17/07/2012 am.pm


17/07/2012

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Afternoon, welcome to the programme where we will bring you First

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Minister's Questions. The Assembly breaks for the summer recess this

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week, but before they go, politicians have a busy week ahead.

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First, I will tell you you can get in touch with us if you want to

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know anything about what we are talking about or comments about

:00:50.:01:00.
:01:00.:01:05.

They are already under way, so let's take a look at questions to

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the First Minister. The National's Assembly for Wales

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is in session on the first item is questions to the First Minister.

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What is the Welsh Government going to teach future generations about

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the industrial history of Wales? Future generations have an

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opportunity through informal and formal education. There is the

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National Museum interpretation programmes. I started my working

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life in the coalmines and I am proud of the Community's I

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represent. These communities like many mining communities have seen

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their fair share of tragedy. Do you agree with the words of the

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Caerphilly council leader the tragic history throughout the

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valley, with significant contribution from the coal-mining

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industry, there should be a Welsh National coal-mining memorial?

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Universal Colliery in 1913, the worst disaster of them all. I was

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pleased to be at the launch of the campaign to create a national

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mining memorial and it was good to see so many people at the launch.

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The available history curriculum is wide and varied and covers

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industrial heritage. But many will recognise it when I say schools

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seemed to concentrate on wartime Europe and the American civil

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rights movement. What is the Government doing to teach a wider

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range of topics and concentrate more on Welsh history? Industrial

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history is central to the history of study which is key stages two

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and three in schools. It allows further opportunity to develop

:03:12.:03:22.
:03:22.:03:22.

knowledge and understanding. TRANSLATION: Wales has been a world

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leader in terms of in a to Viv and industrial developments in the past

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and it is very important we promote that for the future. At the moments

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are Committee in the Assembly is scrutinising the Heritage Bill.

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Would it be possible for young people in schools perhaps, to have

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more education in terms of what the legislation would mean for them in

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terms of promoting this particular sector, and in terms of

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participating in the consultation proposed by Government when they do

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bring their heritage Bill forward in 2013?

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TRANSLATION: You would wish to see young people playing a key role in

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the development and not just the Heritage Bill, but other bills, too.

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We look forward therefore, to ensuring this would be used to

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ensure there is an input from young people when the Bill goes through

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the Senedd. Extending the topic to include also

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the importance of Welsh agricultural industry and the role

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that is played alongside the industrial history of Wales and the

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heavy industries of the South Wales valleys. I have in mind the example

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of the tram road that is in the Brecon Beacons and in its day

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transported limestone to the farms of mid-Wales and brought

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agricultural products down the valley to those communities. First

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Minister, what can your Government do to ensure the important linkages

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between the industrial heartlands and the agriculture will

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communities are understood, particularly in the context of

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heritage tourism and the potential it has for the Welsh economy?

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I think the Museum of Welsh life does a good job in illustrating the

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important role agriculture has played in sustaining people's

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livelihoods in Wales. And you are right to point out the important

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link that exists between rural and urban Wales, given the facts so

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many families who lived in the mining areas had families in rural

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Wales where the family had originally come from. Leasing no

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better illustration of that link in the Royal Welsh Show next week when

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people will be travelling from a them Wales to enjoy the show, and

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also enjoyed and understand more about agriculture and rural life.

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Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of acute

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medical care in the target area? have agreed plans to ensure Neath

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Port Talbot residents received acute care in the future. I met it

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with members from the board on Friday and they took time out to

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tell me about the changes that would be taking place at Neath Port

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Talbot Hospital in detail. Much of the changes they emphasise his to

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do with decisions by the Welsh deanery. I would like to clarify

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who the Welsh Deanery are accountable to and why does it not

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have to carry out a consultation on its actions? What steps of the

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Welsh Government taking to discuss with the UK Government that Dr

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recruitment problems caused by a tightening of immigration rules

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which has formed a lot of the changes in Neath Port Talbot

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hospital? The deanery is responsible for postgraduate

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training and responsible for ensuring medical training is

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adequate and safe. As far as the deanery of concerned, I have no

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argument with their right and duty to ensure safe services are

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provided. You do raise an important point regarding immigration. If

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immigration is seen as being too Beaumaris as far as the Medical

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profession is concerned, doctors will go elsewhere. Bewails we have

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relied on doctor's coming in from elsewhere. We have launched a

