17/11/2015 am.pm

Good afternoon, welcome to am.pm. Our coverage of questions to the

First Minister. A sombre mood all round this week as politicians have

reacted to events in Paris and paid tribute to the victims of last

Friday's terrorist attacks. The Senedd was one of many places where

our minutes silence was held yesterday. We are expecting to hear

more from Welsh politicians on what happened in France today. Last

week's First Minister's questions so difficulties between Carwyn Jones

that other politicians. Plenty to cover today. Questions Nikkei

scandal at one of wales's biggest hospitals and something that may

feature in George Osborne's Autumn Statement. You can follow all the

latest in Welsh politics on our Twitter feed. Business began with

residing officer Rosemary Butler expressing her regret over the

recent terrorist attacks. Members I am sure will wish to join me in

remembering those that were killed and injured in these attacks and in

sending our condolences to those who are grieving. We have a statement by

the First Minister. TRANSLATION: Thank you, providing robbers of

rails. We stand shoulder to shoulder of the people in France for the

atrocities in Paris on Friday evening. The people of Paris have

paid a heavy price for exercising their right to live in freedom and

we have a duty to protect the values of freedom and democracy. On all

counts. I know that all members will want to join in expressing our

sorrow and revulsion at the atrocities in Paris on Friday night.

The people of Wales stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with the

French people at this time of mourning. The people of Paris are

paid a heavy price for exercising the rights to live freely. Freedom

is a value we share and cause we all defence. Everywhere and all the

time. I wrote yesterday to the friends ambassador yesterday

expressing our sorrow and support -- French ambassador. HE SPEAKS FRENCH

TRANSLATION: Flags were flown at half-mast yesterday.

I know that members and staff who were here yesterday gathered on the

steps of the Senedd to mark the Europe-wide minute's silence and

that other groups across Wales have shown the respect in their own ways.

-- minute's silence. Security and intelligence are UK Government

competences but over the weekend I participated in the security

briefing cheered by the pro-Minister, they so-called,

corporate committee. -- Cobra. I would like to place on record our

appreciation for the work of the police and the security services who

work day in and stay out to protect people across our country. The

United Kingdom has itself suffered from terrorism, we know for a fact

that a number of other attacks have been foiled at the planning stage.

Arrests have been made here in Wales in the past and we know that

individuals have travelled from here to Syria. We cannot be complacent

about our own backyard. The public should remain vigilant and should

not hesitate to contact the police if they have suspicious or unusual

activity to report. I would also like to place on record my support

and solidarity of or the Muslim community here in Wales. The

overwhelming majority of whom share I were revulsion at the terrorism

carried out in the name of a corrupted view of their religion.

Muslims make a powerful and positive contribution to Welsh society. We

will all stand together in opposing extremism and aggression in our

community. Thank you. Thank you, Presiding Officer and First Minister

permitting the statement this afternoon which has enabled us to

put our own thoughts on the record and to pose questions to you about

the role the Welsh Government can play supporting the UK Government

and the international community in facing down these dastardly crimes

that are so horrid. On Friday night, in my own household, we will be

coming home my son from his placement at college and it was a

happy household. Many households in Paris would have seen their loved

ones going off to sporting events, to take and you'll just to enjoy

their life in Paris but, sadly, unlike our household where our son

came home, many sons, daughters, not once did not return from that tragic

series of events that taking place in Paris. We stand shoulder to

shoulder with the French people, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the

