:00:25. > :00:29.Good afternoon, welcomed the programme. As usual we will bring
:00:29. > :00:34.your coverage of First Minister's Questions. There is certainly a
:00:34. > :00:41.mixed bag for Karen Jones to deal with today. Before we look - Carwyn
:00:41. > :00:46.Jones, you can contact us via Twitter, @walespolitics, or send us
:00:46. > :00:52.an e-mail to am.pm@bbc.co.uk. Business has begun in the chamber
:00:52. > :00:57.so let's look at today's questions for the First Minister.
:00:57. > :01:00.We now move to questions for the First Minister. The first question
:01:00. > :01:03.as they learned parrot. Will the First Minister make a statement on
:01:03. > :01:09.what measures the Welsh Government has taken to generate new private
:01:09. > :01:13.sector jobs in Wales? We are taking steps to improve the business
:01:13. > :01:17.environment and the conditions of the private sector to grow. As you
:01:17. > :01:21.will be well aware, the construction sector has been
:01:21. > :01:26.particularly badly hit by the recession over the next - last few
:01:26. > :01:29.years. What we introduce in the supplementary budget under
:01:29. > :01:34.discussion to boost the construction industry in Wales?
:01:34. > :01:40.These are matters under discussion between two parties, and will be
:01:40. > :01:46.made - that a decision will be made shortly. First Minister, this
:01:46. > :01:51.afternoon is a science in the Assembly event across the way,
:01:51. > :01:56.which involve science, innovation and economic activity. A 2010 has
:01:56. > :02:02.survey highlighted that chemical based industries have declined at
:02:02. > :02:06.21 per cent across the UK. Do you agree that the launch of the
:02:06. > :02:10.science for Wales strategy Baeza key direction in the Welsh
:02:10. > :02:15.Government promotes scientific development in the private sector
:02:15. > :02:18.and academia? The launch of the strategy Indies sets out a
:02:18. > :02:24.programme to enhance quality and quantity of research in
:02:24. > :02:30.universities, institutes and industry itself - indeed said that
:02:30. > :02:33.a programme. We believe that would lead to more jobs. Can I ask you
:02:33. > :02:38.what you are doing to promote jobs in the private sector, specifically
:02:38. > :02:43.for women, because there has been an improvement, actually, in
:02:43. > :02:49.unemployment in the last few months in terms of men, but a 4000
:02:49. > :02:53.increase in women out of work over a similar timespan. Your government
:02:53. > :02:59.pays lip-service to equality issues, so what are you actually doing on
:02:59. > :03:03.the ground to make sure more I employed by the private sector?
:03:03. > :03:09.UK government is trying to remove reference to equality issues at a
:03:09. > :03:12.time but I find it a bit rich to do so. The Wales' economic growth fund
:03:13. > :03:18.and Investment Fund, the Micro Business Loan Fund, the funds to
:03:18. > :03:24.finance Wales, you will see just some examples of the many things
:03:24. > :03:31.put in place in order to help businesses and create jobs. Alun
:03:31. > :03:37.Ffred Jones. Thank you. I raised the issue of the rock fall in the
:03:38. > :03:41.quarry in Bethesda last week and 60 workers have now agreed to take
:03:41. > :03:48.four days a week to try and save their jobs, but they are facing
:03:49. > :03:52.hardship. Will you commit your government to assist the company
:03:52. > :03:56.specifically to try and bring the quarry back into use so they can
:03:56. > :04:00.work for the whole stone face and get workers back into full-time
:04:00. > :04:05.employment, and look at opportunities to assist the workers
:04:05. > :04:09.themselves, who are facing this indefinite period of working four
:04:09. > :04:14.days a week. We would of course be happy to work with the company and
:04:14. > :04:21.staff to secure those jobs in the poster and develop the quarry.
:04:21. > :04:24.Roberts. Will the First Minister make a statement on the steps he is
:04:25. > :04:29.taking to ensure the Welsh-language commissioner has operational and
:04:30. > :04:35.financial independence? The independence of the Commissioner is
:04:35. > :04:38.something the government values and sports in full, of course.
:04:38. > :04:44.number of provisions were made in the Welsh language measure which
:04:44. > :04:50.protects the commissioner's freedom. I am sure you will be aware that
:04:50. > :04:52.the commissioner has expressed concern about the issue of
:04:52. > :04:58.financial independence. Do you believe along with the other
:04:58. > :05:02.commissions, but there is room to go further than an annual budget in
:05:02. > :05:06.order to secure that independence? I don't think this impacts on the
:05:06. > :05:11.independence of the Commissioner, for example, judges are paid by
:05:11. > :05:15.government, and nobody would claim they are not independent. A number
:05:15. > :05:18.of commissioners across the UK are funded in this way as well. It is
:05:18. > :05:24.important of course to ensure the commissioner is independent, and
:05:24. > :05:34.this is something we very much support. First Minister, but that
:05:34. > :05:35.