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recruitment campaign in order to attract staff of different

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seniority is into Welsh hospitals. I am sure he will be pleased the

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plans are in place to deal with the patient transfer as of the 1st

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September because of the closure of the queue to medical unit in Neath

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Port Talbot hospital. Would you be meeting with the UK Government to

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profess those points, to ensure what we have suffered this it is

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not repeated and immigration rules allow doctors to be brought in from

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overseas? This is an issue we have concerns about. Whether it is true

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or not it is difficult to get into the UK to work as a doctor, is

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immaterial. The perception is there. When I was in India in April, it

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was the perception the UK is almost closed in terms of people coming to

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study here and work here. It is something the UK Government will

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need to work hard to address. First Minister, we have debated the

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reasons for closing the acute medical unit and I recognise there

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are certain issues. My chief issue with the Government is what plans

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the Government and the Neath Port Talbot Hospital are putting in

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place to tackle the issue in the long term? We have a wrecked --

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excellent hospital, what steps are you taking to ensure doctors will

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remain? It comes under this point in my view, the need to recruit

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more doctors. It is not just a Welsh problem, it is a problem

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across the UK. There are several positions in hospitals across Wales

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that are not filled, not because there is no finance, but no

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applicants of the correct quality or standing in order to fill those

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posts, which is why we are continuing with a recruitment

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campaign in order to ensure we have hospitals that are staffed

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appropriately and safely in the future. When I met with the health

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board on Friday, one of the things that became Kier is this might not

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be the only area in which they might be difficulties in recruiting

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staff. Thermite the other problems in the future. In reply to another

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question, you said the UK Government needs to address the

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immigration problem. But you did not reply as to whether or not you

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are making representations to the UK Government about how we can

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improve the perception to make it easier to recruit doctors from

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abroad to meet the shortages other health boards may come up against

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in the future? It is important we realise this is increasingly a

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perception regarding the UK. This isn't an issue just for one

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specialism, nor is it just for one hospital, although history suggests

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it is more difficult to recruit and we must be careful to ensure there

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are sufficient doctors of quality being recruited in the future, in

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order to keep services we want to see kept. We move to questions from

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the party leaders. We have the leader of the Welsh Liberal

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Democrat, Kirsty Williams. recent weeks, half of your labour

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colleagues have issued press releases highlighting the extra

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money for the poorer schoolchildren made available by the Budget. This

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is thanks to a Labour Government, people have been saying. Of course,

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everyone knows this is thanks to the insistence of the was Liberal

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Democrats doing budget Nick associations. Will you ensure the

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other half of your labour colleagues inform their

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constituents of this excellent Liberal Democrat policy? I am going

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to be generous today and hope the generosity of spirit will continue

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tomorrow, and say it is quite right to say it is a Liberal Democrat

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idea and we were pleased to take it forward. I am pleased there is a

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high-level activity. Indeed there is. The Labour spin machine has

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gone into overdrive. The standard press release quotes you are saying

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The Wash Government is taking practical action to deliver better

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opportunities for disadvantaged children. The schools minister says

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it will provide financial assistance to help reduce the

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impact on educational attainment. I am not aware of any work towards a

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dated attempts to implement policy. Isn't this Liberal Democrat policy

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your best achievement this year? accept as part of the budget Nick

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associations last year, the grant was approved and it was something

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agreed on between the two parties. It is a policy which we are more

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than happy to implement and a policy we agree with. As far as we

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are concerned, we were more than happy to say it is a policy, one of

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many this Government has adopted to ensure the welfare of the people in

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Wales is paramount. This time last year you did Whip Labour Assembly

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members to vote against it. By the time of the budget you were

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persuaded up of the case, now you are enthusiastic supporters.

