:00:20. > :00:22.Hello again, good afternoon, and welcome to the final
:00:23. > :00:27.We're expecting questions today on a range of topics
:00:28. > :00:29.including traffic jams, housing and Carwyn Jones' conversations
:00:30. > :00:34.Don't forget we're on Twitter, @walespolitics, where you can follow
:00:35. > :00:37.all the latest from the Assembly and Welsh politics.
:00:38. > :00:39.Well, business in the Siambr is already under way,
:00:40. > :00:49.so let's go over now for today's questions to the First Minister.
:00:50. > :00:57.I called the National Assembly to order, the first item on our agenda
:00:58. > :00:58.is questions to the First Minister and the first question is from
:00:59. > :00:59.Gareth Bennett. What steps is the Welsh Government
:01:00. > :01:14.taking to alleviate road traffic Sustainably improving infrastructure
:01:15. > :01:17.and transport links, increasing transport choice, focusing on the
:01:18. > :01:21.safety and reliability of the road network.
:01:22. > :01:27.I thank the First Minister for his answer. As you will be aware, there
:01:28. > :01:33.are major housing developments planned for the edges of Cardiff
:01:34. > :01:37.which will increase road traffic congestion in the next few years. We
:01:38. > :01:42.are hopeful the South Wales Metro will arrive but in the medium term
:01:43. > :01:46.are there any steps the government could take to alleviate any
:01:47. > :01:55.potential increases in road congestion which could possibly ten
:01:56. > :02:03.Cardiff into a glorified car park? It is a matter for the local
:02:04. > :02:05.authority to ensure when there is a development the committee
:02:06. > :02:10.infrastructure Levy can be used in order to make sure infrastructure
:02:11. > :02:13.can be provided where there is development. I expect any local
:02:14. > :02:19.authority to be able to do that and the Metro in time will be able to
:02:20. > :02:23.extend its reach to parts of the city and beyond, where there is no
:02:24. > :02:28.heavy rail link. Where light rail made perfect sense in moving people
:02:29. > :02:32.around. Vikki Howells. Does the First
:02:33. > :02:37.Minister agree the completion of the Cross Valley Link Road in Mountain
:02:38. > :02:41.Ash will reduce congestion in this part of South Wales Central? It'll
:02:42. > :02:46.play an important part in the system, the two way flow of capital
:02:47. > :02:50.and labour in future economic schemes such as the Cardiff capital
:02:51. > :02:54.region. Transport links are important for
:02:55. > :02:59.two reasons as the member said. To enable people to get to work more
:03:00. > :03:02.quickly and to enable investments to flow into communities where
:03:03. > :03:08.investment has been hard to attract in years gone by. For me, schemes
:03:09. > :03:11.like the Metro, the Cross Valley Link are important to ensure people
:03:12. > :03:16.and investments can move more freely.
:03:17. > :03:22.Neil McEvoy. In Europe, 460,000 people die
:03:23. > :03:28.prematurely each year from air pollution. Worldwide the figure is
:03:29. > :03:31.6.5 million. In Wales, thousands die every year and the World Health
:03:32. > :03:37.Organisation lists Cardiff as one of the worst areas for air pollution.
:03:38. > :03:45.Labour's plans for Cardiff include putting 10,000 extra cars on the
:03:46. > :03:49.road. How is this consistent with the goals of the future generations
:03:50. > :03:54.act, taking into account those extra cars will breathe poisonous fumes
:03:55. > :04:04.all over my constituents Healthwatch England I expect that any
:04:05. > :04:06.development should include use the community infrastructure Levy.
:04:07. > :04:11.Sustainable transport links should be put in place for those
:04:12. > :04:16.developments. The days when development was driven entirely by
:04:17. > :04:21.the car have come to an end. It is important or local authorities in
:04:22. > :04:30.Wales are able to look at options. David melding.
:04:31. > :04:40.I walk through my area frequently. It is clear that we need to reduce
:04:41. > :04:46.the number of needless journeys or journeys that are not shared, just
:04:47. > :04:51.one occupant driving a car, there are many quick wins we can gain.
:04:52. > :04:54.That ought to be the other half of our active travel strategy. We've
:04:55. > :04:59.got a good law, we need to start implemented.
:05:00. > :05:05.This is a multi pronged approach. Where there are problems that cannot
:05:06. > :05:10.be resolved by public transport, that has to be dealt with. M4 is one
:05:11. > :05:15.issue. When the franchise transfer the most governments we need to make
:05:16. > :05:19.sure we have better rolling stock on Cardiff suburbanites, the
:05:20. > :05:26.development of the Metro, more light rail so communities that their links
:05:27. > :05:30.are reconnected by the light rail network. When it comes to cycling,
:05:31. > :05:36.we are very keen to make sure more cities sees cycling, not just as a
:05:37. > :05:40.recreation, but more of its spot. Cardiff has a network of cycle
:05:41. > :05:44.routes, they are not all connected. Other towns and cities don't do so
:05:45. > :05:48.well. It is important for many cyclists they are not in the same
:05:49. > :05:53.names as traffic, their confidence isn't strong enough. We must do more
:05:54. > :05:56.through the active travel to make sure all modes of sustainable
:05:57. > :05:57.transport are promoted. Question number two, Dafydd
:05:58. > :05:59.Elis-Thomas. When did the First Minister last
:06:00. > :06:01.meet with the Prime Minister to discuss constitutional
:06:02. > :06:18.developments in Wales? I met her at the JNC on the 24th of
:06:19. > :06:23.October. Many things were discussed at that time.