:05:35. > :05:39.What would happen if the priorities of the commissioner, which are set
:05:39. > :05:42.independently, directly conflict those of the minister, who will be
:05:42. > :05:47.the final adjudicator in that relationship, and how well you're
:05:47. > :05:51.sure that the commissioner's independence is parallel?
:05:51. > :05:56.commissioner is an independent figure. The commissioner will, on
:05:56. > :05:59.occasion, challenge government. That is part of the role of any
:05:59. > :06:04.commissioner and we have seen that with the commissioner for older
:06:04. > :06:08.people and the commissioner for children, so there is no problem in
:06:08. > :06:15.taking a stance which is different or in opposition to that of
:06:15. > :06:19.government. The people who were calling for the Welsh language
:06:19. > :06:23.measure and seeing a commissioner in place are very eager to see the
:06:23. > :06:28.standards that the commissioner will implement, and seeing them
:06:28. > :06:32.brought before the Assembly. When should we anticipate seeing those
:06:32. > :06:37.standards brought forward to this Assembly? I will be meeting the
:06:37. > :06:41.commissioner before long, and this is something I will debate with her.
:06:41. > :06:47.We moved to questions from the party leaders. First, the leader of
:06:47. > :06:52.Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood. Can you clearly outline your government's
:06:52. > :06:58.position on powers over energy consents greater than 50 megawatts,
:06:58. > :07:08.what exactly have the last four, please? Historically, we have asked
:07:08. > :07:09.
:07:09. > :07:13.for the deep pollution of up to 100 Maric - megawatts - Mac megawatts.
:07:13. > :07:19.The UK government has proven intransigent on this point. Thank
:07:19. > :07:23.you. In October, 2010, your previous Environment Minister, in
:07:23. > :07:27.response to a statement on the feasibility study for the Severn
:07:27. > :07:31.Estuary, raised concerns, saying "the scale and impact of even the
:07:31. > :07:34.smaller schemes would be unprecedented in a environmentally
:07:34. > :07:42.designated area, and providing compensation for the damage would
:07:42. > :07:44.be very challenging ." Do you still share those concerns? I think the
:07:44. > :07:48.right project for the Severn barrage is something which could
:07:48. > :07:52.certainly be taken forward. Environmental concerns need to be
:07:52. > :07:57.addressed, but ultimately this will remain a matter for the UK
:07:57. > :08:02.authorities, because of the cross- border nature of the barrage.
:08:02. > :08:06.assurances can you give us, First Minister, that given Westminster
:08:06. > :08:10.will ultimately make a decision on this, that any developments in the
:08:10. > :08:16.Severn estuary will provide for the maximum amount with the minimum
:08:16. > :08:20.damage, and will be in the best national interest for Wales?
:08:20. > :08:25.expect the UK authorities to be guided by the same regulations as
:08:25. > :08:30.those that exist in Wales. Many are European regulations in any event.
:08:30. > :08:33.I would expect to see the barrage deliver in terms of energy
:08:33. > :08:38.generation and environmental protection, and of course in terms
:08:38. > :08:41.of jobs, because there are great opportunities for Wales,
:08:41. > :08:45.particularly areas such as Port Talbot in terms of manufacturing
:08:45. > :08:50.and maintaining the barrage. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Kirsty
:08:50. > :08:55.Williams. First Minister, today you schools inspector pointed out
:08:55. > :09:00.failings in many schools to develop basic skills a Munster 11-14 year
:09:00. > :09:03.olds. It follows two previous reports stating 40 per cent of
:09:03. > :09:07.children entering secondary school have a reading age below their
:09:07. > :09:12.chronological age, and reports show was slipping down the international
:09:12. > :09:17.league table. How many more reports do we need published before we
:09:17. > :09:21.start to see progress in this area? We welcome Estyn's report and
:09:21. > :09:28.recognise the problems they identified, including the 20 point
:09:28. > :09:37.action plan to recruit - improve - Mac improve education performance
:09:37. > :09:43.in Wales. The Education Minister reportedly will publish his natural
:09:43. > :09:49.- Mac national literacy programme this week. Can you assure me this
:09:49. > :09:53.will be more effective than the one that was meant to do the same in
:09:53. > :10:00.2000 date? It is meant to ensure literacy and numeracy rises in
:10:00. > :10:03.Wales to a letter we would want it - Mac a level we would want it.
:10:03. > :10:08.issue is, what will be different from the previous intervention
:10:08. > :10:12.which failed to work? I know you say literacy is a priority, but can
:10:12. > :10:19.I read what you previous education ministers have said." improving
:10:19. > :10:24.standards and basic skills in literacy and numeracy is key ." "we
:10:24. > :10:34.have given particularly - that particular priority to basic skills
:10:34. > :10:34.
