15/03/2016 am.pm


15/03/2016

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Good afternoon, welcome to the final AM.PM of this series.

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Today is the last chance for AMs to question the First Minister

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before the current Assembly comes to an end, ahead of May's elections.

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Today is the 159th First Minister's questions session of this fourth

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Assembly - well over 1,000 questions will have been answered by Carwyn

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And from the Order Paper today I can see there are questions listed

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on educational standards, mental health and apprenticeships.

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The opposition party leaders will also have their final chance

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before the election to pose their questions to Carwyn Jones.

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Don't forget you can Follow all the latest on Welsh politics

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on our Twitter feed - we're @walespolitics.

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Well, business in the chamber is already underway,

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so let's take a look now at the final First Minister's Questions

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Good afternoon, National Assembly for Wales is in session and the

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first item this afternoon, questions the First Minister. Question one is

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Kirsty Williams. Thank you. Will the First Minister make a statement on

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educational standards in Brecon and Radnorshire? Education standards in

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the area in common with standards in Wales as a whole present an

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improving picture, this includes national and local area. Can I thank

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the firm for that answer. On many occasions you have said that schools

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are are providing a good standard of education should not be closed. As

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you have said there are improvements in standards of education in Brecon

:02:01.:02:03.

and Radnorshire, therefore will you I degree with me that Powys's County

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Council ill conceived planned to close a National Union of

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Mineworkers ber of Primary Schools and close some of our High Schools

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will be, will do nothing to improve the educational attainment levels. I

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have no constituents have written to you and are looking to the Welsh

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Government to intervene, if possible, what can you say to those

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parents who have written to you, concerned that rather than improving

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educational standards the plans make things worse? . As the member I

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knows, these are matters for the local authority. As she also knows

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Welsh minister have a role in certain circumstances so I can't

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comment on any plans that may be referred to Welsh minister, I know

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she has expressed the concerns of her constituents, I have expressed

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the view many times I hope that the LA would take those into account. If

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the matter is referred to Welsh minister, then these are issues that

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will be taken into account. First Minister the quality of

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standards, education standard in Brecon and Radnorshire depend dent

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on the amount of education funding that is available. On the 17th

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November 2010, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives when asked how

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much they would cut e. On the 17th November 2010, the leader of the

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Welsh Conservatives when asked how much they would cut the education

:03:34.:03:36.

budget by said "It is about 20%." In the light of the refusal of the

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current leader of the Welsh Conservatives to commit to

:03:42.:03:45.

protecting the education budget we can only assume they would cut it by

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20% if they were to be in power. What would be the implications if

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the Tories were to be legislated to power. There will be, it would have

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a detrimental effect as it would have if Wales, including the

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constituencies we represent. It would mean for instance 5,000 fewer

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teacher, it would mean fewer resources for schools and it would

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mean thatle zoos would not be built in the future. We have confirmation

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over this that the Leader of the Opposition said he would not protect

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education spending. In accordance with the members

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register of interest I should declare I am a member of Powys

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County Council, governor and former head boy of one of the schools that

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is threatened with closure. First Minister, I am aware of the current

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concern in Brecon and Radnorshire round the school reorganise nation

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proposals. One issue raised by concerned members of the community

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is the perceived remoteness of cabinet decision making, this is

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mirrored elsewhere in my region in Pembrokeshire with, that are coming

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for wad. I would serve greatly the cause of transparency if the leaders

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faced with such decisions were to desist from the practice of holding

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informal, unminuted cabinet meetings ahead of formal business session, so

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as to give communities greater confidence at the transparency of

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the decisions that are arrived at. I think it is crucial, it is important

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that where people see decisions is being made, even if they disagree

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with them, they understand how the decisions came about, and the

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reasoning behind those decisions. I am not aware of what process was

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followed in Powys on this occasion but I am aware, as the member

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pointed out, and the leader of the Liberal Democrat, that this is a

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particularly controversial issue in Brecon and add nor. What plans does

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the Welsh Government have to improve mental Health Services in South

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Wales? One of the Government's priorities is to improve the mental

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health and wellbeing of people across Wales. Services have been

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improved through increased funding within the ring-fence every year

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throughout this assembly term, with over ?15 million of additional

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funding this year. I thank hem for that response. I am

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sure he is aware a hospital is closing its doors at the end of this

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month after 108 years providing mental Health Services for Cardiff

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and the surrounding area, so it is the end of an era. Does the First

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Minister agree that the new mental Health Service, the building

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provided are outstanding, but will he acknowledge the good work that

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has been down in Whitchurch by the staff over many years for people

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with mental health problems? I am more than happy to join the member

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in the praise she has for the staff, present and past who have served the

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city of Cardiff since 1908. It is time to ensure the facilities we

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provide are state-of-the-art, that is why of course we see the

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investment in the new hospital. And of course, it is a facility that

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will provide the best level of care possible for those who require

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assistance with their mental health. Thank you very much. Minister,

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mental Health Services obviously need to evolves as practise and

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knowledge change, I am concerned that vulnerable people are being

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caught between understaffed resources and policy changes.

