:00:24. > :00:29.Good afternoon, welcome to am.pm. Our coverage of questions to the
:00:30. > :00:33.First Minister. A sombre mood all round this week as politicians have
:00:34. > :00:37.reacted to events in Paris and paid tribute to the victims of last
:00:38. > :00:41.Friday's terrorist attacks. The Senedd was one of many places where
:00:42. > :00:45.our minutes silence was held yesterday. We are expecting to hear
:00:46. > :00:51.more from Welsh politicians on what happened in France today. Last
:00:52. > :00:56.week's First Minister's questions so difficulties between Carwyn Jones
:00:57. > :01:03.that other politicians. Plenty to cover today. Questions Nikkei
:01:04. > :01:06.scandal at one of wales's biggest hospitals and something that may
:01:07. > :01:12.feature in George Osborne's Autumn Statement. You can follow all the
:01:13. > :01:16.latest in Welsh politics on our Twitter feed. Business began with
:01:17. > :01:20.residing officer Rosemary Butler expressing her regret over the
:01:21. > :01:24.recent terrorist attacks. Members I am sure will wish to join me in
:01:25. > :01:29.remembering those that were killed and injured in these attacks and in
:01:30. > :01:36.sending our condolences to those who are grieving. We have a statement by
:01:37. > :01:41.the First Minister. TRANSLATION: Thank you, providing robbers of
:01:42. > :01:46.rails. We stand shoulder to shoulder of the people in France for the
:01:47. > :01:53.atrocities in Paris on Friday evening. The people of Paris have
:01:54. > :01:59.paid a heavy price for exercising their right to live in freedom and
:02:00. > :02:06.we have a duty to protect the values of freedom and democracy. On all
:02:07. > :02:11.counts. I know that all members will want to join in expressing our
:02:12. > :02:15.sorrow and revulsion at the atrocities in Paris on Friday night.
:02:16. > :02:19.The people of Wales stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with the
:02:20. > :02:26.French people at this time of mourning. The people of Paris are
:02:27. > :02:32.paid a heavy price for exercising the rights to live freely. Freedom
:02:33. > :02:42.is a value we share and cause we all defence. Everywhere and all the
:02:43. > :02:47.time. I wrote yesterday to the friends ambassador yesterday
:02:48. > :03:07.expressing our sorrow and support -- French ambassador. HE SPEAKS FRENCH
:03:08. > :03:11.TRANSLATION: Flags were flown at half-mast yesterday.
:03:12. > :03:17.I know that members and staff who were here yesterday gathered on the
:03:18. > :03:22.steps of the Senedd to mark the Europe-wide minute's silence and
:03:23. > :03:29.that other groups across Wales have shown the respect in their own ways.
:03:30. > :03:35.-- minute's silence. Security and intelligence are UK Government
:03:36. > :03:37.competences but over the weekend I participated in the security
:03:38. > :03:51.briefing cheered by the pro-Minister, they so-called,
:03:52. > :03:56.corporate committee. -- Cobra. I would like to place on record our
:03:57. > :04:00.appreciation for the work of the police and the security services who
:04:01. > :04:05.work day in and stay out to protect people across our country. The
:04:06. > :04:11.United Kingdom has itself suffered from terrorism, we know for a fact
:04:12. > :04:16.that a number of other attacks have been foiled at the planning stage.
:04:17. > :04:20.Arrests have been made here in Wales in the past and we know that
:04:21. > :04:26.individuals have travelled from here to Syria. We cannot be complacent
:04:27. > :04:29.about our own backyard. The public should remain vigilant and should
:04:30. > :04:38.not hesitate to contact the police if they have suspicious or unusual
:04:39. > :04:43.activity to report. I would also like to place on record my support
:04:44. > :04:47.and solidarity of or the Muslim community here in Wales. The
:04:48. > :04:53.overwhelming majority of whom share I were revulsion at the terrorism
:04:54. > :05:00.carried out in the name of a corrupted view of their religion.
:05:01. > :05:05.Muslims make a powerful and positive contribution to Welsh society. We
:05:06. > :05:14.will all stand together in opposing extremism and aggression in our
:05:15. > :05:18.community. Thank you. Thank you, Presiding Officer and First Minister
:05:19. > :05:22.permitting the statement this afternoon which has enabled us to
:05:23. > :05:27.put our own thoughts on the record and to pose questions to you about
:05:28. > :05:30.the role the Welsh Government can play supporting the UK Government
:05:31. > :05:36.and the international community in facing down these dastardly crimes
:05:37. > :05:39.that are so horrid. On Friday night, in my own household, we will be
:05:40. > :05:43.coming home my son from his placement at college and it was a
:05:44. > :05:47.happy household. Many households in Paris would have seen their loved
:05:48. > :05:52.ones going off to sporting events, to take and you'll just to enjoy
:05:53. > :05:57.their life in Paris but, sadly, unlike our household where our son
:05:58. > :06:03.came home, many sons, daughters, not once did not return from that tragic
:06:04. > :06:07.series of events that taking place in Paris. We stand shoulder to
:06:08. > :06:10.shoulder with the French people, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the
:06:11. > :06:16.Egyptian people at anyone who faces the horrid acts of terrorism that
:06:17. > :06:20.are undertaken to perverts because of Islam. I agree with what you said
:06:21. > :06:26.about the Muslim faith will stop the Muslim faith is a faith of peace,
:06:27. > :06:30.not a faith of war or terrorism, not a faith that should be abused but,
:06:31. > :06:34.sadly, there are people on the extremities of that faith who have
:06:35. > :06:38.chosen to do that and it is incumbent on us to stand shoulder to
:06:39. > :06:41.shoulder with the French people, it did it incumbent on us to stand
:06:42. > :06:46.shoulder to shoulder with people across the world to face down that
:06:47. > :06:50.evil. I hope the solidarity that has been shown on the steps of the
:06:51. > :06:56.Senedd 's year, the remarks that have been made in London, Edinburgh
:06:57. > :07:00.and Belfast, show that across the United Kingdom we are at one with
:07:01. > :07:04.the French people in their hour of need. I would like to make two
:07:05. > :07:12.points. The first is in the field of education and what help and support
:07:13. > :07:15.we can give our education system in supporting any hate of
:07:16. > :07:19.radicalisation that people might find it coming through the education
:07:20. > :07:24.system. That has been shown as being our route in to try to take out a
:07:25. > :07:28.vulnerable people and show them a course and an alternative course
:07:29. > :07:32.than should be taken on by adopting the radical ways that people have
:07:33. > :07:36.chosen to take people out to Syria and to other parts of the Middle
:07:37. > :07:40.East, as we have seen from people going from Cardiff. That is not the
:07:41. > :07:44.way forward. We are responsible for the education system and I would be
:07:45. > :07:47.grateful to understand what protocols are in place to make sure
:07:48. > :07:54.the Welsh Government are supporting schools, colleges, to make sure
:07:55. > :07:57.young people are offered an alternative routes to
:07:58. > :08:01.radicalisation. The second is that it is vital we offer role models in
:08:02. > :08:07.the middle and community, so that they can be used to show that there
:08:08. > :08:10.are so many positive aspects to the Muslim faith, across all
:08:11. > :08:17.communities, so that we do stand shoulder to shoulder. People will
:08:18. > :08:21.not feel they are marginalised by society and they are not victims of
:08:22. > :08:26.harassment. Whether that be in Cardiff or other cities in Wales. We
:08:27. > :08:30.have on Sunday that there were various Muslims who said they faced
:08:31. > :08:36.that level of intimidation. That should not be allowed. We do not
:08:37. > :08:41.recognise Islam as a faith that turns to terrorism. It is a faith of
:08:42. > :08:47.peace and we should make sure we can do all we can to offer the role
:08:48. > :08:51.models that ultimately can show that we are one united society facing
:08:52. > :08:54.down these terrible acts that have been inflicted, not just in Paris
:08:55. > :09:04.but in other countries around the world. I thank the Leader of the
:09:05. > :09:07.Opposition for his comments. We do have community cohesion coordinators
:09:08. > :09:14.whose role it is to encourage cohesion. To help to identify issues
:09:15. > :09:18.as they arise. We have the faith communities Forum, which represents
:09:19. > :09:23.a number of different faiths and the forum itself is a place where
:09:24. > :09:29.difficulties can be raised and identified and, eventually, dealt
:09:30. > :09:35.with. When it comes to schools, they are being monitored and expected. It
:09:36. > :09:41.is being determined by an outside body whether the curriculum should.
