Browse content similar to 13/11/2012. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly coverage | :00:21. | :00:25. | |
of questions to the First Minister. From a quick look at the order | :00:25. | :00:28. | |
paper there are lots timely questions today, one about Police | :00:28. | :00:30. | |
Commissioners ahead of the election on Thursday, another on borrowing | :00:30. | :00:34. | |
powers ahead of the Silk Commission report and there's also a focus on | :00:34. | :00:36. | |
health services as reconfiguration plans in North Wales have again | :00:36. | :00:44. | |
come under the spotlight. We'll hear the answers in a moment. But | :00:45. | :00:48. | |
first let me give you the opportunity to get in touch with us. | :00:48. | :00:51. | |
If you want to comment on anything on the programme or any other | :00:51. | :00:54. | |
political news for that matter you can reach us via Twitter - we're | :00:54. | :01:01. | |
@walespolitics. Or send us an email to am.pm.co.uk. Well, business in | :01:01. | :01:04. | |
the chamber is already underway, but let's take a look now at | :01:04. | :01:12. | |
today's questions to the First Minister. The National Assembly for | :01:12. | :01:17. | |
Wales is now in session. Before we start the business, I would like to | :01:17. | :01:22. | |
I am sure you are all aware, I'm pleased to announce on 12th | :01:22. | :01:26. | |
November royal asent was given to the National Assembly official | :01:26. | :01:33. | |
language act 2012. It places a duty on the National Assembly and the | :01:33. | :01:38. | |
commission to treat Wesh and English on the basis of equality. | :01:38. | :01:43. | |
This is an historic occasion, it is the first act of the Assembly to | :01:43. | :01:47. | |
receive royal assent. The letters patent and the act are in display | :01:47. | :01:52. | |
for the members and public to see until the end of term. Now we move | :01:52. | :02:02. | |
:02:02. | :02:03. | ||
to the agenda and questions to the First Minister. What are the Wesh | :02:04. | :02:06. | |
Government's priorities. They are set out in the programme for | :02:06. | :02:16. | |
Government. Yesterday we ladies and gentlemened part two of the plan in | :02:16. | :02:22. | |
my constituency, that will develop 3 hundred homes. A key regeneration | :02:22. | :02:28. | |
scheme to create 1,000 homes, do you agree that projects such as | :02:28. | :02:31. | |
this will help the construction industry lead the economy out of | :02:31. | :02:36. | |
recession and what actions the Wesh government have taken to encourage | :02:36. | :02:43. | |
more such projects? It is a good pleased and the now mortgage | :02:43. | :02:48. | |
guarantee scheme to help people take the first step to get on or | :02:48. | :02:53. | |
move up the property ladder. Of course that is a scheme that will | :02:53. | :02:58. | |
help to see young people and first time buyers to get on to the | :02:58. | :03:03. | |
property market for the first time and support the purchase of the | :03:03. | :03:09. | |
3,000 new build homes up to the value of �250,000. Good afternoon. | :03:09. | :03:17. | |
People in Aberavon will be as concerned about the possible done | :03:17. | :03:24. | |
grading of A&E and in the princess of Wales in Bridgend. Would the | :03:24. | :03:30. | |
people be right in being concerned if ambulance services are not | :03:30. | :03:34. | |
considered a central part of the consultation, then the consultation | :03:34. | :03:41. | |
is meaningless. That is the view of your party but not the public. | :03:41. | :03:44. | |
the First Minister make a statement on the provision of health services | :03:44. | :03:49. | |
in north Wales? Yes our plans and priority are found in our programme | :03:49. | :03:54. | |
for Government. First Minister, it is a damning indictment of your | :03:54. | :03:58. | |
Government's approach to health services that what heart -- hot on | :03:58. | :04:03. | |
the foot on the controversy over the Marcus Longly report we see | :04:03. | :04:07. | |
another questionable redrafting of a supposedly independent report. Is | :04:07. | :04:11. | |
it not the case that your Wesh Labour Government is more | :04:11. | :04:17. | |
interested in policy based evidence than evidence-based policy. Why is | :04:17. | :04:21. | |
your Government opposed to independent thinking, or indeed | :04:21. | :04:27. | |
controlling over criticism? She has contradicted the press release her | :04:27. | :04:30. | |
party has sent out. The press release they sent out criticised | :04:30. | :04:36. | |
the minister for not intervening, another member says she has | :04:36. | :04:41. | |
intervened. The reality is this is a matter between the LHB and the | :04:41. | :04:46. | |
National Clinical Forum. There has been no interference from Wesh | :04:46. | :04:50. | |
Government. That ising in ee-- Welsh Government. That is something | :04:50. | :04:55. | |
that is right and proper. Thank you. First Minister, the events of the | :04:55. | :05:00. | |
last few days concerning the BBC are of course of concern, more | :05:00. | :05:04. | |
importantly it risks diverting attention from the issue of | :05:04. | :05:08. | |
protecting vulnerable and young people in the care system. Given | :05:08. | :05:11. | |
the proud record of the National Assembly and the Welsh Government | :05:11. | :05:16. | |
has in child safeguarding, will you reaffirm your commitment to making | :05:16. | :05:19. | |
sure despite all the noise and frenzy around the BBC that we get | :05:19. | :05:26. | |
to the truth of what happened in north Wales and wery step to | :05:26. | :05:30. | |
