:00:23. > :00:25.Good afternoon, welcome to the final AM.PM of this series.
:00:26. > :00:28.Today is the last chance for AMs to question the First Minister
:00:29. > :00:31.before the current Assembly comes to an end, ahead of May's elections.
:00:32. > :00:36.Today is the 159th First Minister's questions session of this fourth
:00:37. > :00:40.Assembly - well over 1,000 questions will have been answered by Carwyn
:00:41. > :00:44.And from the Order Paper today I can see there are questions listed
:00:45. > :00:47.on educational standards, mental health and apprenticeships.
:00:48. > :00:50.The opposition party leaders will also have their final chance
:00:51. > :00:52.before the election to pose their questions to Carwyn Jones.
:00:53. > :00:57.Don't forget you can Follow all the latest on Welsh politics
:00:58. > :01:00.on our Twitter feed - we're @walespolitics.
:01:01. > :01:02.Well, business in the chamber is already underway,
:01:03. > :01:04.so let's take a look now at the final First Minister's Questions
:01:05. > :01:19.Good afternoon, National Assembly for Wales is in session and the
:01:20. > :01:24.first item this afternoon, questions the First Minister. Question one is
:01:25. > :01:28.Kirsty Williams. Thank you. Will the First Minister make a statement on
:01:29. > :01:32.educational standards in Brecon and Radnorshire? Education standards in
:01:33. > :01:40.the area in common with standards in Wales as a whole present an
:01:41. > :01:49.improving picture, this includes national and local area. Can I thank
:01:50. > :01:56.the firm for that answer. On many occasions you have said that schools
:01:57. > :02:00.are are providing a good standard of education should not be closed. As
:02:01. > :02:03.you have said there are improvements in standards of education in Brecon
:02:04. > :02:09.and Radnorshire, therefore will you I degree with me that Powys's County
:02:10. > :02:12.Council ill conceived planned to close a National Union of
:02:13. > :02:20.Mineworkers ber of Primary Schools and close some of our High Schools
:02:21. > :02:23.will be, will do nothing to improve the educational attainment levels. I
:02:24. > :02:26.have no constituents have written to you and are looking to the Welsh
:02:27. > :02:32.Government to intervene, if possible, what can you say to those
:02:33. > :02:37.parents who have written to you, concerned that rather than improving
:02:38. > :02:41.educational standards the plans make things worse? . As the member I
:02:42. > :02:47.knows, these are matters for the local authority. As she also knows
:02:48. > :02:51.Welsh minister have a role in certain circumstances so I can't
:02:52. > :02:57.comment on any plans that may be referred to Welsh minister, I know
:02:58. > :03:01.she has expressed the concerns of her constituents, I have expressed
:03:02. > :03:06.the view many times I hope that the LA would take those into account. If
:03:07. > :03:14.the matter is referred to Welsh minister, then these are issues that
:03:15. > :03:19.will be taken into account. First Minister the quality of
:03:20. > :03:23.standards, education standard in Brecon and Radnorshire depend dent
:03:24. > :03:27.on the amount of education funding that is available. On the 17th
:03:28. > :03:31.November 2010, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives when asked how
:03:32. > :03:33.much they would cut e. On the 17th November 2010, the leader of the
:03:34. > :03:36.Welsh Conservatives when asked how much they would cut the education
:03:37. > :03:41.budget by said "It is about 20%." In the light of the refusal of the
:03:42. > :03:45.current leader of the Welsh Conservatives to commit to
:03:46. > :03:52.protecting the education budget we can only assume they would cut it by
:03:53. > :03:57.20% if they were to be in power. What would be the implications if
:03:58. > :04:03.the Tories were to be legislated to power. There will be, it would have
:04:04. > :04:07.a detrimental effect as it would have if Wales, including the
:04:08. > :04:12.constituencies we represent. It would mean for instance 5,000 fewer
:04:13. > :04:16.teacher, it would mean fewer resources for schools and it would
:04:17. > :04:21.mean thatle zoos would not be built in the future. We have confirmation
:04:22. > :04:27.over this that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not protect
:04:28. > :04:32.education spending. In accordance with the members
:04:33. > :04:36.register of interest I should declare I am a member of Powys
:04:37. > :04:45.County Council, governor and former head boy of one of the schools that
:04:46. > :04:52.is threatened with closure. First Minister, I am aware of the current
:04:53. > :04:55.concern in Brecon and Radnorshire round the school reorganise nation
:04:56. > :04:59.proposals. One issue raised by concerned members of the community
:05:00. > :05:06.is the perceived remoteness of cabinet decision making, this is
:05:07. > :05:11.mirrored elsewhere in my region in Pembrokeshire with, that are coming
:05:12. > :05:15.for wad. I would serve greatly the cause of transparency if the leaders
:05:16. > :05:21.faced with such decisions were to desist from the practice of holding
:05:22. > :05:26.informal, unminuted cabinet meetings ahead of formal business session, so
:05:27. > :05:30.as to give communities greater confidence at the transparency of
:05:31. > :05:35.the decisions that are arrived at. I think it is crucial, it is important
:05:36. > :05:39.that where people see decisions is being made, even if they disagree
:05:40. > :05:43.with them, they understand how the decisions came about, and the