:09:42. > :09:48.We should emphasise that we are talking about a small minority. All
:09:49. > :09:51.religions, in the time, have had extremists that have sought to use
:09:52. > :09:57.that religion in order to kill others. The people who carried out
:09:58. > :10:03.the attacks on Friday in Paris are no more representative of Islam than
:10:04. > :10:11.the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity. They are an extreme French and the
:10:12. > :10:18.bass majority that think of themselves as true Muslims --
:10:19. > :10:23.fringe. Those who see themselves as Muslims would be appalled about the
:10:24. > :10:29.attacks. In terms of role models, there are role models that shirt is
:10:30. > :10:33.more than possible to rise to the heights of Civic Society, politics
:10:34. > :10:40.or sport. What is important is to ensure the kind of role models that
:10:41. > :10:46.young people, particularly young men, are attracted to in Syria and
:10:47. > :10:51.Iraq are people who should lose the appeal that they have too some young
:10:52. > :10:59.men and women. To show that what they are, in effect, are gangsters,
:11:00. > :11:02.more than that, with a blood lust. They are not representative of Islam
:11:03. > :11:11.or progress, they represent only themselves. They represent only
:11:12. > :11:15.murder and mayhem. Leanne Wood. First Minister, I would like to take
:11:16. > :11:19.the opportunity to add Plaid country's support to the sentiments
:11:20. > :11:28.you have expressed in response to these attacks in Paris. Plaid
:11:29. > :11:33.country's. Our sympathies and thoughts are also with the victims
:11:34. > :11:41.of terror attacks that have and are occurring all over the world on a
:11:42. > :11:48.regular basis. Over the weekend, I listened to your remarks as to how
:11:49. > :11:51.Wales should respond. Obviously we have very important attractions and
:11:52. > :11:55.events that take place in this country and people will want
:11:56. > :12:01.assurances that such places are made as safe as possible. I would
:12:02. > :12:05.appreciate to hear your thoughts on that point. We are enduring
:12:06. > :12:10.significant cuts to policing and so I would be interested to hear your
:12:11. > :12:15.thoughts about how we can reassure people that the threat we face can
:12:16. > :12:22.be met in the light of these cuts to policing budgets. Ensure you are
:12:23. > :12:25.aware the Prime Minister has announced further counterterrorism
:12:26. > :12:29.measures, I would be interested to hear what role the Welsh Government
:12:30. > :12:35.is playing in such a process in order to ensure there is a Welsh
:12:36. > :12:39.perspective into that. Finally, as you have already alluded, it is more
:12:40. > :12:44.important than ever for Welsh communities to pull together at a
:12:45. > :12:52.time like this. I am concerned about a potential backlash. Potentially
:12:53. > :12:56.being made from far right parties. Welsh Muslims are part of our
:12:57. > :13:01.society and, of course, the vast majority would reject extremism and
:13:02. > :13:06.violence. Would the First Minister agree with me that we should not
:13:07. > :13:14.allow what is the preachers of hate want us to do, to turn on one
:13:15. > :13:16.another? I thank the leader of Plaid Cymru for those comments and
:13:17. > :13:25.particularly agree with the comment she made at the end. For people to
:13:26. > :13:28.turn against each other within their own communities, that is exactly
:13:29. > :13:35.what they want, she is right, to point that out. The Welsh
:13:36. > :13:41.Counterterrorism Units Run, Has The Role Of Examining Security In Wales.
:13:42. > :13:50.I receive briefings from that unit. Its role is to ensure that where
:13:51. > :13:54.there is a particular level of correct, that level is understood,
:13:55. > :13:59.respected and action can be taken regarding that level of threat. It
:14:00. > :14:02.is worth emphasising that the level of threat has not changed since the
:14:03. > :14:07.events of Paris, it remains at Severe. What we have said is that
:14:08. > :14:11.people should carry on their lives as normal, there is no need to
:14:12. > :14:19.change the way that people live their lives. Again, we ask people to
:14:20. > :14:21.be vigilant, as they have been, over the past few months and to report
:14:22. > :14:27.suspicious activity to the authorities. Cobra is the committee
:14:28. > :14:32.that has been meeting to examine the issues arising from Paris. I was
:14:33. > :14:37.part of the meeting, as was the First Minister of Scotland, on
:14:38. > :14:42.Saturday morning. Officials from the Welsh Government are part of those
:14:43. > :14:48.meetings and we do get briefings back in terms of what those meetings
:14:49. > :14:53.are discussing. I have also been worried about the prospect of a
:14:54. > :14:56.backlash against the peaceful and law-abiding Muslim community we have
:14:57. > :15:02.here in Wales and I have received briefings in that regard. It is true
:15:03. > :15:08.to say that individual Muslims are more fearful of their safety, there
:15:09. > :15:14.have been no suggestions so far of any violent backlash. I sincerely
:15:15. > :15:20.hope it stays that way. Fortunately we are aware that there are plans to
:15:21. > :15:23.write some far right groups to organise demonstrations, outside
:15:24. > :15:27.mosques in particular, they have their own reasons for doing that.