:06:24. > :06:28.Could the First Minister now give this national insurance -- give this
:06:29. > :06:33.National Assembly and assure that there will be no diminish and is
:06:34. > :06:41.legal powers given to the Wales Bill, the so-called Brexit process
:06:42. > :06:44.or the and constitutional questions posed by some conservative members
:06:45. > :06:48.of Parliament. Could I say in terms of the Brexit
:06:49. > :06:56.process, there are two things that are vital here. First of all, no
:06:57. > :06:59.diminishing in powers for this institution and ensuring the powers
:07:00. > :07:03.that are in Brussels are transferred to this institution and the people
:07:04. > :07:12.of Wales as well. Those are the principles that we continue to
:07:13. > :07:18.pursue through discussions that we are having with the UK Government.
:07:19. > :07:25.Simon Thomas. Thank you, may I ask by thanking the First Minister for
:07:26. > :07:30.continuing with discussions between Plaid Cymru and his party and for
:07:31. > :07:36.the meeting we had yesterday. I look forward to seeing the amendments to
:07:37. > :07:39.The Wales Bill in the House of Lords in order to secure with these
:07:40. > :07:46.processes. I would like to raise another issue with him today, an
:07:47. > :07:50.issue related to another Parliament. The Presiding Officer of the
:07:51. > :07:55.Catalonian parliament is facing a court case in Spain for allowing a
:07:56. > :08:00.debate on the constitutional future of Catalonia. That is to say, they
:08:01. > :08:03.are allowing a debate in the Catalonian Parliament on
:08:04. > :08:07.independence. We know Spain are sensitive of the issue but in a big
:08:08. > :08:12.aquatic nation as we have seen in Scotland, and here in Wales, a
:08:13. > :08:16.debate on the future of a nation is crucially important to demonstrate a
:08:17. > :08:21.nation can move forward step-by-step together on that process. Can you
:08:22. > :08:24.raise these issues with the Westminster government, expressing
:08:25. > :08:29.concern that the Speaker of a parliament is facing a court case
:08:30. > :08:33.for allowing a debate in Parliament? Could they consider that in more
:08:34. > :08:37.detail and I will do that and try to be member with the details. I know
:08:38. > :08:42.the situation is different in Spain and when I went to Catalonia to meet
:08:43. > :08:48.with the speaker of Catalonia at the time, one of the questions that was
:08:49. > :08:53.asked to me in the press conference was whether I had the permission of
:08:54. > :08:58.David Cameron to go to Catalonia? I said, no, and I don't expect our
:08:59. > :09:02.permission. I wouldn't ask for permission. That is the context in
:09:03. > :09:09.Catalonia. Can I considered the situation in more detail?
:09:10. > :09:13.Christians now by the party leaders. First of all, the leader of the
:09:14. > :09:16.Conservatives. Pallett I wish you the compliments
:09:17. > :09:27.of the season and best wishes to your family over the festive period.
:09:28. > :09:30.Last week, we had the good news about Tata and the agreements
:09:31. > :09:36.between the unions and the company. Bearing in mind where we were this
:09:37. > :09:41.time last year, with seven and the devastating news in March many of us
:09:42. > :09:49.engaged with, it is looking rather bleak. It is unimaginable to be the
:09:50. > :09:55.situation we are at the moment. But that is a caveat around the pot. Are
:09:56. > :10:00.you confident that is aid the other should be endorsed by the workers
:10:01. > :10:04.when they are balloted on its? Can I reciprocate and wished him
:10:05. > :10:08.this season 's greetings as well. He raises an important is you about
:10:09. > :10:13.Tata. Tata will not be in a position it is in in with a pass from the how
:10:14. > :10:20.given. I'd like to pay tribute to the hard work put in by officials.
:10:21. > :10:26.Many meetings, I have spoken to Tata many times. The hourly company that
:10:27. > :10:30.listens. They are prepared, if you put up the right case, to listen and
:10:31. > :10:33.move forward. Last week's announcement in the straight of
:10:34. > :10:38.that. It is a matter for the workforce as to what they do. If I
:10:39. > :10:42.can put it that way, it is unclear what the future would be if the deal
:10:43. > :10:47.was not accepted. These are difficult times and the emphasis has
:10:48. > :10:51.to be on continuing steel production in Wales and there will be some
:10:52. > :10:54.difficult decisions around that, I understand. That has to be the main
:10:55. > :10:58.objective. I do want to push you on this
:10:59. > :11:06.because I do view it is important to get a signal from U of endorsement
:11:07. > :11:08.on that deal. On the response to my question, you haven't given that
:11:09. > :11:13.endorsement. The Welsh Government has given a lot of support and the
:11:14. > :11:22.UK Government. Also, the change of direction from the Tata mainboard.
:11:23. > :11:26.That is an important development in the direction of Tata and the way it
:11:27. > :11:32.looks at steel. The takeover of call' was his takeover. It is
:11:33. > :11:37.important you occupy a role here as the most senior elected politician.
:11:38. > :11:42.That deal is on the table and it is a simple question. Do you endorse
:11:43. > :11:46.the deal on the table for the workers to deal on?
:11:47. > :11:52.It is a good deal compared to where we were in the spring. The situation
:11:53. > :11:59.was particularly bleak for steel, the heavy end of steel-making in
:12:00. > :12:04.Port Talbot. It is a tribute to the hard work of many people that we are
:12:05. > :12:08.in the situation we're in now. This deal is a deal I can endorse and a
:12:09. > :12:11.deal that can provide a future for plan.
:12:12. > :12:16.Thank you for that endorsement. That is important to be on the record. It
:12:17. > :12:21.is the final piece of the jigsaw that this lead to the agreement.
:12:22. > :12:25.What was important as well in the negotiations with the issues around
:12:26. > :12:35.business rates. APC the Commons you have made on that. It is a complex
:12:36. > :12:42.area. -- I appreciate the comments. Can there be a favourable business
:12:43. > :12:45.rates regime for the Tata. This was a direct request to the Welsh
:12:46. > :12:50.Government as to whether it could help. Also our business rates, I had
:12:51. > :12:54.hoped that today we might have had an announcement is more generally on
:12:55. > :12:57.business rates in Wales as to maybe an early Christmas presents for
:12:58. > :13:01.businesses around business rate relief that have filled post bags of
:13:02. > :13:05.Assembly Members across this chamber. Are you able to say whether
:13:06. > :13:10.the government will be coming forward with an enhanced relief
:13:11. > :13:13.programme for businesses here in Wales who find themselves on the
:13:14. > :13:18.wrong end of the valuations that have gone out before Christmas?