Egyptian people at anyone who faces the horrid acts of terrorism that

are undertaken to perverts because of Islam. I agree with what you said

about the Muslim faith will stop the Muslim faith is a faith of peace,

not a faith of war or terrorism, not a faith that should be abused but,

sadly, there are people on the extremities of that faith who have

chosen to do that and it is incumbent on us to stand shoulder to

shoulder with the French people, it did it incumbent on us to stand

shoulder to shoulder with people across the world to face down that

evil. I hope the solidarity that has been shown on the steps of the

Senedd 's year, the remarks that have been made in London, Edinburgh

and Belfast, show that across the United Kingdom we are at one with

the French people in their hour of need. I would like to make two

points. The first is in the field of education and what help and support

we can give our education system in supporting any hate of

radicalisation that people might find it coming through the education

system. That has been shown as being our route in to try to take out a

vulnerable people and show them a course and an alternative course

than should be taken on by adopting the radical ways that people have

chosen to take people out to Syria and to other parts of the Middle

East, as we have seen from people going from Cardiff. That is not the

way forward. We are responsible for the education system and I would be

grateful to understand what protocols are in place to make sure

the Welsh Government are supporting schools, colleges, to make sure

young people are offered an alternative routes to

radicalisation. The second is that it is vital we offer role models in

the middle and community, so that they can be used to show that there

are so many positive aspects to the Muslim faith, across all

communities, so that we do stand shoulder to shoulder. People will

not feel they are marginalised by society and they are not victims of

harassment. Whether that be in Cardiff or other cities in Wales. We

have on Sunday that there were various Muslims who said they faced

that level of intimidation. That should not be allowed. We do not

recognise Islam as a faith that turns to terrorism. It is a faith of

peace and we should make sure we can do all we can to offer the role

models that ultimately can show that we are one united society facing

down these terrible acts that have been inflicted, not just in Paris

but in other countries around the world. I thank the Leader of the

Opposition for his comments. We do have community cohesion coordinators

whose role it is to encourage cohesion. To help to identify issues

as they arise. We have the faith communities Forum, which represents

a number of different faiths and the forum itself is a place where

difficulties can be raised and identified and, eventually, dealt

with. When it comes to schools, they are being monitored and expected. It

is being determined by an outside body whether the curriculum should.

We should emphasise that we are talking about a small minority. All

religions, in the time, have had extremists that have sought to use

that religion in order to kill others. The people who carried out

the attacks on Friday in Paris are no more representative of Islam than

the Ku Klux Klan is of Christianity. They are an extreme French and the

bass majority that think of themselves as true Muslims --

fringe. Those who see themselves as Muslims would be appalled about the

attacks. In terms of role models, there are role models that shirt is

more than possible to rise to the heights of Civic Society, politics

or sport. What is important is to ensure the kind of role models that

young people, particularly young men, are attracted to in Syria and

Iraq are people who should lose the appeal that they have too some young

men and women. To show that what they are, in effect, are gangsters,

more than that, with a blood lust. They are not representative of Islam

or progress, they represent only themselves. They represent only

murder and mayhem. Leanne Wood. First Minister, I would like to take

the opportunity to add Plaid country's support to the sentiments

you have expressed in response to these attacks in Paris. Plaid

country's. Our sympathies and thoughts are also with the victims

of terror attacks that have and are occurring all over the world on a

regular basis. Over the weekend, I listened to your remarks as to how

Wales should respond. Obviously we have very important attractions and

events that take place in this country and people will want

assurances that such places are made as safe as possible. I would

appreciate to hear your thoughts on that point. We are enduring

significant cuts to policing and so I would be interested to hear your

thoughts about how we can reassure people that the threat we face can

be met in the light of these cuts to policing budgets. Ensure you are

aware the Prime Minister has announced further counterterrorism

measures, I would be interested to hear what role the Welsh Government

is playing in such a process in order to ensure there is a Welsh

perspective into that. Finally, as you have already alluded, it is more

important than ever for Welsh communities to pull together at a

time like this. I am concerned about a potential backlash. Potentially

being made from far right parties. Welsh Muslims are part of our

society and, of course, the vast majority would reject extremism and

violence. Would the First Minister agree with me that we should not

allow what is the preachers of hate want us to do, to turn on one

another? I thank the leader of Plaid Cymru for those comments and

particularly agree with the comment she made at the end. For people to

turn against each other within their own communities, that is exactly

what they want, she is right, to point that out. The Welsh

Counterterrorism Units Run, Has The Role Of Examining Security In Wales.