:10:34. > :10:39..""one of a key priorities is improving education ." "my key
:10:39. > :10:46.priority is to improve education standards ." In fact the only
:10:46. > :10:51.Education Minister I couldn't find a quote from was you. If improving
:10:51. > :10:57.literacy has been a priority for every Labour Education Minister
:10:57. > :11:00.since 1999, what do you think has been going wrong? I listened very
:11:00. > :11:05.carefully to the leader of the Liberal Democrats as she went
:11:05. > :11:09.through her a question at the speed of somebody reciting the terms and
:11:09. > :11:13.conditions of a financial services a vote on the radio. I think we
:11:13. > :11:16.caught some of it. But the point is we have been consistent in our
:11:16. > :11:20.desire to raise literacy and numeracy, evidenced by the
:11:20. > :11:23.questions asked by the leader of the Liberal Democrats. Leighton
:11:23. > :11:28.Andrews as Education Minister is the latest in a long line of
:11:28. > :11:33.ministers who will always continue to improve literacy and numeracy. I
:11:33. > :11:40.see nothing wrong with that. leader of the opposition, Andrew RT
:11:40. > :11:47.Davies. First Minister, how many new jobs will be created by the
:11:47. > :11:52.firstsource call centre in Cardiff Bay? It will protect 16 - 600 jobs
:11:52. > :11:54.in Wales. You said these would be 600 new jobs in Cardiff Bay in
:11:55. > :12:00.March despite the company indicating they never said there
:12:00. > :12:04.would be any new jobs created by this call centre, it merely
:12:04. > :12:08.transfers of jobs. Why did you choose to mislead the public when
:12:08. > :12:12.you make your initial announcement back in March about 600 jobs?
:12:12. > :12:16.the time the comment was made we understood these would be new jobs.
:12:16. > :12:21.It has subsequently turned out to be 600 jobs kept in Cardiff which
:12:21. > :12:26.would otherwise be moved to England. You obviously got it wrong back in
:12:26. > :12:32.March, First Minister, but this is a wider trend across government.
:12:32. > :12:35.Three weeks ago I highlighted how the scientific adviser had to
:12:35. > :12:39.resign on the basis that he didn't believe the government were dealing
:12:39. > :12:42.in the best science when tackling TB eradication. Last week we
:12:42. > :12:45.highlighted the fact that their health minister, when she bailed
:12:46. > :12:48.out the three health boards despite her rhetoric in the autumn of
:12:48. > :12:54.saying that managers and directors of health boards if they didn't
:12:54. > :12:59.come in on budget would face sanctions. Today I have highlighted
:12:59. > :13:04.that you used your office in March to misconstrue the information
:13:04. > :13:10.about creating new jobs. Do you not think it is vital that when
:13:10. > :13:13.government ministers speak they are clear and concise, and carry
:13:14. > :13:19.through what they talk, something your government is failing to do to
:13:19. > :13:22.date? Let me remind the leader of the opposition of something said by
:13:22. > :13:25.the Wales' office when the Prime Minister went to Japan. They
:13:25. > :13:31.announced an investment in Panasonic, by Panasonic in Wales,
:13:31. > :13:35.did it lead to anything? No. When I asked the Secretary of State what
:13:35. > :13:39.this mystery Investment was, I was told we had brokered it and were
:13:39. > :13:44.paying for it. When I asked her why the Prime Minister felt he should
:13:44. > :13:47.announce something we as a Welsh Government were paying for, I was
:13:47. > :13:51.told" the UK government has the right to announce anything the
:13:51. > :13:59.Welsh Government does, because the UK government pays for Wales ."
:13:59. > :14:03.That's what she said to me, right? So I will not take less thans - a
:14:03. > :14:07.lesson from the party opposite because we are creating jobs as we
:14:07. > :14:10.remove them, or in terms of honesty, because after the Panasonic
:14:10. > :14:15.announcement, it takes the biscuit tin ear the leader of the
:14:15. > :14:25.opposition say what he does. - to hear the leader of the opposition.
:14:25. > :14:27.
:14:27. > :14:34.Andrew are treats it - Mac Andrew 11 How is the first minister
:14:34. > :14:40.working to deliver the programme of government? We are working to
:14:40. > :14:49.provide a programme of government for South Wales as well as all of
:14:49. > :14:59.Wales. You will be on a programme tonight that is indicating that the
:14:59. > :15:01.
:15:01. > :15:07.government is considering taking a strategic interest in the airport.