:15:28. > :15:35.Thus far, as I said, the people of Wales have stayed together and we,
:15:36. > :15:36.the Government, I'm sure I speak for all, we will ensure that cohesion
:15:37. > :15:47.continues. Could I thank the first Mr Flores
:15:48. > :15:51.statement to the Chamber this afternoon. It was an initial sense
:15:52. > :15:56.of disbelief and then hover as I watched events unfold in Paris on
:15:57. > :15:59.Friday night and on behalf of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Abe like to
:16:00. > :16:07.express our sincere condolences to the families of those affected, the
:16:08. > :16:13.communities in and around Paris, affected, and indeed, the entire
:16:14. > :16:17.French nation. Presiding Officer, we must not forget that the point of
:16:18. > :16:21.terrorism is to intimidate and terrify and the horrors of Friday
:16:22. > :16:26.night were indeed terrifying, but that is how we respond now as a
:16:27. > :16:30.nation and as an international community that matters the most and
:16:31. > :16:36.we cannot let those terrorists win. We must never allow them and their
:16:37. > :16:40.actions to change over way of life. We must never allow them and their
:16:41. > :16:44.actions to turn people against one another and we must never allow them
:16:45. > :16:49.and their actions to diminish our values of freedom and of fearless.
:16:50. > :16:54.We must stand up, we must be strong and we must be united in our
:16:55. > :16:58.response. Could I concur with what the First Minister said about the
:16:59. > :17:06.contribution of the Muslim community to our country? The perpetrators of
:17:07. > :17:14.these horrific crimes preach a perverse corruption of the faith of
:17:15. > :17:20.Islam that bears absolutely no resemblance to what the vast
:17:21. > :17:26.majority of Muslims in Wales and across the UK actually believe in.
:17:27. > :17:29.So, could I ask in the first Mr Watts additional steps can be Welsh
:17:30. > :17:36.Government take to support the Muslim Trinity in Wales --
:17:37. > :17:40.community, not just from the potential backlash which may occur,
:17:41. > :17:44.but actually support them within their communities to try and fight
:17:45. > :17:48.this perverse corruption, so that they can be resilient communities
:17:49. > :17:53.and protect their young people from the messages of hate that some
:17:54. > :18:04.people would like to infiltrate and to infect their young people with?
:18:05. > :18:12.I know... I thank you for your comments. I know that the Muslim
:18:13. > :18:20.unity and Wales is working hard to counter the attraction that there is
:18:21. > :18:32.for some in supporting or joining Islamic state. -- community. We
:18:33. > :18:40.fight against what is made available online and those who preach hatred.
:18:41. > :18:43.But I know that much work is done by our community groups and
:18:44. > :18:49.representative organisations of Muslims in Wales to seek to identify
:18:50. > :18:54.issues as quickly as possible so that they might be dealt with. Thus
:18:55. > :18:58.far, that has worked. We will continue, of course, to work closely
:18:59. > :19:04.with the Muslim unity and the community at large to ensure that
:19:05. > :19:08.the terrorists, because that is what they are, do not succeed in their
:19:09. > :19:13.aim of sending people against each other, that would be a tragedy for
:19:14. > :19:18.all of us in Wales and I AM sure that the people of Wales will not
:19:19. > :19:26.allow these terrorists to fulfil their aim of setting people against
:19:27. > :19:29.each other as a religion, but also of course setting people of the same
:19:30. > :19:32.religion against each other, we must not forget that those who carried
:19:33. > :19:38.out the attacks on Friday would not hesitate to carry out those attacks
:19:39. > :19:44.on Muslims who do not take their view of Islam and they are as much a
:19:45. > :19:51.threat to the Muslim unity as they are today community at large. --
:19:52. > :19:55.community. Questions to the First Minister,
:19:56. > :19:58.Andrew RT Davies. Thank you, Presiding Officer. We'll
:19:59. > :20:03.be First Minister make a statement on Winter Resilience Fund on the
:20:04. > :20:06.health provision of South Wales Central? Health authorities and the
:20:07. > :20:15.Abdoun service have integrated plans for the forthcoming winter. These
:20:16. > :20:17.include stronger joint working with GP out-of-hours services and
:20:18. > :20:22.extended hours over the weekends. Thank you for that answer, I
:20:23. > :20:26.appreciate many of these plants are at the initial stages and the
:20:27. > :20:31.responsibility of local health boards. One of the things that
:20:32. > :20:37.always seems to happen whenever we have included whether, very cold
:20:38. > :20:41.weather, is that the roadways within the healthy states, the car parts,
:20:42. > :20:45.the freeze over because of lack of gritting and lack of preparation for
:20:46. > :20:49.that cold weather and therefore the hospital itself comes to a stop
:20:50. > :20:53.because you cannot get people in and out of those hospitals. That has
:20:54. > :20:58.happened on numerous occasions since being elected Europe in 2007 and I
:20:59. > :21:01.appreciate your local health boards determined the initial plan, but
:21:02. > :21:04.what role is the Welsh Government is taking to make sure that the plans
:21:05. > :21:09.put forward are robust enough to deal with this particular problem
:21:10. > :21:13.that ultimately as the Hall hostel -- Hospital shut down because the
:21:14. > :21:17.outside is not maintained? All integrated plans will be published
:21:18. > :21:24.on our websites by the end of this month. The Welsh Government
:21:25. > :21:27.officials have scrutinised the draft plans and providing feedback to the
:21:28. > :21:31.health and social care organisations, seeking further
:21:32. > :21:35.assurances where necessary. All NHS organisations have in place
:21:36. > :21:38.arrangements to help maintain services in the event of severe
:21:39. > :21:45.weather and I would expect that to include access to hospitals and
:21:46. > :21:51.ensuring that the car parks are kept accessible and safe. Question two,
:21:52. > :21:56.Eluned Parrott. Canny First Minister make a statement on the City deal?