:13:19. > :13:22.Where we get the other side of Christmases, many of those
:13:23. > :13:25.businesses are going to be in a difficult place. It'll be great to
:13:26. > :13:28.have clarity whether the government is coming forward with an
:13:29. > :13:31.announcement to help those businesses.
:13:32. > :13:36.This is something we have been considering as part of the final
:13:37. > :13:40.budget and it will be made soon. In relation to business rates and Tata,
:13:41. > :13:47.the package you put together is 60 million. It is equivalent to five
:13:48. > :13:54.years free of business rates. It is difficult to offer business rate
:13:55. > :14:00.relief in one sector. What we have is a packet of support that is state
:14:01. > :14:04.aid proof but targeted at Tata. I have to say it is important the UK
:14:05. > :14:08.Government doesn't lose sight of the facts but many other industries are
:14:09. > :14:12.saying energy prices are too high. Energy intensive energies --
:14:13. > :14:19.industries will have to see more done. We can't be seen as being
:14:20. > :14:24.uncompetitive. Our energy mix is similar to many other countries in
:14:25. > :14:28.Europe. Because of the obscure nature of what alleges to be an
:14:29. > :14:31.energy market in the UK, it does make the UK more expensive and more
:14:32. > :14:37.needs to be done by the UK Government.
:14:38. > :14:41.The leader of the Ukip group, Neil Hamilton.
:14:42. > :14:46.It is time to look back on what we have achieved. I wonder if the First
:14:47. > :14:50.Minister in all candour can tell is today what he thinks the greatest
:14:51. > :14:56.failure of his government will be. Is it schools? Would this be the
:14:57. > :14:59.health service where have our health boards are either in special
:15:00. > :15:05.measures or targeted with intervention. Would it be in poverty
:15:06. > :15:10.in Wales because having been second from the bottom of the income table
:15:11. > :15:14.of the nations and regions of the UK when Labour came to power nearly 20
:15:15. > :15:19.years ago, we are at the bottom of the heap.
:15:20. > :15:26.We have seen household poverty de crease in Wales for the first time
:15:27. > :15:29.in many years. We see what happens with social care in England and the
:15:30. > :15:35.crisis that exists there. We have seen health spending in Wales
:15:36. > :15:39.increase over the years, but he asked me a fair question, what is
:15:40. > :15:42.the greatest failure ofques-mac the greatest failure as far as this
:15:43. > :15:46.government is concerned is to see him sitting opposite me asking those
:15:47. > :15:50.questions. I am grateful for the condiment, even though it is only
:15:51. > :15:55.implied. As regards education, the Pisa report says 21% of students at
:15:56. > :16:01.the age of 15 can't read well enough to participate effectively and
:16:02. > :16:03.productively in life, 23% can't solve problems routinely faced by
:16:04. > :16:09.adults in their daily lives because they can't count and this is the
:16:10. > :16:17.fourth set of Pisa results in which Wales has performed worse than
:16:18. > :16:20.anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Only Wales and Scotland other parts
:16:21. > :16:24.of the UK to go backwards in the last decade. Isn't that the real
:16:25. > :16:28.failure of this gov-mac? True if you compare the figures in the last
:16:29. > :16:31.three years, but we know there are challenges. I remind the leader of
:16:32. > :16:36.Ukip what the OECD have said, that we are on the right track, we should
:16:37. > :16:45.stay with what we are doing, and we should see results in the future.
:16:46. > :16:50.What the OECD have said is that they would not be supportive of plans for
:16:51. > :16:56.selective education, I know it is a plan to his party, but the OECD do
:16:57. > :17:01.not support that, they see it as making it more difficult for
:17:02. > :17:06.children to achieve good education. Without wishing to spoil the genial
:17:07. > :17:10.asperity of our weekly exchanges, Kamei compliment him on the style
:17:11. > :17:14.and finesse, the skill and dexterity with which he occasionally answers
:17:15. > :17:21.my question is an often swerves around them. And to say that after
:17:22. > :17:27.many years and a similar position in politics, he compares very well with
:17:28. > :17:31.all the opponents I have had across the dispatch box, and I wish him all
:17:32. > :17:35.the best for the next year, and I hope his Government is more
:17:36. > :17:40.successful than it has been in the last. He has through those words
:17:41. > :17:43.probably undermined my position amongst my own group more than any
:17:44. > :17:47.other over the past few months and years! But I will take his words at
:17:48. > :17:54.face value and wish you the compliments of the season as well.
:17:55. > :17:56.And I'm sure that all members look forward to ask crossing swords in
:17:57. > :18:03.this chamber for many months and years to come. Plaid Cymru leader
:18:04. > :18:07.Leanne Wood is. First leader, can you tell us the difference between
:18:08. > :18:14.yourself and your UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on immigration
:18:15. > :18:19.policy and specifically relating to the question of the free movement of
:18:20. > :18:23.people? I think I am closer to her position as leader of Plaid Cymru
:18:24. > :18:26.than any other. She and I said something very similar last week,
:18:27. > :18:33.namely that there should be freedom of movement for work. She made the
:18:34. > :18:40.point of free movement to look for work, and that is what the European
:18:41. > :18:42.regulations say if you take their strict interpretations. I don't
:18:43. > :18:47.believe we are in a different position when it comes to freedom of
:18:48. > :18:53.movement. It seems to me that there is very little difference between
:18:54. > :18:55.yourself and your party leader, and it is heart-warming to see the
:18:56. > :18:59.Labour Party united on something for once. But you said last week that
:19:00. > :19:05.there is a difference between yourself and your leader, when he
:19:06. > :19:10.said he would not play the numbers game or fan the flames on
:19:11. > :19:13.immigration, yet your comment on immigration on the 9th of December
:19:14. > :19:18.suggested that there was a split or major disagreement with your leader,
:19:19. > :19:22.and you made out that you were on a different page to him, that you were
:19:23. > :19:28.somehow tougher on the matter of immigration than he is. Only 2.6% of
:19:29. > :19:34.the entire world population come from other European countries.