protect vulnerable young people in care. Yes, I'm aware wof what the | :05:30. | :05:36. | |
UK Government has announced in regards to inquiring into these | :05:36. | :05:39. | |
matters. I met with the Children's Commissioner and asked him to exam | :05:39. | :05:44. | |
minute the situation as it developed and then to advise me as | :05:44. | :05:53. | |
to what further steps may need to be taken. TRANSLATION: There was a | :05:53. | :05:57. | |
discussion yesterday at the Public Accounts Committee on the | :05:57. | :06:02. | |
negotiations taking place between national networks and the local | :06:02. | :06:09. | |
health boards. Including in the case of north Wales the neo-natal | :06:09. | :06:14. | |
network. Is it possible to ensure within the health service that the | :06:14. | :06:18. | |
minutes of these networks should be made available to the public so, | :06:18. | :06:24. | |
that the public and ourselves as Assembly members can scrutinise any | :06:24. | :06:28. | |
recommendations brought forward from the local health boards? | :06:28. | :06:32. | |
TransI will consider the boards of member and write back as regards | :06:32. | :06:40. | |
what can be done to ensure clarity. TRANSLATION: You will be aware of | :06:40. | :06:43. | |
the concern of local authorities in north Wales that there will be | :06:43. | :06:47. | |
greater pressure on their services in light of the proposed changes to | :06:47. | :06:51. | |
health services in north Wales. Can you give us an assurance your | :06:51. | :06:55. | |
Government will not allow any changes that put too much pressure | :06:55. | :06:59. | |
on the services of those local authorities and as a result would | :06:59. | :07:07. | |
cost them more? We want to ensure the authorities collaborate and we | :07:07. | :07:12. | |
understand naturally that there will be a need to change the way in | :07:12. | :07:16. | |
which Social Services also work in order to ensure that the people | :07:16. | :07:21. | |
receive the optimum service available. Now questions from the | :07:21. | :07:25. | |
party leader. First the leader of the opposition. Thank you. First | :07:25. | :07:30. | |
Minister, is it right that so- called independent forum, the | :07:30. | :07:33. | |
National Clinical Forum, drafts a report, presents that report to the | :07:33. | :07:37. | |
local health board and its chairman redrafts it so that its more in | :07:37. | :07:41. | |
tune with the thinking of the health board. How is that | :07:41. | :07:47. | |
independent? This is not a matter for the Welsh Government. Of course | :07:47. | :07:51. | |
your minister set up that forum, does it not endorse the perception | :07:51. | :07:54. | |
and the reality that many people feel that you have got the Langley | :07:54. | :07:59. | |
report, this report and you have failure to achieve ambulance | :07:59. | :08:04. | |
response times and to reach cancer treatment times and to deliver a | :08:04. | :08:10. | |
budget to safeguard NHS services, �500 million out of NHS in Wales. | :08:10. | :08:14. | |
Is it showing a lack of leadership in the Welsh NHS, shouldn't you get | :08:14. | :08:18. | |
a grip of what is going on, so people can have confidence that | :08:18. | :08:22. | |
their NHS will deliver on their needs? I know the people of Wales | :08:22. | :08:28. | |
are more than delighted to see his party have nothing to do with if | :08:28. | :08:33. | |
NHS. We saw his party making millionaires of GPs. That is the | :08:33. | :08:38. | |
future of the health service under his party. We will ensure the | :08:38. | :08:46. | |
service is a public health service and doesn't seek to enrich those | :08:46. | :08:53. | |
within it. Sniet it is amazing a party -- It is amazing a member of | :08:53. | :08:58. | |
the party ta created those millionaires in the NHS. I asked | :08:58. | :09:02. | |
you a specific question on the ability of people to have | :09:02. | :09:08. | |
confidence in so-called independent reports. It is no wonder that with | :09:08. | :09:13. | |
such what mamentable defence over the weekend there was reports you | :09:13. | :09:17. | |
were thinking of reorganising your cabinet and most of that was | :09:17. | :09:21. | |
focused on the two Ministers either side of you and you felt you had to | :09:21. | :09:27. | |
come out and defend that reshuffle. But you only brought the reshuffle | :09:27. | :09:30. | |
up to Christmas time. Is it right in January many of your colleagues | :09:31. | :09:34. | |
will be stuffed and you should consider the health minister's | :09:34. | :09:39. | |
future, given the direction of the Welsh NHS. I was asked yesterday | :09:39. | :09:44. | |
whether a reshusm was imnepbts. But it is not. -- reshuffle was | :09:44. | :09:50. | |
imminent. But it is not. I'm sure the rumours were started by the | :09:50. | :09:56. | |
party opposite. Look at what is happening in England. More than 6 | :09:56. | :10:00. | |
thousand nursing posts have been lost since May 2010. We know there | :10:00. | :10:05. | |
are trusts in England that are going bankrupt and this idea that | :10:05. | :10:10. | |
the nature is -- NHS in England is fully fund is wrong. Yes, it has | :10:10. | :10:13. | |
been difficult. It has been difficult, because his party have | :10:13. | :10:18. | |
cut the amount of money available to Wales. But we have done what we | :10:18. | :10:24. | |
can to protect NHS spend and ministers don't interfere on the | :10:24. | :10:27. | |
National Clinical Forum and the health board are in discussions. | :10:27. | :10:33. | |
This is an example of the confusion we see from the Tories. They | :10:33. | :10:35. | |