:21:57. > :22:01.This presents an opportunity for local authorities to drive economic
:22:02. > :22:03.growth. I was pleased to support the Cardiff bed and look to the UK
:22:04. > :22:09.Government to provide support and funding. Thank you, I welcome your
:22:10. > :22:12.statement and the agreement on the funding package to the UK
:22:13. > :22:17.Government, however, city deals were never just about money, they are
:22:18. > :22:23.about empowering local authorities and city regions to drive their own
:22:24. > :22:27.economic regeneration. What powers are the Welsh Government looking to
:22:28. > :22:31.devolve to the Cardiff capital region alongside this funding
:22:32. > :22:37.package that you hope to obtain from the UK Treasury? At this moment in
:22:38. > :22:41.time we have said to local authorities is that we would expect
:22:42. > :22:45.them to administer the match funding that will come from the UK
:22:46. > :22:52.Government, it will be for them to decide how that money is spent. Of
:22:53. > :22:56.course, we want to make sure that there is competition in terms of the
:22:57. > :22:59.provision of services, that would represent a substantial amount of
:23:00. > :23:04.money that would be made available to local authorities and to them in
:23:05. > :23:09.terms of being able to spend it. Jenny Rathbone. The announcement
:23:10. > :23:13.yesterday by the BBC that they have signed a contract to move to Central
:23:14. > :23:20.Square in Cardiff is welcome news because that secures the bus and
:23:21. > :23:25.tram station to fit in with the train station. How will this city
:23:26. > :23:31.Deal enable us to fast forward to the second phase of the metal skin?
:23:32. > :23:41.Well, with regard to the metro, we are putting money on the table for
:23:42. > :23:45.an integration fund that will include the metro. -- metro scheme.
:23:46. > :23:51.You must remember, the metro has been talked about as a concept but
:23:52. > :23:55.we have not identified other areas. As part of the city deal we are
:23:56. > :24:00.prepared to put more money into the city deal and the metal will be part
:24:01. > :24:04.of that and we trust that will attract match funding from the UK
:24:05. > :24:08.Treasury. First Minister, I have had the privilege to meet with the
:24:09. > :24:13.members of the Cardiff capital region and I AM impressed by their
:24:14. > :24:18.vision for the region. I AM hopeful that what they have proposed can
:24:19. > :24:25.take place, that is the first to get their local authorities to combine.
:24:26. > :24:28.I would assure you of the support of the Welsh Conservatives in this
:24:29. > :24:33.matter and we will do our bit to influence the government will be
:24:34. > :24:38.canned. I AM grateful to the member for his comments. This is an
:24:39. > :24:42.opportunity to show that the UK Government, the Welsh Government and
:24:43. > :24:46.local authorities can work together. They can work for Wales, despite
:24:47. > :24:51.party differences. We have done a bit and local authorities have done
:24:52. > :24:57.their bit and we look to the UK Government to provide their support.
:24:58. > :25:03.The importance of schemes such as the metro, economically and
:25:04. > :25:07.transformational for many areas of the South Wales Valleys, can you
:25:08. > :25:12.outlined a discussion and you have had with local authorities and how
:25:13. > :25:22.you actually see the Cardiff City Deal, despite the perhaps misleading
:25:23. > :25:28.issue in the fact that it is actually transformational for many
:25:29. > :25:32.areas and not just one? The metal will be delivered in three phases,
:25:33. > :25:36.that is our intention. It will include options in terms of
:25:37. > :25:45.transport, particularly with regard to new real connections and rapid
:25:46. > :25:49.bus transit and extension of the current network. It is correct to
:25:50. > :25:55.tell you that this is a once in a generation opportunity to transform,
:25:56. > :26:02.not the capital, but the areas about Cardiff to connect the area far more
:26:03. > :26:08.closely, not just to allow people to travel more quickly into Cardiff but
:26:09. > :26:13.also to attract investment outwith of Cardiff by increasing community
:26:14. > :26:19.links to the north-west. Questions from the party leaders.
:26:20. > :26:24.Andrew RT Davies. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister,
:26:25. > :26:30.last Thursday you held a meeting in Holyhead and as usual, in North
:26:31. > :26:35.Wales, many of those questions you took on health. In answer to one of
:26:36. > :26:41.those questions you talked about one single health board and these where
:26:42. > :26:46.your words, it might not be Mrs Ali the right option going forward, you
:26:47. > :26:50.won't health boards delivering services across Wales. We have had
:26:51. > :26:55.to be organisations under the Labour Party already over the last 12
:26:56. > :26:58.years, is it your thinking as First Minister and the current
:26:59. > :27:03.government's thinking that there must be more health boards in Wales
:27:04. > :27:08.delivering health services and in particular North Wales, and those
:27:09. > :27:11.that -- and if that is not the case, why did you respond in such a
:27:12. > :27:17.manner? There is an issue as to whether one
:27:18. > :27:20.single board is the way forward for the whole of the North of other
:27:21. > :27:24.alternative options should be looked at, those decisions will have to be
:27:25. > :27:28.stored in the future. That is interesting thinking, I AM not sure
:27:29. > :27:31.how that helps the health board which is currently under special
:27:32. > :27:36.measures, and being told it will be placed in special measures for two
:27:37. > :27:39.years and at the end emerge as an organisation fit for purpose, I
:27:40. > :27:42.think that is the language I have to have heard spoken by your deputy
:27:43. > :27:46.minister and the Health Minister himself. Other plans have been
:27:47. > :27:52.formality by the Welsh Government. Also today, is the announcement that
:27:53. > :27:56.Betsi Cadwaladr are paying the salary of the former chief executive
:27:57. > :28:00.to be sick content into the English NHS. Can you understand how
:28:01. > :28:04.frustrating and annoying that must be for residents, patients and
:28:05. > :28:10.clinicians the length and breadth of North Wales who are finding ?200,000
:28:11. > :28:13.worth of taxpayer money that was allocated for help services in North
:28:14. > :28:17.Wales is being for someone that the Welsh Government did not deem a fit
:28:18. > :28:22.and proper person to run the health service for the North of Wales? This
:28:23. > :28:25.is a matter for the employer. We will provide more details for
:28:26. > :28:31.members this afternoon. There has been no servants package for Trevor
:28:32. > :28:35.Purt committee has stepped down as chief executive. By mutual agreement
:28:36. > :28:39.he has been sick on did from Betsi Cadwaladr to work in the English NHS
:28:40. > :28:43.but as part of that is confident he will produce a lessons learned
:28:44. > :28:50.report to Betsi Cadwaladr and the chief executive of the NHS Wales. At
:28:51. > :28:57.the end of that secondment period in October of next year they will cease
:28:58. > :29:01.to be an employee of NHS Wales. That is pretty expensive homework in
:29:02. > :29:05.anyone's exercise, but to be honest I hope you can share the your
:29:06. > :29:10.understanding that the frustration that many able in Wales will feel
:29:11. > :29:13.when they see this package put together and all too likely question
:29:14. > :29:19.how the hell it has come about. I would also like to ask about health
:29:20. > :29:23.matters closer to home and in particular, the families that have
:29:24. > :29:29.particular of a particular programme and they have said that in order to
:29:30. > :29:32.bring closure to the issues that they as grieving families or
:29:33. > :29:36.patients who have had poor treatment at the hospital are having to deal
:29:37. > :29:42.with, bring closure to those issues, but they require a independent
:29:43. > :29:46.public inquiry and indeed, experts connected with this particular
:29:47. > :29:49.field, the legs of Julie Bailey, who have dealt with these issues across
:29:50. > :29:56.the entire UK, they have said that the only way to address the
