward if I can on a consensus
:29:39. > :29:48.basis and I'm delighted his party has worked with me on this
:29:48. > :29:52.commissions of far. The report will be made in 2013. Will she ensure
:29:52. > :29:56.that there is a provisional legislative slot with this
:29:56. > :30:00.commission artists saying that there are some changes necessary
:30:00. > :30:04.within this Parliament? The right macro has enough experience of
:30:04. > :30:10.legislation in this House to know that that is not something I can
:30:10. > :30:13.connect to. They are two parts to the sport, the first will come at
:30:13. > :30:17.the end of 2012 and the latter report on the shape of powers
:30:17. > :30:27.between the UK Government and the Welsh Government will come towards
:30:27. > :30:28.
:30:28. > :30:37.the end of 2013. I will bear in Order. Questions to the Prime
:30:37. > :30:45.Minister. I am sure the whole House will wish to pay tribute to be
:30:45. > :30:50.lance-corporal and the marine. were committed and courageous
:30:50. > :30:55.servicemen who gave their lives in the service of Our country. Our
:30:55. > :30:59.thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues. This
:30:59. > :31:06.morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and will
:31:06. > :31:15.have further such meetings this afternoon. The house will want to
:31:15. > :31:24.endorse the Prime Minister's words about a were heroic service
:31:24. > :31:34.personnel. On another issue, what is the Prime Minister then to do
:31:34. > :31:35.
:31:35. > :31:45.about those group of women in their late fifties who have seen their --
:31:45. > :31:50.
:31:50. > :31:54.beat pensionable age rise, which means an initial extra two years.
:31:54. > :31:59.think it is right to raise the retirement age to 66 as we have
:31:59. > :32:03.done. We know there are a large group of people affected by this
:32:03. > :32:07.transition and some people having to work for an extra two years. We
:32:07. > :32:15.are looking at what transitional help we can give to these people
:32:15. > :32:25.and will make an announcement shortly. Can I join the Prime
:32:25. > :32:26.
:32:26. > :32:32.Minister in pain tribute to hour servicemen who lost their lives.
:32:32. > :32:36.They work in -- courageous men who died serving our country.
:32:36. > :32:46.Condolences to their families and friends. A year ago during our
:32:46. > :32:51.exchanges, the Prime Minister justified his economic policy by
:32:51. > :32:56.saying unemployment will fall. Given it has risen by 140,000, is
:32:56. > :32:59.it not time he admits his plan is not working? These are
:32:59. > :33:03.disappointing figures that have been announced today and every job
:33:03. > :33:07.that his last is a tragedy for that person and their family. That is
:33:07. > :33:11.why this government would do everything it can to help get
:33:11. > :33:16.people into work. That is why we have the work programme, which is
:33:16. > :33:20.the biggest back-to-work programme since the 1930s. It will help to
:33:20. > :33:26.0.5 million people. We have a welfare reform to make sure it pays
:33:26. > :33:32.for people to be in work. That is why we are reforming our schools,
:33:32. > :33:37.including raising the participation age to 18 so we end the scandal of
:33:37. > :33:42.16 and 17 year-olds on the dole. That is why we have a record number
:33:42. > :33:47.of apprenticeships. But I accept we have got to do more to get Our
:33:47. > :33:56.economy moving and get jobs for our people. But we must not abandon the
:33:56. > :34:05.plan that has given us record low interest rates. It is not working!
:34:05. > :34:10.Today's figures show it is not working and it his -- it is his
:34:10. > :34:16.failure. Why does he not accept responsibility and do something
:34:16. > :34:22.about it? I accept responsibility for everything that happens in our
:34:22. > :34:25.economy. I wish some people who have been in government for 13
:34:25. > :34:30.years would accept the responsibility for the mess they
:34:30. > :34:37.left behind. We are doing everything to keep our economy
:34:37. > :34:42.moving. We have cut taxes, we had the regional growth fund, we force
:34:42. > :34:46.the banks to loan money. There any say this to him, because I know
:34:46. > :34:51.what he wants. He wants us to change course on reducing a what
:34:51. > :34:57.deficit. If we do that, we would end up with interest rates like
:34:57. > :35:03.Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece and we would send our economy into
:35:03. > :35:09.a tailspin! I want him to change course so he has a credible plan to
:35:09. > :35:13.get people back to work in this country. What the Prime Minister
:35:13. > :35:19.does not seem to understand is that month after month as unemployment
:35:19. > :35:24.goes up, the number of people claiming benefits go up, costs go
:35:24. > :35:28.up and fewer people are in work and paying taxes. To have a credible
:35:28. > :35:33.plan on the deficit you need a credible plan for growth and he
:35:33. > :35:37.does not have one. It is not just young people who are suffering. Can
:35:37. > :35:44.the Prime Minister tell us that -- one was the last time that the
:35:44. > :35:54.unemployment amongst Women which the levels it has done today?
:35:54. > :35:58.
:35:58. > :36:06.wrong on his figures. There are 239,000 people in work since the
:36:06. > :36:10.election. He asked about a credible growth plan?! I asked where his is?
:36:10. > :36:17.Why did the former Chancellor of the Exchequer say this? If you do
:36:17. > :36:22.not have a credible economic plan, you are not at the races. Order!
:36:22. > :36:26.What are the people think of what is being said, they must not show
:36:26. > :36:30.up their heads off. The Prime Minister and the leader of the
:36:30. > :36:38.opposition will be held and that is the end of it. Our plan is
:36:38. > :36:45.supported by the CBI, the business organisations, the IMF, he cannot
:36:45. > :36:47.even get support from his own former Cabinet ministers. The
:36:47. > :36:52.former Home Secretary says I think the economic proposition that
:36:52. > :37:01.Labour puts at the moment is unconvincing. If he cannot convince
:37:01. > :37:07.his party, how can he convince the country? A Conservative chair on
:37:07. > :37:16.his select committee says his policies are incoherent. Typically,
:37:16. > :37:24.he did not answer the question on women's unemployment, so let me
:37:24. > :37:29.tell him. It is at its highest level since 1988, when another
:37:29. > :37:37.Conservative government was in power. Instead of apologising for
:37:37. > :37:42.months late to Maya honourable friend, he should apologise to all
:37:42. > :37:46.the women of the country. Last year in his Budget the Chancellor
:37:46. > :37:54.announced a flagship policy on growth. He said the National
:37:54. > :37:57.Insurance holiday for start-up firms would help 400,000 businesses.