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Whether it is people with severe and enduring mental Health Services like

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two of my constituent, one who has to go to a hospital to be in a

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hospital 200 miles away from that person's home and another 150 miles

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away or whether it is people like the avenue centre who have severe

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mental and physical disabilities. The concern that is echoed to me by

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mental health professionals and the families of people of these kind of

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people, is they don't believe the services are being holistic enough.

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It would appear people are being bent to fit the new policies that

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come through, rather than those policies being adapted to suit their

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particular vulnerable requirements. What can your Government do ensure

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through is speedy and effective changes to ensure that some of these

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more vulnerable people do have tailor packages that best suit them

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and their families. Well, we of course have increased the budget

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foremental Health Service, the total spend this year is 600 million up

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from 510 million and the member will be aware of additional 7.65 million

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a year to improve and develop childhood mental Health Service,

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that is a 17% increase. We have announced funding for older people.

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That is a substantial injection of resources and we would expect the

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service to wrap round the individual, rather as she has

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pointed out, for the individual to be made to fit the service. That is

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not the sort of service would would see provided. We expect it to be as

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tailored as far as possible to the individual. I was... Debate held

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last week, however, there was no specific commitment to improving

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support service and advice and information for families. I wonder,

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given how important it is, would you look at making that commitment, look

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at best practise across the UK and assess the support available for

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people who are either caring for someone with mental ill health or

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they are concerned about someone in their family who is showing signs of

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mental distress but they don't know where to go to for help or support.

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Well, this is one of the reasons, of course, why we have increased the

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funding for Cahms, we know there has been a great deal of demand for the

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service. For many parents who have adolescent children who are

:10:13.:10:14.

displaying signs that are difficult for parents to control, that that is

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the place they will get referred to and in terms of the money we have

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provided for that service, that money will for example, 2.7 million

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will go to improving their ability to respond out of hours and at times

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of crisis. What is crucial that where late in evening, perhaps,

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there is an issue that a career or parent can't deal with it, that

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support is available, at a time that is needed for the individual, for

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the child or young person or for the career or parent. In that way the

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support for families, both within hours and out of hours is improved.

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We move to questions from the party leaders, first the Leader of the

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Opposition Andrew RT Davies. Thank you. First Minister, last week I

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asked you about the M4 relief road and you said that yes, it was a

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commitment of yours to build the M4 relief road. Last week we had a

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report that came out that clearly indicated there had been a

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considerable up lift in the cost of building such a road, especially the

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black road identified as this Government's preferred option. Can

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you ex whine explain why crusade it would be built for less than 1

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billion and now a report indicates the build ?1.1 billion. We intend to

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squeeze of course as far as possible that figure. There has been a change

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of the eastern end of the proposal, where a, an enhanced scrubbingion at

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the M 48 is going to be remodelled. That has increased the cost by ?60

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million. There is the inclusion of an

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additional cycle bridge over the proposed motorway to facile they the

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Newport to Cardiff supercycle way, as well as work on the rain tunnel.

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So these are issues that have arisen during the course of the scheme. Our

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perspective we wish to see a relief road being built. I is true to say

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our preferred route is the black route, we are willing to examine

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other option, thus far it is difficult to's how they can be as

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effective as the black root. There is a process that will need to be

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followed, but what is true is the problem will not go away. It's a

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major problem, we look at hosting large events, it is an issue that is

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raised with us, and we are in the same position of wanting to see a

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relief road being built. Thank you for your answer. Many people will be

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concerned by the considerable extent of the numbers being talked about

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and the sudden ?300 million difference between figures bandied

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round by yourself and now this report confirming a ?1.1 billion

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price tag to it. One thing is clear, the situation round Newport cannot

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continue. There is a desperate need for a relief road. Do you agree we

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many it will be incumbent on which ever Government is formed here to

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have as part of its transport ever Government is formed here to

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strategy the delivery of the M4 relief road within its term

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strategy the delivery of the M4 office? I agree.