I receive briefings from that unit. Its role is to ensure that where

there is a particular level of correct, that level is understood,

respected and action can be taken regarding that level of threat. It

is worth emphasising that the level of threat has not changed since the

events of Paris, it remains at Severe. What we have said is that

people should carry on their lives as normal, there is no need to

change the way that people live their lives. Again, we ask people to

be vigilant, as they have been, over the past few months and to report

suspicious activity to the authorities. Cobra is the committee

that has been meeting to examine the issues arising from Paris. I was

part of the meeting, as was the First Minister of Scotland, on

Saturday morning. Officials from the Welsh Government are part of those

meetings and we do get briefings back in terms of what those meetings

are discussing. I have also been worried about the prospect of a

backlash against the peaceful and law-abiding Muslim community we have

here in Wales and I have received briefings in that regard. It is true

to say that individual Muslims are more fearful of their safety, there

have been no suggestions so far of any violent backlash. I sincerely

hope it stays that way. Fortunately we are aware that there are plans to

write some far right groups to organise demonstrations, outside

mosques in particular, they have their own reasons for doing that.

Thus far, as I said, the people of Wales have stayed together and we,

the Government, I'm sure I speak for all, we will ensure that cohesion

continues. Could I thank the first Mr Flores

statement to the Chamber this afternoon. It was an initial sense

of disbelief and then hover as I watched events unfold in Paris on

Friday night and on behalf of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Abe like to

express our sincere condolences to the families of those affected, the

communities in and around Paris, affected, and indeed, the entire

French nation. Presiding Officer, we must not forget that the point of

terrorism is to intimidate and terrify and the horrors of Friday

night were indeed terrifying, but that is how we respond now as a

nation and as an international community that matters the most and

we cannot let those terrorists win. We must never allow them and their

actions to change over way of life. We must never allow them and their

actions to turn people against one another and we must never allow them

and their actions to diminish our values of freedom and of fearless.

We must stand up, we must be strong and we must be united in our

response. Could I concur with what the First Minister said about the

contribution of the Muslim community to our country? The perpetrators of

these horrific crimes preach a perverse corruption of the faith of

Islam that bears absolutely no resemblance to what the vast

majority of Muslims in Wales and across the UK actually believe in.

So, could I ask in the first Mr Watts additional steps can be Welsh

Government take to support the Muslim Trinity in Wales --

community, not just from the potential backlash which may occur,

but actually support them within their communities to try and fight

this perverse corruption, so that they can be resilient communities

and protect their young people from the messages of hate that some

people would like to infiltrate and to infect their young people with?

I know... I thank you for your comments. I know that the Muslim

unity and Wales is working hard to counter the attraction that there is

for some in supporting or joining Islamic state. -- community. We

fight against what is made available online and those who preach hatred.