:37:57. > :38:07.Can the Prime Minister tell this House how many businesses had
:38:07. > :38:13.
:38:13. > :38:18.actually taken part? 7,000. And on the issue of women in work, of
:38:18. > :38:22.course I want to see women in work, more women in work. There are
:38:22. > :38:31.50,000 more than at the time of the last election. It is this
:38:31. > :38:39.government that has introduced free childcare for two year-olds and
:38:39. > :38:43.extended childcare for three and four year-olds. We will be giving
:38:43. > :38:46.child care to all those working less than 16 hours, helping
:38:46. > :38:51.thousands of families out of poverty and into a better life.
:38:51. > :38:56.That is what we are doing. He needs to address the big picture which is
:38:56. > :38:59.this - he cannot convince the former Home Secretary, a former
:38:59. > :39:04.trade Minister, former Chancellor that he has any idea of what to do
:39:04. > :39:08.with the economy and the reason why is if we adopted his plan, we would
:39:08. > :39:15.not be working with the IMF to sort out the eurozone, we would be going
:39:15. > :39:19.to the IMF to ask for a loan! case he had not realised, when the
:39:19. > :39:25.Chancellor says 400,000 firms will benefit and only 7,000 are, it
:39:25. > :39:34.should tell him something. It should tell him his policies aren't
:39:34. > :39:40.working. His plan is not working. Why does he not agree with us and
:39:40. > :39:46.cut VAT and put more money in people's pockets. Get the
:39:46. > :39:51.construction industry going and get young people in work. The one-party
:39:51. > :39:57.opposite learn that you cannot borrow your way out of a debt
:39:57. > :40:01.crisis? They left us the biggest deficit, the most indebted
:40:01. > :40:11.household and what is their answer? T Boruc more money. Is it any
:40:11. > :40:22.
:40:22. > :40:32.wonder that the former trade Minister described the policies as
:40:32. > :40:36.ridiculous. -- to borrow more money. What a terrible answer! And DS --
:40:36. > :40:42.and yes, I will take on those companies in this country that are
:40:42. > :40:52.doing the right thing. We are seeing a change in the energy
:40:52. > :40:54.
:40:54. > :41:04.sector because of what I said. Let me just say to him, on the day of
:41:04. > :41:06.
:41:06. > :41:12.the worst unemployment figures in 17 years, the Prime Minister is
:41:12. > :41:16.fighting to save the job of the defence secretary, but he is doing
:41:16. > :41:20.nothing to save the jobs of the hundreds and thousands of people up
:41:20. > :41:24.and down the country. It is one ball if you are in the Cabinet and
:41:24. > :41:32.another for everyone else. Well, the last Labour leader thought he
:41:32. > :41:36.saved the world. They need to accept responsibility for the mess
:41:36. > :41:41.they made of the economy. You are the party that borrowed too much,
:41:41. > :41:46.spent too much, let us with unregulated banks, let us were the
:41:46. > :41:49.less we have to clear up. When you see those two sitting on the front
:41:49. > :41:54.bench who work for so long in the Treasury, you have to ask
:41:54. > :42:04.yourselves you would not bring back Fred Goodwin to sort out the banks,
:42:04. > :42:05.
:42:05. > :42:14.why would you bring them back to sort out the economy? The house
:42:14. > :42:18.will want to here Sir Peter Tapsell. As Mike honourable friend happened
:42:18. > :42:28.to noticed that since I put the point to him last month, the head
:42:28. > :42:30.
:42:30. > :42:37.of Our serious frauds got has publicly deplore the fact that no
:42:37. > :42:43.serious British bankers have been prosecuted for their ill --
:42:43. > :42:47.irresponsibility. -- our Serious Fraud Squad. He has urged
:42:47. > :42:52.legislation should be introduced to Npower his office to prosecute such
:42:52. > :42:57.as vendors in the future. It is important that inquiries are
:42:58. > :43:02.conducted in to what went wrong at the banks because clearly it we are
:43:02. > :43:06.left playing up a mess that the responsibility of others has a left.
:43:06. > :43:11.If there is room for criminal prosecution then there should be.
:43:11. > :43:15.Our responsibility is to make sure we regulate the banks and financial
:43:15. > :43:19.institutions properly and that is what we put the Bank of England
:43:19. > :43:26.back at the centre of this job. Will the Prime Minister publish a
:43:26. > :43:36.full list of all the ministers and Downing Street staff who since 20th
:43:36. > :43:40.
:43:40. > :43:49.May 10 have met Adam Werritty, including himself. Thank you, Mr
:43:49. > :43:57.Speaker. Order! Would my honourable friend the Prime Minister agreed
:43:57. > :44:07.that in light of difficult times encountered by my constituents
:44:07. > :44:08.
:44:08. > :44:13.working for BAe Systems, it is even more important that continued
:44:13. > :44:18.investment is escalated? Obviously deep position at BAe Systems have
:44:18. > :44:22.been of concern and that is why we have put in place plans for an
:44:22. > :44:32.enterprise zone on both sides of the Pennines. It is a great British
:44:32. > :44:33.
:44:33. > :44:39.company, there is a huge forward order book for it. I will do
:44:39. > :44:44.everything I can to support that company, including promoting tax
:44:44. > :44:53.breaks abroad. I have spoken to the Japanese and will soon be speaking
:44:53. > :44:58.to Saudi Arabia. Imperial Health Care Trust which offers outstanding
:44:58. > :45:05.clinical care and research in three major hospitals in west London is
:45:05. > :45:09.being forced to make 5% per annum cut for five years. That is 25 % of
:45:10. > :45:19.its �900 million a year budget. How does that fulfil the Prime
:45:20. > :45:25.