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strategy the delivery of the M4 I know those who advocate the blue

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route. The difficulty with that is it a dual carriage way not a three

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lane motorway. Secondly it affects 4,000 host house, some would have to

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be demolished. There no easy way to resolve the problem, but we do know

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the problem needs to be resolved. As this is the last First Minister's

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questions that myself and the First Minister will engage with, before

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the ebbing will shun, just like to pay tribute to the retiring members

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who are standing down from the assembly, from all the parties here,

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while we might have the political theatre within this chamber, I am

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sure you will agree with me, that everyone does go into public life

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with the best intention, whatever political affiliation they have,

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they try and endeavour for political affiliation they have,

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to echo the comments of leader of the Conservatives in wishing the

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retiring members well. Especially the members of my group. I do wish

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all of you well. First Minister, when you were elected as Labour

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leader seven years ago, you said, I want to be the leader for the whole

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of Wales to win back Wales, Welsh Labour has to listen and it has to

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learn. What has been the biggest lesson that you have learned in

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seven years as First Minister? The lesson you soon learn as a minister

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is things can't be done as quickly as you would want. She asks, I

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wondered whether this question would come, back in 2011 it took longer

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than we would have expected to start the legislative programme. It was a

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bigger undertaking than was realised. Since then those issues

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have been resolved and the Assembly has certainly risen to the task of

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producing sound legislation that has been well scrutinised and 24 acts in

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that time. That is a significant achievement in a short space of

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time. Yes, I think it was difficult at the beginning in 2011 to get the

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legislative programming up and running. So you haven't learned any

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lessons about growing NHS waiting lists or deteriorating international

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standing in terms of education or economic stagnation? First Minister,

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among the many... Comments and feedback that I get from people

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regarding these sessions, is that you are regularly evasive, that you

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avoid... Order. That you avoid answering the question and you

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rarely engage. Given this is the final question session of term, do

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you regret not being more engaged in these sessions? And do you regret

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not showing real leadership for this country. The leader of Plaid Cymru

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make it sound as if I stand here silently. She may not like the

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answers, we have seen waiting lists coming down, our best GCSE results

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ever, excellent results at A-level and new schools being built. 150

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schools built or planned to be built. We see in further education

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the education may not nabs allowance -- maintenance allowance has been

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maintained. Our students are not subjected to extra debt as in

:19:14.:19:21.

England. Our unemployment is lower than London, Scotland and Northern

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Ireland. That is a significant achievement we have brought jobs

:19:26.:19:32.

into Wales. Aston Martin and there are more to come. We have never been

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in such a strong position in terms of bringing in investment to Wales

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and the only thing and she will agree, the only thing that can

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jeopardise that is the uncertainty over EU membership. You don't accept

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there are any problems in this country that you're responsible for

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you, do you? On the day you were elected leader, you said you wanted

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to listen and to learn. Six years after you became leader, you

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launched an engagement exercise, with public meeting to listen to

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people and to learn. Now, I wonder does that mean you spent the first

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six years neither listening to people or learning? As the sun sets

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on your government and the fourth Assembly, are you prepared to admit

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this isn't as good as it gets for our country and will you accept that

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now is the time for Wales to have a First Minister who will answer

:20:34.:20:40.

questions. Who will engage and who will treat these scrutiny sessions

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and the Welsh public with the respect they deserve? Well, I

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mean... I will let other people judge the contrast between the

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leader of the opposition and the leader of Plaid Cymru. She makes the

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point it is the last FMQs and she wishes to be seen as an alternative

:20:58.:21:01.

First Minister. The points I make to her are these, I don't believe the

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answer to the challenges in the health service is a giant health

:21:06.:21:09.

quango based in Cardiff. I don't think that will go down well in the

:21:10.:21:15.

west and the North. A quango that would be so big that it would be

:21:16.:21:18.

almost as big as the government itself. I think that is an

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abdication of responsibility. The answer to the economic development,

:21:25.:21:31.

despite the success we have had it to reintroduce the WDA and go back

:21:32.:21:39.

to the day of some imagined Nirvana when the WDA was doing better. Their

:21:40.:21:46.

proposals usually involve setting up a giant committee. That is an

:21:47.:21:50.

evasion of responsibility. You can't set up, you can't give away economic

:21:51.:21:56.

development and health and expect to be held accountable as a government.

:21:57.:22:00.

We have had the greatest success, we have had for 30 years in economic

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development. Because the team we have in place is superb. We were sbg

:22:05.:22:10.

Cesc in -- successful in getting Aston Martin, because as they said,

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because of our passion and professional. We can't unpick that

:22:18.:22:26.

and set up an agency that would take attention from attracting inward

:22:27.:22:31.

investment. I don't think the idea of a health quango based in Cardiff

:22:32.:22:39.

goes down well. Now the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Kirsty

:22:40.:22:45.