:29:57. > :29:59.historical problems that blight those hospitals and to be able to
:30:00. > :30:03.move on is to have an independent inquiry. I have asked you several
:30:04. > :30:07.times to commission such an inquiry, will you, please on the evidence
:30:08. > :30:12.that is coming forward, allow these families to have closure on the
:30:13. > :30:17.types of care, commission an independent inquiry so that families
:30:18. > :30:26.and clinicians at that hospital can move on? The programme, you have to
:30:27. > :30:32.be careful of the fact that there is still a current legal process being
:30:33. > :30:37.gone through against three of the nurses, it is a matter for them. We
:30:38. > :30:42.have recognised the issues that the Princess of Wales Hospital has had,
:30:43. > :30:45.that is why we have commissioned the Andrews report, that gave us the
:30:46. > :30:51.recommendations that we needed to move forward with. They have led to
:30:52. > :30:54.more stringent checks on hospitals, particularly announced checks and we
:30:55. > :30:58.believe that in dealing with that in this way, the issue has been dealt
:30:59. > :31:04.with. No new evidence has come forward to suggest that that
:31:05. > :31:07.hospital was wrong, so it would not be the object of this government to
:31:08. > :31:16.commission a public inquiry. I would like to return to events
:31:17. > :31:25.over the weekend and the aftermath. Jill died this issue of community
:31:26. > :31:28.cohesion -- drill down. There is a need to pull together to stand
:31:29. > :31:34.together and not allow ourselves to be divided by terror. I agree
:31:35. > :31:40.wholeheartedly with what you said on that. I would like to ask what
:31:41. > :31:44.measures you intend to take to help unite Welsh communities, to ensure
:31:45. > :31:50.there is no backlash against the many thousands of Muslims in this
:31:51. > :31:52.country who lived here in peace and to find terror as repositories the
:31:53. > :32:01.rest of the population. You mentioned earlier the Community
:32:02. > :32:06.Cohesion Coordinators that you have. What kinds of work can those
:32:07. > :32:13.coordinators do to help prevent a backlash? The first thing I did was
:32:14. > :32:16.to ask for more information regarding any potential threats to
:32:17. > :32:23.the Muslim community, and I received that information. Secondly, we have
:32:24. > :32:27.a close network that enables us to work with the Muslim communities to
:32:28. > :32:31.identify problems early on, that is part of the coordinators' role.
:32:32. > :32:45.Whether it is done through the The Amenities For More -- Faith
:32:46. > :32:53.Communities Forum. I didn't feel it was important... All is being done
:32:54. > :32:57.to protect our communities. Particularly law-abiding and
:32:58. > :33:02.peace-loving Muslims. Without a doubt, people are going to be
:33:03. > :33:10.increasingly fearful of the threat posed by Isis, Daesh, there will
:33:11. > :33:14.need to be more work to improve cohesion within our communities and
:33:15. > :33:20.the current conflict is linked to many other issues such as the
:33:21. > :33:26.refugees and the pressures on the U -- the EU in trying to cope with
:33:27. > :33:30.that prices. Do you agree that, as we try to accommodate the people
:33:31. > :33:36.fleeing the horrors of war, we must at all times ensure local people are
:33:37. > :33:41.treated early and are seen to be treated fairly in terms of access to
:33:42. > :33:44.services and housing? That we must have a programme of integration that
:33:45. > :33:50.promotes cohesion and fair play to all? Would you agree, that if we
:33:51. > :33:54.fail on that front, there is a risk that bad feeling and resentment in
:33:55. > :33:58.communities could grow F public bodies are not seen to be acting in
:33:59. > :34:06.the most sensitive way they possibly can? Yes, and our point of view is
:34:07. > :34:08.that as refugees arrived in Wales, the funding to support them should
:34:09. > :34:12.come from the UK Government, rather than the Welsh Government budget
:34:13. > :34:19.because this is a non-devolved issue. There is one point worth
:34:20. > :34:23.emphasising, there will be some who are concerned that amongst those
:34:24. > :34:28.people are riding as refugees, there will be some who arrive with ill
:34:29. > :34:38.intent or who use the refugee crisis as a cloak. The UN High Commission
:34:39. > :34:43.of refugees is involved in screening refugees, there is a security
:34:44. > :34:47.process in place and the vast majority are leading war. It is
:34:48. > :34:51.important to emphasise that, in case people are fearful as a result of
:34:52. > :35:00.the flow of refugees into Europe. It is right to say that very small
:35:01. > :35:04.numbers of people who are coming, but extra money has been made
:35:05. > :35:09.available, so their needs can be met but also saw their skills can be
:35:10. > :35:11.utilised. So many people who are refugees are highly skilled. To be
:35:12. > :35:16.able to utilise their skills and our economy would be important. Thank
:35:17. > :35:20.you, there is no doubt that some people will try to make political
:35:21. > :35:25.capital out of the situation and you are right to say what you have just
:35:26. > :35:30.said. At times like this we can all feel pretty helpless, however there
:35:31. > :35:34.is some thing practical we can do from Wales. Would you agree that, as
:35:35. > :35:40.representatives and leaders of political parties, we have a crucial
:35:41. > :35:45.role to play in promoting unity in our communities and we should take
:35:46. > :35:50.every opportunity to stand against allowing people, against each other,
:35:51. > :35:57.citizens of Wales, United we stand, divided we fall? Muslims in Wales
:35:58. > :36:02.are an integrated part of our society, integral, therefore, would
:36:03. > :36:06.you be prepared to initiate some sort of statement to be signed by
:36:07. > :36:12.all party leaders in this place which aims to show unity, not
:36:13. > :36:18.division, between our communities in Wales so that we can demonstrate we
:36:19. > :36:23.are indeed one Wales? Building on their statements that I have given
:36:24. > :36:27.this afternoon, what has been suggested, we will build upon that
:36:28. > :36:33.statement, that is important. Sometimes people question me, as
:36:34. > :36:38.indeed they will all members of this chamber, about immigration law. I
:36:39. > :36:45.ask them, what percentage of the population of Wales is descended
:36:46. > :36:48.from immigrants? The answer is 100%. All of our families came from
:36:49. > :36:51.somewhere at some point, where do you draw the line? That gets some
:36:52. > :36:55.people thinking and others dismissive, as we know with these
:36:56. > :37:00.things. It is important over the coming days for us all to consider
:37:01. > :37:05.as party leaders how we continue to ensure cohesion across our
:37:06. > :37:13.communities. Particularly that the terrorists do not get their wish, to
:37:14. > :37:16.divide people. Kirsty Williams. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Does
:37:17. > :37:21.your Government believe that children learn better in larger
:37:22. > :37:26.classes? It depends on the number of factors, the teacher, the
:37:27. > :37:30.facilities, the school, what facilities the school has, sometimes
:37:31. > :37:33.the age of the building. It will depend on the particular skills or
:37:34. > :37:38.specialists within the school, as long as the school delivers a
:37:39. > :37:47.curriculum in a way that parents will expect. The school inspector
:37:48. > :37:51.says, and I quote, there is much evidence to suggest teaching and
:37:52. > :37:58.learning are much better in classes under 30. Yet, two years ago, there
:37:59. > :38:02.were 218 classes with more than 30 pupils in then. Today they are 246
:38:03. > :38:07.classes with more than 30 pupils in them. Why is your Government
:38:08. > :38:10.allowing the number of classes over 30 when the evidence suggests
:38:11. > :38:14.learning is better than that number? Why are you allowing that number to
:38:15. > :38:21.grow? You must at the local authorities that. We have protected
:38:22. > :38:26.education spending, we have done our bit, that's a question best and had
:38:27. > :38:30.then. All right, then, we will just wash our hands and let it happen.