:45:25. > :45:33.Minister's promised not to cut They now have a new health
:45:33. > :45:37.spokesman. I can tell you, he has not disappointed. This is New
:45:37. > :45:43.health spokesman. It is irresponsible to increase NHS
:45:43. > :45:49.spending in real terms. That is Labour's position. That it is
:45:49. > :45:53.irresponsible to increase health spending. We disagree. Her children
:45:53. > :45:57.and Britain today who live in families that do not provide them
:45:57. > :46:01.with the type of environment they deserve. That has led to many of
:46:01. > :46:05.our many social problems. With the Prime Minister agree with me that
:46:05. > :46:12.this Government needs to do all it can to help some of Britain's
:46:12. > :46:16.poorest families? I agree with him. If you look at the evidence, some
:46:16. > :46:20.of the most troubled families in our country, they get the huge
:46:20. > :46:24.number of interventions from social services and education. But no one
:46:24. > :46:28.is getting in there to help turn those families around, to change
:46:28. > :46:37.what those families do to give them a better chance. We are
:46:37. > :46:42.establishing a new Elms -- surface. We are going to be putting you
:46:42. > :46:46.resources to turning around 120,000 most troubled families in our
:46:46. > :46:54.country. We can make a huge difference for those families and
:46:54. > :46:58.we can reduce that they put on the taxpayer at the same time. Will the
:46:58. > :47:01.Prime Minister instruct our ambassador in Kiev to make
:47:02. > :47:07.representations on behalf of the Government and Parliament about the
:47:07. > :47:12.appalling show trial and princes sentence send down to the former
:47:12. > :47:17.Prime Minister. Prime Ministers do make mistakes and to lose elections
:47:17. > :47:24.I she did. She has been put on trial for policy decisions she took.
:47:24. > :47:34.Will he make clear the Ukraine will not be able to open membership
:47:34. > :47:38.
:47:38. > :47:42.talks with the EU. We agree that her treatment is absolutely
:47:42. > :47:48.disgraceful. The Foreign Secretary has made a strong statement about
:47:48. > :47:54.this. The Ukrainians need to know that this will affect their
:47:54. > :48:01.relationship, not only with the UK, but with the United Nations -- with
:48:01. > :48:11.the EU and NATO. UK Government debt is key to job creation. Would the
:48:11. > :48:15.Prime Minister join me in welcoming the support from Bedfordshire
:48:15. > :48:19.university, 100 business leaders and my constituency to it set up a
:48:19. > :48:23.mentoring scheme to support early- stage businesses and Bedford. Will
:48:23. > :48:28.he ask his Minister to work with me to see if this can be replicated
:48:28. > :48:32.across the country? I pay tribute to what might honourable friend is
:48:32. > :48:36.doing. It will be small businesses that will provide the growth and
:48:36. > :48:41.wealth this country needs. That is why we have an agreement with banks
:48:41. > :48:44.to increase lending to small businesses, we are providing rate
:48:44. > :48:49.relief to small businesses, we are giving the small businesses a
:48:49. > :48:55.holiday from regulation. I applaud all efforts on the local level to
:48:55. > :49:01.give small businesses the mentoring help and support they need to grow.
:49:01. > :49:08.Responding to the sound Select Committee's report far forensic
:49:08. > :49:18.science, a Minister said that we do not agree with the report. Given
:49:18. > :49:23.that the Home Office was 50% adrift and the National Archive should be
:49:23. > :49:28.protector. Will he intervene and review the decision to close this
:49:28. > :49:34.institution because the profession is now losing key scientific staff
:49:34. > :49:38.from the country and from the profession. I will certainly look
:49:38. > :49:45.at what the honourable gentleman says. I look at this at the time in
:49:45. > :49:48.some detail, knowing well the forensic service. The evidence was
:49:48. > :49:52.overwhelming that the model was not working and change was needed. That
:49:52. > :49:58.is what has happened and sometimes it is better to make that change
:49:58. > :50:05.than endlessly review it. The Prime Minister inherited a welfare system
:50:05. > :50:11.where families were able to claim �2,000 a week in housing benefit
:50:11. > :50:18.and those working are or worse off than those on benefit. What is the
:50:18. > :50:22.Prime Minister doing to help families that go out to work?
:50:22. > :50:25.speaks for millions in the country when these is what people want is a
:50:25. > :50:30.welfare system that will help people who want to pretend and work
:50:30. > :50:34.hard and to the right thing. What we are doing is putting in place it
:50:34. > :50:40.caps so that you cannot have these absurd amounts of money going in
:50:40. > :50:44.housing benefit to individual families. Sometimes �2,000 a week.
:50:44. > :50:48.Secondly, universal credit is going to richer it is also worth while
:50:48. > :50:52.people working and working a little harder. The party opposite now
:50:52. > :50:57.claim after a decade of giving people for nothing, let's see if
:50:57. > :51:05.they are able to back that far -- by voting for tough caps on the
:51:05. > :51:09.welfare bill. If people break the ministerial code, should he or she
:51:09. > :51:13.did the accord? It is up to the Prime Minister whether the person
:51:13. > :51:19.keeps their job are not. In the case of the Defence Secretary, it
:51:19. > :51:23.is important when the Leader of the Opposition has called for not -- an
:51:23. > :51:27.inquiry, let us allow the Cabinet secretary to do his work to
:51:27. > :51:33.establish the facts, then a decision can be made. Let me be
:51:33. > :51:43.clear, the Defence Secretary has done excellent job clearing up the
:51:43. > :51:47.
:51:47. > :51:50.mess they had been left by Labour. Retirement... He was looking a
:51:50. > :51:55.transitional arrangements and I would hope that they would result
:51:55. > :51:58.in is slowing down in the increase of retirement age for women.
:51:58. > :52:03.have looked at this issue carefully. We will be making an announcement
:52:03. > :52:07.shortly. We have to look at the most difficult cases where people
:52:07. > :52:16.have quite an extra amount of working time they would have to do.
:52:16. > :52:20.Clearly, it is right. We need to equalise men and women's pension
:52:20. > :52:30.payments. Given that, I hope he will be pleased when the
:52:30. > :52:31.