criticise ministers for travelling around Wales and then for not | :10:35. | :10:42. | |
travelling. What we see is confusion and chaos in the party | :10:42. | :10:50. | |
opposite. Now we move to the leader.... Wre move to leader of | :10:50. | :10:55. | |
Plaid Cymru. This time last week we were discussing how survivors of | :10:55. | :10:59. | |
abuse could come forward and have their store yus heard and believed. | :10:59. | :11:03. | |
We know that survivors can be damaged by their experiences and | :11:03. | :11:07. | |
they need help and support. The Children's Commissioner has said | :11:07. | :11:11. | |
that his office has received more than 50 calls in relation to abuse. | :11:12. | :11:16. | |
However, since then we have seen public criticism of someone who | :11:16. | :11:19. | |
should never have been paraded through TV studios in the first | :11:19. | :11:24. | |
place. First Minister, this is not about the press, but it is about | :11:24. | :11:28. | |
making sure that people who are abused get justice. Will you join | :11:28. | :11:33. | |
me in condemning the media reporting, which sensationalises | :11:33. | :11:40. | |
and simplifys complex story, rather than treating vulnerable people | :11:40. | :11:47. | |
with the dignity they deserve. has it right. What we saw last week | :11:47. | :11:51. | |
bordered on hysteria and we saw a situation where a part of evidence | :11:51. | :11:56. | |
that was submitted by one potential witness was found to be flawed. But | :11:56. | :12:00. | |
that doesn't mean that all the evidence that is new is flawed. The | :12:00. | :12:06. | |
worry that I have is that the events of last week will discourage | :12:06. | :12:08. | |
people from coming forward with credible new evidence, not just | :12:08. | :12:12. | |
with with regard to what happened in Bryn Estyn and other homes, that | :12:12. | :12:16. | |
will mean it may with that it would be more difficult to get to the | :12:16. | :12:22. | |
truth of what actually happened then and since. That is my concern | :12:22. | :12:26. | |
too. There are now nine separate inquiries into child abuse, leaving | :12:26. | :12:30. | |
the potential for confusion and possibly allowing tracks to be | :12:30. | :12:34. | |
covered if those inquiries are not working together closely. The Prime | :12:34. | :12:37. | |
Minister has said the terms of reference for two of the inquiries | :12:37. | :12:42. | |
about care homes launched last week were going to be drawn up on a | :12:42. | :12:48. | |
cross party basis. We need a quick resolution, but we also need a | :12:48. | :12:51. | |
thorough investigation. Can I ask what discussions you have had with | :12:51. | :12:55. | |
the Home Office about the terms of reference for the inquiry and also | :12:55. | :13:02. | |
the time scales for the inquiries? There have been no discussions with | :13:02. | :13:05. | |
the Home Office. I have discussed this with the Secretary of State | :13:05. | :13:11. | |
and I discussed with the children's commissioner, whether there was a | :13:11. | :13:15. | |
need to nfr further in Wales. We took the view that was not the case | :13:15. | :13:20. | |
at the moment. But the situation will be reviewed. The terms of | :13:20. | :13:25. | |
reference of the reviews ordered by the UK Government are reasonably | :13:25. | :13:31. | |
clear. But in terms of how such ink -- inquiries will proceed, those | :13:31. | :13:35. | |
are matters that I will be discussing with the UK Government. | :13:35. | :13:39. | |
At the heart of these concerns are in traditional institution which | :13:39. | :13:47. | |
have been discredited. This Senedd is at the heart of new politics of | :13:47. | :13:52. | |
co-operation and transparency. We have our ob new institutions like | :13:52. | :13:57. | |
the office of the Children's Commissioner. Will you ensure that | :13:57. | :14:01. | |
the Children's Commissioner's office is sufficiently resourced to | :14:01. | :14:06. | |
carry oith out whatever informations they - carry out | :14:06. | :14:11. | |
whatever investigations they believe they need to co-and to safe | :14:11. | :14:17. | |
carding - -- and that safeguarding children's boards will not allow | :14:17. | :14:20. | |
vulnerable children to fall through the gaps. I have asked the | :14:20. | :14:24. | |
commission tore keep an eye on the situation and I encourage the | :14:24. | :14:28. | |
people to contact the commissioner if they have issues they wish to | :14:28. | :14:31. | |
discuss, or evidence they wish to presents. The children's | :14:31. | :14:34. | |
commissioner can channel people towards counselling as well where | :14:34. | :14:37. | |
that is important. We have a children's commissioner for a | :14:37. | :14:43. | |
reason. One of the reasons is to ensure when a situation arises | :14:43. | :14:47. | |
there is something independent of Government who can take forward | :14:47. | :14:57. | |
:14:57. | :14:57. | ||
such investigations as the commissioner feels is necessary. | :14:57. | :15:00. | |
First Minister, we have already heard today that an independent | :15:00. | :15:07. | |
report by the National Clinical Forum was rewritten after will be - | :15:07. | :15:12. | |
- lobbying by a health board. What is the purpose of the National | :15:12. | :15:22. | |
:15:22. | :15:24. | ||
It is there to provide advice. are in the middle of one of the | :15:24. | :15:27. | |
most controversial reorganisation of NHS services since these | :15:27. | :15:35. | |
Assembly was created. There is a huge amount of public concern. Your | :15:35. | :15:39. | |