Williams. Could I begin by thanking you Presiding Officer for the

:22:46.:22:50.

decades of public service you have given to country, especially in your

:22:51.:22:54.

role as Presiding Officer and wish you well in your future endeavours

:22:55.:23:02.

and could I extend those good wishes to all Assembly members retiring,

:23:03.:23:08.

especially the class of 99 and colleagues who embarked upon the

:23:09.:23:13.

devolution journey. Could I wish them well. First Minister, could I

:23:14.:23:19.

thank you for personal kindness you have always shown me. You have said

:23:20.:23:30.

you have dealt with 2,000 FMFs. You have given precious few answers in

:23:31.:23:39.

that time. But I have greatly enjoyed the encounters across the

:23:40.:23:47.

chamber mostly. So if I can turn to my questions. You promised to make

:23:48.:23:52.

surgeries more accessible to working people, so they could access local

:23:53.:23:56.

GP services in the evenings and Saturdays. The result of the survey

:23:57.:24:01.

I have carried out among GPs says 77% say your policy has failed to

:24:02.:24:06.

improve opening hours and it has not worked and your own survey by your

:24:07.:24:11.

own government demonstrated 40% of people say it is difficult to find,

:24:12.:24:16.

to get a GP appointment. Given that was your No 1 health commitment, why

:24:17.:24:21.

do you feel that GP peoples that you haven't achieved it? Well, I mean,

:24:22.:24:26.

the leader of the Liberal Democrats will forgive me for being sceptical

:24:27.:24:29.

about Liberal Democrat surveys. There are many of us in this chamber

:24:30.:24:34.

who have experience of seeing leaflets that show that the Liberal

:24:35.:24:39.

Democrats are about to take our own seats or council seats and she will

:24:40.:24:42.

know we have had some sport over that issue over the years. Without

:24:43.:24:48.

having seen the survey, or indeed understood how many people responded

:24:49.:24:51.

to it, and clearly I can't comment on it. But bear in mind any

:24:52.:24:57.

scepticism from the beginning. In terms of access to GP appointments,

:24:58.:25:06.

82% of practices are opening from 8 to 6 Monday to Friday. 97% are

:25:07.:25:14.

offering appointments between 5 and 6.30pm. That is the up 20%. 79%

:25:15.:25:28.

offered appoints between 5 and 6pm. Of course, because GPs tend to be

:25:29.:25:36.

independent contractors, and we are reliant on them ensuring they can

:25:37.:25:40.

provide the service they should. But what we have seen is an improvement

:25:41.:25:45.

in GP accessibility in most surgeries in Wales. I'm stung by the

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First Minister's assertions that you can't trust a Liberal Democrat

:25:54.:26:02.

survey. Absolutely stung. Bar charts maybe, but never a survey. There are

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those appointments are available, of course they are. But the number of

:26:07.:26:11.

people who want to use those appointments outstrip the number

:26:12.:26:15.

available. That is why 40% of people responding to your government survey

:26:16.:26:19.

say they find it difficult to make an appointment. But just before the

:26:20.:26:26.

last election you said that when the next international education

:26:27.:26:29.

rankings were published, Wales would be further up the listment when they

:26:30.:26:34.

were published it showed Wales was performing the worst for reading and

:26:35.:26:39.

maths and science and you have given up breaking into the top 20 of

:26:40.:26:43.

international nations. Why do you feel you weren't able to meet your

:26:44.:26:50.

pledge with regards to education in Wales that you made at the start of

:26:51.:27:01.

your term in office. We pledged in 2011 that we would apply protection

:27:02.:27:05.

to school spending. We have den that. ?106 million more is

:27:06.:27:17.

available. We introduced the pupil deprivation grant and we have raised

:27:18.:27:22.

the levels of schools that were not performing as we expected them. And

:27:23.:27:27.

we have seen results improving across the board, that makes us

:27:28.:27:30.

suspect the results will improve. We are seeing it with GCSEs and

:27:31.:27:35.

A-levels and we are seeing schools being built across Wales. I was

:27:36.:27:42.

opening a new school and cutting the first sod on the first campus else

:27:43.:27:47.

where. That is the government investing in people. You claimed you

:27:48.:27:52.

needed five more years to complete a decade of delivery. But despite your

:27:53.:28:01.

bluster for all but two quarters of this Assembly, unemployment has been

:28:02.:28:06.

higher than in England, and Scotland and we have the least productive

:28:07.:28:12.

economy and the highest levels of child poverty outside London. If

:28:13.:28:16.

this is what we can expect for the next five years of a Labour

:28:17.:28:20.

government, what hope can there be for those who haven't got a job and

:28:21.:28:24.

whose children are living in poverty. Many of whom have parents

:28:25.:28:30.

in full-time employment, but on wages that can't sus stain that

:28:31.:28:36.

family. There are issues for the UK Government in terms of working

:28:37.:28:40.

families tax credit, that we don't control and other benefits that we

:28:41.:28:44.

don't control and we have deplored what the UK Government has done.