:52:31. > :52:35.announcement is made. All Theron records in quoting gender equality.
:52:35. > :52:38.Will the Prime Minister of date the house on the consultation that he
:52:38. > :52:44.and the Deputy Prime Minister are having with other Commonwealth it
:52:44. > :52:49.leaders about this issue: --? Would he not agree that it is better to
:52:49. > :52:55.resolve this issue before any future royal children are born?
:52:55. > :52:59.believe this issue should be sorted out. There has been support for
:52:59. > :53:03.that. In terms of the consultation, I have written to the heads of
:53:03. > :53:08.state, the Prime Ministers of the other realms concerned, we will be
:53:08. > :53:12.having a meeting about this. It is not an easy issue to sort and for
:53:12. > :53:15.many of them there may be issues and worries about starting the
:53:15. > :53:22.Parliamentary or other legal process. I am clear it is an issue
:53:22. > :53:26.we should have sorted amount would be delighted to play a part in it.
:53:26. > :53:35.Does the Prime Minister agree with the recent advice from the shadow
:53:35. > :53:43.Treasury Minister who said what we is pick good winners and losers and
:53:43. > :53:47.to conceive of such a simplistic winners and sinners model?
:53:47. > :53:52.honourable lady makes a good point. The greatest need in our economy
:53:52. > :53:56.right now is to generate wealth and jobs and investment. Labour
:53:56. > :54:02.launched a big attack on business which will get us out of these
:54:02. > :54:09.difficulties. Was the Prime Minister a way before today that
:54:09. > :54:17.his chief spokeswoman was a former colleague of Mr Adam Webber t?
:54:17. > :54:21.whole issue, he will produce his report. I would ask people to have
:54:21. > :54:28.patience, let the facts be established and then we can move
:54:28. > :54:34.ahead. Is my right honourable friend aware that nearly 40 members
:54:34. > :54:43.from the side of the House of signed the -- an amendment in my
:54:43. > :54:45.name that all offenders convicted of using a knife any threatening or
:54:45. > :54:50.endangering manner will receive a custodial sentence. Will he
:54:50. > :54:53.consider supporting this amendment? I was listening closely and I know
:54:53. > :54:58.the Justice Secretary is doing this as well. We do want to move ahead
:54:58. > :55:03.with the mandatory sentence and we will look at the arguments my
:55:03. > :55:13.honourable friend mix. Sir John Major said that the Government
:55:13. > :55:13.
:55:13. > :55:19.should use the euro crisis as an opportunity. His first priority was
:55:19. > :55:24.the Commons fisheries policy. When will he tell the European Union
:55:24. > :55:29.that Britain has to withdraw from it? I l was listen carefully to Sir
:55:29. > :55:34.John Major's advice. In the short- term, what Britain needs to do is
:55:34. > :55:39.get behind the solution to the eurozone crisis. Frankly, it is
:55:39. > :55:43.having a chilling effect on the whole of the European economy and
:55:43. > :55:47.on the American economy as well. That is the first priority. I
:55:47. > :55:50.except that at the same time as doing that, it is important to get
:55:50. > :55:54.some safeguards for Britain as eurozone countries go ahead and
:55:54. > :56:04.sort out their problems, we need safeguards to make sure the single
:56:04. > :56:07.
:56:07. > :56:14.market goes on working for the UK. Several businesses advertise the
:56:14. > :56:18.new jobs. Does the Prime Minister agree that there would be further
:56:18. > :56:22.good news if the banks honoured their pledge to commit to credit
:56:22. > :56:26.flow and will he keep the pressure on and encourage businesses in
:56:26. > :56:31.Wales to start advertising for more jobs? We will supply keep the
:56:31. > :56:35.pressure on the banks. In spite of the difficulties, there are half a
:56:35. > :56:41.million new private sector jobs in our economy, compared with at the
:56:41. > :56:45.time of the election. We need of -- all of the things that we -- allow
:56:45. > :56:49.businesses to grow and expand. We have the Merlin agreement which is
:56:49. > :56:52.increasing the lending to small businesses. We also have what the
:56:52. > :56:56.Chancellor has called credit easing to make sure that we can look at
:56:56. > :57:02.other ways to expanding credit and our economy. This week I had the
:57:02. > :57:06.privilege of meeting two people from the ready to work campaign.
:57:06. > :57:13.Impressive young people campaigning against rising youth unemployment.
:57:13. > :57:17.Can he tell us what his happen to his fight to reverse the trend in
:57:17. > :57:22.rising youth unemployment? And can he tell us when the last mighty
:57:22. > :57:27.unemployed young person? It has been going up since 2004. It went
:57:27. > :57:30.up in the growth years as well as the difficult years. What we need
:57:30. > :57:35.is a comprehensive strategy that deals with all of the problems of
:57:35. > :57:40.youth unemployment, including the fact that there are too many people
:57:40. > :57:44.leaving school aged 16 who spent 13 years under a Labour Education
:57:44. > :57:47.Secretary. They need to take sums are responsible to for this. They
:57:47. > :57:51.left school without qualifications to get a job. It is about making
:57:51. > :57:57.sure we have better education, a welfare system that helps people
:57:57. > :58:07.into work, and a welfare programme that provides real work for real
:58:07. > :58:10.
:58:10. > :58:19.young people. Mr Speaker, a recent taxpayers' allows report revealed
:58:19. > :58:23.that 38 union leaders were enumerated at over �100,000 each,
:58:23. > :58:30.including Derek Simpson. He received over �0.5 million. Does
:58:30. > :58:34.the Prime Minister agree with me for union boss pay restraints?
:58:34. > :58:40.always listen to the trade unions but they will never listen to the
:58:40. > :58:50.taxpayers a Lions. They do not want to hear about excessive pay in the
:58:50. > :58:50.
:58:50. > :58:58.public sector. -- taxpayers Alliance. Can he get a grip on his
:58:58. > :59:01.backbenches following last night's debacle in this chamber. Does he
:59:01. > :59:07.understand that the perception out there in the real world is that
:59:07. > :59:15.some MPs would rather talk about their own pensions instead of
:59:15. > :59:21.discussing and injustice and the death of 96 women and children?