government needs to handle this reorganisation with care and | :15:39. | :15:45. | |
openness to ensure that to get the right result at the end. Given that | :15:45. | :15:49. | |
your Health Minister centre this forum, given that government | :15:49. | :15:53. | |
officials sit on it, was your Health Minister aware of what was | :15:53. | :15:59. | |
going on? Officials do not sit on the forum, they are observers. The | :15:59. | :16:04. | |
minister was made aware of the situation after the chain of events. | :16:04. | :16:08. | |
It would not be appropriate for the minister to become aware. It would | :16:08. | :16:12. | |
have been wrong if the minister had tried to interfere with the | :16:12. | :16:21. | |
dialogue that has taking place between the board and the Forum. | :16:21. | :16:25. | |
People in the BBC lost their jobs this week because they did not know | :16:25. | :16:30. | |
what was going on on their watch. They hadn't got a grip of the | :16:30. | :16:36. | |
situation. When will you and your Health Minister get a grip of this | :16:36. | :16:41. | |
most controversial and serious reorganisation? | :16:41. | :16:46. | |
I have to say this is an example of some double-standards. There is no | :16:46. | :16:51. | |
doubt in my mind had their Health Minister interfere it then the | :16:51. | :16:54. | |
leader of the Liberal Democrats would have called for her head for | :16:54. | :16:59. | |
that reason. She has taken the proper stare of not intervening in | :16:59. | :17:03. | |
what is an independence process. Advice given to buy independent | :17:03. | :17:08. | |
body to a health board is the proper way of managing things. From | :17:08. | :17:13. | |
the point of view of confidence in the forum, it is there. She uses | :17:13. | :17:19. | |
the words that the report was rewritten, that is not correct. She | :17:19. | :17:24. | |
has acted perfectly properly in not intervening. Otherwise, she would | :17:24. | :17:32. | |
have been the subject of criticism on the floor of this Chamber. | :17:32. | :17:39. | |
We move it to question three. is the Welsh Government doing to | :17:39. | :17:47. | |
create the conditions for economic growth in Wales? It is in the | :17:47. | :17:52. | |
minutes. Concerns have been raised that no assurance has been given by | :17:52. | :17:59. | |
the Welsh Government as to the future of business rate relief | :17:59. | :18:05. | |
schemes in Wales. This uncertainty is having a significant impact on | :18:06. | :18:10. | |
the ability of small businesses to plan effectively for investment | :18:10. | :18:16. | |
beyond this point. Has the Welsh Government made provision in its | :18:16. | :18:20. | |
budget to further fund the rates relief in the event that this is | :18:20. | :18:29. | |
not a corresponding consequential from the UK Government after they - | :18:29. | :18:33. | |
- after 20th March 13 we expect to see some certainty from the UK | :18:33. | :18:43. | |
:18:43. | :18:45. | ||
Government. Thank you. Procurement is important | :18:46. | :18:49. | |
to the welfare of businesses and companies in Wales and the finance | :18:49. | :18:54. | |
minister said there was great concern about the framework | :18:54. | :19:00. | |
contracts in existence particularly in relation to the schools are the | :19:00. | :19:03. | |
21st century programme. A number of schools from North Wales have | :19:03. | :19:09. | |
contacted me and are concerned about the contracts that are in | :19:09. | :19:17. | |
place for this programme. The turned itself is worth �4.5 million | :19:17. | :19:21. | |
to create the framework. The question I would like to a scheme | :19:21. | :19:27. | |
is what can you do to ensure that North Wales businesses will profit | :19:27. | :19:31. | |
from this major investment in the face of real concerns that have | :19:31. | :19:34. | |
been expressed by the business owners? | :19:34. | :19:41. | |
We want to ensure that most of the Fens have retained the local | :19:41. | :19:51. | |
:19:51. | :19:52. | ||
communities. We would encourage them to contact the government | :19:52. | :19:55. | |
departments to make sure they know exactly what they should do in | :19:55. | :20:05. | |
order to be successful. The success of the Cardiff enterprise zone in | :20:05. | :20:08. | |
bringing private sector funding is critical for plans of growth. | :20:08. | :20:16. | |
Cardiff council approved plans for an office development. This week it | :20:16. | :20:20. | |
has been announced that the council is to buy the land to build a new | :20:20. | :20:30. | |
:20:30. | :20:31. | ||
county hall. Doesn't the Russell Goodway gazumping this undermine | :20:31. | :20:35. | |
the whole principle of an enterprise zone? I can't answer for | :20:35. | :20:45. | |
:20:45. | :20:50. | ||
Cardiff council. Kirsten number four. When does the | :20:50. | :20:52. | |
First Minister expect the Welsh Government to acquire new borrowing | :20:52. | :20:57. | |
powers?. Discussions have commenced and we | :20:57. | :21:02. | |
would like to have the powers are soon as possible. We would all like | :21:02. | :21:07. | |
to know what you mean by soon as we would like to know what the | :21:07. | :21:10. | |
relationship is between the new borrowing powers and the government | :21:10. | :21:14. | |
budget. Was proportional or percentage of the budget you have | :21:14. | :21:20. | |
the right to borrow in future and what will be the link between that | :21:20. | :21:25. | |
percentage and the tax-raising powers? We have to await the | :21:25. | :21:30. | |
conclusions of the Silk Commission part one. That isn't linked with | :21:30. | :21:36. | |