:38:31. > :38:34.What parents want to know is that teachers have the time to give the
:38:35. > :38:40.appropriate amount of attention to children in our class. Yet there are
:38:41. > :38:46.7835 children in classes that contain over 30 pupils. Yet, this
:38:47. > :38:51.year, over 800 teachers and support staff are being made redundant in
:38:52. > :38:55.Wales. Hope many more pupils are you willing to sit back and CB taught in
:38:56. > :39:01.classes over 30 if it is not your responsibility? The Liberal
:39:02. > :39:05.Democrats don't care about outcomes, it's all about figures. We have seen
:39:06. > :39:12.GCSE results and A-level results improved. It is not me saying it. We
:39:13. > :39:16.have seen the people deprivation grabs that her party suggested,
:39:17. > :39:19.Welsh education is moving in the right direction. With the level of
:39:20. > :39:26.resources it has been improving for stop we thought last week the
:39:27. > :39:30.figures, spending on wheels is 4% higher than England when it comes to
:39:31. > :39:38.education, 7% higher in health and social services, so we see that the
:39:39. > :39:41.resources are in place, the teachers we are working with are delivering
:39:42. > :39:46.for our pupils and that is what counts. We are proud of our record
:39:47. > :39:49.on education and the opportunities it gives to our young people. We
:39:50. > :39:56.move back to questions on the paper. Keith Davies. TRANSLATION: Will at
:39:57. > :40:06.first Mr Omega statement on media in Wales? -- media in Wales.
:40:07. > :40:10.TRANSLATION: We are involved in media in Wales. We are involved in
:40:11. > :40:20.the BBC charter. I wrote to this culture and media and sport
:40:21. > :40:28.Secretary, looking at S4C and the BBC's delivery from Wales.
:40:29. > :40:32.TRANSLATION:. There are fewer Welsh voices on English-language
:40:33. > :40:35.programming for young people, though there is Welsh language
:40:36. > :40:44.programming. What can we do to increase the English-language
:40:45. > :40:48.output? TRANSLATION: We need to ensure that more money is spent on
:40:49. > :40:56.rod casting and on programmes which are produced in Wales in both
:40:57. > :41:01.English and Welsh -- broadcasting. What has happened over the years is
:41:02. > :41:09.there has been a withdrawal from producing, making English medium
:41:10. > :41:14.programmes about Wales and so we have said that the UK Government
:41:15. > :41:17.should ensure an additional ?30 million to ensure there are more
:41:18. > :41:26.programmes available for the people of Wales in both Welsh and English.
:41:27. > :41:29.TRANSLATION: One of the pleasing developments over the past 18 months
:41:30. > :41:33.was the agreement that public service broadcasters operation in
:41:34. > :41:39.Wales should be accountable to the assembly as well as the UK
:41:40. > :41:42.Parliament. Have you had any preliminary negotiations on how this
:41:43. > :41:48.could work in practice and, specifically, what influence would
:41:49. > :41:54.the assembly have its non-default context, TRANSLATION: My view is
:41:55. > :41:58.that it is perfectly possible to ensure there is accountability to
:41:59. > :42:06.the asset itself and not just to the UK and the kingdom parliaments. --
:42:07. > :42:10.assembly. We have our formal role in regard to the charter itself but
:42:11. > :42:14.there is no reason why some responsibility could not be given to
:42:15. > :42:19.the assembly, not only for S4C but for broadcasting in Wales. As
:42:20. > :42:23.regards the devolution of broadcasting, that is something
:42:24. > :42:26.else. The funding would have to follow, of course, and we would have
:42:27. > :42:30.too little at the question of whether we should just look at
:42:31. > :42:35.broadcasting in Welsh or should there be some devolution of
:42:36. > :42:41.broadcasting through the medium of English in Wales? TRANSLATION: First
:42:42. > :42:51.Minister, had you had any discussions with the UK Government
:42:52. > :42:56.along with companies who dominates the newspaper market here in Wales?
:42:57. > :43:00.What is your view is a Government that there is plurality in the
:43:01. > :43:04.system because this has happened to -- there isn't an allergy. There is
:43:05. > :43:18.a potential that jobs could be lost? -- there isn't a locality.
:43:19. > :43:24.That is the track record. TRANSLATION: In viewing or observing
:43:25. > :43:31.the events as regards what's happened with the newspapers in the
:43:32. > :43:36.West, those newspapers are at the heart of the community and I
:43:37. > :43:42.wouldn't wish to see any reduction in the coverage or the staff they
:43:43. > :43:46.have. We have seen newspapers closed altogether in some parts of Wales.