:05:44. > :05:49.reasoning behind those decisions. I am not aware of what process was
:05:50. > :05:53.followed in Powys on this occasion but I am aware, as the member
:05:54. > :05:58.pointed out, and the leader of the Liberal Democrat, that this is a
:05:59. > :06:03.particularly controversial issue in Brecon and add nor. What plans does
:06:04. > :06:07.the Welsh Government have to improve mental Health Services in South
:06:08. > :06:10.Wales? One of the Government's priorities is to improve the mental
:06:11. > :06:14.health and wellbeing of people across Wales. Services have been
:06:15. > :06:17.improved through increased funding within the ring-fence every year
:06:18. > :06:22.throughout this assembly term, with over ?15 million of additional
:06:23. > :06:26.funding this year. I thank hem for that response. I am
:06:27. > :06:32.sure he is aware a hospital is closing its doors at the end of this
:06:33. > :06:36.month after 108 years providing mental Health Services for Cardiff
:06:37. > :06:42.and the surrounding area, so it is the end of an era. Does the First
:06:43. > :06:45.Minister agree that the new mental Health Service, the building
:06:46. > :06:49.provided are outstanding, but will he acknowledge the good work that
:06:50. > :06:53.has been down in Whitchurch by the staff over many years for people
:06:54. > :06:59.with mental health problems? I am more than happy to join the member
:07:00. > :07:05.in the praise she has for the staff, present and past who have served the
:07:06. > :07:09.city of Cardiff since 1908. It is time to ensure the facilities we
:07:10. > :07:16.provide are state-of-the-art, that is why of course we see the
:07:17. > :07:23.investment in the new hospital. And of course, it is a facility that
:07:24. > :07:27.will provide the best level of care possible for those who require
:07:28. > :07:33.assistance with their mental health. Thank you very much. Minister,
:07:34. > :07:36.mental Health Services obviously need to evolves as practise and
:07:37. > :07:39.knowledge change, I am concerned that vulnerable people are being
:07:40. > :07:44.caught between understaffed resources and policy changes.
:07:45. > :07:47.Whether it is people with severe and enduring mental Health Services like
:07:48. > :07:52.two of my constituent, one who has to go to a hospital to be in a
:07:53. > :07:56.hospital 200 miles away from that person's home and another 150 miles
:07:57. > :08:02.away or whether it is people like the avenue centre who have severe
:08:03. > :08:07.mental and physical disabilities. The concern that is echoed to me by
:08:08. > :08:12.mental health professionals and the families of people of these kind of
:08:13. > :08:16.people, is they don't believe the services are being holistic enough.
:08:17. > :08:21.It would appear people are being bent to fit the new policies that
:08:22. > :08:24.come through, rather than those policies being adapted to suit their
:08:25. > :08:28.particular vulnerable requirements. What can your Government do ensure
:08:29. > :08:33.through is speedy and effective changes to ensure that some of these
:08:34. > :08:38.more vulnerable people do have tailor packages that best suit them
:08:39. > :08:41.and their families. Well, we of course have increased the budget
:08:42. > :08:47.foremental Health Service, the total spend this year is 600 million up
:08:48. > :08:57.from 510 million and the member will be aware of additional 7.65 million
:08:58. > :09:00.a year to improve and develop childhood mental Health Service,
:09:01. > :09:04.that is a 17% increase. We have announced funding for older people.
:09:05. > :09:08.That is a substantial injection of resources and we would expect the
:09:09. > :09:11.service to wrap round the individual, rather as she has
:09:12. > :09:18.pointed out, for the individual to be made to fit the service. That is
:09:19. > :09:25.not the sort of service would would see provided. We expect it to be as
:09:26. > :09:31.tailored as far as possible to the individual. I was... Debate held
:09:32. > :09:34.last week, however, there was no specific commitment to improving
:09:35. > :09:38.support service and advice and information for families. I wonder,
:09:39. > :09:42.given how important it is, would you look at making that commitment, look
:09:43. > :09:47.at best practise across the UK and assess the support available for
:09:48. > :09:50.people who are either caring for someone with mental ill health or
:09:51. > :09:53.they are concerned about someone in their family who is showing signs of
:09:54. > :09:58.mental distress but they don't know where to go to for help or support.
:09:59. > :10:06.Well, this is one of the reasons, of course, why we have increased the
:10:07. > :10:12.funding for Cahms, we know there has been a great deal of demand for the
:10:13. > :10:14.service. For many parents who have adolescent children who are
:10:15. > :10:17.displaying signs that are difficult for parents to control, that that is
:10:18. > :10:23.the place they will get referred to and in terms of the money we have
:10:24. > :10:27.provided for that service, that money will for example, 2.7 million
:10:28. > :10:32.will go to improving their ability to respond out of hours and at times
:10:33. > :10:35.of crisis. What is crucial that where late in evening, perhaps,
:10:36. > :10:41.there is an issue that a career or parent can't deal with it, that
:10:42. > :10:45.support is available, at a time that is needed for the individual, for
:10:46. > :10:49.the child or young person or for the career or parent. In that way the
:10:50. > :10:55.support for families, both within hours and out of hours is improved.