:15:07. > :15:12.Move the question, please. When I asked to this question in February,
:15:12. > :15:17.you highlighted that you are considering such ownership which
:15:17. > :15:24.might be circumnavigating of the funding rules under a different a
:15:24. > :15:27.leadership model. Are you in a position to say how your actions
:15:27. > :15:35.would circumnavigates certain rules that would prevent you in investing
:15:35. > :15:44.in Cardiff airport? We might lurk in models which would mean at the
:15:44. > :15:52.company is owned by the government. The leader of the opposition, his
:15:52. > :15:56.political and 10 I are completely wrong. I have had many e-mails from
:15:56. > :16:06.staff at the airport who are entirely in agreement with what I
:16:06. > :16:11.
:16:11. > :16:15.said. We have worked for two years to get this approval. We have to
:16:15. > :16:23.make sure that the owners are ambitious to develop the airport,
:16:23. > :16:30.or if they're not, let somebody else by it and improve it. Will the
:16:30. > :16:38.first minister outline of what steps the government is taking to
:16:38. > :16:44.tackle child neglect? We are putting in a strengthening
:16:44. > :16:54.programme to make arrangements, and early intervention programmes.
:16:54. > :16:58.Thank you. A recent review into child neglect called for local
:16:58. > :17:03.authorities to ensure early intervention services are in place,
:17:03. > :17:07.better collection and analysis of statistics, and signposting for
:17:07. > :17:14.family who need extra support. These measures need not cost the
:17:14. > :17:20.earth. Willie looked at the specific points to ensure we do
:17:20. > :17:25.everything we can to tackle neglect? I am very grateful to the
:17:25. > :17:30.work that they have done, and early intervention will is crucial. We
:17:30. > :17:38.expect to see corporation, and multi- agency working to ensure
:17:38. > :17:45.that child neglect is dealt with promptly and effectively. Action
:17:45. > :17:49.for Children are have been calling -- have been calling for the
:17:49. > :17:55.government to ensure that neglect is dealt with, how would you
:17:56. > :17:58.respond to the Children's Commissioner for Wales, which
:17:58. > :18:08.highlighted the failure of some Welsh councils to provide adequate
:18:08. > :18:10.
:18:10. > :18:15.support? We expect these agencies to work together, and to co-operate,
:18:15. > :18:19.working through local service boards to analyse the data, and he
:18:19. > :18:29.used it to plan effectively for early intervention to redress
:18:29. > :18:35.
:18:35. > :18:41.neglect. -- address neglect. Action for Children highlighted the
:18:41. > :18:46.importance of fathers, and they want to support some men to fill
:18:46. > :18:53.this role. One year on what steps have you taken that men in need of
:18:53. > :19:02.this help can effectively meet the needs of their children? We are
:19:02. > :19:12.looking for all parents to provide the support, regardless of sex. The
:19:12. > :19:12.
:19:12. > :19:17.Bill contains proposals to meet this. Fairly to ensure that their
:19:17. > :19:21.child attends school, or receives an education is neglect, and robs
:19:21. > :19:29.children of their best chance of a bright and successful future. How
:19:29. > :19:34.is the Welsh government tackling the worrying school absence rates?
:19:34. > :19:40.As part of the delivery and attendance action plan there,
:19:40. > :19:44.meetings have been held with many schools to discuss attendance and
:19:44. > :19:54.behaviour, and to see what further tools may be needed to see the
:19:54. > :19:58.
:19:58. > :20:04.situation improve further. What do the Welsh government plan to do
:20:04. > :20:10.with the district hospitals in Wales? To retain them. You have
:20:11. > :20:16.often said that John not willing to accept services that are unsafe for
:20:16. > :20:24.patients. Are there any services in the hospitals that are unsafe for
:20:24. > :20:32.patients? We can't avoid the conclusions of the Health report,
:20:32. > :20:36.and this is something that is sensible for all parties to address,
:20:36. > :20:42.and that services are as local as possible, and to maintain the
:20:43. > :20:48.hospitals that we already have. We can accept that there are certain
:20:48. > :20:52.services that could be delivered in a more effective way for people, in
:20:53. > :21:02.terms of their own safety. This, of course, is something we are
:21:03. > :21:03.
:21:03. > :21:13.currently considering. First Minister, in Cabinet you have said
:21:13. > :21:15.