:28:45.:28:52.

They didn't cause the financial crisis, it was reckless lending in

:28:53.:28:58.

the banking sector. We have, she will agree with me on this, we have

:28:59.:29:04.

deplored what has been done there. But we have brought investment into

:29:05.:29:09.

Wales and these are not so jobs as in the 90s that were brought in

:29:10.:29:15.

because people were on low wage would accept low pay. These are high

:29:16.:29:19.

quality, skilled jobs and we want to make sure people have the skills and

:29:20.:29:24.

we have done that through jobs growth Wales and my party has

:29:25.:29:28.

pledged to make sure apprenticeships are able to all ages and of course

:29:29.:29:34.

we have pledged to ensure there are 30 hours of free child care

:29:35.:29:41.

available for working parents. That is a substantial assistance to many

:29:42.:29:48.

working parents and that is the most important way of reducing poverty.

:29:49.:29:53.

Removing hurdles for people who wish to get to work and then ensure they

:29:54.:29:59.

can get to work and thaz rare incomes. Question three, Nick

:30:00.:30:06.

Ramsay. Will the First Minister outline the performance of his

:30:07.:30:09.

delivery units foefr the fourth Assembly term?

:30:10.:30:19.

Can I offer you my God wishes for the future, your advice an guidance

:30:20.:30:26.

has been much appreciated by myself and I know other members in this

:30:27.:30:29.

chamber. First Minister, it is interesting to hear a bit more on

:30:30.:30:35.

the works of the delivery unit, not as shadowy as inspector but it seems

:30:36.:30:39.

to be getting there sometimes. Andrew Davies asked you about the

:30:40.:30:43.

ballooning costs of the M4 black route today. At what point during

:30:44.:30:47.

the development of that road did the delivery unite tell owe that the

:30:48.:30:54.

chosen route would cost in excess of ?1 billion because extra junctions

:30:55.:30:58.

and bridges aside, it has not been that long since you told the chamber

:30:59.:31:03.

the cost would be significantly lower than the 1 billion plus than

:31:04.:31:09.

it appears to be. There are elements of the scheme that have new,

:31:10.:31:14.

particularly regarding the cycle superhigh way, important because it

:31:15.:31:22.

applies with the act. It would be remiss of me not to offer my thanks

:31:23.:31:26.

to the presiding officer. Could o I do that now. I know the chamber has

:31:27.:31:31.

sometimes been unruly, I know the presiding officer has not always had

:31:32.:31:36.

the easiest of tasks, that is the nature of a robust democracy, I have

:31:37.:31:40.

to say to the member, he has to decide whether he is in favour of

:31:41.:31:43.

the relief road north. In this chamber in the past he has given and

:31:44.:31:51.

indication he is sceptical about the need for a relief road. First

:31:52.:31:56.

Minister, it is clear that delivering for the people of Wales

:31:57.:31:59.

has been a key them for your Government during this assembly

:32:00.:32:03.

term, and it was good to see you break the ground for the new

:32:04.:32:09.

Aberdare campus the other week, do you agree this investment will

:32:10.:32:13.

deliver improve access to further education for the people but also

:32:14.:32:18.

make a contribution to helping them realise their potential, which is

:32:19.:32:22.

invaluable, not just for them as individuals but for Wales as a

:32:23.:32:28.

whole? Absolutely. It has been allocated ?11 million towards the

:32:29.:32:34.

scheme. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities for

:32:35.:32:38.

student, remacing the existing buildings which are well past their

:32:39.:32:43.

sell buy date and it is very close to public transport, the railway

:32:44.:32:48.

station, should make it easy for students to travel, to the campus in

:32:49.:32:52.

order to learn there, so, yes, another example of the Welsh

:32:53.:32:57.

Government investing in the future of it.

:32:58.:33:03.

TRANSLATION: The delivery unit is one of the great mysteries of this

:33:04.:33:08.

assembly, First Minister, and it is a source of great sadness for me to

:33:09.:33:13.

have to Leigh this institution without ever understanding exactly

:33:14.:33:21.

what this delivery unit delivers. In best spirit, because you are in high

:33:22.:33:24.

spirits at the end of this term, will you give me a transparent and

:33:25.:33:32.

open answer as to what exactly the delivery unit does?