:10:56. > :10:58.We move to questions from the party leaders, first the Leader of the
:10:59. > :11:03.Opposition Andrew RT Davies. Thank you. First Minister, last week I
:11:04. > :11:07.asked you about the M4 relief road and you said that yes, it was a
:11:08. > :11:12.commitment of yours to build the M4 relief road. Last week we had a
:11:13. > :11:16.report that came out that clearly indicated there had been a
:11:17. > :11:21.considerable up lift in the cost of building such a road, especially the
:11:22. > :11:27.black road identified as this Government's preferred option. Can
:11:28. > :11:34.you ex whine explain why crusade it would be built for less than 1
:11:35. > :11:40.billion and now a report indicates the build ?1.1 billion. We intend to
:11:41. > :11:48.squeeze of course as far as possible that figure. There has been a change
:11:49. > :11:54.of the eastern end of the proposal, where a, an enhanced scrubbingion at
:11:55. > :11:58.the M 48 is going to be remodelled. That has increased the cost by ?60
:11:59. > :12:03.million. There is the inclusion of an
:12:04. > :12:07.additional cycle bridge over the proposed motorway to facile they the
:12:08. > :12:12.Newport to Cardiff supercycle way, as well as work on the rain tunnel.
:12:13. > :12:17.So these are issues that have arisen during the course of the scheme. Our
:12:18. > :12:22.perspective we wish to see a relief road being built. I is true to say
:12:23. > :12:27.our preferred route is the black route, we are willing to examine
:12:28. > :12:31.other option, thus far it is difficult to's how they can be as
:12:32. > :12:35.effective as the black root. There is a process that will need to be
:12:36. > :12:39.followed, but what is true is the problem will not go away. It's a
:12:40. > :12:45.major problem, we look at hosting large events, it is an issue that is
:12:46. > :12:50.raised with us, and we are in the same position of wanting to see a
:12:51. > :12:54.relief road being built. Thank you for your answer. Many people will be
:12:55. > :12:59.concerned by the considerable extent of the numbers being talked about
:13:00. > :13:04.and the sudden ?300 million difference between figures bandied
:13:05. > :13:11.round by yourself and now this report confirming a ?1.1 billion
:13:12. > :13:14.price tag to it. One thing is clear, the situation round Newport cannot
:13:15. > :13:21.continue. There is a desperate need for a relief road. Do you agree we
:13:22. > :13:23.many it will be incumbent on which ever Government is formed here to
:13:24. > :13:29.have as part of its transport ever Government is formed here to
:13:30. > :13:31.strategy the delivery of the M4 relief road within its term
:13:32. > :13:33.strategy the delivery of the M4 office? I agree.
:13:34. > :13:45.strategy the delivery of the M4 I know those who advocate the blue
:13:46. > :13:53.route. The difficulty with that is it a dual carriage way not a three
:13:54. > :13:57.lane motorway. Secondly it affects 4,000 host house, some would have to
:13:58. > :14:05.be demolished. There no easy way to resolve the problem, but we do know
:14:06. > :14:08.the problem needs to be resolved. As this is the last First Minister's
:14:09. > :14:11.questions that myself and the First Minister will engage with, before
:14:12. > :14:15.the ebbing will shun, just like to pay tribute to the retiring members
:14:16. > :14:19.who are standing down from the assembly, from all the parties here,
:14:20. > :14:23.while we might have the political theatre within this chamber, I am
:14:24. > :14:30.sure you will agree with me, that everyone does go into public life
:14:31. > :14:31.with the best intention, whatever political affiliation they have,
:14:32. > :16:26.they try and endeavour for political affiliation they have,
:16:27. > :16:30.to echo the comments of leader of the Conservatives in wishing the
:16:31. > :16:35.retiring members well. Especially the members of my group. I do wish
:16:36. > :16:39.all of you well. First Minister, when you were elected as Labour
:16:40. > :16:44.leader seven years ago, you said, I want to be the leader for the whole
:16:45. > :16:49.of Wales to win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to
:16:50. > :16:55.learn. What has been the biggest lesson that you have learned in
:16:56. > :16:59.seven years as First Minister? The lesson you soon learn as a minister
:17:00. > :17:05.is things can't be done as quickly as you would want. She asks, I
:17:06. > :17:10.wondered whether this question would come, back in 2011 it took longer
:17:11. > :17:17.than we would have expected to start the legislative programme. It was a
:17:18. > :17:21.bigger undertaking than was realised. Since then those issues
:17:22. > :17:26.have been resolved and the Assembly has certainly risen to the task of
:17:27. > :17:30.producing sound legislation that has been well scrutinised and 24 acts in
:17:31. > :17:34.that time. That is a significant achievement in a short space of
:17:35. > :17:38.time. Yes, I think it was difficult at the beginning in 2011 to get the
:17:39. > :17:46.legislative programming up and running. So you haven't learned any
:17:47. > :17:50.lessons about growing NHS waiting lists or deteriorating international
:17:51. > :17:58.standing in terms of education or economic stagnation? First Minister,
:17:59. > :18:03.among the many... Comments and feedback that I get from people