:21:15. > :21:23.that meeting the case for change, in terms of possible beds,, --
:21:23. > :21:28.hospital beds, emergency services, they can be met. Is this an
:21:28. > :21:34.effective plan for the future of hospitals in Wales? Services may
:21:34. > :21:38.change, but it is possible to see them perform more safely, we are
:21:38. > :21:43.performing more operations than ever before, that is something that
:21:43. > :21:49.any organisation these too consider, we want to talk about services
:21:49. > :21:53.delivered locally, to his many people as possible. Many services
:21:53. > :22:01.can be delivered outside of the hospital setting, by GPs, or by
:22:01. > :22:06.nurses. Well the first minister outline any discussions the Welsh
:22:06. > :22:10.club and has had with the UK government in regarding the
:22:10. > :22:17.abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board? We have had of beatings with
:22:17. > :22:27.UK government ministers. They have been ongoing discussions with DEFRA
:22:27. > :22:33.-- of their have. It negotiates wages and conditions for thousands
:22:33. > :22:38.of Welsh agricultural workers. As it is a devolved area, could you
:22:38. > :22:45.outline the government's views on the abolition of that is proposed,
:22:45. > :22:48.and tell us whether the government will look seriously at maintaining
:22:48. > :22:52.it for the benefit of Welsh agricultural workers? That is
:22:52. > :23:02.something we are looking at. Discussions are taking place, they
:23:02. > :23:09.have so far involved looking at if it goes in England and Wales, that
:23:09. > :23:17.its functions are carried out here in Wales. First Minister, I'm very
:23:17. > :23:23.interested to hear that reply, because last agriculture -- because
:23:23. > :23:33.whilst agriculture is devolved, I'm not sure the law is. Can you allow
:23:33. > :23:41.the cost of -- can you outline of the cost of retaining it? What
:23:41. > :23:51.other options have been looked at in providing protection to Welsh
:23:51. > :23:56.workers? I'm surprised she does not find it easy to support what the
:23:56. > :24:03.board does. Agriculture is devolved, and the discussions are taking
:24:03. > :24:07.place looking at how to put in place a structure if it is
:24:07. > :24:17.abolished. Discussions are taking place between the Welsh government
:24:17. > :24:18.
:24:18. > :24:24.and DEFRA. They have been cordial, and to -- and undertaken to find a
:24:24. > :24:34.solution. May I thank the first Minister for his responses, and
:24:34. > :24:44.perhaps he went recall this, but in 1991 in the House of Commons, my
:24:44. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :24:56.predecessor Haydon Jones, voted for the establishment of the
:24:56. > :24:56.
:24:56. > :25:02.Agricultural Wages Board. Is he aware that a day the board in
:25:02. > :25:06.Scotland have made her announcement for the next financial year, and at
:25:06. > :25:12.least one agricultural union in Wales would vote in favour of
:25:12. > :25:16.continuing it in Wales? It is important that there is a way of
:25:16. > :25:22.securing the wages of agricultural workers in Wales. It is important
:25:22. > :25:30.to say that the employment law has not been devolve the Wales, neither
:25:30. > :25:40.has it been in Scotland, but it comes under the subject of
:25:40. > :25:40.
:25:40. > :25:43.agriculture generally, that is our view as a government in Wales.
:25:43. > :25:48.the first minister make a statement on the future of Welsh residential
:25:49. > :25:58.care homes, previously under the control of the company Four
:25:58. > :26:04.Seasons? Four Seasons will continue to operate in Wales, running seven
:26:04. > :26:10.care homes. Continuity of care remains our overwhelming priority,
:26:10. > :26:19.and we will monitor the operation of each home during the refinancing
:26:19. > :26:26.process. The takeover of Four Seasons was reported in the
:26:26. > :26:33.national press, a tax exile, and private equity Barran, best-known
:26:33. > :26:41.for his disastrous takeover of EMI is now poised to snap up Britain's
:26:41. > :26:44.largest care home chain. Would you be willing to consider calls right
:26:44. > :26:51.across the political spectrum that the law should be changed, so that
:26:51. > :26:55.in future if any individual or company 60 takeover the
:26:55. > :27:03.responsibility of residential care, they should be made subject to a
:27:03. > :27:09.fit and proper persons test? wording does not the last of the
:27:09. > :27:18.greatest of components -- does not fill us with the greatest of
:27:18. > :27:28.confidence, but there are a robust set of requirements that set to
:27:28. > :27:28.
:27:28. > :27:32.find out if anyone wanting to run a care home two is fit to do so. We
:27:32. > :27:38.will insure her that the assessment of the financial viability is as
:27:39. > :27:46.robust as possible. We will take effective reinforcement action
:27:46. > :27:56.where that might be necessary. Those homes will still be run by
:27:56. > :27:58.
:27:58. > :28:05.Four Seasons, and we would like to reassure families that that firm
:28:05. > :28:14.employees 28,000 people around the country. It is important that the
:28:14. > :28:21.quality of care continues during the change of ownership. Has the
:28:21. > :28:29.government had any assurances from Four Seasons about their debts will
:28:29. > :28:34.be paid off? That is a matter for Four Seasons and those taking them
:28:34. > :28:39.over. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely in order
:28:39. > :28:43.to maintain at the level of care. Will the first minister make a
:28:43. > :28:48.statement on his priorities for local government? Our priorities
:28:48. > :28:53.are set out clearly for local government. Thank you first
:28:53. > :28:58.minister. Before you accuse me of being negative, can I welcome the
:28:58. > :29:02.�60 billion funding announcement made by the Finance Minister
:29:02. > :29:06.recently in terms of the local government borrowing initiative?