But I know that much work is done by our community groups and

representative organisations of Muslims in Wales to seek to identify

issues as quickly as possible so that they might be dealt with. Thus

far, that has worked. We will continue, of course, to work closely

with the Muslim unity and the community at large to ensure that

the terrorists, because that is what they are, do not succeed in their

aim of sending people against each other, that would be a tragedy for

all of us in Wales and I AM sure that the people of Wales will not

allow these terrorists to fulfil their aim of setting people against

each other as a religion, but also of course setting people of the same

religion against each other, we must not forget that those who carried

out the attacks on Friday would not hesitate to carry out those attacks

on Muslims who do not take their view of Islam and they are as much a

threat to the Muslim unity as they are today community at large. --

community. Questions to the First Minister,

Andrew RT Davies. Thank you, Presiding Officer. We'll

be First Minister make a statement on Winter Resilience Fund on the

health provision of South Wales Central? Health authorities and the

Abdoun service have integrated plans for the forthcoming winter. These

include stronger joint working with GP out-of-hours services and

extended hours over the weekends. Thank you for that answer, I

appreciate many of these plants are at the initial stages and the

responsibility of local health boards. One of the things that

always seems to happen whenever we have included whether, very cold

weather, is that the roadways within the healthy states, the car parts,

the freeze over because of lack of gritting and lack of preparation for

that cold weather and therefore the hospital itself comes to a stop

because you cannot get people in and out of those hospitals. That has

happened on numerous occasions since being elected Europe in 2007 and I

appreciate your local health boards determined the initial plan, but

what role is the Welsh Government is taking to make sure that the plans

put forward are robust enough to deal with this particular problem

that ultimately as the Hall hostel -- Hospital shut down because the

outside is not maintained? All integrated plans will be published

on our websites by the end of this month. The Welsh Government

officials have scrutinised the draft plans and providing feedback to the

health and social care organisations, seeking further

assurances where necessary. All NHS organisations have in place

arrangements to help maintain services in the event of severe

weather and I would expect that to include access to hospitals and

ensuring that the car parks are kept accessible and safe. Question two,

Eluned Parrott. Canny First Minister make a statement on the City deal?

This presents an opportunity for local authorities to drive economic

growth. I was pleased to support the Cardiff bed and look to the UK

Government to provide support and funding. Thank you, I welcome your

statement and the agreement on the funding package to the UK

Government, however, city deals were never just about money, they are

about empowering local authorities and city regions to drive their own

economic regeneration. What powers are the Welsh Government looking to

devolve to the Cardiff capital region alongside this funding

package that you hope to obtain from the UK Treasury? At this moment in

time we have said to local authorities is that we would expect

them to administer the match funding that will come from the UK

Government, it will be for them to decide how that money is spent. Of

course, we want to make sure that there is competition in terms of the

provision of services, that would represent a substantial amount of

money that would be made available to local authorities and to them in

terms of being able to spend it. Jenny Rathbone. The announcement

yesterday by the BBC that they have signed a contract to move to Central

Square in Cardiff is welcome news because that secures the bus and

tram station to fit in with the train station. How will this city

Deal enable us to fast forward to the second phase of the metal skin?

Well, with regard to the metro, we are putting money on the table for

an integration fund that will include the metro. -- metro scheme.

You must remember, the metro has been talked about as a concept but

we have not identified other areas. As part of the city deal we are

prepared to put more money into the city deal and the metal will be part

of that and we trust that will attract match funding from the UK

Treasury. First Minister, I have had the privilege to meet with the

members of the Cardiff capital region and I AM impressed by their

vision for the region. I AM hopeful that what they have proposed can

take place, that is the first to get their local authorities to combine.

I would assure you of the support of the Welsh Conservatives in this

matter and we will do our bit to influence the government will be

canned. I AM grateful to the member for his comments. This is an

opportunity to show that the UK Government, the Welsh Government and

local authorities can work together. They can work for Wales, despite

party differences. We have done a bit and local authorities have done

their bit and we look to the UK Government to provide their support.

The importance of schemes such as the metro, economically and

transformational for many areas of the South Wales Valleys, can you

outlined a discussion and you have had with local authorities and how

you actually see the Cardiff City Deal, despite the perhaps misleading

issue in the fact that it is actually transformational for many

areas and not just one? The metal will be delivered in three phases,

that is our intention. It will include options in terms of

transport, particularly with regard to new real connections and rapid

bus transit and extension of the current network. It is correct to

tell you that this is a once in a generation opportunity to transform,

not the capital, but the areas about Cardiff to connect the area far more

closely, not just to allow people to travel more quickly into Cardiff but

also to attract investment outwith of Cardiff by increasing community

links to the north-west. Questions from the party leaders.