:59:21. > :59:25.are going to protect that time for that debate. On the issue of MP's
:59:25. > :59:28.pensions we need to show a restraint at a time when the public
:59:28. > :59:36.sector is has to show restraint. They will have to be a debate, but
:59:36. > :59:40.it will not eat into the time for the important debate he mentioned.
:59:40. > :59:44.Can my right Hon very friend tell the House what action he is taking
:59:44. > :59:51.to reintroduce rigour into our education system and then the
:59:51. > :59:55.ridiculous situation under the last Government when 22% of students
:59:55. > :00:05.studied proper academic studies? think that the Education Secretary
:00:05. > :00:05.
:00:06. > :00:09.is doing a good job of focusing schools in improving results in
:00:09. > :00:12.English and maths. And then doing some simple and straightforward
:00:12. > :00:22.things there were not done for 13 years by making sure the
:00:22. > :00:27.
:00:27. > :00:37.punctuation and grammar count when Will the Prime Minister reflect on
:00:37. > :00:39.
:00:39. > :00:44.the comments made by the Taoiseach yesterday regarding the public
:00:44. > :00:47.inquiry? I have reflected on what was said yesterday. I have
:00:47. > :00:52.reflected on this whole issue for many months since becoming Prime
:00:52. > :00:56.Minister. I profoundly believe that the right thing for the Finucane
:00:56. > :01:02.family and Northern Ireland is not have another costly and open ended
:01:02. > :01:05.public inquiry which may not find the answer, but instead for the
:01:05. > :01:11.British government to open up and tell the truth about what happened
:01:11. > :01:14.22 years ago. We do not need an inquiry to do that. That his wife
:01:14. > :01:22.the Northern Ireland Secretary will make a statement explaining how we
:01:22. > :01:27.will do it. In that ends, the greatest healer is the truth, frank
:01:27. > :01:37.acknowledgement of what went wrong and an apology. Let us get there
:01:37. > :01:43.
:01:43. > :01:48.quickly and do the right thing. seems the lads will be released and
:01:48. > :01:58.that will go a long way to peace in their area. The anyone reflects on
:01:58. > :01:58.
:01:58. > :02:04.what that sold -- if anyone reflects on what that soldier has
:02:04. > :02:09.gone through, they probably could not comprehend. I wish him and his
:02:09. > :02:18.family well. That is Prime Minister's questions
:02:18. > :02:28.over for another week. Plenty to talk about back in the studio.
:02:28. > :02:28.
:02:28. > :02:33.We will get on with that now. That was a traditional ping-pong Prime
:02:33. > :02:36.Minister's Questions. One of the worst for a long time. You could
:02:36. > :02:41.practically guess what they were going to say before they open their
:02:42. > :02:47.mouths. Very predictable in terms of Ed Miliband's attacks. He has
:02:47. > :02:53.been on about changing course, but not offering a credible alternative.
:02:53. > :02:58.Bleating about reducing VAT is one thing, but actually they failed to
:02:58. > :03:03.support Plaid Cymru when that was a credible solution for a while ago.
:03:04. > :03:09.David Cameron seems to be in denial. I am not convinced the plan is
:03:09. > :03:14.working. He needs a plan B. It is 18 months down the line and he is
:03:14. > :03:24.still trying to blame the Labour government. It does not help him.
:03:24. > :03:28.
:03:28. > :03:33.His plan a working? Regarding the economy? -- is Planner A working.
:03:33. > :03:38.It was a bit predictable today, but it did give the government to set
:03:38. > :03:43.up what it is trying to do and remind people of the steps it is
:03:43. > :03:48.taking to try and improve people's personal situations at a difficult
:03:48. > :03:54.time. What do you make of Ed Miliband's performance? I think I
:03:54. > :04:01.know what the answer will be, but do you think he succeeds in landing
:04:01. > :04:05.blows? He had three goes at it today and it did get monotonous
:04:05. > :04:09.towards the end. It is a shame he still pursues this line of
:04:09. > :04:15.questioning because Cameron does get the better of him every time.
:04:15. > :04:22.He need a new approach. It comes down to this one point - he has no
:04:22. > :04:28.alternative to offer. He does not really know what he is asking for.
:04:28. > :04:32.He comes back relentlessly on this one question. He did set up a few
:04:32. > :04:38.points, VAT been one of them. He will say he does have a credible
:04:38. > :04:43.point. Of course he would. Fundamentally, he is not being
:04:43. > :04:51.distinct enough in what he is offering. If he wants to land blows,
:04:51. > :04:56.he needs to show a distinct alternative which is not there.
:04:56. > :05:01.us go back to Welsh Questions that started at 11:30am. We really
:05:01. > :05:05.expected, we heard reference to it at the end about the Commission on
:05:05. > :05:09.devolution. I thought it would be dominated the talk about that and
:05:09. > :05:12.it did not come in until the last five minutes. In it didn't and that
:05:12. > :05:16.surprise me. That might suggest that the Commission does not
:05:16. > :05:24.register beyond certain members of parliament who are interested in
:05:24. > :05:30.that area. A know Labour MPs? was very telling. Not a single one
:05:30. > :05:39.phrase the question on made reference to it. Maybe that is by
:05:39. > :05:45.Dick tact from Peter Hain because we know there are differences of
:05:45. > :05:49.opinion. Ed Balls has also said that things will not change. Carwyn
:05:49. > :05:57.Jones has a different view here, so it Labour a clearly split on it and
:05:57. > :06:01.I think the silence says it all. Are you please to see your party in
:06:01. > :06:05.government at UK level introducing and delivering on a promise? That
:06:05. > :06:08.is what it is there to do. Some promises take longer to deliver
:06:08. > :06:13.than others. This one has been lined up for a while and I am
:06:13. > :06:22.pleased it is happening now. Even though it was late on in the debate,
:06:22. > :06:30.it was used for to have it brought up to remind people about the
:06:30. > :06:35.differences with the Barnett formula. George Osborne has said
:06:35. > :06:41.that it is something he is prepared to look at. But the fact it does
:06:41. > :06:47.not form the body of the inquiry, it does it suggest it will not be
:06:47. > :06:56.dealt with? The opposite. The process has already started on it.