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Despite Labour member voting against, I hope further appropriate

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can be made. It would be presumptuous to make any

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assumptions as to what happens in the Budget next year in advance of

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any talks and of course, the need to come as the Liberal Democrats

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see it, to extend the pupil grant will form any part of any talks in

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the future. We moved to the leader of the opposition. Yesterday we had

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the excellent news of a lecture vocation, the complete package of

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electrification of the South Wales a Valley lines and all the way to

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Swansea. I'm sure you want to use this time to congratulate the UK

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Government on this announcement? is very much welcome and I look

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forward to seeing the work begin and it represents what we as a

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Government have argued before. had the announcement of the

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Heathrow spur, which your predecessor touched on being the

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most important announcement for 50 years in relation to the Welsh

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economy. That was before the announcement on a letter vocation

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of the valley Lines. This level of investment by the UK Government

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shows commitment to generating economic prosperity in Wales. Do

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you not agree with that statement? The opening of the Heathrow spur, I

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hope it happens as soon as possible. It was interesting in those

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questions seeing members on your bench agreeing, that those two

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major points will help the Welsh economy. But when we look at the

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actions of your own Government, is it time you stepped up to the plate

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in the field of legislation. We have only had one bill in this, we

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have had to millions of pounds cut out of the health budget, 16%

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increase in waiting times in Wales and in the field of education, 40%

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of primary schoolchildren enter into secondary school with below

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the average reading age. Doesn't this compare poorly with the level

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of commitment the UK Government has given to Wales in recent days to

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the inaction of the Government over I look forward to an agreement

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regarding Barnett and borrowing. I remind the opposition that the

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electrification between Paddington and Swansea was introduced in June

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2009 by the Minister of a different government and in May 2010, the

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then incoming government placed a moratorium on electrification.

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There is a real announcement of something previously announced by a

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Labour government. As far as what we are doing, may I remind the

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leader of the opposition... Order. Carry on.

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I remind the leader of the opposition that we have the growth

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fund, the Investment Fund, the micro business loans, Finance

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Wales's Jeremy fund and the Digital Development Plan, the Welsh Life

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Sciences fund, the business start- up service. All these are measures

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that have been taken to improve our economy despite the buffeting it is

:17:06.:17:09.

taking as a result of external influences.

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Now the leader of Plaid Cymru. You have made it clear that you or

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opposed to the welfare reform and benefit cuts coming from the

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coalition at Westminster. These cutbacks are a socially harmful and

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they are hitting people's pockets and harming the economy. It even

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though you have got limited resources to deploy a in countering

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these harmful cuts, do you agree with me that there needs to be a

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Welsh alternative to austerity if we have any chance of turning

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around the Welsh economy? I have just outlined the measures we are

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taking in order to support the economy and as the leader of Plaid

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Cymru will know, there is a ministerial group assessing the

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overall effect of welfare changes on Wales.

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Thank you, First Minister. You will no doubt be aware of the recent

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warning about council tax benefit cuts. There are concerns about the

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lack of time available for local authorities to implement any sort

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of replacement scheme for that. These cuts are also go against the

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aims of your tackling poverty Action Plan. First Minister, you

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have committed to taking a stand against Tory cuts so can you tell

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us why you disagreed with Plaid Cymru's call to buy some breathing

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space by cancelling these cuts for a year?

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We haven't disagreed with anything but when you have something thrown

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at you as a responsibility without the budget following, especially in

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difficult financial Times, it is exceptionally hard to look up for

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the money to make up for the short falls created by the UK government.

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We want to make sure that there is fairness across the whole of the UK

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and we would urge the UK government to rethink its policy on council

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tax benefits or to give us the full amount of the Budget to make sure

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the benefits can continue at the same level.

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I don't think that is good enough because you said that you would

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stand up for the people of Wales against Tory cuts. You could have

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shielded people from these cuts to council tax benefit as an emergency

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measure get you have chosen not to. You have chosen to have other

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priorities. Have you failed to deliver on this, you have failed to

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deliver on Barnett reform so far, you have failed to deliver any kind

:19:29.:19:34.

of fiscal stimulus that would protect jobs in a communities. Can

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you tell us how you respond to the words of your adviser who said, I

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don't think the Welsh government has been anything like as active as

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the Scottish government. As far as an concerned, I have met

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many times with UK ministers and I met for the prime minister

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yesterday. As far as Plaid Cymru are concerned, their words would

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carry more weight if they had any policies at all in terms of

:19:59.:20:02.

economic stimulus so we are waiting for a proposed Bill that they might

:20:02.:20:06.

bring forward but I remind the leader of Plaid Cymru once again of

:20:06.:20:10.

what has been dead to provide the fiscal stimulus. The economic

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growth fund, B business loan, the finance world fund, the life

:20:15.:20:21.

sciences fund, the business start- up service. I repeat these and at

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nauseam for some members but it seems Plaid Cymru and listening

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because week after week, they make the allegation that nothing has

:20:29.:20:33.

been done to help business and stimulate the economy in Wales when

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the facts show the opposite. We now move back to questions on

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the Order Paper. Question 3. What action is the Welsh government

:20:43.:20:47.

taking to help separated parents resolve maintenance?