Andrew RT Davies. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister,

last Thursday you held a meeting in Holyhead and as usual, in North

Wales, many of those questions you took on health. In answer to one of

those questions you talked about one single health board and these where

your words, it might not be Mrs Ali the right option going forward, you

won't health boards delivering services across Wales. We have had

to be organisations under the Labour Party already over the last 12

years, is it your thinking as First Minister and the current

government's thinking that there must be more health boards in Wales

delivering health services and in particular North Wales, and those

that -- and if that is not the case, why did you respond in such a

manner? There is an issue as to whether one

single board is the way forward for the whole of the North of other

alternative options should be looked at, those decisions will have to be

stored in the future. That is interesting thinking, I AM not sure

how that helps the health board which is currently under special

measures, and being told it will be placed in special measures for two

years and at the end emerge as an organisation fit for purpose, I

think that is the language I have to have heard spoken by your deputy

minister and the Health Minister himself. Other plans have been

formality by the Welsh Government. Also today, is the announcement that

Betsi Cadwaladr are paying the salary of the former chief executive

to be sick content into the English NHS. Can you understand how

frustrating and annoying that must be for residents, patients and

clinicians the length and breadth of North Wales who are finding ?200,000

worth of taxpayer money that was allocated for help services in North

Wales is being for someone that the Welsh Government did not deem a fit

and proper person to run the health service for the North of Wales? This

is a matter for the employer. We will provide more details for

members this afternoon. There has been no servants package for Trevor

Purt committee has stepped down as chief executive. By mutual agreement

he has been sick on did from Betsi Cadwaladr to work in the English NHS

but as part of that is confident he will produce a lessons learned

report to Betsi Cadwaladr and the chief executive of the NHS Wales. At

the end of that secondment period in October of next year they will cease

to be an employee of NHS Wales. That is pretty expensive homework in

anyone's exercise, but to be honest I hope you can share the your

understanding that the frustration that many able in Wales will feel

when they see this package put together and all too likely question

how the hell it has come about. I would also like to ask about health

matters closer to home and in particular, the families that have

particular of a particular programme and they have said that in order to

bring closure to the issues that they as grieving families or

patients who have had poor treatment at the hospital are having to deal

with, bring closure to those issues, but they require a independent

public inquiry and indeed, experts connected with this particular

field, the legs of Julie Bailey, who have dealt with these issues across

the entire UK, they have said that the only way to address the

historical problems that blight those hospitals and to be able to

move on is to have an independent inquiry. I have asked you several

times to commission such an inquiry, will you, please on the evidence

that is coming forward, allow these families to have closure on the

types of care, commission an independent inquiry so that families

and clinicians at that hospital can move on? The programme, you have to

be careful of the fact that there is still a current legal process being

gone through against three of the nurses, it is a matter for them. We

have recognised the issues that the Princess of Wales Hospital has had,

that is why we have commissioned the Andrews report, that gave us the

recommendations that we needed to move forward with. They have led to

more stringent checks on hospitals, particularly announced checks and we

believe that in dealing with that in this way, the issue has been dealt

with. No new evidence has come forward to suggest that that

hospital was wrong, so it would not be the object of this government to

commission a public inquiry. I would like to return to events

over the weekend and the aftermath. Jill died this issue of community

cohesion -- drill down. There is a need to pull together to stand

together and not allow ourselves to be divided by terror. I agree

wholeheartedly with what you said on that. I would like to ask what

measures you intend to take to help unite Welsh communities, to ensure

there is no backlash against the many thousands of Muslims in this

country who lived here in peace and to find terror as repositories the

rest of the population. You mentioned earlier the Community

Cohesion Coordinators that you have. What kinds of work can those

coordinators do to help prevent a backlash? The first thing I did was

to ask for more information regarding any potential threats to

the Muslim community, and I received that information. Secondly, we have

a close network that enables us to work with the Muslim communities to

identify problems early on, that is part of the coordinators' role.