:18:04. > :18:14.regarding these sessions, is that you are regularly evasive, that you
:18:15. > :18:18.avoid... Order. That you avoid answering the question and you
:18:19. > :18:24.rarely engage. Given this is the final question session of term, do
:18:25. > :18:32.you regret not being more engaged in these sessions? And do you regret
:18:33. > :18:44.not showing real leadership for this country. The leader of Plaid Cymru
:18:45. > :18:51.make it sound as if I stand here silently. She may not like the
:18:52. > :18:57.answers, we have seen waiting lists coming down, our best GCSE results
:18:58. > :19:01.ever, excellent results at A-level and new schools being built. 150
:19:02. > :19:08.schools built or planned to be built. We see in further education
:19:09. > :19:13.the education may not nabs allowance -- maintenance allowance has been
:19:14. > :19:21.maintained. Our students are not subjected to extra debt as in
:19:22. > :19:25.England. Our unemployment is lower than London, Scotland and Northern
:19:26. > :19:32.Ireland. That is a significant achievement we have brought jobs
:19:33. > :19:36.into Wales. Aston Martin and there are more to come. We have never been
:19:37. > :19:40.in such a strong position in terms of bringing in investment to Wales
:19:41. > :19:45.and the only thing and she will agree, the only thing that can
:19:46. > :19:50.jeopardise that is the uncertainty over EU membership. You don't accept
:19:51. > :19:55.there are any problems in this country that you're responsible for
:19:56. > :20:01.you, do you? On the day you were elected leader, you said you wanted
:20:02. > :20:05.to listen and to learn. Six years after you became leader, you
:20:06. > :20:09.launched an engagement exercise, with public meeting to listen to
:20:10. > :20:15.people and to learn. Now, I wonder does that mean you spent the first
:20:16. > :20:23.six years neither listening to people or learning? As the sun sets
:20:24. > :20:28.on your government and the fourth Assembly, are you prepared to admit
:20:29. > :20:33.this isn't as good as it gets for our country and will you accept that
:20:34. > :20:40.now is the time for Wales to have a First Minister who will answer
:20:41. > :20:44.questions. Who will engage and who will treat these scrutiny sessions
:20:45. > :20:50.and the Welsh public with the respect they deserve? Well, I
:20:51. > :20:52.mean... I will let other people judge the contrast between the
:20:53. > :20:57.leader of the opposition and the leader of Plaid Cymru. She makes the
:20:58. > :21:01.point it is the last FMQs and she wishes to be seen as an alternative
:21:02. > :21:05.First Minister. The points I make to her are these, I don't believe the
:21:06. > :21:09.answer to the challenges in the health service is a giant health
:21:10. > :21:15.quango based in Cardiff. I don't think that will go down well in the
:21:16. > :21:18.west and the North. A quango that would be so big that it would be
:21:19. > :21:24.almost as big as the government itself. I think that is an
:21:25. > :21:31.abdication of responsibility. The answer to the economic development,
:21:32. > :21:39.despite the success we have had it to reintroduce the WDA and go back
:21:40. > :21:46.to the day of some imagined Nirvana when the WDA was doing better. Their
:21:47. > :21:50.proposals usually involve setting up a giant committee. That is an
:21:51. > :21:56.evasion of responsibility. You can't set up, you can't give away economic
:21:57. > :22:00.development and health and expect to be held accountable as a government.
:22:01. > :22:04.We have had the greatest success, we have had for 30 years in economic
:22:05. > :22:10.development. Because the team we have in place is superb. We were sbg
:22:11. > :22:17.Cesc in -- successful in getting Aston Martin, because as they said,
:22:18. > :22:26.because of our passion and professional. We can't unpick that
:22:27. > :22:31.and set up an agency that would take attention from attracting inward
:22:32. > :22:39.investment. I don't think the idea of a health quango based in Cardiff
:22:40. > :22:45.goes down well. Now the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty
:22:46. > :22:50.Williams. Could I begin by thanking you Presiding Officer for the
:22:51. > :22:54.decades of public service you have given to country, especially in your
:22:55. > :23:02.role as Presiding Officer and wish you well in your future endeavours
:23:03. > :23:08.and could I extend those good wishes to all Assembly members retiring,
:23:09. > :23:13.especially the class of 99 and colleagues who embarked upon the
:23:14. > :23:19.devolution journey. Could I wish them well. First Minister, could I
:23:20. > :23:30.thank you for personal kindness you have always shown me. You have said
:23:31. > :23:39.you have dealt with 2,000 FMFs. You have given precious few answers in
:23:40. > :23:47.that time. But I have greatly enjoyed the encounters across the
:23:48. > :23:52.chamber mostly. So if I can turn to my questions. You promised to make
:23:53. > :23:56.surgeries more accessible to working people, so they could access local
:23:57. > :24:01.GP services in the evenings and Saturdays. The result of the survey
:24:02. > :24:06.I have carried out among GPs says 77% say your policy has failed to
:24:07. > :24:11.improve opening hours and it has not worked and your own survey by your