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This is largely a non devolved area but we do look after the wealth

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which -- the welfare of children by encouraging them after separation

:20:57.:21:00.

where it is in the child's best interest.

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It is a largely devolved area but nonetheless an area affecting

:21:04.:21:09.

people across the whole of the United Kingdom. The evidence shows

:21:09.:21:13.

that children who went in contact with -- who are in contact with

:21:13.:21:18.

both parents have a better outlook on life and it is only when it is

:21:18.:21:22.

an safe that they should not have contact with both parents. What can

:21:22.:21:26.

tact have you had with the UK government over the resolution on

:21:26.:21:31.

shared parenting? There was a �50 million scheme launched to support

:21:31.:21:35.

separated parents to work together more effective way.

:21:35.:21:41.

We welcome the response to the justice review. We believe it is a

:21:41.:21:46.

major reform to improve the lives of children and families. A Family

:21:46.:21:49.

Justice Board have been established to drive these reforms and Welsh

:21:49.:21:58.

government has secured seats fought Welsh representatives on the board.

:21:58.:22:01.

Can the First Minister in for almost as to when he will expect a

:22:01.:22:04.

report on the work of the family operational boards in Wales and

:22:05.:22:08.

whether advice and support could be offered by that board to separated

:22:08.:22:13.

parents? I ask this question to help explode the public myth that

:22:13.:22:17.

separated fathers in Wales do not care about their children's future

:22:17.:22:21.

when the reverse is the two. Whatever assistance can be given by

:22:21.:22:26.

the board is welcome. The member is right to point out that many

:22:26.:22:28.

fathers have historically not seen their children through no fault of

:22:28.:22:35.

their Rome. I have represented both parties in divorce proceedings and

:22:35.:22:38.

in years gone by, if there was a determination on behalf of one

:22:38.:22:42.

parent, that the courts wouldn't intervene and that is not

:22:43.:22:46.

satisfactory. The move towards shared parenting, where appropriate,

:22:46.:22:50.

in the interest of the child, is very well go.

:22:50.:22:57.

Question four. Does the delivery unit have

:22:57.:23:02.

measures in place for development? We measure direct investment in

:23:02.:23:12.
:23:12.:23:12.

terms of GDP, G D HIV. The delivery unit is monitoring the process.

:23:12.:23:16.

Yesterday's decision to electrify it in effect the whole of the South

:23:16.:23:22.

Wales rail network will be a boon to market Wales internationally. We

:23:22.:23:25.

have good rail services in South Wales in terms of their reach and

:23:26.:23:29.

it is important we build on this and remind people what an

:23:29.:23:31.

attractive place South Wales is to do business.

:23:31.:23:36.

Indeed so. The great worry I have is if the line was electrified as

:23:36.:23:42.

far as Cardiff, Cardiff would be seen as the end of the line. The

:23:42.:23:46.

fear is that the Vale of Glamorgan line is that is a diversion line

:23:47.:23:50.

west so if one line was electrified and the other wasn't, that would be

:23:50.:23:54.

an issue. What we don't know is when the work will begin. We know

:23:54.:23:57.

when the work will begin to Cardiff but it would be helpful to know

:23:57.:24:01.

when the work would be begun and finished as far as Swansea and the

:24:01.:24:11.
:24:11.:24:11.

Valley lines. You have had a meeting with a

:24:11.:24:17.

representative of German industry UK during this last year. It is a

:24:17.:24:22.

body representing German industry is based here in Britain. Are there

:24:22.:24:27.

any ash comes to those meetings, bearing in mind the importance of

:24:27.:24:31.

the German economy to Europe and of course likewise, to us here in

:24:31.:24:36.

Wales? I did meet with him a number of

:24:36.:24:41.

months ago now and of course, Germany is an exceptionally

:24:41.:24:45.

important economy from Wales's point of view. What we are

:24:45.:24:50.

considering at present is whether we need to insure that we should

:24:50.:24:53.

have someone dealing full-time with Germany on behalf of the Welsh

:24:53.:24:58.

government in order to ensure we are able to create a more

:24:58.:25:04.

investment into Wales from Germany. As the Welsh government had any

:25:04.:25:07.

discussions with her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary about

:25:07.:25:12.

the impact of budget cuts on policing and budget safety in

:25:12.:25:15.