Whether it is done through the The Amenities For More -- Faith

Communities Forum. I didn't feel it was important... All is being done

to protect our communities. Particularly law-abiding and

peace-loving Muslims. Without a doubt, people are going to be

increasingly fearful of the threat posed by Isis, Daesh, there will

need to be more work to improve cohesion within our communities and

the current conflict is linked to many other issues such as the

refugees and the pressures on the U -- the EU in trying to cope with

that prices. Do you agree that, as we try to accommodate the people

fleeing the horrors of war, we must at all times ensure local people are

treated early and are seen to be treated fairly in terms of access to

services and housing? That we must have a programme of integration that

promotes cohesion and fair play to all? Would you agree, that if we

fail on that front, there is a risk that bad feeling and resentment in

communities could grow F public bodies are not seen to be acting in

the most sensitive way they possibly can? Yes, and our point of view is

that as refugees arrived in Wales, the funding to support them should

come from the UK Government, rather than the Welsh Government budget

because this is a non-devolved issue. There is one point worth

emphasising, there will be some who are concerned that amongst those

people are riding as refugees, there will be some who arrive with ill

intent or who use the refugee crisis as a cloak. The UN High Commission

of refugees is involved in screening refugees, there is a security

process in place and the vast majority are leading war. It is

important to emphasise that, in case people are fearful as a result of

the flow of refugees into Europe. It is right to say that very small

numbers of people who are coming, but extra money has been made

available, so their needs can be met but also saw their skills can be

utilised. So many people who are refugees are highly skilled. To be

able to utilise their skills and our economy would be important. Thank

you, there is no doubt that some people will try to make political

capital out of the situation and you are right to say what you have just

said. At times like this we can all feel pretty helpless, however there

is some thing practical we can do from Wales. Would you agree that, as

representatives and leaders of political parties, we have a crucial

role to play in promoting unity in our communities and we should take

every opportunity to stand against allowing people, against each other,

citizens of Wales, United we stand, divided we fall? Muslims in Wales

are an integrated part of our society, integral, therefore, would

you be prepared to initiate some sort of statement to be signed by

all party leaders in this place which aims to show unity, not

division, between our communities in Wales so that we can demonstrate we

are indeed one Wales? Building on their statements that I have given

this afternoon, what has been suggested, we will build upon that

statement, that is important. Sometimes people question me, as

indeed they will all members of this chamber, about immigration law. I

ask them, what percentage of the population of Wales is descended

from immigrants? The answer is 100%. All of our families came from

somewhere at some point, where do you draw the line? That gets some

people thinking and others dismissive, as we know with these

things. It is important over the coming days for us all to consider

as party leaders how we continue to ensure cohesion across our

communities. Particularly that the terrorists do not get their wish, to

divide people. Kirsty Williams. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Does

your Government believe that children learn better in larger

classes? It depends on the number of factors, the teacher, the

facilities, the school, what facilities the school has, sometimes

the age of the building. It will depend on the particular skills or

specialists within the school, as long as the school delivers a

curriculum in a way that parents will expect. The school inspector

says, and I quote, there is much evidence to suggest teaching and

learning are much better in classes under 30. Yet, two years ago, there

were 218 classes with more than 30 pupils in then. Today they are 246

classes with more than 30 pupils in them. Why is your Government

allowing the number of classes over 30 when the evidence suggests

learning is better than that number? Why are you allowing that number to

grow? You must at the local authorities that. We have protected

education spending, we have done our bit, that's a question best and had

then. All right, then, we will just wash our hands and let it happen.