:19:35. > :19:39.That's 79,000 people. You know that Wales has a low proportion of EU
:19:40. > :19:44.migrants compared to other parts of the UK. You have interpreted your
:19:45. > :19:49.leader's view on immigration as playing into the hands of Ukip. But
:19:50. > :19:52.by implying there isn't really much of an immigration problem here in
:19:53. > :19:59.Wales, it's you that is dancing to Ukip's tune. You will know as well
:20:00. > :20:04.as I do that Welsh communities need to attract and retain people to work
:20:05. > :20:08.hard and to generate tax revenue in this country, that we need workers
:20:09. > :20:14.from overseas in our health service and some sectors of the economy, so
:20:15. > :20:20.why are you making out that we don't? First Minister, can we now
:20:21. > :20:24.move on from perceptions and have an honest debate about immigration,
:20:25. > :20:29.public services and the economy here in Wales? I'm surprised, because as
:20:30. > :20:32.I said earlier on, she and I have said almost exactly the same thing
:20:33. > :20:36.when it comes to the issue of freedom of movement, and what she
:20:37. > :20:40.says is perfectly correct. Of course we are reliant on workers abroad to
:20:41. > :20:45.fill so many vacancies in the Welsh economy, but that said, neither she
:20:46. > :20:50.nor I can deny that the issue of immigration looms large in the
:20:51. > :20:54.referendum, it was false perception rather than reality, that much is
:20:55. > :21:00.true given the numbers, so I don't think we can say that the current
:21:01. > :21:04.system gets the wider support that it should, so we have to look at
:21:05. > :21:07.alternatives. She has made the point and I have made the point that there
:21:08. > :21:12.can be a modification of that system where there is freedom to move to a
:21:13. > :21:17.job or freedom to move to look for work in specific circumstances. I
:21:18. > :21:19.think they would see that as a freedom of movement system that they
:21:20. > :21:24.could support. I don't see that there is much between us. First
:21:25. > :21:29.Minister, you should be dealing with realities and not perceptions. You
:21:30. > :21:34.shouldn't be playing along with the myths. We need to have this honest
:21:35. > :21:38.debate on immigration, you shouldn't be implying that we have got a
:21:39. > :21:45.problem when we don't. There is an issue of migration in Wales, we have
:21:46. > :21:52.too much emigration, too many young people and skilled workers are
:21:53. > :21:55.leaving our country. We have got no problem in attracting people here to
:21:56. > :21:59.retire, and those people remain welcome here, but overall, we are
:22:00. > :22:05.facing a situation where our working age population is set to de crease
:22:06. > :22:09.in the coming years while the retired population will increase,
:22:10. > :22:13.and as well as impacting upon Welsh communities, the Welsh language, the
:22:14. > :22:17.overall situation simply is not sustainable. That is why Plaid Cymru
:22:18. > :22:20.put forward the policy that we did on higher education during the last
:22:21. > :22:25.election to deal with the problem of emigration. In terms of solutions
:22:26. > :22:32.from Labour, you have offered nothing except to fuel this myth on
:22:33. > :22:37.overseas immigration, internal rows with your Labour leader in order to
:22:38. > :22:42.deflect from your own policy weaknesses. First Minister, instead
:22:43. > :22:46.of pandering to Ukip, when are we going to have a real debate about
:22:47. > :22:55.the real solutions, about the real migration problem here in Wales?
:22:56. > :23:00.I regret the fact that lead of Plaid Cymru didn't listen to the answers I
:23:01. > :23:08.was giving her. Answers that I thought were reasonable and not in
:23:09. > :23:12.any way... And now she shouts. What's the difference? The point
:23:13. > :23:17.that I made is that she and I are not very far away, but she must
:23:18. > :23:20.understand that perception is important, and where people believe
:23:21. > :23:23.something to be true, it is usually important to make sure that they see
:23:24. > :23:29.what the reality is, and that was a problem with the referendum in June,
:23:30. > :23:35.people's perception was stronger than the reality. We both support
:23:36. > :23:38.modification of the current freedom of movement rules, but there are
:23:39. > :23:42.sensible ways forward here that don't let loose the jackals of
:23:43. > :23:47.racism and don't let loose a system of politics that seeks to blame
:23:48. > :23:52.others for our economic ills. She makes that point about the economy,
:23:53. > :23:57.our employment is very low, lower than England, Scotland and Northern
:23:58. > :24:03.Ireland. It is true to say that some communities have moved ahead further
:24:04. > :24:06.than others, places like Merthyr which is doing well and had many
:24:07. > :24:13.difficulties for many years after the 1980s. We know it is important
:24:14. > :24:17.to attract investment into those communities, we have TV are coming
:24:18. > :24:23.to other Vale, these are all significant investment projects that
:24:24. > :24:29.25 years ago would not have come to Wales, but we are making sure that
:24:30. > :24:32.that happens. We know that Wales is an attractive place to come and live
:24:33. > :24:36.and an attractive place to come and work, and a welcoming place, and we
:24:37. > :24:40.will continue to be an open and welcoming country, whilst
:24:41. > :24:44.considering of course how we can make sure that the concerns of some
:24:45. > :24:48.about freedom of movement are addressed in a sensible, rational
:24:49. > :24:51.and fairway. Question three, Mike hedges.