:29:06. > :29:10.Can I ask you, given that the people of Wales this week had an
:29:10. > :29:13.election for local authorities across Wales, would it not be best
:29:13. > :29:19.to give local authorities some flexibility in terms of that money
:29:19. > :29:26.rather than simply saying, as you have, that they have to spend it on
:29:26. > :29:36.a specific area? Should be a matter of choice? -- should it be a matter
:29:36. > :29:43.
:29:43. > :29:49.After Labour women outright 10 councils a fortnight ago -- winning,
:29:49. > :29:54.I am sure the first Minister is very pleased with that, as I am.
:29:54. > :29:58.The question I would like to ask is, what discussions are plant now with
:29:58. > :30:03.the new local-authority leaders over collaboration agenda so we can
:30:03. > :30:10.start taking that Ford? This is a matter that will be taken forward
:30:10. > :30:15.by the Minister as it is an important part of local authorities
:30:15. > :30:21.work and it will be crucial to deliver for the people of Wales if
:30:21. > :30:25.the collaboration continues to move forward. Vaughan Gething. What
:30:25. > :30:30.steps will the Welsh Government take to improve health and safety
:30:30. > :30:38.at work? They have the work in Wales programme includes support
:30:38. > :30:43.for employers -- healthy work in Wales programme. Thank you for the
:30:43. > :30:47.response. You may be aware that 20,000 people across the UK die and
:30:47. > :30:51.workplace accidents annually and approximately 1.9 million people of
:30:52. > :30:56.working age in the UK can live with an injury or illness worsened or
:30:57. > :31:00.caused by their job. You also be aware that the UK government is
:31:00. > :31:04.cutting back 35 per cent its funding for the Health and Safety
:31:05. > :31:09.Executive next year. Do you share my concerns that the UK government-
:31:09. > :31:14.led campaign to demonised -- demonise health and safety, will
:31:14. > :31:19.undercut hard -- hard-won gains in workplace safety and lead to more
:31:19. > :31:24.workers been injured or killed in their job? The reality is that for
:31:24. > :31:28.many years in Wales we were used been killed -- people being killed
:31:28. > :31:31.almost daily, whether in coal, steel or agriculture. Much of the
:31:31. > :31:37.reason we don't see people being killed at the same rate, although
:31:37. > :31:42.it is sold -- still too high, is because of enforcement of health
:31:42. > :31:46.and safety law. Any reining back of either the law or enforcement will
:31:46. > :31:50.lead to more injuries and sadly I believe, people being killed. The
:31:50. > :31:57.reality is that health and safety law has led to greater health and
:31:57. > :32:01.safety and should be tinkered with at the peril of the UK government.
:32:01. > :32:06.A fortnight ago and event was held here recognising Workers' Memorial
:32:06. > :32:11.Day and reflecting on the loss of many people doing their job, quoted
:32:11. > :32:17.in the previous question. The Speaker highlights the UK
:32:17. > :32:23.government's the purchase stance -- atrocious stance on this. Is there
:32:23. > :32:27.a way we can promote health and safety at work? We know the HSE's
:32:27. > :32:31.own evaluation of the impact of safety rep training in terms of
:32:31. > :32:34.union safety reps, found that more training they underwent, the
:32:34. > :32:41.greater the positive effect at work so it is important to ensure that
:32:41. > :32:48.there are not only union safety reps and union members, who are
:32:48. > :32:51.trained to the highest degree possible. Julie Morgan. What plans
:32:51. > :32:56.does the First Minister have to improve the environment for people
:32:56. > :32:59.living in urban areas? At the environment matters conference
:32:59. > :33:02.yesterday the Environment Minister set out how we will support
:33:02. > :33:09.communities to make a difference to their local environment and secure
:33:09. > :33:13.wider skills, jobs and well-being benefits. One of the big problems
:33:14. > :33:18.in urban areas is litter. Following the success of the levy on plastic
:33:18. > :33:23.bags, does the First Minister think there is a way of tackling the
:33:23. > :33:30.issue of discarded cans and bottles, possibly by means of a returnable
:33:30. > :33:33.levy? We were prepared -- prefer to see people voluntary recycling cans
:33:34. > :33:39.and bottles. Defra recently commissioned a study in England
:33:39. > :33:43.looking at whether a deposit stick -- scheme could be established. It
:33:43. > :33:48.came as it -- at a cost so we have to establish the cost-benefit
:33:48. > :33:53.analysis if we do so in Wales. That said, it has increased dramatically
:33:53. > :33:59.over the past decade, and as the rate of recycling increases, I