Wales? Not with the Inspectorate of

:25:15.:25:20.

Constabulary. There have been conversations with Constable's.

:25:20.:25:27.

Policing is not devolved but we are helping with community support

:25:27.:25:29.

officers. Following the decision by the UK

:25:29.:25:32.

coalition government to cut police funding in Wales and across the UK

:25:32.:25:37.

by 20%, you will be aware that a report at the start of July from

:25:37.:25:41.

the Inspectorate and card -- Inspector of Constabulary revealed

:25:41.:25:45.

that Welsh forces can expect to lose hundreds of frontline officers

:25:45.:25:51.

as part of frontline staff going across England and Wales. The

:25:51.:25:53.

Police Federation say this will have a serious impact on public

:25:53.:25:58.

safety. In contrast to that, can you confirm that this Welsh

:25:58.:26:03.

government will stick to its commitment to support community

:26:03.:26:06.

safety and Kenny also confirm if he has had any support from the

:26:06.:26:08.

Secretary of State for Wales in fighting for the corner of Welsh

:26:08.:26:11.

police for so his? I would urge the Secretary of State

:26:11.:26:16.

to do just that. It is not an issue she has raised with me in terms of

:26:16.:26:20.

her fighting our corner. As far as the committee's report officers are

:26:20.:26:26.

concerned, there are around 200 I there deployed or in training. That

:26:26.:26:32.

was as of last month and that takes us to was the commitment to deploy

:26:32.:26:34.

a 500 community support officers during the course of this the and

:26:34.:26:39.

much. -- this government.

:26:39.:26:44.

North Wales will be one of the 15 areas in the UK tiling

:26:44.:26:48.

neighbourhood justice panels which will allow trained members of the

:26:48.:26:52.

public a say in how low-level criminality and anti-social

:26:52.:26:57.

offenders could make amends for their communities. We confirm if

:26:57.:27:01.

these panels demonstrate a significant reduction in

:27:01.:27:04.

reoffending and anti-social behaviour in North Wales, that you

:27:04.:27:09.

will work with the Ministry of Justice to roll the boards out

:27:09.:27:13.

across Wales? I look forward to seeing the

:27:13.:27:16.

results of the project but it doesn't get away from the fact that

:27:16.:27:22.

fewer police equals more crime. As simple as that. Offenders are not

:27:22.:27:26.

deterred by the speed of the course, they are not deterred by the

:27:26.:27:28.

availability of courts and sometimes even by the sentencing.

:27:28.:27:32.

They are deterred by being caught and if there is less of a risk of

:27:32.:27:36.

them being caught, that means we will see more of ending which is

:27:36.:27:39.

why fewer police officers inevitably means there will be more

:27:40.:27:49.
:27:50.:27:50.

people to chance their arm, and A few weeks ago, I met with Nick

:27:50.:27:56.

Herbert, the UK police minister, in Westminster about the cuts. I urged

:27:56.:27:59.

him to accept the request from the South Wales police that there

:27:59.:28:03.

should be additional funding for Cardiff in recognition of its

:28:03.:28:08.

status as a capital city. Does the First Minister agree with me that

:28:08.:28:12.

the UK Coalition's failure to properly fund these costs does put

:28:12.:28:15.

additional pressure on frontline policing in Cardiff and it should

:28:15.:28:19.

be addressed? Indeed, there are extra pressures

:28:19.:28:22.

on South Wales police because of the current funding formula and

:28:22.:28:25.

it's important it is re-examined but I never thought I would see the

:28:25.:28:30.

day when I would see a Conservative lead government elected on the

:28:30.:28:35.

platform with fewer police. I never thought I would see the day when I

:28:35.:28:37.

would see Conservatives in this chamber stand behind back. Most

:28:37.:28:42.

people want to live in communities that are safe and that means having

:28:42.:28:45.

sufficient police officers to insure those communities are safe

:28:45.:28:55.
:28:55.:28:56.

and that is something the UK First Minister, I was under the

:28:56.:28:59.

assumption that Yvette Cooper had made the same kind of commitment to

:28:59.:29:06.

police cuts herself. The question away at is that at a time when

:29:06.:29:09.

there are swingeing cuts in the police budgets, do you agree with

:29:09.:29:16.

me that it is a bad idea to do. Police commissioners to take money

:29:16.:29:21.

away from the basic police service and shouldn't we be in discussion

:29:21.:29:25.

with Westminster on the devolution of the functions of the police

:29:25.:29:29.

forces, not the police forces themselves, but their functions, in

:29:29.:29:33.

order to provide effective policing in Wales?