:24:52. > :24:54.Will the First Minister make a statement on progress being made
:24:55. > :24:56.towards achieving the Welsh housing quality standard?
:24:57. > :25:04.All social landlords including Swansea Council are on track to meet
:25:05. > :25:09.this by 2020, and in March of this year, 79% of existing social homes
:25:10. > :25:13.now meet the standard. That arose over the course of the year, and
:25:14. > :25:16.nearly 18,000 households now live in better quality homes than the
:25:17. > :25:20.previous year. Can I congratulate the Welsh government on the success
:25:21. > :25:24.of reaching the Welsh Housing quality standard. Can I also say an
:25:25. > :25:27.example of an ambitious target which has been financially supported which
:25:28. > :25:34.has improved the lives of many people including many of my
:25:35. > :25:37.constituents. The money currently going to upgrading council
:25:38. > :25:40.properties, can it be allocated to the building of new council
:25:41. > :25:44.properties once the upgrades are done? We are very keen to make sure
:25:45. > :25:47.that more councils are able to build more council houses, and we are
:25:48. > :25:54.looking at every innovative way to increase housing supply. The 2000
:25:55. > :25:57.affordable homes target includes local authority lending to housing
:25:58. > :26:00.associations to enable lending to develop, so that the local authority
:26:01. > :26:06.can borrow loans at a lower rate than would be available for
:26:07. > :26:08.traditional lenders. There is a partnership between local
:26:09. > :26:12.authorities and housing associations as well. We have moved a long way
:26:13. > :26:16.from the day with local authorities could build council houses. It is
:26:17. > :26:19.important that local authorities are able to provide further populations
:26:20. > :26:28.that the accommodation provided is of the standard possible. Beth Ed
:26:29. > :26:35.Jenkins. TRANSLATION: Nobody would doubt that
:26:36. > :26:39.the policy is ambitious, but as assembly members, we continue to
:26:40. > :26:49.receive a number of complaints about social housing, and houses in a
:26:50. > :26:52.timely manner and the poor response from a number of housing
:26:53. > :26:55.associations, the fact that it is the winter months and people are
:26:56. > :26:59.waiting a long time for works to be carried out, so is there any survey
:27:00. > :27:03.that can be issued to ensure that every housing association is working
:27:04. > :27:07.effectively to ensure that people are more content with the services
:27:08. > :27:12.that they receive in this area? Of course. As a government we expect
:27:13. > :27:17.housing associations to ensure not only that they build but they
:27:18. > :27:20.maintain the houses is well and that they are only good condition, and
:27:21. > :27:25.sometimes they are in complaints. I have had the same thing she has, and
:27:26. > :27:33.of course the complaints in my experience are dealt with in quite a
:27:34. > :27:37.fast way, but we are aware that the quality standards are assured when
:27:38. > :27:45.houses are built, and when they are maintained. Throughout the lifetime
:27:46. > :27:47.of those houses. In 2012 when the standard was supposed to have been
:27:48. > :27:54.achieved by all social landlords, the Welsh office said the shortfall
:27:55. > :27:59.in meeting the standard was in areas where those were opposed to
:28:00. > :28:05.transfer. You subsequently said that three authorities did not have
:28:06. > :28:10.adequate plans and had to submit new ones. Given that the borrowing
:28:11. > :28:13.limits for housing set where part of the agreement exit the housing
:28:14. > :28:19.revenue account lacked an estimated borrowing headroom across all for it
:28:20. > :28:22.is of just 471 million to achieve the Welsh housing quality standard,
:28:23. > :28:30.how can that be achieved to the standard originally intended with
:28:31. > :28:34.the additional bits of wider community regeneration when that
:28:35. > :28:43.only leaves for Wrexham 118 million, Swansea 74, Flintshire only 25 under
:28:44. > :28:47.that headroom established? We expect the homes target to be met in a
:28:48. > :28:51.variety of ways. Through local authorities, housing associations,
:28:52. > :28:54.partnerships between the two and other ways that we will see where it
:28:55. > :28:59.is possible to intervene in the local market to make sure there is a
:29:00. > :29:03.civic supply of housing, especially in raw areas. All of these things
:29:04. > :29:07.are under investigation as we deal with this issue. But what is
:29:08. > :29:12.important as well is that as we make sure that there are more affordable
:29:13. > :29:16.homes available, that we don't see the plug being taken out of the bath
:29:17. > :29:19.at the other end, so that we cannot possibly reach a target of 20,000
:29:20. > :29:22.affordable homes if you're building on the one hand and selling with the
:29:23. > :29:29.other, which is why of course we are ending the Right to Buy.
:29:30. > :29:30.TRANSLATION: Question four, Jenny Rathbone.
:29:31. > :29:33.Will the First Minister make a statement on the pace of change
:29:34. > :29:40.needed for transforming rail services in Wales?
:29:41. > :29:46.Rail isn't evolved. The UK Government must do more to invest in
:29:47. > :29:50.Wales or devolve power and funding so we can.
:29:51. > :29:55.Even Network Rail has said it will take 28 years to bring the rail
:29:56. > :30:01.industry up to the standard required in Wales, it seems to be much too
:30:02. > :30:05.long given in the light of the discourse we had about the road
:30:06. > :30:13.congestion early on, I am pleased to hear you mentioned the importance of
:30:14. > :30:18.light rail in that context. I want to... Looking at the South Wales
:30:19. > :30:23.Metro, I want to look at how light rail can run much closer together
:30:24. > :30:28.which means trains can slow down and accelerate much more quickly,
:30:29. > :30:31.journey times from Merthyr to fill would be reduced from over an hour
:30:32. > :30:38.to 40 minutes which is competitive with the car. I want to have some
:30:39. > :30:44.understanding as to how vehemently the Welsh Government is proceeding
:30:45. > :30:48.with light rail for the South Wales Metro which seems to me will deliver
:30:49. > :30:54.the outcomes we want. The Metro will be a mixture of light
:30:55. > :30:58.rail, heavy rail and faster bus services. There will be some lines
:30:59. > :31:05.that will be more appropriate for light rail than others. If we move
:31:06. > :31:14.towards light rail in some fiery alliance, that is not cut jobs. We
:31:15. > :31:19.know those who are working on the same terms and conditions as they do
:31:20. > :31:25.now. Both Ken Skates is not Chris Grayling. We want to work with the
:31:26. > :31:30.trade unions. The advantage of light rail is its ability to into parts of
:31:31. > :31:41.Cardiff and the valley communities where heavy rail isn't going to go.