:24:12. > :24:16.own government demonstrated 40% of people say it is difficult to find,
:24:17. > :24:21.to get a GP appointment. Given that was your No 1 health commitment, why
:24:22. > :24:26.do you feel that GP peoples that you haven't achieved it? Well, I mean,
:24:27. > :24:29.the leader of the Liberal Democrats will forgive me for being sceptical
:24:30. > :24:34.about Liberal Democrat surveys. There are many of us in this chamber
:24:35. > :24:39.who have experience of seeing leaflets that show that the Liberal
:24:40. > :24:42.Democrats are about to take our own seats or council seats and she will
:24:43. > :24:48.know we have had some sport over that issue over the years. Without
:24:49. > :24:51.having seen the survey, or indeed understood how many people responded
:24:52. > :24:57.to it, and clearly I can't comment on it. But bear in mind any
:24:58. > :25:06.scepticism from the beginning. In terms of access to GP appointments,
:25:07. > :25:14.82% of practices are opening from 8 to 6 Monday to Friday. 97% are
:25:15. > :25:28.offering appointments between 5 and 6.30pm. That is the up 20%. 79%
:25:29. > :25:36.offered appoints between 5 and 6pm. Of course, because GPs tend to be
:25:37. > :25:40.independent contractors, and we are reliant on them ensuring they can
:25:41. > :25:45.provide the service they should. But what we have seen is an improvement
:25:46. > :25:53.in GP accessibility in most surgeries in Wales. I'm stung by the
:25:54. > :26:02.First Minister's assertions that you can't trust a Liberal Democrat
:26:03. > :26:06.survey. Absolutely stung. Bar charts maybe, but never a survey. There are
:26:07. > :26:11.those appointments are available, of course they are. But the number of
:26:12. > :26:15.people who want to use those appointments outstrip the number
:26:16. > :26:19.available. That is why 40% of people responding to your government survey
:26:20. > :26:26.say they find it difficult to make an appointment. But just before the
:26:27. > :26:29.last election you said that when the next international education
:26:30. > :26:34.rankings were published, Wales would be further up the listment when they
:26:35. > :26:39.were published it showed Wales was performing the worst for reading and
:26:40. > :26:43.maths and science and you have given up breaking into the top 20 of
:26:44. > :26:50.international nations. Why do you feel you weren't able to meet your
:26:51. > :27:01.pledge with regards to education in Wales that you made at the start of
:27:02. > :27:05.your term in office. We pledged in 2011 that we would apply protection
:27:06. > :27:17.to school spending. We have den that. ?106 million more is
:27:18. > :27:22.available. We introduced the pupil deprivation grant and we have raised
:27:23. > :27:27.the levels of schools that were not performing as we expected them. And
:27:28. > :27:30.we have seen results improving across the board, that makes us
:27:31. > :27:35.suspect the results will improve. We are seeing it with GCSEs and
:27:36. > :27:42.A-levels and we are seeing schools being built across Wales. I was
:27:43. > :27:47.opening a new school and cutting the first sod on the first campus else
:27:48. > :27:52.where. That is the government investing in people. You claimed you
:27:53. > :28:01.needed five more years to complete a decade of delivery. But despite your
:28:02. > :28:06.bluster for all but two quarters of this Assembly, unemployment has been
:28:07. > :28:12.higher than in England, and Scotland and we have the least productive
:28:13. > :28:16.economy and the highest levels of child poverty outside London. If
:28:17. > :28:20.this is what we can expect for the next five years of a Labour
:28:21. > :28:24.government, what hope can there be for those who haven't got a job and
:28:25. > :28:30.whose children are living in poverty. Many of whom have parents
:28:31. > :28:36.in full-time employment, but on wages that can't sus stain that
:28:37. > :28:40.family. There are issues for the UK Government in terms of working
:28:41. > :28:44.families tax credit, that we don't control and other benefits that we
:28:45. > :28:52.don't control and we have deplored what the UK Government has done.
:28:53. > :28:58.They didn't cause the financial crisis, it was reckless lending in
:28:59. > :29:04.the banking sector. We have, she will agree with me on this, we have
:29:05. > :29:09.deplored what has been done there. But we have brought investment into
:29:10. > :29:15.Wales and these are not so jobs as in the 90s that were brought in
:29:16. > :29:19.because people were on low wage would accept low pay. These are high
:29:20. > :29:24.quality, skilled jobs and we want to make sure people have the skills and
:29:25. > :29:28.we have done that through jobs growth Wales and my party has
:29:29. > :29:34.pledged to make sure apprenticeships are able to all ages and of course
:29:35. > :29:41.we have pledged to ensure there are 30 hours of free child care
:29:42. > :29:48.available for working parents. That is a substantial assistance to many
:29:49. > :29:53.working parents and that is the most important way of reducing poverty.
:29:54. > :29:59.Removing hurdles for people who wish to get to work and then ensure they
:30:00. > :30:06.can get to work and thaz rare incomes. Question three, Nick
:30:07. > :30:09.Ramsay. Will the First Minister outline the performance of his
:30:10. > :30:19.delivery units foefr the fourth Assembly term?