:06:56. > :06:59.We have had one report already there is an indication that George
:06:59. > :07:05.Osborne will look at it. Cheryl Gillan also said it is up and
:07:05. > :07:11.running. It's a strange when you have a commission looking at this
:07:11. > :07:14.court powers for Wales the Barnett formula is not taken into
:07:14. > :07:19.consideration. There are implications for the rest of the UK
:07:19. > :07:23.and how that formal works, but that hints towards the fact that people
:07:23. > :07:27.do not appreciate the fact there are implications for the UK. You
:07:27. > :07:33.cannot look at it in isolation and that is a point that was missed by
:07:33. > :07:43.the Welsh Secretary. We will hear from Cheryl Gillan Shaubli. There
:07:43. > :07:48.will be more to discuss. -- Cheryl Gillan. In the meantime, let's
:07:48. > :07:53.cross over to the Senedd. This afternoon we start off with
:07:53. > :08:00.questions to ministers. Today we have got the education Minister and
:08:00. > :08:04.the local government Minister. A lot of people will be interested in
:08:04. > :08:14.the unfolding drama about the University of Wales that has taken
:08:14. > :08:19.
:08:19. > :08:23.another turn today. BBC Wales broke a story last week about a scandal
:08:23. > :08:30.where the University of Wales was providing degrees for overseas
:08:30. > :08:35.students in order for them to apply for visas. There have been calls
:08:35. > :08:45.for the chair of the university to resign. We heard today that the
:08:45. > :08:46.
:08:46. > :08:55.Institute in Cardiff wants to distance itself from the brand.
:08:55. > :09:05.Other academic institutions want to do that. Beyond that, most of this
:09:05. > :09:10.
:09:10. > :09:17.afternoon will be devoted to cancer treatment. Both parties agree there
:09:17. > :09:22.should be an National Cancer plan. We are going to talk about that now
:09:22. > :09:28.with Durham Miller, a Conservative member. What is distinctive about
:09:28. > :09:33.your ideas? We have been calling for a National Cancer plan to be
:09:33. > :09:40.implemented alongside a cancer drugs fund and buy a cancer co-
:09:40. > :09:44.ordinator. What we are finding his there appears to be no resistance.
:09:44. > :09:52.All parties in the Assembly seemed to agree. We are glad that the
:09:52. > :10:01.Labour Party have caught up with us, but we are not finding the
:10:01. > :10:11.consensus we need to be guarding access to cancer drugs. --
:10:11. > :10:14.
:10:14. > :10:21.regarding. Why is that? Each board or trust has a Cancer Fund to pay
:10:21. > :10:29.for medication needed by cancer patients. We also need to make sure
:10:29. > :10:32.that resources are used correctly. It is not right that referral times,
:10:32. > :10:37.the targets for referral times have been missed. No-one is doing
:10:37. > :10:40.anything about it. We have got to get to grips with this problem and
:10:40. > :10:44.that is why I am delighted there are to debate in the Chamber this
:10:44. > :10:50.week, following on from a debate we held last week on this issue. We
:10:50. > :11:00.need to keep it as Our top priority. You and the Conservative Party
:11:00. > :11:01.
:11:01. > :11:10.seemed keen on individuals dealing with these situations. Why should
:11:10. > :11:20.anyone person deal with this? need somebody at the forefront,
:11:20. > :11:23.driving things forward. They would be a useful point of contact to
:11:23. > :11:26.make sure the thinking was joined up across the whole service. We are
:11:26. > :11:29.not seeing that at the moment in Wales and that is what we
:11:29. > :11:34.desperately need if we are going to see cancer survival rates continue
:11:34. > :11:41.to improve and access to drugs and services improve. Why we look at
:11:41. > :11:48.the things you are recommending, many of them are difficult to
:11:48. > :11:53.disagree with. -- when we look. The Lib Dems are talking about bespoke
:11:53. > :11:58.plans for individual needs. However, there is no money in the health
:11:58. > :12:04.service, so how come we improve the situation? There is a lot of
:12:04. > :12:08.consensus. It is great parties agree on certain element, but these
:12:08. > :12:17.fundamental differences when it comes to the establishment of a
:12:17. > :12:20.cancer drug fund is difficult. It is great to have a plan, but you
:12:20. > :12:28.have to make sure there is someone there to drive it forward. We
:12:29. > :12:33.believe the best way to do that is to have a cancer co-ordinator for
:12:33. > :12:37.Wales. But what if we cannot afford things that the moment, how can we
:12:38. > :12:44.expand when the money is not there? We would have to fund that through
:12:45. > :12:49.the introduction -- re introduction of a small prescription charge for
:12:49. > :12:55.those who can pay. Would that provide enough money? It would. We
:12:55. > :12:59.are talking about �3.3 million out of the �6 billion budget. It is not
:12:59. > :13:03.a massive amount and it is achievable. It would make a real
:13:03. > :13:09.difference to those suffering from cancer. We do not see why the
:13:09. > :13:13.government is trying to resist this. I'm sure there will be a whole host
:13:13. > :13:18.of ideas and we look forward to hearing a cross-party view this
:13:18. > :13:28.afternoon. Thank you. Back to the studio.
:13:28. > :13:32.
:13:32. > :13:36.The you can follow the debate that work spoken about online. The Welsh
:13:36. > :13:41.Secretary Cheryl Gillan has announced that a former clerk to
:13:41. > :13:49.the National Assembly will be the chair of the commission looking at
:13:49. > :13:54.how Wales will be funded. The commission will look at two areas -
:13:54. > :13:59.financial accountability of the Assembly and the powers it has. Our
:13:59. > :14:06.correspondent has been speaking to Cheryl Gillan and he asked her
:14:06. > :14:09.whether there was an accountability gap? There is disappearance of
:14:09. > :14:12.power without responsibility because �15 billion is passed to
:14:12. > :14:18.the Welsh government to spend, but they are not responsible for
:14:18. > :14:22.raising any of that money. It is fair to say that that lack of
:14:22. > :14:29.accountability needs to be examined to see whether there are areas, as
:14:29. > :14:34.was late outs in the report done by the Welsh government, if we can
:14:34. > :14:39.link that accountability said that the people that spend the money up
:14:39. > :14:47.responsibility -- are responsible for raising that money. No devolved
:14:47. > :14:56.government has a cheap tax powers without ever referendums. -- has
:14:56. > :15:06.achieved. Will there be the case? do not want to prejudge what is
:15:06. > :15:08.