the commission -- issue of borrowing. It is relevant and it is | :21:36. | :21:40. | |
something that Treasury will make sure Wales can borrow as soon as | :21:40. | :21:44. | |
possible. We are discussing some projects with the Treasury that | :21:44. | :21:48. | |
could be funded prior to the conversion of the power to | :21:48. | :21:53. | |
government. In the context of borrowing powers | :21:53. | :21:58. | |
the debate has been around borrowing related to income streams | :21:58. | :22:02. | |
from tax-raising powers. Is the government considering the | :22:02. | :22:06. | |
possibility of using borrowing powers in other areas where there | :22:06. | :22:11. | |
might be projects which produce income revenues such as investment | :22:11. | :22:16. | |
in housing should produce a rental income stream. The issue of | :22:16. | :22:20. | |
borrowing isn't wrapped up in the announcement was made with the | :22:20. | :22:25. | |
Treasury. We don't accept there is a need for an income stream before | :22:25. | :22:29. | |
you can borrow. Northern Ireland does not have that but we see there | :22:29. | :22:34. | |
is an argument for it. We want to see borrowing powers survivors | :22:34. | :22:44. | |
quickly as possible and we hope that once -- silk has announced | :22:44. | :22:49. | |
next week it will be put in place. If they're so Commission reports | :22:49. | :22:53. | |
positively and I hope that will be the case, come the First Minister | :22:53. | :22:58. | |
tell us what discussions the Welsh Government officials have had with | :22:58. | :23:04. | |
the minister to date to ensure that any new borrowing powers will be | :23:04. | :23:08. | |
established on a firm legislative basis. -- silk Commission. For have | :23:08. | :23:13. | |
been a number of discussions on what kind of legislation could be | :23:13. | :23:17. | |
used and also we have informed the UK Government is important the | :23:17. | :23:21. | |
conclusion of the commission and the issue of borrowing powers has | :23:21. | :23:28. | |
put in place way before the next general election. Will the First | :23:28. | :23:30. | |
Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to improve the | :23:30. | :23:34. | |
competitiveness of the North Wales economy. Our plans are to be found | :23:34. | :23:38. | |
in the programme for government. Food manufacturing is of course a | :23:38. | :23:43. | |
major future growth industry in North Wales and has demonstrated | :23:43. | :23:47. | |
recently by the success of events such as the land: Food festival | :23:47. | :23:52. | |
where the Deputy Minister was guest speaker. -- Llangollen Food | :23:52. | :24:00. | |
Festival. We import �1.2 billion worth of their products than it | :24:00. | :24:10. | |
:24:10. | :24:16. | ||
exports. There is growth potential here and abroad. What affairs is a | :24:16. | :24:19. | |
government of making to forge a new trading links between the she food | :24:19. | :24:23. | |
manufacturers in Wales and those emerging markets? Those links up | :24:23. | :24:30. | |
been built for many, many years. We are supporting six companies to | :24:30. | :24:37. | |
exhibit in China. We are recruiting food and drink companies to exhibit | :24:37. | :24:44. | |
in the West Pavilion at the Gulf Food Show in Dubai next February. | :24:44. | :24:48. | |
When I meet with owners of businesses in North Wales the | :24:48. | :24:51. | |
volume of red tape and bureaucracy they have to deal with is a | :24:51. | :24:58. | |
recurring complaint. They describe measures coming out of this place | :24:58. | :25:03. | |
as platinum plated. And necessary red tape has taking time from | :25:03. | :25:12. | |
growing businesses. -- unnecessary. It prevents the job growth. It also | :25:12. | :25:16. | |
increases the risks of job flight across the border. What support | :25:16. | :25:25. | |
which you give to commissioning a third or a region review on theirs. | :25:25. | :25:30. | |
Well as businesses have to be given the freedom to deliver jobs and | :25:30. | :25:35. | |
prosperity of a stab a member provides no evidence a tour to back | :25:35. | :25:38. | |
up her claims. I have heard nothing from businesses to suggest that is | :25:38. | :25:42. | |
a level of red tape in Wales that is different or worse than in | :25:42. | :25:46. | |
England. If the member will give me concrete evidence to back up what | :25:46. | :25:54. | |
she is saying a were considerate. I am sure that the First Minister | :25:54. | :26:02. | |
will remember that in the economic recovery plan it was said that land | :26:02. | :26:07. | |
use planning, specifically, can contribute to economic benefit | :26:07. | :26:13. | |
either in North or in anywhere else in Wales by being simpler and more | :26:13. | :26:20. | |
business-friendly. Do you still agree with a statement and if you | :26:20. | :26:23. | |
do worthy Planning Bill introduced by the government deal with those | :26:23. | :26:28. | |
issues? I agree entirely. It is important that the planning system | :26:28. | :26:35. | |
should respond swiftly but we must retain the as part of the planning | :26:35. | :26:42. | |
system that provide democratic input. One of the things that is a | :26:42. | :26:46. | |
complaint from business is it takes so long to get the initial | :26:46. | :26:52. | |
decisions so it is important that the Bill itself look at ways of | :26:52. | :26:59. | |
making sure decisions are taken quickly. Will the First Minister | :26:59. | :27:02. | |
make a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to improve | :27:02. | :27:06. | |