:31:42. > :31:46.Metro is one where we have... We can't wait for Network Rail to get
:31:47. > :31:50.its act together can we we have had issues with Network Rail where'd it
:31:51. > :31:56.isn't clear they actually know what the commission of the asset is. We
:31:57. > :32:00.want to make sure we get on with the Metro as quickly and efficiently as
:32:01. > :32:08.possible. Dai Lloyd. You will be aware of last
:32:09. > :32:12.week's announcement by the UK Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling
:32:13. > :32:16.as you mention with regards the joint management teams for rail
:32:17. > :32:23.franchises and the new Varsity line between Oxford and Cambridge will be
:32:24. > :32:28.designed, constructed by a new body. Totally separate from Network Rail.
:32:29. > :32:32.Following that announcement, there is scope to develop the difference
:32:33. > :32:36.model for railway management here in West by establishing a Welsh version
:32:37. > :32:38.of east-west rail and where funding decisions around railway
:32:39. > :32:43.infrastructure will be made in Cardiff and not in London. If so,
:32:44. > :32:47.given the recent announcements, we will step up efforts into making a
:32:48. > :32:52.case with regards to the devolution of the management of the railway.
:32:53. > :33:03.It is fair to say we have been relentless in that regard. We don't
:33:04. > :33:17.get 9% of the investment. The are the situation where it isn't up to
:33:18. > :33:22.the Welsh Government. If the track and the operators were dealt with in
:33:23. > :33:29.the same way, the same organisation it is too easy for those responsible
:33:30. > :33:33.for the track, Network Rail, and the operators to blame each other when
:33:34. > :33:37.there are problems. It is easy to have an integrated system rather
:33:38. > :33:39.than the fragmented one we have now. Question number five, Steffan Lewis.
:33:40. > :33:41.Will the First Minister provide an update on efforts
:33:42. > :33:43.to secure a review of the Mineworkers Pension
:33:44. > :33:51.We do acknowledge the need for proper safe and well managed
:33:52. > :33:55.arrangements for this pension scheme. Pensions are not devolved
:33:56. > :34:00.but we have pressed the UK Government on this.
:34:01. > :34:02.I thank the First Minister folk dance. The National Assembly
:34:03. > :34:07.unanimously passed a motion calling for the review of the MPS surplus
:34:08. > :34:11.and also that motion mandated the worst governments to build alliances
:34:12. > :34:14.with regional leaders in England and other devolved government to put
:34:15. > :34:18.increasing pressure on the UK Government. Can he give assurances
:34:19. > :34:23.that mandated that he has been provided with will be furthered in
:34:24. > :34:28.the new beer and this will be a priority for his government in 2017?
:34:29. > :34:32.The letter was sent in June this year to Amber Rudd. We were in
:34:33. > :34:43.contact with officials this morning and their position... The trustees
:34:44. > :34:46.haven't raised any issues. They will need to ensure the trustees are
:34:47. > :34:51.happy with any changes as well as the UK Government.
:34:52. > :34:55.Rhianon Passmore. The last government has consistently
:34:56. > :34:58.supported the national union of Mineworkers called for the surplus
:34:59. > :35:04.to be put back into the scheme for the benefit of the retired miners
:35:05. > :35:07.and coal industry workers. Hence Olivera has collected a petition
:35:08. > :35:16.from Ike constituency who worked in Oakdale colliery for 24 years. The
:35:17. > :35:19.people of Islwyn like my grandfather worked in hard and dangerous
:35:20. > :35:23.conditions offered to the detriment of their health. What further
:35:24. > :35:27.representations can the Welsh Government make to the UK Tory
:35:28. > :35:31.government in denial, for them to play fair with Welsh miners?
:35:32. > :35:35.There is a duty on the trustees to make sure they explain to the
:35:36. > :35:40.pension schemes and members exactly what they are doing. Members of the
:35:41. > :35:44.scheme feel content and feel the scheme is treating them fairly.
:35:45. > :35:47.There is an emphasis on them to do that. We will continue to press the
:35:48. > :35:51.EC with the UK Government as we have been doing since June.
:35:52. > :35:58.Nick Ramsay. Thank you. Steffan Lewis was right
:35:59. > :36:05.when he said the whole Assembly that has backed the worst governments's
:36:06. > :36:08.position on this. It is important the former Mineworkers pensions are
:36:09. > :36:12.protected and their arrangements with the UK Government which are
:36:13. > :36:15.transparent and fair. What discussion Seppi had with the UK
:36:16. > :36:20.Government regarding the need for them to continue to guarantee the
:36:21. > :36:32.pension fund? -- discussions have you had. What discussions have you
:36:33. > :36:34.had on this and have you made it clear this isn't just the Welsh
:36:35. > :36:39.Government speaking best the national Assembly.