:43:47. > :43:54.There have been cut in the number of journalists and less local news. One
:43:55. > :43:59.of the points I would like to make, a system is being established here
:44:00. > :44:09.where local papers aren't creating stories about local councils and if
:44:10. > :44:11.they don't do it, who will? We don't like to see stories about the
:44:12. > :44:19.newspapers being closed down and less local coverage. First Minister,
:44:20. > :44:26.with their compounds if spending review due next week and with the
:44:27. > :44:31.BBC charter up for renewal, the future of S4C and is funding, what
:44:32. > :44:35.conversation as the Welsh Government had with the UK Government about the
:44:36. > :44:40.future of S4C and whether we can continue to have sustainable funding
:44:41. > :44:45.for the future? There have been discussions and it is an issue I
:44:46. > :44:52.have raised S4C. S4C does not have a sustainable... It is all ad hoc and
:44:53. > :44:56.there is no certainty going forward. We have urged the UK
:44:57. > :45:00.Government to provide that Saturday but we will have to wait and see
:45:01. > :45:07.what the CSR brings in Thames of news in that regard. What assessment
:45:08. > :45:11.has the First Minister made of the recently published Law Commission
:45:12. > :45:15.report on wildlife law? The Law Commission published its work on the
:45:16. > :45:17.10th of November. I welcome the work that has been done on this subject
:45:18. > :45:23.and give full consideration will now be given to the recommendations. I
:45:24. > :45:28.thank the First Minister for that response but I'm sure the First
:45:29. > :45:32.Minister would agree the practice of using snares to trap animals can be
:45:33. > :45:37.very cruel and often results in injuries to animals that are not
:45:38. > :45:40.considered as pests, including domestic animals. Recent polling
:45:41. > :45:45.showed 80% of people in Wales support a ban on snares. Given that
:45:46. > :45:50.animal welfare is a devolved issue, what are the impacts of this change
:45:51. > :45:58.on the law in England on the Welsh,'s chatted to regulate this?
:45:59. > :46:04.We have published a new practice on this.
:46:05. > :46:10.What the Law Commission's recommendations allows us to do, is
:46:11. > :46:17.to consider what primary legislation we can use to not to ensure the
:46:18. > :46:19.welfare of animals remains intact. First Minister, the Law Commission
:46:20. > :46:26.in its report recommends the creation of a single set of
:46:27. > :46:28.provisions that consolidates and rationalises all relevant wildlife
:46:29. > :46:33.legislation in England and Wales, can I ask how you intend to take
:46:34. > :46:37.this recommendation forward, perhaps in conjunction with the UK
:46:38. > :46:40.Government? We do not see this legislation as the way forward.
:46:41. > :46:47.Welsh legislation considered firstly. There will be some areas,
:46:48. > :46:51.particularly with regard to secondary legislation where it makes
:46:52. > :46:56.sense to have the wheels legislation, for example looking at
:46:57. > :47:02.the species. In a devolved area, we would not normally look to see
:47:03. > :47:09.whether an England and Wales Bill was relevant, we look to our own
:47:10. > :47:14.bills. First Minister, who recently published code of practice on the
:47:15. > :47:24.use of smears to control foxes may very well give the impression that
:47:25. > :47:34.the Welsh Government approves of the usual of snares. Do you approve of
:47:35. > :47:40.the use of snares? There is no thought at the moment under current
:47:41. > :47:44.legislation as the thinking of banning snares. Where they are used,
:47:45. > :47:48.it is important that the highest standards of animal welfare are
:47:49. > :47:52.respected in the use, it would then be a matter based on what the Law
:47:53. > :47:58.Commission has said for the next Assembly to take forward for the
:47:59. > :48:02.provisions. John Griffiths, question five. Would-be First Minister a
:48:03. > :48:08.statement on Welsh Government Odyssey for a more active and
:48:09. > :48:15.healthy Wales? Evidence # evidence shows it likely contribution to
:48:16. > :48:18.better health being. Sport Wales has made a joint appointment of a
:48:19. > :48:26.physical activity champion to develop and implement cross sector
:48:27. > :48:29.plans. I am pleased to hear that from the First Minister. That is in
:48:30. > :48:37.keeping with the Welsh Government's stress on a preventative approach to
:48:38. > :48:41.health care. Then East Newport I am trying to bring together different
:48:42. > :48:47.sports and organisations and bodies along with others to develop a joint
:48:48. > :48:51.agenda and collective approach to having a more active and healthy
:48:52. > :48:57.population. It seems to me, First Minister, that when they aspect of
:48:58. > :49:00.that is the health budget is being used more for that preventative
:49:01. > :49:06.approach, rather than being overly reactive. Would you support that use
:49:07. > :49:11.of health budget to hopefully take that more preventative and I would
:49:12. > :49:18.say progressive approach? The member is correct. Especially in one area
:49:19. > :49:22.where that is happening, we have the national exercise referral programme
:49:23. > :49:26.which has been funded for around two point ?4 million. We have leisure
:49:27. > :49:31.and community centres, that is one example of the preventative agenda.
:49:32. > :49:36.We have another executive group looking at physical activity. This
:49:37. > :49:46.is about encouraging people to look after their own health, also there
:49:47. > :49:51.is the active wheels travel process which tries to get people not just
:49:52. > :49:57.using the likes of cycling for recreation purposes but also in
:49:58. > :50:04.terms of getting to work. One of the aims stated in your
:50:05. > :50:07.document is to create an active wheels by increasing participation
:50:08. > :50:12.in sport by all sections of the population. The lack of basic
:50:13. > :50:15.English and Welsh has been identified as a major barrier to
:50:16. > :50:21.people from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly older
:50:22. > :50:23.people in terms of taking part in sport and. What is the Welsh
:50:24. > :50:29.Government doing to support the teaching of English and Welsh to
:50:30. > :50:31.help those from ethnic groups to promote integration and encourage
:50:32. > :50:37.greater participation in sports and wheels? Well, of course, we work
:50:38. > :50:41.with schools, particularly to ensure that young people are able to
:50:42. > :50:48.acquire the languages that they need. We work with communities to
:50:49. > :50:52.make sure that the availability of lessons, usually in English,
:50:53. > :51:00.particularly in this part of wheels, argued that. But if there is an
:51:01. > :51:05.issue with regard to being able to promote sport in our ethnic minority
:51:06. > :51:09.communities because of the language issue, the member is welcome to
:51:10. > :51:12.write to meet with evidence of that and I will take it up with the
:51:13. > :51:19.physical activity champion. Simon Thomas.