mental health services in Wales. launched a bill for mental health | :27:06. | :27:09. | |
which is a strategy for improving mental health and well-being of the | :27:09. | :27:13. | |
people of files. First Minister, for far too long people suffering | :27:13. | :27:17. | |
from mental health problems have suffered from discrimination. This | :27:17. | :27:25. | |
is coupled with a concerted effort of thousands of people who were | :27:25. | :27:29. | |
using the welfare system. What steps can you take to ensure that | :27:29. | :27:36. | |
we get all the support they need? We seek to address that to make | :27:36. | :27:41. | |
sure any stigma is removed and also to ensure that people understand | :27:41. | :27:46. | |
what services are available to deal with mental health issues in Wales. | :27:46. | :27:52. | |
One area that is our priority is to prioritise save, dignified and | :27:52. | :28:02. | |
:28:02. | :28:03. | ||
evidence based interventions. leading academic leader has raised | :28:03. | :28:08. | |
questions about morale. He has highlighted that the services is | :28:08. | :28:12. | |
run by a locum doctors that the senior nurses, psychologists and | :28:12. | :28:18. | |
paramedical staff and leaving a vacuum. The disintegrating | :28:18. | :28:23. | |
situation in North West has become the antithesis of a personalised | :28:23. | :28:27. | |
service. I can send you further information was what would you do | :28:27. | :28:33. | |
to him to address these concerns? The delivery plan for this was | :28:33. | :28:36. | |
published in October and it is intended to improve services for | :28:36. | :28:46. | |
mental health in Wales. Since the close of reward over the summer | :28:46. | :28:53. | |
there are no more emergency beds available for mental health | :28:53. | :28:58. | |
patients at that hospital. Mental health of patients and often the | :28:58. | :29:03. | |
least willing to raise their voice in favour of their own services. We | :29:03. | :29:08. | |
Nubian at the cards for them and ask the Hywel Dda Health Board want | :29:08. | :29:15. | |
their timetable is to reopen those mental health beds in Aberystwyth. | :29:15. | :29:19. | |
-- will you be an advocate for them. I will ask the Health Minister to | :29:19. | :29:25. | |
write to members so the certainty of the future of this service they | :29:25. | :29:29. | |
ever stop there is a strong link between diabetes and mental illness. | :29:29. | :29:34. | |
At diabetes charity shone a spotlight on a mental health come | :29:34. | :29:38. | |
if -- condition where young women start taking their insulin in order | :29:38. | :29:44. | |
to lose weight sometimes a terrible health consequences. With you make | :29:44. | :29:52. | |
sure you plan has specific references to mental health. | :29:52. | :29:55. | |
diabetes national framework highlights the need to take into | :29:55. | :30:00. | |
account of mental health issues for stem we do expect local health boss | :30:00. | :30:07. | |
to deliver by 2013 on the plan. In looking at delivery the plan will | :30:07. | :30:10. | |
emphasise the need to include people suffering from mental health | :30:10. | :30:20. | |
First Minister, what measure will the Welsh Government be taking to | :30:20. | :30:24. | |
tackle the reduction in the number of Welsh apprenticeships? | :30:24. | :30:29. | |
announced a further �5 million investment in apprenticeship places | :30:29. | :30:33. | |
for young people and the member will be aware of conclusion of | :30:33. | :30:39. | |
discussions between the Government and his party. Music to my ears, | :30:39. | :30:45. | |
First Minister! I'm delighted you mentioned Plaid Cymru's generation | :30:45. | :30:50. | |
deal on the budget and the potential to give hope to 10,000 | :30:50. | :30:56. | |
young people. What is the time frame for the skpriens park that is | :30:56. | :31:01. | |
the result of further pressure from Plaid Cymru and hope for further | :31:01. | :31:05. | |
apprenticeships. -- science park. These matters are being looked at | :31:05. | :31:09. | |
now. What we wish to do is ensure the science park is established and | :31:10. | :31:15. | |
to ensure as much external funding as possible is brought into such a | :31:15. | :31:20. | |
scheme. That is something that, as was agreed, will be taken forward | :31:20. | :31:26. | |
as soon as possible. Will the First Minister outline what steps are | :31:26. | :31:31. | |
being taken to ensure passenger safety on bus services in Wales. | :31:31. | :31:36. | |
Safety is not devolved. These are matters for the UK Government. But | :31:36. | :31:43. | |
there are regulations in place. First Minister, buses that | :31:43. | :31:47. | |
transport Powis children to and from school are required to have | :31:47. | :31:53. | |
the operators to have seat belts and for the drivers to have a CRB | :31:53. | :31:58. | |
check. The current retendering process for school transport in | :31:58. | :32:01. | |
Powis will mean a significant number of children will now not be | :32:02. | :32:06. | |
transported on school buses, but will travel to school on public | :32:06. | :32:12. | |
services buses, who do not have the same requirements for seat belt and | :32:12. | :32:17. | |
do not require the drive to have a CRB check. Is it right for parents | :32:17. | :32:22. | |
of those children to be concerned at the changes and the risks | :32:22. | :32:27. | |
associated with moving from buses that do have c RB check drivers and | :32:27. | :32:33. | |
seat belts on to transport that does not. I wouldn't want the give | :32:33. | :32:37. | |