:29:33.:29:40.

Well, in considering part two of silk, we need to look at that. It

:29:40.:29:45.

is a fair argument and one that is ongoing in terms of devolution and

:29:45.:29:49.

the police service is one of the only major services that is not

:29:49.:29:53.

devolved but in terms of police commissioners, we were against

:29:53.:29:57.

police commissioners. We now know that these actions will take place

:29:57.:30:01.

in November. What we don't know is what kind of impact the

:30:01.:30:06.

commissioners will have in terms of their responsibilities they cannot

:30:06.:30:11.

interfere with day-to-day police business and it is difficult to see

:30:11.:30:19.

what the benefit of the As chaos descends on the Olympics

:30:19.:30:28.

due to the incompetence of the UK government and G4S and it is left

:30:28.:30:32.

to the public sector, it is left to the public sector to try and pick

:30:32.:30:37.

up the pieces, South Wales police are likely to be drafted down to

:30:37.:30:41.

the Olympics... Order, order.

:30:41.:30:44.

Will you be making any representations to ensure that

:30:44.:30:48.

adequate policing and community support is available in Wales

:30:48.:30:53.

whilst our police are travelling to sort out their mess.

:30:53.:30:57.

I am always amazed that the Conservative benches think they can

:30:57.:31:01.

shout and it has an effect. They can't be heard out there. All that

:31:01.:31:05.

can be heard is a low murmur which is as much sense as you would

:31:05.:31:08.

expect to get out of them but as far as the Member for Pontypridd is

:31:08.:31:12.

concerned, it is clear that we should have enough security around

:31:12.:31:18.

the Olympics. The UK government has questions to ask regarding insuring

:31:18.:31:22.

that security is in place and I really hope it is. We all see what

:31:22.:31:26.

has happened over the last few days and it is incumbent the UK

:31:26.:31:29.

government provides assurances to members of the public that

:31:29.:31:32.

sufficient security will be in place for the Olympic Games.

:31:32.:31:36.

Some members are very restless this afternoon. I am not looking at

:31:36.:31:45.

anybody in particular. Andrew RT Davies. Can we move on to the

:31:45.:31:55.
:31:55.:32:06.

My question was tabled before the statement but I noted that in the

:32:06.:32:10.

statement, the Health Minister set out a three-stage process in which

:32:10.:32:15.

this process would be brought into play and in the first stage, it

:32:15.:32:20.

related during 2012, when she said it would be further reduced with

:32:20.:32:26.

the number of then closing to insure the appropriate distribution

:32:26.:32:30.

of early morning and evening appointments. What is the take-up

:32:30.:32:36.

of that particular stay to? The Government should ensure that

:32:36.:32:39.

access is available to all people in Wales by the end of this

:32:39.:32:44.

government's term. The member has not referred to the survey this

:32:44.:32:51.

carried out but it was curious. 680 g p practices were written to but

:32:51.:32:55.

there are only 476 in the whole of Wales so I do wonder what the

:32:55.:33:02.

accuracy of that survey actually is. We want to work with doctors to

:33:02.:33:12.
:33:12.:33:12.

make sure we have access to GP On 18th October, you told the

:33:12.:33:16.

National Assembly that there is no cost to extending GP opening hours

:33:16.:33:21.

and in fact, you said if other surgeries in Wales can do it, why

:33:21.:33:24.

can't those surgeries that currently aunt. What you didn't

:33:24.:33:28.

tell the Assembly was that the cost of providing extended hours at the

:33:28.:33:34.

moment to the government is �726,000 per year, or it was in

:33:34.:33:42.

2010. It is now funded as a direct enhanced service. Given the only

:33:42.:33:46.

surgeries who do open for extra hours at the moment do so because

:33:46.:33:50.

they are getting extra cash and given that the NHS is facing

:33:50.:33:54.

record-breaking cuts as a result of your government decisions in

:33:54.:33:59.