:15:08. > :15:13.going to come out of the commission. Why the need to look at powers? We
:15:13. > :15:19.had a referendum earlier this year - was the issue not settled? Would
:15:19. > :15:29.you not confirm the fears of people who are against the Assembly
:15:29. > :15:34.
:15:34. > :15:38.I think that is the wrong way to conduct devolution. Devolution is
:15:38. > :15:43.not about putting the Government into blocks of concrete and saying
:15:43. > :15:48.you must never made. The commercial will look at what is logical. --
:15:48. > :15:56.the commission. How do we make devolution were better for Wales?
:15:56. > :16:00.How do we let localism work? This is the UK Government, about getting
:16:00. > :16:07.decisions closer to people. We want to see if there is a better way of
:16:07. > :16:12.improving are gradually improving, making changes to that do evolution
:16:12. > :16:20.agreement. What is key about this is that I have got it to the stage,
:16:20. > :16:26.terms of agree -- reference have been agreed. We are looking for
:16:26. > :16:32.what we can do can essentially, rather than almost one institution
:16:32. > :16:36.sing, give me more powers. That is not good for Wales. This is the
:16:36. > :16:43.third or 4th commission we have seen in the last day could. Is this
:16:43. > :16:48.not just more constitutional navel- gazing? No this is the coalition
:16:48. > :16:51.Government carrying out its job properly. Devolution was done and
:16:51. > :16:58.in a symmetrical way. In Wales it was interfered with halfway through
:16:58. > :17:03.the last Labour Government because there have been two on wheels. Now
:17:03. > :17:08.what we are saying is that, yes we want decision-making closer to
:17:08. > :17:14.people, but now we're going to look at this properly. We said inner
:17:14. > :17:22.coalition agreement we will look over the housing. I said I would
:17:23. > :17:27.deliver the referendum and I have. We are establishing it. We are in
:17:27. > :17:32.the worst financial crisis ever and here is the UK Government tinkering
:17:32. > :17:40.around, yet again, with constant done -- constitutional issues. Have
:17:40. > :17:50.you got your priorities right? our priority is to stabilise the
:17:50. > :17:50.
:17:50. > :17:55.economic situation of the UK. This commission is the way we are
:17:55. > :17:59.looking at the economy. You do not have to hold every other part of
:17:59. > :18:03.Government. It would be wrong for Wales and the United Kingdom not
:18:03. > :18:08.looking at more accountable to for the Welsh Government and not to
:18:08. > :18:12.look at a division of powers that was arrived at, by two political
:18:12. > :18:16.acts, rather than looking at how we get the power in the right place,
:18:16. > :18:20.to be decided at the right levels of Government. This is the
:18:20. > :18:24.responsible way about going about her business.
:18:24. > :18:30.That was the Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan talking to our
:18:31. > :18:40.correspondent. Let's see what I guess think. Firstly, your reaction
:18:40. > :18:45.to the set-up of this commission --. The first thing to say is that I am
:18:45. > :18:49.glad the we have at announcement but it came swiftly. There is a
:18:49. > :18:53.genuine point to be raised. The size of the commission and the
:18:53. > :18:58.representation on it. I am pleased every political party has a say on
:18:58. > :19:04.this. And there we have an independent voice brought to it as
:19:04. > :19:10.well. Personally I would have liked to have seen more balanced, more
:19:10. > :19:15.independent voices, including people who have been involved in
:19:15. > :19:21.constitutional changes. A little broader would have been quite
:19:21. > :19:25.useful. I do not think it undermines the legitimacy of it.
:19:25. > :19:35.is not four politicians, it is people appointed by the political
:19:35. > :19:35.
:19:35. > :19:41.party. You are looking for the breadth of experience. If you look
:19:41. > :19:46.at the Conservative representative who is a Minister here. But I think
:19:46. > :19:51.you need a political consensus across the parties. I think that
:19:51. > :19:55.has to be the case and I think it is healthy the you do have
:19:55. > :19:59.representatives from particular different viewpoints coming to the
:19:59. > :20:03.table, along with independent nominees, so you can have a proper
:20:03. > :20:08.look at the situation. Are you satisfied that Plaid Cymru is
:20:08. > :20:14.involved? The SNP in Scotland did not get involved are not our Nick
:20:14. > :20:17.Calman commission. It is important the commission plots unambitious
:20:17. > :20:22.pause -- course now for devolution in Wales and I would rather be part
:20:22. > :20:25.of those discussions than being shouted from the outside. I am
:20:25. > :20:31.fully behind our participation in the process and I am excited as
:20:31. > :20:37.well. David Cornock raised the issue, has the Government got its
:20:37. > :20:45.priorities right? We have just had the referendum. It is it -- is it
:20:45. > :20:48.time to look get the constitutional question again for us --? Cheryl
:20:48. > :20:54.Gillan acknowledge there is no accountability issue that we have
:20:54. > :20:57.as politicians here in Cardiff Bay to pass laws but we're not
:20:57. > :21:01.responsible for the money we receive. We are responsible for the
:21:01. > :21:06.way it has spent. The commission will look at the powers as well?
:21:06. > :21:11.The level of support in the recent referendum suggests there is an
:21:11. > :21:17.appetite for more devolution in particular areas, and I am hopeful
:21:17. > :21:22.that the commission will come to that conclusion also. I do not
:21:22. > :21:27.agree with you last point. I think the whole issue about the
:21:27. > :21:33.referendum about freeing up existing powers was... We have not
:21:33. > :21:38.seen them being put into action. This is an issue about additional
:21:38. > :21:44.and different powers, that was not addressed in the Welsh referendum.