:30:20. > :30:26.Can I offer you my God wishes for the future, your advice an guidance
:30:27. > :30:29.has been much appreciated by myself and I know other members in this
:30:30. > :30:35.chamber. First Minister, it is interesting to hear a bit more on
:30:36. > :30:39.the works of the delivery unit, not as shadowy as inspector but it seems
:30:40. > :30:43.to be getting there sometimes. Andrew Davies asked you about the
:30:44. > :30:47.ballooning costs of the M4 black route today. At what point during
:30:48. > :30:54.the development of that road did the delivery unite tell owe that the
:30:55. > :30:58.chosen route would cost in excess of ?1 billion because extra junctions
:30:59. > :31:03.and bridges aside, it has not been that long since you told the chamber
:31:04. > :31:09.the cost would be significantly lower than the 1 billion plus than
:31:10. > :31:14.it appears to be. There are elements of the scheme that have new,
:31:15. > :31:22.particularly regarding the cycle superhigh way, important because it
:31:23. > :31:26.applies with the act. It would be remiss of me not to offer my thanks
:31:27. > :31:31.to the presiding officer. Could o I do that now. I know the chamber has
:31:32. > :31:36.sometimes been unruly, I know the presiding officer has not always had
:31:37. > :31:40.the easiest of tasks, that is the nature of a robust democracy, I have
:31:41. > :31:43.to say to the member, he has to decide whether he is in favour of
:31:44. > :31:51.the relief road north. In this chamber in the past he has given and
:31:52. > :31:56.indication he is sceptical about the need for a relief road. First
:31:57. > :31:59.Minister, it is clear that delivering for the people of Wales
:32:00. > :32:03.has been a key them for your Government during this assembly
:32:04. > :32:09.term, and it was good to see you break the ground for the new
:32:10. > :32:13.Aberdare campus the other week, do you agree this investment will
:32:14. > :32:18.deliver improve access to further education for the people but also
:32:19. > :32:22.make a contribution to helping them realise their potential, which is
:32:23. > :32:28.invaluable, not just for them as individuals but for Wales as a
:32:29. > :32:34.whole? Absolutely. It has been allocated ?11 million towards the
:32:35. > :32:38.scheme. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities for
:32:39. > :32:43.student, remacing the existing buildings which are well past their
:32:44. > :32:48.sell buy date and it is very close to public transport, the railway
:32:49. > :32:52.station, should make it easy for students to travel, to the campus in
:32:53. > :32:57.order to learn there, so, yes, another example of the Welsh
:32:58. > :33:03.Government investing in the future of it.
:33:04. > :33:08.TRANSLATION: The delivery unit is one of the great mysteries of this
:33:09. > :33:13.assembly, First Minister, and it is a source of great sadness for me to
:33:14. > :33:21.have to Leigh this institution without ever understanding exactly
:33:22. > :33:24.what this delivery unit delivers. In best spirit, because you are in high
:33:25. > :33:32.spirits at the end of this term, will you give me a transparent and
:33:33. > :33:36.open answer as to what exactly the delivery unit does?
:33:37. > :33:40.TRANSLATION: Well it implements the governmental programme and that is
:33:41. > :33:43.demonstrated by the evidence, where we have achieved on almost
:33:44. > :33:51.everything in that programme, so that delivery unit was responsible
:33:52. > :33:54.for that. First Minister, how is the Welsh Government supporting
:33:55. > :33:59.apprentice, as a key element in tackling youth unemployment? Well,
:34:00. > :34:06.we recently announced an additional 5 million for apprentices next year,
:34:07. > :34:10.we have of course focussed on growing apprentice numbers for
:34:11. > :34:14.18-year-olds, we have plans post May, if we are given the
:34:15. > :34:20.opportunity, to ensure that the, we create more apprentices for people
:34:21. > :34:24.of all ages. It is an appropriate time to highlight the Welsh
:34:25. > :34:28.Government's success into helping young people into work. It is also
:34:29. > :34:34.appropriate to highlight the work that has been done in Flintshire by
:34:35. > :34:40.Ayr bus and the college, that I are getting young people into
:34:41. > :34:49.apprentice, young people both male and female. A British Gas survey has
:34:50. > :34:53.revealed poor career's advice resulted girls limiting their
:34:54. > :34:59.choices, ruling out apprentice, how will a Welsh Labour Government build
:35:00. > :35:03.on its successes to encourage more young women into taking up
:35:04. > :35:10.apprentices. Equality is a key theme of our work on apprentices. It is
:35:11. > :35:21.why we commissioned a review on barriers to apprentices in 2014. But
:35:22. > :35:27.she mentioned a good examples of, in not, not in her constituency but not
:35:28. > :35:30.far away, where the project has two all girl cohorts, they have given
:35:31. > :35:35.stunt students the opportunity to take part in an industrial
:35:36. > :35:39.engineering project, and that helps to ensure that young girls of that
:35:40. > :35:45.age get the opportunity to see what the job entails, and they will of
:35:46. > :35:50.course then use that experience to make decisions in future for
:35:51. > :35:54.themselves. Hugely important that careers are seen as open to both
:35:55. > :35:58.sex, we understand that and it is through schemes like the industrial
:35:59. > :36:03.cadet scheme and others such as the Ford Saturday club at Bridgend that
:36:04. > :36:07.ensure that what has historically been a weakness, young women going
:36:08. > :36:12.into engineering is addressed through practical experience.
:36:13. > :36:17.Thank you. First Minister, over the past ten year, under your Government
:36:18. > :36:21.Wales has fallen 14 places against other nations, in standards of
:36:22. > :36:27.science, fallen behind nine places in maths and 11 places in reading.