Cardiff Bay, how do you anticipate you can achieve the GP access

:33:59.:34:04.

commitment without extra cash? GPs need to work more flexibly. I

:34:04.:34:08.

think that is reasonable. The taxpayer pays for GPs and the

:34:09.:34:13.

taxpayer is entitled to a service they can access more easily. I hear

:34:13.:34:17.

the member opposite talking about record-breaking cuts when only in

:34:17.:34:21.

the last two days we have heard of plans by health trusts in England

:34:21.:34:27.

to cut people's pay. Fact doctors, cut their pay, sacked nurses, cut

:34:27.:34:32.

their pay. He is suggesting that somehow in Wales, things are worse.

:34:32.:34:36.

We know what would happen if his party was in power in Wales, we

:34:36.:34:46.
:34:46.:34:49.

would see nurses, doctors, porkers Elin Jones.

:34:49.:34:52.

First Minister, it is your government policy to enhance

:34:52.:35:00.

healthcare in the community given a central role to GPs. Do you share

:35:00.:35:05.

my concerns that there are 60% fewer GP training places available

:35:05.:35:09.

in Bronglais Hospital from August this year onwards? There was a

:35:09.:35:13.

serious impact on staffing levels in this hospital and this was

:35:13.:35:20.

related to the shortage of funding from the Welsh deanery.

:35:20.:35:30.
:35:30.:35:31.

Once again the Deanery has been mentioned. We need to make sure

:35:31.:35:36.

that doctors are trained in a place they can be trained properly so we

:35:36.:35:40.

need to ensure there are sufficient places in Wales to train them.

:35:41.:35:44.

Sufficient placements. Of course, that is why the recruitment

:35:44.:35:49.

campaign is continuing, bearing in mind that Bronglais Hospital is one

:35:49.:35:52.

of the hospitals that is difficult to recruit two. It is important

:35:52.:35:57.

that people will come to Aberystwyth and be trained in

:35:57.:36:00.

Aberystwyth and those senior doctors are there for that to her

:36:00.:36:03.

than. What is the Welsh government doing

:36:03.:36:07.

to tackle substance misuse? We continue to invest over �50

:36:07.:36:11.

million per annum to implement the actions within the ten-year

:36:11.:36:21.
:36:21.:36:22.

Yesterday I ran into a two drug addicts who were also probably

:36:22.:36:27.

drug-dealers, working in an area which is being beset by people who

:36:27.:36:33.

are dealing in drugs and causing huge anti-social problems to the

:36:33.:36:36.

whole community in that area. I just wondered if you could give me

:36:36.:36:41.

some indication as to how much we can expect substance misuse to rise

:36:41.:36:47.

in line with increased unemployment, as people often turn to drugs

:36:47.:36:51.

because they are depressed and are not properly employed.

:36:51.:36:57.

substance misuse action fund is providing �27.5 million in funding

:36:57.:37:01.

to community safety partnerships to tackle substance misuse and �5.7

:37:02.:37:07.

million to improve substance misuse treatment facilities. A further

:37:07.:37:13.

�17.1 million is ring-fenced for substance misuse services within

:37:14.:37:21.

the health discretionary budgets. First Minister, for every 10

:37:21.:37:29.

alcohol-related car accidents on young male drivers admit to driving

:37:29.:37:33.

after taking drugs. The Crown Communications and Court Bill

:37:33.:37:39.

announced in this year's Queen's Speech announced proposals to

:37:39.:37:42.

tackle drunk-driving. Of what correspondent have you had with UK

:37:42.:37:50.

ministers to protect Welsh interests in this matter? Driving

:37:50.:37:56.

while under the influence of drugs is already an offence, of course.

:37:56.:38:00.

It can sometimes be difficult to assess whether they are on drugs or

:38:00.:38:06.

not. It is easier with the breathalyser and blood tests, which

:38:06.:38:11.

are normally taken at the police station. But we would very much

:38:11.:38:16.

support any moves by the UK government to reduce the number of

:38:16.:38:20.

deaths caused by drug driving and the number of people who drive

:38:20.:38:30.
:38:30.:38:31.