:33:33.:33:36.

TRANSLATION: Well it implements the governmental programme and that is

:33:37.:33:40.

demonstrated by the evidence, where we have achieved on almost

:33:41.:33:43.

everything in that programme, so that delivery unit was responsible

:33:44.:33:51.

for that. First Minister, how is the Welsh Government supporting

:33:52.:33:54.

apprentice, as a key element in tackling youth unemployment? Well,

:33:55.:33:59.

we recently announced an additional 5 million for apprentices next year,

:34:00.:34:06.

we have of course focussed on growing apprentice numbers for

:34:07.:34:10.

18-year-olds, we have plans post May, if we are given the

:34:11.:34:14.

opportunity, to ensure that the, we create more apprentices for people

:34:15.:34:20.

of all ages. It is an appropriate time to highlight the Welsh

:34:21.:34:24.

Government's success into helping young people into work. It is also

:34:25.:34:28.

appropriate to highlight the work that has been done in Flintshire by

:34:29.:34:34.

Ayr bus and the college, that I are getting young people into

:34:35.:34:40.

apprentice, young people both male and female. A British Gas survey has

:34:41.:34:49.

revealed poor career's advice resulted girls limiting their

:34:50.:34:53.

choices, ruling out apprentice, how will a Welsh Labour Government build

:34:54.:34:59.

on its successes to encourage more young women into taking up

:35:00.:35:03.

apprentices. Equality is a key theme of our work on apprentices. It is

:35:04.:35:10.

why we commissioned a review on barriers to apprentices in 2014. But

:35:11.:35:21.

she mentioned a good examples of, in not, not in her constituency but not

:35:22.:35:27.

far away, where the project has two all girl cohorts, they have given

:35:28.:35:30.

stunt students the opportunity to take part in an industrial

:35:31.:35:35.

engineering project, and that helps to ensure that young girls of that

:35:36.:35:39.

age get the opportunity to see what the job entails, and they will of

:35:40.:35:45.

course then use that experience to make decisions in future for

:35:46.:35:50.

themselves. Hugely important that careers are seen as open to both

:35:51.:35:54.

sex, we understand that and it is through schemes like the industrial

:35:55.:35:58.

cadet scheme and others such as the Ford Saturday club at Bridgend that

:35:59.:36:03.

ensure that what has historically been a weakness, young women going

:36:04.:36:07.

into engineering is addressed through practical experience.

:36:08.:36:12.

Thank you. First Minister, over the past ten year, under your Government

:36:13.:36:17.

Wales has fallen 14 places against other nations, in standards of

:36:18.:36:21.

science, fallen behind nine places in maths and 11 places in reading.

:36:22.:36:27.

More than 30% of 15-16-year-olds have not reached the levels of

:36:28.:36:31.

literacy and numeracy that does allow them to communicate and

:36:32.:36:35.

operate in the workplace, that is according to the figure, one could

:36:36.:36:39.

say that your programme for Government has failed over the past

:36:40.:36:44.

FIA years, this of course leads to disengagement with the education

:36:45.:36:49.

system of young people, a Welsh Conservative Government would see

:36:50.:36:52.

the introduction of, I don't know why you are looking puzzles. --

:36:53.:36:59.

puzzled. A Welsh Conservative Government. It would foster

:37:00.:37:07.

apprenticeships that lead to sustainable jobs, will you support

:37:08.:37:19.

our policy? The member will have to forgive me scepticism, because

:37:20.:37:24.

slepts a party that got rid of the Future Jobs Fund and removed one of

:37:25.:37:28.

the most important schemes for assisting young people into work

:37:29.:37:32.

that existed, which is why of course we introduced jobs growth Wales, the

:37:33.:37:37.

most successful scheme for creating opportunities for young people, I

:37:38.:37:41.

would argue in Europe, it is why we will build on that ensure there are

:37:42.:37:45.

opportunities available for all age, what she doesn't explain is her

:37:46.:37:54.

leader said that he would only protect one budget, he would not

:37:55.:37:57.

protect the budget foreapprentices, on that basis, what the member is

:37:58.:38:01.

suggesting is there will be a new scheme in place but with no money.

:38:02.:38:05.

We will make sure that what we are planning to do there are

:38:06.:38:09.

opportunities available for all and given the track record, of the

:38:10.:38:13.

Conservatives with their cutting the Future Jobs Fund, the cutting

:38:14.:38:16.

support for those who want education, the cutting of the

:38:17.:38:19.

education maintenance allowing, ensuring that students have to pay

:38:20.:38:25.

more in England, the answer to her question no, we don't agree because

:38:26.:38:31.

their track record is appalling. I am being very generous today.