What parents want to know is that teachers have the time to give the

appropriate amount of attention to children in our class. Yet there are

7835 children in classes that contain over 30 pupils. Yet, this

year, over 800 teachers and support staff are being made redundant in

Wales. Hope many more pupils are you willing to sit back and CB taught in

classes over 30 if it is not your responsibility? The Liberal

Democrats don't care about outcomes, it's all about figures. We have seen

GCSE results and A-level results improved. It is not me saying it. We

have seen the people deprivation grabs that her party suggested,

Welsh education is moving in the right direction. With the level of

resources it has been improving for stop we thought last week the

figures, spending on wheels is 4% higher than England when it comes to

education, 7% higher in health and social services, so we see that the

resources are in place, the teachers we are working with are delivering

for our pupils and that is what counts. We are proud of our record

on education and the opportunities it gives to our young people. We

move back to questions on the paper. Keith Davies. TRANSLATION: Will at

first Mr Omega statement on media in Wales? -- media in Wales.

TRANSLATION: We are involved in media in Wales. We are involved in

the BBC charter. I wrote to this culture and media and sport

Secretary, looking at S4C and the BBC's delivery from Wales.

TRANSLATION:. There are fewer Welsh voices on English-language

programming for young people, though there is Welsh language

programming. What can we do to increase the English-language

output? TRANSLATION: We need to ensure that more money is spent on

rod casting and on programmes which are produced in Wales in both

English and Welsh -- broadcasting. What has happened over the years is

there has been a withdrawal from producing, making English medium

programmes about Wales and so we have said that the UK Government

should ensure an additional ?30 million to ensure there are more

programmes available for the people of Wales in both Welsh and English.

TRANSLATION: One of the pleasing developments over the past 18 months

was the agreement that public service broadcasters operation in

Wales should be accountable to the assembly as well as the UK

Parliament. Have you had any preliminary negotiations on how this

could work in practice and, specifically, what influence would

the assembly have its non-default context, TRANSLATION: My view is

that it is perfectly possible to ensure there is accountability to

the asset itself and not just to the UK and the kingdom parliaments. --

assembly. We have our formal role in regard to the charter itself but

there is no reason why some responsibility could not be given to

the assembly, not only for S4C but for broadcasting in Wales. As

regards the devolution of broadcasting, that is something

else. The funding would have to follow, of course, and we would have

too little at the question of whether we should just look at

broadcasting in Welsh or should there be some devolution of

broadcasting through the medium of English in Wales? TRANSLATION: First

Minister, had you had any discussions with the UK Government

along with companies who dominates the newspaper market here in Wales?

What is your view is a Government that there is plurality in the

system because this has happened to -- there isn't an allergy. There is

a potential that jobs could be lost? -- there isn't a locality.

That is the track record. TRANSLATION: In viewing or observing

the events as regards what's happened with the newspapers in the

West, those newspapers are at the heart of the community and I

wouldn't wish to see any reduction in the coverage or the staff they

have. We have seen newspapers closed altogether in some parts of Wales.

There have been cut in the number of journalists and less local news. One

of the points I would like to make, a system is being established here

where local papers aren't creating stories about local councils and if

they don't do it, who will? We don't like to see stories about the

newspapers being closed down and less local coverage. First Minister,

with their compounds if spending review due next week and with the

BBC charter up for renewal, the future of S4C and is funding, what

conversation as the Welsh Government had with the UK Government about the

future of S4C and whether we can continue to have sustainable funding

for the future? There have been discussions and it is an issue I

have raised S4C. S4C does not have a sustainable... It is all ad hoc and

there is no certainty going forward. We have urged the UK

Government to provide that Saturday but we will have to wait and see

what the CSR brings in Thames of news in that regard. What assessment

has the First Minister made of the recently published Law Commission

report on wildlife law? The Law Commission published its work on the

10th of November. I welcome the work that has been done on this subject

and give full consideration will now be given to the recommendations. I

thank the First Minister for that response but I'm sure the First

Minister would agree the practice of using snares to trap animals can be

very cruel and often results in injuries to animals that are not

considered as pests, including domestic animals. Recent polling

showed 80% of people in Wales support a ban on snares. Given that

animal welfare is a devolved issue, what are the impacts of this change

on the law in England on the Welsh,'s chatted to regulate this?