I accept your answer about the work of the community safety

:38:31.:38:36.

partnerships. What is the Government doing to recover

:38:36.:38:39.

individuals in integrated Peer Support Scheme and do you agree

:38:39.:38:44.

with establishing a recovery champion scheme, wouldn't only

:38:44.:38:49.

benefit substance misusers but provide unstable individuals with

:38:49.:38:54.

the opportunity to contribute to society and support their continued

:38:54.:39:00.

recovery? The first step to recovery is treatment. Waiting

:39:00.:39:06.

times have reduced substantially. The latest published figures

:39:06.:39:13.

between September and October 2011, 7-1 climbs were assessed within 10

:39:13.:39:17.

days of referral and 91% were treated within 10 days of

:39:18.:39:22.

assessment. There are areas where waiting times are higher than we

:39:22.:39:30.

would want. We are working with those area planning boards.

:39:30.:39:34.

Question number eight. Will the First Minister provide an update on

:39:34.:39:38.

the Welsh Government's policies for looked after children in Wales?

:39:38.:39:43.

are progressing with plans to improve the lives of looked at two

:39:43.:39:46.

children which builds on our innovative if programmes to support

:39:46.:39:56.

families, including integrated family support services. The latest

:39:56.:40:01.

year in which figures are available show a further 5% increase in the

:40:01.:40:06.

number of children looked after by local authorities in Wales. It is a

:40:06.:40:11.

trend which has been established for a 20 year period. Would you

:40:11.:40:16.

welcome the decision of the newly elected Labour authority in Cardiff

:40:16.:40:22.

to develop a social impact on, tailored to Welsh circumstances?

:40:22.:40:29.

And if successful it would allow the Welsh authority to re-engineer

:40:29.:40:33.

services to allow families to stay together rather than taking

:40:33.:40:41.

children into care? That approach is very much in line with ours, and

:40:41.:40:45.

we welcome the initiative. It is an initiative which invests in

:40:45.:40:50.

programmes which supports these the rebel groups. Cardiff will need to

:40:50.:40:54.

undertake a proper valuation, but I do look forward to seeing how it

:40:54.:41:02.

develops. STUDIO. That is it from First

:41:02.:41:12.
:41:12.:41:15.

Minister's Questions until September. As usual, Welsh affairs

:41:15.:41:20.

editor Vaughn Roderick is here. But anyone was watching last week they

:41:20.:41:23.

would have heard us say that was the most exciting First Minister's

:41:23.:41:30.

Questions we would have seen, not so today? It was a bit flat today.

:41:30.:41:36.

Kirsty Williams trying to take the credit she feels is due. He gave it.

:41:36.:41:42.

He disarmed her by saying, sure. Then she came across as petulant

:41:42.:41:52.

and ungracious. Leanne Wood I think had one of her First Minister's

:41:52.:42:00.

Questions. She was responding to what Carwyn Jones was saying. A bit

:42:00.:42:04.

of a surprise none of the opposition leaders or any other

:42:04.:42:07.

members chose to go on the questions surrounding the Health

:42:07.:42:14.

Secretary. - the health minister rather. I would have thought they

:42:14.:42:18.

could have brought the heat up on Lesley Griffiths before the no

:42:18.:42:22.

confidence vote tomorrow. How has the no confidence motion ran out of

:42:22.:42:27.

steam? Assuming all Labour Am's are here and press the right button,

:42:27.:42:33.

they won't lose the vote? Even if the opposition party members are

:42:33.:42:37.

here, and it appears not all of them, maybe, the numbers don't

:42:37.:42:43.

stack up for the opposition to win the vote. A lot of people are

:42:43.:42:46.

beginning to look at Lesley Griffiths appearance before the

:42:46.:42:49.

health committee as being the thing that made beside her long-term

:42:49.:42:56.

future. There are some people on the Labour benches, while they

:42:56.:43:00.

backed Lesley Griffiths, have doubts about her as health minister.

:43:00.:43:04.

There is some talk Carwyn Jones should look at a reshuffle over the

:43:04.:43:09.

summer. It is very low level, but it might be more important to her

:43:09.:43:12.

future on how well she comes across in the health committee, rather

:43:12.:43:17.

than the actual debate in the Chamber. Another person who has

:43:17.:43:21.

been changing around her team, Leanne Wood has appointed Elin

:43:21.:43:29.

Jones as her deputy leader? Yes, Linda maze Johnson said it is

:43:29.:43:35.

better to have somebody inside the tent spitting out. Elin Jones came

:43:35.:43:40.

second in the leadership race, and it is an idea to keep your end of -

:43:40.:43:47.

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