:38:32.:38:39.

Don't tempt me. TRANSLATION: Thank you, it was a

:38:40.:38:43.

pleasure to meet with David Jones last week, who started an

:38:44.:38:48.

apprenticeship as a fitter in the echo park in Holyhead, he is looking

:38:49.:38:54.

forward to developing his career an accuse near, it is important that

:38:55.:39:01.

companies are attracted into apprenticeship programme, but it is

:39:02.:39:03.

just as important that young people do become aware of the opportunities

:39:04.:39:07.

available to them, through apprenticeships. Will the First

:39:08.:39:13.

Minister therefore acknowledge the damage that is being done in terms

:39:14.:39:21.

offer couraging apprenticeship, apprentices to undertake

:39:22.:39:23.

apprenticeships by cutting the career Wales budget by over 50%, in

:39:24.:39:27.

the time of this Government. Unless they get the right advice, in the

:39:28.:39:32.

right place at the right time, young people aren't go, the pathways

:39:33.:39:37.

available to them. There is no shortage of young people who wish to

:39:38.:39:42.

go for an apprenticeship. We have seen that in a number of areas of

:39:43.:39:49.

Wales, there is no problem with the number of people applying for

:39:50.:39:53.

apprenticeships, if we look at schemes such as jobs growth Wales,

:39:54.:39:58.

it has been very successful. 80% of young people have had the

:39:59.:40:02.

opportunity to go on to further education or into employment. That

:40:03.:40:07.

shows that what we have been doing is very successful and our intention

:40:08.:40:11.

is to ensure this will be enhanced to May to those of all ages.

:40:12.:40:17.

Will the First Minister make a statement on the availability of

:40:18.:40:19.

school places in Cardiff? That would be a matter of course for the

:40:20.:40:24.

Cardiff LEA. Thank you for that answer, such as

:40:25.:40:29.

it was. I must declare an interest in my own son is affected in this

:40:30.:40:33.

situation. You will by a wear, First Minister of the chaos in Cardiff

:40:34.:40:39.

with the allocation of secondary school place, the east of the city

:40:40.:40:44.

is affected particularly. Two weeks after places were to be confirmed

:40:45.:40:49.

many constituent's childrens don't have a place, and those parents are

:40:50.:40:53.

very anxious, First Minister, will you commit to investigate what has

:40:54.:40:58.

gone wrong in Cardiff, this year, with the allocation of secondary

:40:59.:41:01.

school places and will you be prepared to step in, if the local

:41:02.:41:05.

authority still fails to resolve the situation. The local authority are

:41:06.:41:08.

obliged to provide places for children, they have to do that

:41:09.:41:13.

fairly, there have to be criteria in place, that are transparent for

:41:14.:41:17.

people to understand that admission arrangements are being properly

:41:18.:41:23.

implemented. I know one of the issue surrounds Cardiff high school, and

:41:24.:41:26.

pupils I understand, and this has been raised with me by Jane

:41:27.:41:32.

Rathbone, pupils going from the school not being able to go to

:41:33.:41:40.

Cardiff high. That was a change in the catchment area made by her

:41:41.:41:45.

party. That hasn't helped parents. The change that was made by the

:41:46.:41:48.

Liberal Democrat administration in 2011, which seems to be causing this

:41:49.:41:57.

chaos was, was not, was not fair for particularly for theest residents.

:41:58.:41:59.

You out a strong expectation that

:42:00.:42:41.

parents will be involved in consul location and it is hugely important

:42:42.:42:45.

parents understand what the reasoning is when catchment areaings

:42:46.:42:49.

are drawn up. On top of that when it comes to admission, the council are

:42:50.:44:12.

are drawn up. On top of that when it that education provision is adequate

:44:13.:44:14.

when a new housing estate is built. They have the machinery to do it. It

:44:15.:44:21.

is hugely important they use that. TRANSLATION: Who What is the Welsh

:44:22.:44:27.

Government doing to encourage community groups to participate in

:44:28.:44:33.

the process of listing historical buildings? We expert the historic

:44:34.:44:41.

bill to receive Royal Assent. The act will afford greater protection

:44:42.:44:47.

to historic buildings, we are drafting guidance on creating and

:44:48.:44:52.

managing lists of historic assets, of special local interest and the

:44:53.:44:56.

need to encourage community and trust and involvement from the

:44:57.:44:59.

outset. I am sure you will by a wear of the

:45:00.:45:07.

situation of a place if Wrexham, where the council in giving notice

:45:08.:45:11.

of four days have said that they want to demolish the building

:45:12.:45:17.

contrary to the aspirations of the majority of local

:45:18.:45:24.