:36:28. > :36:31.More than 30% of 15-16-year-olds have not reached the levels of
:36:32. > :36:35.literacy and numeracy that does allow them to communicate and
:36:36. > :36:39.operate in the workplace, that is according to the figure, one could
:36:40. > :36:44.say that your programme for Government has failed over the past
:36:45. > :36:49.FIA years, this of course leads to disengagement with the education
:36:50. > :36:52.system of young people, a Welsh Conservative Government would see
:36:53. > :36:59.the introduction of, I don't know why you are looking puzzles. --
:37:00. > :37:07.puzzled. A Welsh Conservative Government. It would foster
:37:08. > :37:19.apprenticeships that lead to sustainable jobs, will you support
:37:20. > :37:24.our policy? The member will have to forgive me scepticism, because
:37:25. > :37:28.slepts a party that got rid of the Future Jobs Fund and removed one of
:37:29. > :37:32.the most important schemes for assisting young people into work
:37:33. > :37:37.that existed, which is why of course we introduced jobs growth Wales, the
:37:38. > :37:41.most successful scheme for creating opportunities for young people, I
:37:42. > :37:45.would argue in Europe, it is why we will build on that ensure there are
:37:46. > :37:54.opportunities available for all age, what she doesn't explain is her
:37:55. > :37:57.leader said that he would only protect one budget, he would not
:37:58. > :38:01.protect the budget foreapprentices, on that basis, what the member is
:38:02. > :38:05.suggesting is there will be a new scheme in place but with no money.
:38:06. > :38:09.We will make sure that what we are planning to do there are
:38:10. > :38:13.opportunities available for all and given the track record, of the
:38:14. > :38:16.Conservatives with their cutting the Future Jobs Fund, the cutting
:38:17. > :38:19.support for those who want education, the cutting of the
:38:20. > :38:25.education maintenance allowing, ensuring that students have to pay
:38:26. > :38:31.more in England, the answer to her question no, we don't agree because
:38:32. > :38:39.their track record is appalling. I am being very generous today.
:38:40. > :38:43.Don't tempt me. TRANSLATION: Thank you, it was a
:38:44. > :38:48.pleasure to meet with David Jones last week, who started an
:38:49. > :38:54.apprenticeship as a fitter in the echo park in Holyhead, he is looking
:38:55. > :39:01.forward to developing his career an accuse near, it is important that
:39:02. > :39:03.companies are attracted into apprenticeship programme, but it is
:39:04. > :39:07.just as important that young people do become aware of the opportunities
:39:08. > :39:13.available to them, through apprenticeships. Will the First
:39:14. > :39:21.Minister therefore acknowledge the damage that is being done in terms
:39:22. > :39:23.offer couraging apprenticeship, apprentices to undertake
:39:24. > :39:27.apprenticeships by cutting the career Wales budget by over 50%, in
:39:28. > :39:32.the time of this Government. Unless they get the right advice, in the
:39:33. > :39:37.right place at the right time, young people aren't go, the pathways
:39:38. > :39:42.available to them. There is no shortage of young people who wish to
:39:43. > :39:49.go for an apprenticeship. We have seen that in a number of areas of
:39:50. > :39:53.Wales, there is no problem with the number of people applying for
:39:54. > :39:58.apprenticeships, if we look at schemes such as jobs growth Wales,
:39:59. > :40:02.it has been very successful. 80% of young people have had the
:40:03. > :40:07.opportunity to go on to further education or into employment. That
:40:08. > :40:11.shows that what we have been doing is very successful and our intention
:40:12. > :40:17.is to ensure this will be enhanced to May to those of all ages.
:40:18. > :40:19.Will the First Minister make a statement on the availability of
:40:20. > :40:24.school places in Cardiff? That would be a matter of course for the
:40:25. > :40:29.Cardiff LEA. Thank you for that answer, such as
:40:30. > :40:33.it was. I must declare an interest in my own son is affected in this
:40:34. > :40:39.situation. You will by a wear, First Minister of the chaos in Cardiff
:40:40. > :40:44.with the allocation of secondary school place, the east of the city
:40:45. > :40:49.is affected particularly. Two weeks after places were to be confirmed
:40:50. > :40:53.many constituent's childrens don't have a place, and those parents are
:40:54. > :40:58.very anxious, First Minister, will you commit to investigate what has
:40:59. > :41:01.gone wrong in Cardiff, this year, with the allocation of secondary
:41:02. > :41:05.school places and will you be prepared to step in, if the local
:41:06. > :41:08.authority still fails to resolve the situation. The local authority are
:41:09. > :41:13.obliged to provide places for children, they have to do that
:41:14. > :41:17.fairly, there have to be criteria in place, that are transparent for
:41:18. > :41:23.people to understand that admission arrangements are being properly
:41:24. > :41:26.implemented. I know one of the issue surrounds Cardiff high school, and
:41:27. > :41:32.pupils I understand, and this has been raised with me by Jane
:41:33. > :41:40.Rathbone, pupils going from the school not being able to go to
:41:41. > :41:45.Cardiff high. That was a change in the catchment area made by her
:41:46. > :41:48.party. That hasn't helped parents. The change that was made by the
:41:49. > :41:57.Liberal Democrat administration in 2011, which seems to be causing this
:41:58. > :41:59.chaos was, was not, was not fair for particularly for theest residents.