the impression that public transport is unsafe. But this is | :32:37. | :32:41. | |
clearly a matter for Powis, but I'm sure the local authority will need | :32:41. | :32:45. | |
to bear in mind the need tone sure the safety of children when they | :32:45. | :32:52. | |
trfl -- need to ensure the safety of children hen they go to school. | :32:52. | :32:57. | |
In the last few days I have been contacted by constituents regarding | :32:57. | :33:01. | |
getting on to bus. I have had one who is in a wheelchair who was | :33:01. | :33:07. | |
unable to access a bus. I have have a constitute -- constituent who | :33:07. | :33:14. | |
suffers from sight loss and the bus driver doesn't say what stop | :33:14. | :33:18. | |
they're at and hope they have not missed it. Is there anything the | :33:18. | :33:23. | |
Government can do to ensure that people with disabilitys have equal | :33:23. | :33:29. | |
access to bus travel. As I mentioned, these are matters that | :33:29. | :33:35. | |
are not dedevolved. It is for the operator. But it is good practice | :33:35. | :33:40. | |
and when somebody is using a service, particularly when they | :33:40. | :33:45. | |
have problems with their sight, that the driver should tell them | :33:45. | :33:55. | |
where their stop is. That is common humanity. If there have been | :33:55. | :33:58. | |
occasions when people have not received that service, I'm sure | :33:58. | :34:02. | |
drivers would want to provide it. I'm delighted your local government | :34:02. | :34:07. | |
minister has agreed to look at what constituents a safe walking or | :34:07. | :34:11. | |
cycling route to school. It is possible as a result of that that | :34:11. | :34:16. | |
more children may end up taking safer bus routes to school. And | :34:16. | :34:21. | |
there will be a financial consequence. Can you give us your | :34:21. | :34:25. | |
reassurance that your Government will not use cost to outweigh child | :34:25. | :34:30. | |
protection when it comes to providing such 16s -- services. | :34:30. | :34:33. | |
Local authority take different views in terms of the appropriate | :34:33. | :34:37. | |
distance. There is a statutory distance of course. But it is for | :34:37. | :34:41. | |
local authorities to ensure they're providing the correct level of | :34:41. | :34:51. | |
:34:51. | :34:54. | ||
transport. TRANSLATION: It appear that most of these questions are | :34:54. | :34:57. | |
either non-devolved issues, or matters involving local authorities. | :34:57. | :35:03. | |
May I refer to a matter that is directly apertaining to the Welsh | :35:03. | :35:08. | |
Government as regards the safety of people on bus. It is essential that | :35:08. | :35:12. | |
they can access the buses in the first place. Do 0 accept the way | :35:12. | :35:19. | |
your government and your minister has dealt with the programme of | :35:19. | :35:23. | |
concessionary fares for bus has led to a situation where fewer buses | :35:23. | :35:28. | |
are available and the prices have been... Have increased. No, I think | :35:28. | :35:33. | |
the deal provided to those running bus services is fair. We must bear | :35:33. | :35:39. | |
in mind that we in Wales have a system of free bus passes for those | :35:39. | :35:43. | |
over 60 and are disabled. Something that isn't available in other parts | :35:43. | :35:47. | |
of the UK. That demonstrates what the Welsh Government thinks about | :35:47. | :35:56. | |
ensuring that people can continue to use the bus. Will the First | :35:56. | :36:00. | |
Minister make a statement on the provision of cancer services in | :36:00. | :36:05. | |
Wales? The Welsh Government's cancer delivery plan, launched in | :36:05. | :36:13. | |
June, sets out our expectations on this issue. Thank you, but the | :36:13. | :36:18. | |
clinical, the NICE clinical guidelines on breast cancer, which | :36:19. | :36:24. | |
were published in October 2006 recommend annual MRI screening for | :36:24. | :36:31. | |
young women who have a high risk of developing cancer. Not withstanding | :36:31. | :36:36. | |
that, six years hence we are still waiting. When is the Government | :36:36. | :36:40. | |
going to provide MRI screening for high Rix women in Wales. We want to | :36:40. | :36:45. | |
ensure that those at risk are screened as often as possible. In | :36:45. | :36:50. | |
terms of the point raised by the member, I will write to him to | :36:50. | :36:57. | |
explain where the Government is in terms of this issue. One of | :36:57. | :37:02. | |
commitments of the Welsh Government is for every patient with cancer to | :37:02. | :37:06. | |
have a key worker. Who progress has been made in fulfilling this | :37:06. | :37:10. | |
commitment, bearing in mind one of the most important issues for | :37:10. | :37:16. | |
patients is to have a single point of contact when needed. They are | :37:16. | :37:22. | |
expected to assign a named key work tore assess and record a care plan | :37:22. | :37:29. | |
the needs of everyone with cancer. All LHBs have been writ Tonga ther | :37:29. | :37:34. | |
evidence in the application of the policy and work is under way to | :37:34. | :37:40. | |
develop a performance measure for key workers. First Minister, I'm | :37:40. | :37:44. | |
aware of press reports that your Government is considering the | :37:44. | :37:47. | |
establishment of a modern treatments fund, which is something | :37:47. | :37:51. | |
which my party would welcome, given our stance on need for access to | :37:51. | :37:54. | |
modern treatments for thing like cancer. Can you clarify the | :37:54. | :37:58. | |