:51:20. > :51:23.TRANSLATION: It is difficult to live a healthy lifestyle if it is not
:51:24. > :51:30.possible to make appointments with GPs to discuss your health. In areas
:51:31. > :51:37.such as temperature where people are having to wait at least two weeks to
:51:38. > :51:41.see their GP, that is just a general appointment, not an urgent one,
:51:42. > :51:45.simply to discuss health problems. What steps are you taking therefore
:51:46. > :51:52.to advanced primary care in this area and also to enhance people's
:51:53. > :51:59.knotting practitioners to become part of this process?
:52:00. > :52:04.TRANSLATION: Of course, GPs are more or less private companies and they
:52:05. > :52:08.have been contracted into the health service. Some are not, of course,
:52:09. > :52:16.but we know that some GPs are much more effective in the way that they
:52:17. > :52:20.ensure that people can secure our appointments, operating systems, so
:52:21. > :52:26.that they can either make an appointment online. Others do not do
:52:27. > :52:30.that at all. We urge GPs, of course, to develop new technology, to be
:52:31. > :52:37.more effective and efficient, and, of course, to ensure that they do
:52:38. > :52:43.not allow people to wait far too long. I have seen this working in
:52:44. > :52:47.many parts of Wales, where it is possible for them to have
:52:48. > :52:50.alternative access to the appointments and to ensure that it
:52:51. > :52:58.is quicker and easier for them to get an appointment. It is up to any
:52:59. > :53:03.surgery to explain their methods of working but we would expect everyone
:53:04. > :53:11.to consider new ways of working and new technologies.
:53:12. > :53:16.TRANSLATION: How does the Welsh Government ensure effective budget
:53:17. > :53:18.monitoring? TRANSLATION: The Welsh Government has well-established
:53:19. > :53:27.processes in place for planning and monitoring expenditures so that
:53:28. > :53:34.value for money is looked at. Thank you for that response. We want to
:53:35. > :53:41.work with the different departments, I am aware that it ever, for
:53:42. > :53:46.example, will see a cut of around 30% over the next year. DEFRA works
:53:47. > :53:51.very closely with the UK Government on issues such as bio-security,
:53:52. > :53:55.fisheries and the environment, can you tell us what discussions you as
:53:56. > :53:59.a government have had with DEFRA and the UK Government before the
:54:00. > :54:03.decision was taken that it was appropriate to cut 30% of that
:54:04. > :54:07.budget and how will you monitor the impact of that on Welsh Government
:54:08. > :54:11.services, because without doubt it will put additional pressures on
:54:12. > :54:15.your budget? TRANSLATION: We have not been part of those discussions.
:54:16. > :54:19.They have been discussions between Whitehall departments and the
:54:20. > :54:28.Treasury in Whitehall. We hear what has been said about DEFRA and it is
:54:29. > :54:30.true to say that DEFRA does offer services to Natural Resources Wales
:54:31. > :54:33.and we will carry out an assessment once we know exactly the nature of
:54:34. > :54:38.those cuts in the DEFRA budget. Angela Evans.
:54:39. > :54:42.First Minister, in regard to budgets, I would like to ask you
:54:43. > :54:45.about the 1% additional funding to schools in Wales. We know that the
:54:46. > :54:52.increase in funding to schools via the revenue support grant was
:54:53. > :54:58.actually easier appoint 80%, not 1%, however during the scrutiny session
:54:59. > :55:04.by the children and young educational committee, we were told
:55:05. > :55:09.that authorities will not -- they will be required to evidence this 1%
:55:10. > :55:14.being committed. Does this mean that the revenue support grant, which is
:55:15. > :55:18.to my understanding supposed to be an Chibok dictated, is indeed not on
:55:19. > :55:23.hype of the key did have the role and if so, how would you actually
:55:24. > :55:29.monitor that they really are reserving 1% as per your election
:55:30. > :55:33.manifesto promise? -- 0.83%. We are looking to deliver on the pledge
:55:34. > :55:37.that the government was elected on in 2011 and we see that pledge being
:55:38. > :55:41.evidence in the fact that the present figures show that 4% more
:55:42. > :55:47.per head is spent on education in Wales. Jenny Rathbone, question
:55:48. > :55:51.seven. Thank you, what discussions has the first Mister had about the
:55:52. > :55:56.changes to the justice system in Wales? We have regular discussions
:55:57. > :56:00.with the UK Government and others about changes to the justice system.
:56:01. > :56:04.We have made stronger representations regarding the likely
:56:05. > :56:10.impact of proposed closures in Wales and there have been discussions on
:56:11. > :56:14.the need for training for the judiciary as it develops. I am sure
:56:15. > :56:17.you are aware that there are increasing charges for anyone who
:56:18. > :56:22.appears in court for that privilege and so that someone up for a very
:56:23. > :56:29.minor offence is charged with at least ?150, even if they plead
:56:30. > :56:33.guilty. And up to ?1000 as they are convicted having pleaded not guilty.
:56:34. > :56:38.The charges are even higher if it goes to the Crown Court. Because it
:56:39. > :56:43.costs far less to plead guilty than it does to pleaded not guilty, there
:56:44. > :56:49.is obviously a perverse incentive to plead guilty, even if the defendant
:56:50. > :56:53.is not guilty. Many magistrates have actually resign from the bench as a
:56:54. > :56:58.result of having to uphold the law and they are feeling very concerned
:56:59. > :57:02.about this flat rate application of these, regardless of the
:57:03. > :57:07.circumstances of the individual. It seems to me it undermines the Magna
:57:08. > :57:11.Carta and I wondered, what if anything, the Welsh Government can
:57:12. > :57:18.do about it? I have put my view on the record that this measure makes
:57:19. > :57:23.our justice system look more like a racket. It is hugely unfortunate to
:57:24. > :57:29.say the least. Whilst it has been the case for many years, that a
:57:30. > :57:32.guilty plea, particularly can attract an early sentence, it has
:57:33. > :57:38.never been the case that an increase in financial penalties have had the
:57:39. > :57:42.effrontery to seek a trial, which is what this proposal is about. On a
:57:43. > :57:48.practical level, as someone who worked in the system, the vast
:57:49. > :57:50.majority of people that come through the Criminal Justice System are in
:57:51. > :57:56.no place to pay this money, they will not be able to pay it, so what
:57:57. > :58:01.is seen as a revenue raising measure by the Ministry of Justice will not
:58:02. > :58:06.raise much money because very few people could pay that money, they
:58:07. > :58:13.have no money, so it imposes... And we will have to enforce star's
:58:14. > :58:18.questions there. -- and we will have to end First Minister's Questions
:58:19. > :58:21.there. The address is light on the screen for you. That is all for the
:58:22. > :58:30.moment. Thank you for joining us. Goodbye.