:36:40. > :36:46.Those enquiries were made this morning. The UK Government has taken
:36:47. > :36:50.view of this national Assembly. The particular arrangements that revolve
:36:51. > :36:53.around the pension scheme mean the UK Government does get the benefit
:36:54. > :36:58.of many periodic surplus in this scheme. We have made a point we
:36:59. > :37:03.believe that surplus should be recycled back into the scheme for
:37:04. > :37:04.the members. Question number six, Huw
:37:05. > :37:05.Irranca-Davies. What recent discussions has
:37:06. > :37:07.the Welsh Government had with the UK Government
:37:08. > :37:17.regarding the Heathrow International connectivity via
:37:18. > :37:23.Heathrow is important to Wales. In 2016 Network Rail consulted on plans
:37:24. > :37:27.to improve rail links to Heathrow. We welcomed the journey time
:37:28. > :37:33.predictions that were proposed. I thank the First Minister. As he
:37:34. > :37:40.knows, the Heathrow rail link will improve access from South Wales and
:37:41. > :37:46.the south-west and the West Midlands and other areas. It will reduce
:37:47. > :37:50.travel times by around 26 minutes. Reduce carbon. Transport more people
:37:51. > :37:58.onto the rail and away from private transport. It is true that 1.3
:37:59. > :38:03.million people have jobs with the foreign owned firm that are
:38:04. > :38:08.facilitated by Heathrow. It is the biggest proportion of any part of
:38:09. > :38:12.the UK. In future discussions with the Prime Minister and also the
:38:13. > :38:17.Secretary of State for Transport, could he ram home the importance of
:38:18. > :38:20.this rail link regardless of Heathrow capacity expansion. This
:38:21. > :38:27.rail link could deliver for people in Wales, in very short order. The
:38:28. > :38:35.decision is going to be made in early 2019, let's make it the right
:38:36. > :38:38.decision. Heathrow is by far the busiest
:38:39. > :38:42.airport in the UK and will continue to be that way. It's geography
:38:43. > :38:55.demands it is to be that way. Gatwick is too far. It is hugely
:38:56. > :38:57.important that people feel there are viable and seamless public transport
:38:58. > :39:04.options for them. Rather than getting off in Redding, it is
:39:05. > :39:08.important people get to Heathrow Airport as seamlessly as possible.
:39:09. > :39:12.It'll get more people out of their cars.
:39:13. > :39:18.Russell George. The expansion of Heathrow Airport is undoubtedly a
:39:19. > :39:21.major boost for trade and tourism in Wales. In contrast to the Scottish
:39:22. > :39:27.Government, the Welsh Government seems to have failed to attract a
:39:28. > :39:32.positive boost for Wales in return for the worst governments's support
:39:33. > :39:39.for the expansion. In a memorandum to the Scottish Government, it
:39:40. > :39:46.secures 16,000 new jobs, 200 million construction related spine, 10
:39:47. > :39:52.million rural development fund and discuss. Do you regret not securing
:39:53. > :39:56.a similar memorandum of understanding as your Scottish
:39:57. > :40:00.counterparts managed to achieve? I am not sure what it delivers.
:40:01. > :40:04.There are words in it but in terms of actions it isn't clear. It is
:40:05. > :40:11.impossible in terms of procurement to designate a certain amount of
:40:12. > :40:16.money for Scottish firms. It isn't entirely clear what it means. From
:40:17. > :40:20.our perspective, we have been working for some time with Heathrow
:40:21. > :40:24.Airport on reaching agreement with a statement of intent and that will
:40:25. > :40:29.look at supply chain, light transport, aviation and marketing
:40:30. > :40:34.opportunities. Landing slots isn't relevant to us. It is more relevant
:40:35. > :40:39.in Scotland. What we are exploring is the opportunity to market with
:40:40. > :40:42.better in Heathrow. It emphasises the point that South Wales in
:40:43. > :40:45.particular is very close to Heathrow Airport and can be a major gateway
:40:46. > :40:46.for tourism. Question number six.
:40:47. > :40:48.Will the First Minister make a statement on rheumatology
:40:49. > :41:01.Through the development directive we continue to raise awareness and
:41:02. > :41:06.support to reduce the risk of these conditions where they do to assess,
:41:07. > :41:14.diagnose and provide care as locally as possible.
:41:15. > :41:19.Reporters found referrals of diagnosis for rheumatology
:41:20. > :41:24.department has increased by 66% since 2012. Just 22% of patients
:41:25. > :41:29.diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was seen by a specialist within
:41:30. > :41:33.three weeks. 35% funded difficult to get any appointment and 20% have
:41:34. > :41:42.waited over two years to treatment. A significant number have paid for
:41:43. > :41:47.private consultant. What immediate action will you be taking to ensure
:41:48. > :41:51.your health service complies with nice guidance and arthritis
:41:52. > :41:54.sufferers in Wales are no longer let down by this Welsh Labour
:41:55. > :42:16.government? I have to say in 2015-16, 94,000
:42:17. > :42:20.arthritis consultancies. At the end of October there were 14 people
:42:21. > :42:24.waiting over 36 weeks for an appointment and two were waiting for
:42:25. > :42:29.first outpatient appointments. Some people come true to say, have waited
:42:30. > :42:33.longer than we would want. The vast majority of people are seen as soon
:42:34. > :42:37.as possible. Rheumatoid arthritis isn't that easy to diagnose. There
:42:38. > :42:46.are many other conditions will tend to look at first. -- the GPs will
:42:47. > :42:53.turn to look at first. It isn't that easy to diagnose as a condition. We
:42:54. > :42:59.want to make sure people, GPs, are aware in the need to refer people
:43:00. > :43:06.get a diagnosis because the earlier the diagnosis the better. Rhun ap
:43:07. > :43:13.Iorwerth. Very often people link arthritis
:43:14. > :43:17.with older people but it is something that can affect people
:43:18. > :43:26.from all ages, Wales is the only nation in the UK that doesn't have a
:43:27. > :43:30.paediatric rheumatology service. Patients from North Wales can be
:43:31. > :43:33.treated in order he Hospital in Liverpool. That is the First
:43:34. > :43:37.Minister believe Wales should be able to offer paediatric
:43:38. > :43:43.rheumatology services? It is true that rheumatoid arthritis
:43:44. > :43:52.can strike anyone at any age, it isn't something to do with things
:43:53. > :43:57.wearing down. The body attacks itself, it is an autoimmune disease.