:33:59. > :34:03.suspect it will be necessary to introduce a deposit scheme. Andrew
:34:03. > :34:07.RT Davies. One of the biggest display immense of many large-scale
:34:07. > :34:11.developments in urban areas is the Queen's Speech is even visage for
:34:11. > :34:17.them as pleasant environments -- green spaces envisaged for them,
:34:17. > :34:20.quickly become covered in a letter. With the new Planning Bill, will
:34:20. > :34:24.the First Minister be considering measures to put an obligation on
:34:25. > :34:27.developers to create some sort of endowment fund to look after these
:34:27. > :34:32.green spaces so future generations can enjoy them to their full
:34:32. > :34:37.potential and what they were intended to achieve? Yes, if you
:34:37. > :34:41.look at section 106, we are looking at that. The section is impinged on
:34:41. > :34:48.by the community and -- community infrastructure levy, which although
:34:48. > :34:52.it was claimed at the time, was in fact up financial matter, is a
:34:52. > :34:56.planning matter, which limits the scope very much in terms of what we
:34:57. > :35:00.can do to improve matters when community benefit is being looked
:35:00. > :35:04.at as planning applications are considered. In terms of community
:35:04. > :35:07.infrastructure levy, I will put on the record that we would like to
:35:08. > :35:15.see it devolved as it is a planning rather than financial issue, and it
:35:15. > :35:24.would give the right level of sex - - flexibility not just to ourselves
:35:24. > :35:29.but to local government. Alun Ffred Jones. Will the First Minister make
:35:29. > :35:32.a statement regarding government plans for capital projects. Capital
:35:32. > :35:42.spending plans for the next three years was set out in our budget for
:35:42. > :35:44.
:35:44. > :35:48.growth and jobs in December. P M M G company, which owns the six toll
:35:48. > :35:52.roads close to Birmingham is in debt of �1 billion to the bank and
:35:52. > :35:58.made a loss of almost a quarter of a million pounds last year on
:35:58. > :36:03.operations. Is this government still considering a parallel road
:36:03. > :36:08.to the M four in South Wales, and if so, if you are considering doing
:36:08. > :36:17.that, would at whole have to be raised in order to secure usage of
:36:17. > :36:21.the new road -- with a charge have to be raised? Well... There are a
:36:21. > :36:27.number of ways of improving the situation near Newport in bring
:36:27. > :36:32.class, but clearly tolls have not worked on the M6 road, which we
:36:32. > :36:36.know only too well in Wales. If a new road were built and charges
:36:36. > :36:40.imposed, people wouldn't use the road and continued to use the
:36:40. > :36:47.existing road, so nothing along those lines is being considered at
:36:47. > :36:50.present in terms of putting tolls on any roads in Wales. First
:36:50. > :36:54.Minister, one of the roles of your delivery unit will be to produce
:36:54. > :36:58.delivery reports about the performance of the Welsh
:36:58. > :37:01.Government's key priorities against measurable outcomes to see if they
:37:01. > :37:05.are on track to be achieved. Given the well-documented history of
:37:05. > :37:09.slippage in his government on capital projects, will your special
:37:09. > :37:15.delivery unit look at this and monitor whether these capital
:37:15. > :37:18.projects get delivered on time and to budget? Yes, and also of course
:37:18. > :37:21.the Programme for Government will be published towards the end of
:37:21. > :37:24.this month, against which the Assembly and the people of Wales
:37:24. > :37:32.will be able to judge what the government has done in the past
:37:32. > :37:36.year. Peter Black. While discussions are still ongoing with
:37:36. > :37:41.the UK government about borrowing powers for the Wells Assembly,
:37:41. > :37:43.other mechanisms are available to your government to raise additional
:37:43. > :37:49.capital monies -- the Welsh Assembly. What progress is being
:37:49. > :37:54.made with regards to the bond issue pursuit by housing associations? --
:37:54. > :37:59.pursued. We are exploring finance options to leverage more capital
:37:59. > :38:02.over the next 10 years but they are not a substitute for gaining the
:38:02. > :38:10.borrowing powers that Scotland and Northern Ireland will have in the
:38:10. > :38:14.future. They ran parallel to those. Jenny Rathbone. What is the Welsh
:38:14. > :38:19.Government doing to encourage unemployed people to develop their
:38:19. > :38:23.skills and employability despite the shortage of paid jobs? We are
:38:23. > :38:26.looking to extend apprenticeships and have created jobs growth Wales
:38:27. > :38:30.and of providing training opportunities through a number of
:38:30. > :38:34.schemes. And sure we have all noticed in the last week the