Will you make it clear to Wrexham council that there is no retirement

:45:25.:45:35.

to demolish the building while they're applying for a 21st Century

:45:36.:45:39.

grant. That is the explanation they are giving, that they don't have is

:45:40.:45:44.

funds to refurbish the buildings and they want to demolish them to create

:45:45.:45:48.

a new school that would be cheaper. Will you make it clear to Wrexham

:45:49.:45:53.

council that there is no expectation upon them to rush into demolition of

:45:54.:45:57.

this historic building. Well, they don't have to do that. And I have

:45:58.:46:04.

stood outside the school with the Wrexham member and I know this is

:46:05.:46:09.

something which is extremely important to the area and people are

:46:10.:46:16.

unhappy with Wrexham council's decision to demolish the building.

:46:17.:46:22.

But the important point is the council realise they don't have to

:46:23.:46:28.

do this. It is a matter for them. It is not something they should try to

:46:29.:46:34.

blame other people for. Because it is something they desire to do. And

:46:35.:46:39.

it is port that they ex-- important that they explain it to people and

:46:40.:46:42.

not try to put the blame on any other body. Thank you. We know that

:46:43.:46:52.

almost every large nineteenth century buildings are listed and

:46:53.:46:57.

many are derelict or abandoned. I can think of three in my

:46:58.:47:01.

constituency which has only two walls which is still listed.

:47:02.:47:06.

Couldn't get to decide which buildings are important and get the

:47:07.:47:11.

money and the investment to preserve these buildings. I have cop certains

:47:12.:47:15.

that some very important buildings are coming, as the First Minister

:47:16.:47:22.

knows, I have a great interest in chapels of nineteenth century and

:47:23.:47:27.

many have collapsing congregations and isn't it important we try and

:47:28.:47:33.

work out what we can preserve and then get the investment to preserve

:47:34.:47:41.

them. He has a area that has the nonconformist cathedral, but the act

:47:42.:47:45.

itself is there and what we see as a result of the act is guidance that

:47:46.:47:50.

will be created. That will mean there will be management of lists of

:47:51.:47:55.

historic assets and of course communities will need to be engaged

:47:56.:48:00.

from the outset. Communities know best which buildings they wish to

:48:01.:48:05.

preserve, that are of particular value to them. Having that list of

:48:06.:48:10.

historic assets would be useful for communities to understand what

:48:11.:48:13.

assets they have and then of course to move forward, looking to utilise

:48:14.:48:17.

or preserve those assets in the future. First Minister I am sure you

:48:18.:48:27.

will welcome the friends of the tinworks who are visiting from my

:48:28.:48:33.

region. They offer support to staff and particularly famous national

:48:34.:48:37.

trust site which helps them be local voices to promote tourism in the

:48:38.:48:43.

area. The scoping work of the hear Taij bill considered the rule of

:48:44.:48:51.

community groups in taking on where appropriate responsibility for local

:48:52.:48:57.

heritage assets. While this wasn't reflected in the bill, what evidence

:48:58.:49:03.

did the government glean during that that would help community

:49:04.:49:06.

organisations be at the forefront of shaping these local lists? Well I

:49:07.:49:10.

was there two months ago as I am sure they were aware. It was my

:49:11.:49:15.

first visit. I think it was hugely impressive. It is a site I have

:49:16.:49:22.

driven past many times. Coming back to what I said before, community

:49:23.:49:28.

involvement in managing lists of historic assets is important and as

:49:29.:49:34.

I have said now on two occasions, it is important that people are engaged

:49:35.:49:39.

as soon as possible in terms of drawing up those lists and in terms

:49:40.:49:43.

of being able to manage those assets in the future. There we are.

:49:44.:49:48.

There we are, that was the last First Minister's Questions

:49:49.:49:51.

It will come to an end at the end of this week,

:49:52.:49:54.

when most of its members will disperse to the four corners

:49:55.:49:57.

of Wales to seek your votes to be allowed to return.

:49:58.:50:00.

Meantime, if you want more more coverage of the National Assembly

:50:01.:50:02.

you can go online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live

:50:03.:50:04.

But that's it for First Minister's Questions.

:50:05.:50:12.

As for AM.PM, though, from all of us on the programme, goodbye.

:50:13.:50:39.

In the last five years, homelessness across the UK has soared.

:50:40.:50:42.

So this is where you sleep every night? Yes. Hm.

:50:43.:50:45.

As part of BBC1's season of Sport Relief,

:50:46.:50:47.

our four celebrities continue to experience life on the streets.

:50:48.:50:51.

And things are about to get even tougher.

:50:52.:50:54.

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