:43:58. > :44:01.We have to be careful here. I don't want to see people having to come
:44:02. > :44:07.from Anglesey to Cardiff, for instance, to a national centre. The
:44:08. > :44:11.geography of Wales indicates it is important people can have treatment
:44:12. > :44:18.as close as possible to their homes. I apologise for a similar question
:44:19. > :44:24.but First Minister, with around 400,000 children living in south
:44:25. > :44:26.Wales the fact the region is still without a dedicated
:44:27. > :44:30.multidisciplinary paediatric rheumatology service is shocking.
:44:31. > :44:35.Currently, services are being provided part-time by an adult
:44:36. > :44:39.rheumatologist but there is no formal clinical network or adequate
:44:40. > :44:43.multidisciplinary input. What plans does the government have two
:44:44. > :44:49.establish a tertiary paediatric rheumatology service in South Wales?
:44:50. > :44:55.Much depends on the throughput of patients as to whether a unit could
:44:56. > :45:02.be specialised to be effective. What I will do as far as both members are
:45:03. > :45:04.concerned is to write with further details about paediatric
:45:05. > :45:06.rheumatology to explain why the situation is as it is. Question
:45:07. > :45:10.eight,. How will the policies contained
:45:11. > :45:13.in the Welsh Government's "Taking Wales Forward" programme
:45:14. > :45:22.contribute to alleviating Job creation, closing the attainment
:45:23. > :45:27.gap and improving skill levels are our key priorities, and they are the
:45:28. > :45:37.most effective levers at our disposable to tackle poverty. I
:45:38. > :45:43.recently visited the largest mosque in Wales to raise awareness of the
:45:44. > :45:47.work the trust does to help young people in most deprived communities
:45:48. > :45:51.to fulfil their potential in their lives. Since your government is
:45:52. > :46:01.phasing out the community first programme, will you advise the
:46:02. > :46:07.assembly what you are doing to use the programmes of organisations like
:46:08. > :46:15.the Princess Trust Cymru to alleviate persistent poverty in
:46:16. > :46:17.Wales? We are looking at new ways of working and working with
:46:18. > :46:20.organisations who have proven experience on the ground without
:46:21. > :46:25.losing the expertise that already has been built up over the years
:46:26. > :46:32.through Community First. It is heartening to see that the poverty
:46:33. > :46:36.in household has dropped in Wales, which means that what we are doing
:46:37. > :46:42.to enable people to have the skills for the future in terms of
:46:43. > :46:46.attracting investment into Wales are bearing fruit.
:46:47. > :46:50.Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh
:46:51. > :46:53.government's strategy to promote tourism in Wales?
:46:54. > :47:01.We launched the strategy for tourism that set a target of 10% growth in
:47:02. > :47:05.real terms in respect of overnight expenditure by 2020, and we are on
:47:06. > :47:10.track to exceed that growth target. Thank you for that answer. Every
:47:11. > :47:16.opportunity that I have, I try to take to promote the benefits of
:47:17. > :47:23.tourism in Merthyr Tydfil Ann Romney, particularly in our social
:47:24. > :47:26.history, and I have been looking into improving signposting to many
:47:27. > :47:32.of the attractions that the area has to offer. However, my enquiries have
:47:33. > :47:37.revealed that since August 2013, any tourist destination located further
:47:38. > :47:44.than ten miles from a motorway or a great separated dual carriageway is
:47:45. > :47:51.not eligible for tourism brown signs. Signs that predate that are
:47:52. > :47:54.left unaffected. I clearly see there is need to manage proliferation of
:47:55. > :47:58.signs, but it does seem illogical to me that those attractions that are
:47:59. > :48:04.not immediately off the main highway into south Wales, the M4, which
:48:05. > :48:07.could benefit most from promotional signage, are not included, whereas
:48:08. > :48:12.those which are signed already enjoy the advantage of being located near
:48:13. > :48:17.the highway, within ten miles. So can I ask the First Minister to look
:48:18. > :48:20.into the possibility of revised criteria which would allow greater
:48:21. > :48:26.flexibility over the location of tourism signage so that areas like
:48:27. > :48:30.Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney are not further disadvantaged because they
:48:31. > :48:36.are more than ten miles away from the nearest motorway link? In
:48:37. > :48:42.relation to signing, it is not just the motorways but trunk roads, so
:48:43. > :48:46.for example destinations up to six miles for a single carriageway and
:48:47. > :48:54.seven for a dual carriageway or motorway may be eligible for
:48:55. > :48:58.signing. The A470 is a trunk road, so they are included in the
:48:59. > :49:03.criteria. I can say that we do encourage local authorities, and we
:49:04. > :49:07.do encourage Merthyr to apply to get signage for tourism attractions, and
:49:08. > :49:10.that offer of course is still on the table.
:49:11. > :49:12.There we are - that was First Minister's Questions.
:49:13. > :49:15.If you want more more coverage of the National Assembly,
:49:16. > :49:17.you can go online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live page
:49:18. > :49:21.Don't forget for all the latest political news, watch Wales Today
:49:22. > :49:24.later today at 6:30pm on BBC One Wales and
:49:25. > :49:29.That's it for am:pm for 2016, though - we'll be back
:49:30. > :49:29.when the Assembly returns in the new year.
:49:30. > :49:49.there was no such thing as a quiet Christmas dinner.
:49:50. > :49:53.And that's a tradition she wants to continue.
:49:54. > :49:56.I'm going to put together the ultimate
:49:57. > :50:01.You're really going for it, aren't you? Wow, look at that!
:50:02. > :50:04.Christmas, you should try to treat your guests.
:50:05. > :50:08.Enjoy A Welsh Italian Christmas with Michela Chiappa.