:21:44. > :21:47.Trying to discuss them as part of the process is not helpful. It may
:21:47. > :21:51.be answer wait to the arguments of the no campaign back in March when
:21:51. > :21:55.they said this would lead to a slippery slope of additional powers.
:21:55. > :22:04.I would like to discuss them as separate concerts. I am old enough
:22:04. > :22:08.to remember the existing -- the Richard commission. Not all of the
:22:08. > :22:11.recommendations and those have been taken on board. Is there a danger
:22:11. > :22:19.here that whatever this commission comes a month, it does not see the
:22:19. > :22:22.light of day? That will be the test. There was a question today whether
:22:22. > :22:25.they will secretary could give a commitment that there would be
:22:25. > :22:29.space in terms of legislative time tabling for something to come
:22:29. > :22:33.forward. She declined so we will have to wait and see. The important
:22:33. > :22:37.thing is that the commission will have risen brings conclusions and
:22:37. > :22:39.then political pressure has to be born. We will be back with you
:22:39. > :22:48.later. Mark has been meeting some people
:22:48. > :22:54.who have been the Senate today to present a petition today.
:22:54. > :23:00.It is hard to believe that anyone can be cruel to be a creature like
:23:00. > :23:05.the miniature Shetland pony. Apparently this is a major problem.
:23:05. > :23:10.People will treat -- people maltreating these creatures.
:23:10. > :23:14.Jennifer MacGregor who is looking after our Shetland pony and Nick
:23:14. > :23:20.Ramsay from the Conservatives. Tell us who you represent and why you're
:23:20. > :23:25.here? I am chairman for the Society for the welfare of horses and
:23:25. > :23:30.ponies. We are involved in all South Wales and we have had a major
:23:30. > :23:37.problem of the past few years with animals that have been abandoned or
:23:37. > :23:42.are on the roads that we have to be -- we have had to pick up. They are
:23:42. > :23:45.all baloney to people who do not have passports or Micra chipping so
:23:45. > :23:49.it is difficult to ever find an honour when we have something that
:23:49. > :23:54.comes in in a bad state. When you say a major problem, give us an
:23:54. > :24:01.idea of how it is getting worse? We're talking about thousands of
:24:01. > :24:07.animals. Upon the hills and then roads. It is it very big problem in
:24:08. > :24:15.this area. At last, people are starting to become aware. William
:24:15. > :24:22.Powell, there is a law that states that falls -- young horses should
:24:22. > :24:26.be microchip. The petition is calling upon the authorities to
:24:26. > :24:31.enforce the micro chipping regulations. As the committee, we
:24:31. > :24:34.will be looking at close detail, at how to take this forward. Clearly,
:24:34. > :24:39.it is a matter of great concern locally and that is reflected in
:24:39. > :24:43.the number of petitions we have here this morning. And an original
:24:43. > :24:50.presentation as well. Nick Ramsay, is there something you have been
:24:50. > :24:55.aware of? It is a problem all over. We have the horse hospital which do
:24:55. > :25:03.wonderful work in my constituency. I visited the hospital some months
:25:03. > :25:06.back and realise the extent of it. There are laws in place, but
:25:06. > :25:09.unfortunately they are not having an effect on what is happening.
:25:09. > :25:15.This will help raise the profile of the problem we have got. In
:25:15. > :25:19.addition to that, I have received thousands of postcards from people
:25:19. > :25:22.who are concerned about this. you for joining us today. An
:25:22. > :25:26.important issue and it is goodbye you are bringing it to public
:25:26. > :25:30.notice. That was marker and a pony. Before
:25:31. > :25:37.we go, we will have a quick chat with her guests. We will top about
:25:37. > :25:41.the University of Wales and its future. As a holder of a degree of
:25:41. > :25:44.the University of Wales, Leighton Andrews has said this morning that
:25:44. > :25:48.the in a restive will should be given a decent burial. We have
:25:48. > :25:56.heard all sorts of stories. How do you feel as someone who studied
:25:56. > :25:59.there? Huge concerns. It is a great concern. There are questions to be
:25:59. > :26:03.asked about fundamental issues about the governance of the
:26:03. > :26:07.University of Wales and how it has been allowed to get to this point.
:26:07. > :26:13.The Minister was right to bring up the question of the individuals
:26:13. > :26:18.involved in this. It is a shame that we do not have his statement
:26:18. > :26:22.in the Senate. It was an urgent question this afternoon. Limits the
:26:22. > :26:27.scope for other members to contribute. The Minister should
:26:27. > :26:31.make key statement to the House. He is making bold statements on radio
:26:31. > :26:36.stations and he is good it grabbing headlines, it is here we should be
:26:36. > :26:45.discussing issues. What remembers can hear these fears. We have heard
:26:45. > :26:54.what Leighton Andrews said. Other institutions want to change the
:26:54. > :27:02.name. Do you think Leighton Andrews should have said more should have
:27:02. > :27:07.been said -- done? I think this is a terrible shame. The good name of
:27:07. > :27:14.unit - why the universe did is one century-old. It is disappearing in
:27:14. > :27:23.this shambolic debacle. It is upsetting. The writing was on the
:27:23. > :27:33.wall. The University of Wales should have been saying, while our
:27:33. > :27:34.
:27:34. > :27:39.be losing our flagship institutions. That is why the Minister and others
:27:39. > :27:42.have said individuals need to be looked at to see what happened.
:27:42. > :27:48.Minister's Wayne has hardened. On Monday he was Colin for the chair
:27:48. > :27:52.of the council to step down. That reflects the mood generally. People
:27:52. > :27:56.are becoming impatient with the situation. The University of Wales
:27:56. > :28:01.needs to give out be clear signal in terms of getting to the writ of
:28:01. > :28:05.some of the governance issues that have been highlighted through the
:28:05. > :28:09.investigator for the BBC has done. At the end of the day, the Minister
:28:09. > :28:12.needs to bring a clear statement to the House, and on a statement, so
:28:13. > :28:19.we can see where he stands and move forward from there. Thank you both