:38:34. > :38:41.serious dip in the number of vacancies advertised in Wales, a
:38:41. > :38:47.clear sign that firms are voting with their feet to the austerity
:38:47. > :38:52.measures the UK government continues to push, which is not
:38:52. > :38:57.digging us out of the recession but pushing us back into it. What is
:38:57. > :39:01.the Welsh Government able to do to ensure that people are engaged
:39:01. > :39:05.actively in developing their skills so that when jobs are available
:39:05. > :39:08.they are in a better position to apply for them? It is absolutely
:39:08. > :39:13.true to say that people need to retain the skills they have and
:39:13. > :39:18.develop new ones. That's what the scheme is all about, making sure
:39:18. > :39:25.people have the opportunity to get on to an apprenticeship scheme or
:39:25. > :39:28.receive training to develop skills that will ensure they have a job in
:39:28. > :39:32.future. Without the scheme, many young people would not get the
:39:32. > :39:42.chance to gain that experience in the first place, obviously put in
:39:42. > :39:48.the matter disadvantage in the Labour Market. Estyn's recent
:39:48. > :39:54.report, and their criticisms of the skills Framework painted a very
:39:54. > :39:58.worrying picture Indies. 40 per cent of tea -- people starting
:39:58. > :40:03.secondary schools have reading skills below their average age
:40:03. > :40:09.group, and just 48 per cent of pupils at key stage 4 achieved
:40:09. > :40:12.Level 2 in the core subjects last year. How can you ensure that the
:40:12. > :40:18.forthcoming numeracy and literacy framework will address these
:40:18. > :40:25.shocking figures and guarantee that improvements will continue past
:40:25. > :40:31.stage for -- stage 40 to provide meaningful potential in the job
:40:31. > :40:36.sector for our young people in Wales. I can't comment on any
:40:36. > :40:40.results which show our ability to cook Italian food, but the Member
:40:40. > :40:46.referred to, nor the way understand what this has to do with employing
:40:46. > :40:50.people. I suppose you could argue that children in schools are not in
:40:50. > :40:55.jobs, we could take it to that extent, but the issue of education
:40:55. > :41:03.and the money we put into it, one of our five minutes up -- manifesto
:41:03. > :41:09.pledges, are well documented, and they were supported by the Welsh
:41:09. > :41:12.people last year and last week. STUDIO: That is where we leave
:41:12. > :41:19.First Minister's Questions, on that surreal note. You can find more
:41:19. > :41:24.online on the BBC's Democracy Live page. As usual, our Welsh Affairs
:41:24. > :41:29.Editor Vaughan Roderick is here. Good afternoon. Hello. Strange
:41:29. > :41:34.coverage, it felt like a flat First Minister's Questions today. Yes,
:41:34. > :41:40.and that joke, if it was a joke, by Carwyn Jones. Did not raise a laugh.
:41:40. > :41:44.Past its sell-by date. It made him look a little bit patronising and
:41:44. > :41:49.was not well judged. It was quiet, Kirsty Williams had a good day and
:41:49. > :41:54.they thought she landed a few blows. I wasn't sure what the award was
:41:54. > :41:58.trying to extract from the First Minister, possibly quotes for first
:41:58. > :42:02.-- future use, and Andrew Davies stepped in to link three subjects
:42:03. > :42:08.together. You could see what he was trying to do with the line of
:42:08. > :42:13.attack -- attack, but the most interesting thing we got was the
:42:13. > :42:19.leak of a confidential conversation between Catherine Jones and Cheryl
:42:19. > :42:24.Gillan where she allegedly said the UK can announce what it likes about
:42:24. > :42:32.the Welsh Government. -- between Carwyn Jones and Cheryl Gillan. It
:42:32. > :42:36.seemed to be post-election FM Khieu's, not much energy, and many
:42:36. > :42:43.a AMs away at the British have that -- at the British-Irish Council in
:42:43. > :42:48.Dublin. One thing not mentioned was a story in the petitions committee
:42:48. > :42:57.this morning, which we watch with relish here in our office, about
:42:57. > :43:01.the petition to put statue outside the senatemacro, of what exactly?
:43:01. > :43:05.Of a sheep. This was a suggestion that they should be a statue of a
:43:05. > :43:10.sheep in the Assembly to celebrate the importance of agriculture to
:43:10. > :43:16.Wales. Some people laugh, others said it was a heck of an argument
:43:16. > :43:21.if you had to choose which breeds. Others think it is not a bad idea
:43:21. > :43:24.provided the public don't pay from taxation. If somebody brought up --
:43:24. > :43:29.came up with the money it wouldn't go down too badly. We already have
:43:29. > :43:34.a minor, so why not a farmer? Thanks for joining us today. That's