position of the Welsh Government in terms of this, for the next year's | :37:58. | :38:03. | |
budget. We're looking at a fund and it a suggestion that came from the | :38:03. | :38:07. | |
Liberal Democrat, which I acknowledge, that will help secure | :38:07. | :38:11. | |
treatments, particularly technology that delivers treatment in the next | :38:11. | :38:16. | |
few years. What it isn't is a drugs fund or a way of try 20 get around | :38:16. | :38:21. | |
NICE guidelines. That is something I Wasp want to emphasise. But it is | :38:21. | :38:26. | |
something we wish to take forward to make sure we have the best | :38:26. | :38:31. | |
technology available to treat people in Wales. Will the First | :38:31. | :38:35. | |
Minister give details of the Welsh Government's plans to tackle the | :38:35. | :38:41. | |
problem of asbestos in schools. have requested authority that the | :38:41. | :38:48. | |
schools are performing their duty in relation to this. There is | :38:48. | :38:52. | |
concern that many schools do contain some degree of asbestos. It | :38:52. | :38:57. | |
was once thought it was safe to leave it in place, but that is not | :38:57. | :39:03. | |
current line in thinking. Co-you -- do you agree that parents have the | :39:03. | :39:09. | |
right to know the level of asbestos in schools and a day Tay base with | :39:09. | :39:13. | |
a partnership between the Welsh Government and local authorities in | :39:13. | :39:18. | |
Wales would help. Each local authority has an asbestos | :39:18. | :39:21. | |
management plan. I have no doubt that local authorities will be | :39:21. | :39:25. | |
looking to manage asbestos containing materials in line with | :39:25. | :39:32. | |
current legislation and thinking in terms of the health issues. | :39:32. | :39:37. | |
TRANSLATION: Thank you. I want to understand whether you have an | :39:37. | :39:42. | |
objection to people being told if asbestos is in school or not. | :39:42. | :39:46. | |
up to local authoritys if they wish to notify people. What is important | :39:46. | :39:52. | |
of course is that people shouldn't think that the fact that there is | :39:52. | :39:58. | |
asbestos present is a risk to children. Thank you will the First | :39:58. | :40:02. | |
Minister make a statement on funding for first sector | :40:02. | :40:07. | |
organisations provide bdty Welsh Government. Direct funding is over | :40:07. | :40:13. | |
� 340 million supporting 900 organisationings. In light of what | :40:13. | :40:18. | |
has ped with regards to this, could you outline the way you | :40:18. | :40:24. | |
organisation funding and a monitor funding has changed in relation to | :40:24. | :40:28. | |
service level agreements. Grant management project was established | :40:28. | :40:32. | |
in 2010 and a centre of excellence has been created to develop the | :40:32. | :40:37. | |
right procedures in terms of dealing with funding, where funding | :40:37. | :40:42. | |
is provided to third sector organisations. All grants across | :40:42. | :40:52. | |
:40:52. | :40:54. | ||
the Welsh Government have been reviewed. Don't forget you can see | :40:54. | :41:03. | |
more coverage of the National Assembly online. Watching for us | :41:03. | :41:13. | |
:41:13. | :41:13. | ||
today was our reporter Brian Meechan. A lot of talk on health | :41:13. | :41:17. | |
services and the questionable redrafts of an independent report | :41:17. | :41:23. | |
as one member said. Yes, this is the report by the National Clinical | :41:23. | :41:29. | |
Forum, looking at proposals for changes in north Wales. The | :41:29. | :41:33. | |
suggestion has been that that has been rewritten. We believe at first | :41:33. | :41:37. | |
it was critical of the idea of the changes that are being proposed in | :41:38. | :41:42. | |
north Wales, saying that they're not sustainable. The Conservatives | :41:42. | :41:46. | |
are asking why that has been rewritten. They say it follows | :41:46. | :41:50. | |
discussions between the National Clinical Forum that was set up to | :41:50. | :41:53. | |
give independent advice and discussions between them and the | :41:53. | :41:57. | |
local authority health board leaders. The Welsh Government have | :41:57. | :42:01. | |
said it is not a matter for them. The health minister did not | :42:01. | :42:05. | |
intervene. They say she is now being criticised for not | :42:05. | :42:08. | |
intervening, when she would have been criticised if she had | :42:08. | :42:12. | |
intervened. Because this a matter between the local authority health | :42:12. | :42:18. | |
board and the forum. One other story today were the historical | :42:18. | :42:23. | |
claim of child abuse in north Wales care homes. Some members saying | :42:23. | :42:30. | |
that the story has now sadly moved from these claims and shifted to | :42:30. | :42:35. | |
focus on the BBC. That is rightment. Some strong comments. One from | :42:35. | :42:40. | |
saying that no matter what happens in terms of BBC's reporting of this, | :42:40. | :42:46. | |
it is important not to lose the sight of the fact that it is about | :42:46. | :42:51. | |
finding the truth. We heard from Leanne Wood. She said she was | :42:51. | :42:56. | |
critical of the previous coverage and twhauz followed by Carwyn Jones | :42:56. | :43:01. | |
who called the reporting a frenzy and said it was unlikely or make it | :43:01. | :43:04. | |
less likely that some people would come forward with information if | :43:04. | :43:09. | |
nay felt this was how they were going to be treated. Thank you. And | :43:10. | :43:14. | |
that is it from us today. We are back at the same time next week | :43:15. | :43:18. |