:42:00. > :42:41.You out a strong expectation that
:42:42. > :42:45.parents will be involved in consul location and it is hugely important
:42:46. > :42:49.parents understand what the reasoning is when catchment areaings
:42:50. > :44:12.are drawn up. On top of that when it comes to admission, the council are
:44:13. > :44:14.are drawn up. On top of that when it that education provision is adequate
:44:15. > :44:21.when a new housing estate is built. They have the machinery to do it. It
:44:22. > :44:27.is hugely important they use that. TRANSLATION: Who What is the Welsh
:44:28. > :44:33.Government doing to encourage community groups to participate in
:44:34. > :44:41.the process of listing historical buildings? We expert the historic
:44:42. > :44:47.bill to receive Royal Assent. The act will afford greater protection
:44:48. > :44:52.to historic buildings, we are drafting guidance on creating and
:44:53. > :44:56.managing lists of historic assets, of special local interest and the
:44:57. > :44:59.need to encourage community and trust and involvement from the
:45:00. > :45:07.outset. I am sure you will by a wear of the
:45:08. > :45:11.situation of a place if Wrexham, where the council in giving notice
:45:12. > :45:17.of four days have said that they want to demolish the building
:45:18. > :45:24.contrary to the aspirations of the majority of local
:45:25. > :45:35.Will you make it clear to Wrexham council that there is no retirement
:45:36. > :45:39.to demolish the building while they're applying for a 21st Century
:45:40. > :45:44.grant. That is the explanation they are giving, that they don't have is
:45:45. > :45:48.funds to refurbish the buildings and they want to demolish them to create
:45:49. > :45:53.a new school that would be cheaper. Will you make it clear to Wrexham
:45:54. > :45:57.council that there is no expectation upon them to rush into demolition of
:45:58. > :46:04.this historic building. Well, they don't have to do that. And I have
:46:05. > :46:09.stood outside the school with the Wrexham member and I know this is
:46:10. > :46:16.something which is extremely important to the area and people are
:46:17. > :46:22.unhappy with Wrexham council's decision to demolish the building.
:46:23. > :46:28.But the important point is the council realise they don't have to
:46:29. > :46:34.do this. It is a matter for them. It is not something they should try to
:46:35. > :46:39.blame other people for. Because it is something they desire to do. And
:46:40. > :46:42.it is port that they ex-- important that they explain it to people and
:46:43. > :46:52.not try to put the blame on any other body. Thank you. We know that
:46:53. > :46:57.almost every large nineteenth century buildings are listed and
:46:58. > :47:01.many are derelict or abandoned. I can think of three in my
:47:02. > :47:06.constituency which has only two walls which is still listed.
:47:07. > :47:11.Couldn't get to decide which buildings are important and get the
:47:12. > :47:15.money and the investment to preserve these buildings. I have cop certains
:47:16. > :47:22.that some very important buildings are coming, as the First Minister
:47:23. > :47:27.knows, I have a great interest in chapels of nineteenth century and
:47:28. > :47:33.many have collapsing congregations and isn't it important we try and
:47:34. > :47:41.work out what we can preserve and then get the investment to preserve
:47:42. > :47:45.them. He has a area that has the nonconformist cathedral, but the act
:47:46. > :47:50.itself is there and what we see as a result of the act is guidance that
:47:51. > :47:55.will be created. That will mean there will be management of lists of
:47:56. > :48:00.historic assets and of course communities will need to be engaged
:48:01. > :48:05.from the outset. Communities know best which buildings they wish to
:48:06. > :48:10.preserve, that are of particular value to them. Having that list of
:48:11. > :48:13.historic assets would be useful for communities to understand what
:48:14. > :48:17.assets they have and then of course to move forward, looking to utilise
:48:18. > :48:27.or preserve those assets in the future. First Minister I am sure you
:48:28. > :48:33.will welcome the friends of the tinworks who are visiting from my
:48:34. > :48:37.region. They offer support to staff and particularly famous national
:48:38. > :48:43.trust site which helps them be local voices to promote tourism in the
:48:44. > :48:51.area. The scoping work of the hear Taij bill considered the rule of
:48:52. > :48:57.community groups in taking on where appropriate responsibility for local
:48:58. > :49:03.heritage assets. While this wasn't reflected in the bill, what evidence
:49:04. > :49:06.did the government glean during that that would help community
:49:07. > :49:10.organisations be at the forefront of shaping these local lists? Well I
:49:11. > :49:15.was there two months ago as I am sure they were aware. It was my
:49:16. > :49:22.first visit. I think it was hugely impressive. It is a site I have
:49:23. > :49:28.driven past many times. Coming back to what I said before, community
:49:29. > :49:34.involvement in managing lists of historic assets is important and as
:49:35. > :49:39.I have said now on two occasions, it is important that people are engaged
:49:40. > :49:43.as soon as possible in terms of drawing up those lists and in terms
:49:44. > :49:48.of being able to manage those assets in the future. There we are.
:49:49. > :49:51.There we are, that was the last First Minister's Questions
:49:52. > :49:54.It will come to an end at the end of this week,
:49:55. > :49:57.when most of its members will disperse to the four corners
:49:58. > :50:00.of Wales to seek your votes to be allowed to return.
:50:01. > :50:02.Meantime, if you want more more coverage of the National Assembly
:50:03. > :50:04.you can go online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live
:50:05. > :50:12.But that's it for First Minister's Questions.
:50:13. > :50:39.As for AM.PM, though, from all of us on the programme, goodbye.
:50:40. > :50:42.In the last five years, homelessness across the UK has soared.
:50:43. > :50:45.So this is where you sleep every night? Yes. Hm.
:50:46. > :50:47.As part of BBC1's season of Sport Relief,
:50:48. > :50:51.our four celebrities continue to experience life on the streets.
:50:52. > :50:54.And things are about to get even tougher.