We have published a new practice on this.

What the Law Commission's recommendations allows us to do, is

to consider what primary legislation we can use to not to ensure the

welfare of animals remains intact. First Minister, the Law Commission

in its report recommends the creation of a single set of

provisions that consolidates and rationalises all relevant wildlife

legislation in England and Wales, can I ask how you intend to take

this recommendation forward, perhaps in conjunction with the UK

Government? We do not see this legislation as the way forward.

Welsh legislation considered firstly. There will be some areas,

particularly with regard to secondary legislation where it makes

sense to have the wheels legislation, for example looking at

the species. In a devolved area, we would not normally look to see

whether an England and Wales Bill was relevant, we look to our own

bills. First Minister, who recently published code of practice on the

use of smears to control foxes may very well give the impression that

the Welsh Government approves of the usual of snares. Do you approve of

the use of snares? There is no thought at the moment under current

legislation as the thinking of banning snares. Where they are used,

it is important that the highest standards of animal welfare are

respected in the use, it would then be a matter based on what the Law

Commission has said for the next Assembly to take forward for the

provisions. John Griffiths, question five. Would-be First Minister a

statement on Welsh Government Odyssey for a more active and

healthy Wales? Evidence # evidence shows it likely contribution to

better health being. Sport Wales has made a joint appointment of a

physical activity champion to develop and implement cross sector

plans. I am pleased to hear that from the First Minister. That is in

keeping with the Welsh Government's stress on a preventative approach to

health care. Then East Newport I am trying to bring together different

sports and organisations and bodies along with others to develop a joint

agenda and collective approach to having a more active and healthy

population. It seems to me, First Minister, that when they aspect of

that is the health budget is being used more for that preventative

approach, rather than being overly reactive. Would you support that use

of health budget to hopefully take that more preventative and I would

say progressive approach? The member is correct. Especially in one area

where that is happening, we have the national exercise referral programme

which has been funded for around two point ?4 million. We have leisure

and community centres, that is one example of the preventative agenda.

We have another executive group looking at physical activity. This

is about encouraging people to look after their own health, also there

is the active wheels travel process which tries to get people not just

using the likes of cycling for recreation purposes but also in

terms of getting to work. One of the aims stated in your

document is to create an active wheels by increasing participation

in sport by all sections of the population. The lack of basic

English and Welsh has been identified as a major barrier to

people from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly older

people in terms of taking part in sport and. What is the Welsh

Government doing to support the teaching of English and Welsh to

help those from ethnic groups to promote integration and encourage

greater participation in sports and wheels? Well, of course, we work

with schools, particularly to ensure that young people are able to

acquire the languages that they need. We work with communities to

make sure that the availability of lessons, usually in English,

particularly in this part of wheels, argued that. But if there is an

issue with regard to being able to promote sport in our ethnic minority

communities because of the language issue, the member is welcome to

write to meet with evidence of that and I will take it up with the

physical activity champion. Simon Thomas.

TRANSLATION: It is difficult to live a healthy lifestyle if it is not

possible to make appointments with GPs to discuss your health. In areas

such as temperature where people are having to wait at least two weeks to

see their GP, that is just a general appointment, not an urgent one,

simply to discuss health problems. What steps are you taking therefore

to advanced primary care in this area and also to enhance people's

knotting practitioners to become part of this process?

TRANSLATION: Of course, GPs are more or less private companies and they

have been contracted into the health service. Some are not, of course,

but we know that some GPs are much more effective in the way that they

ensure that people can secure our appointments, operating systems, so

that they can either make an appointment online. Others do not do

that at all. We urge GPs, of course, to develop new technology, to be

more effective and efficient, and, of course, to ensure that they do

not allow people to wait far too long. I have seen this working in

many parts of Wales, where it is possible for them to have

alternative access to the appointments and to ensure that it

is quicker and easier for them to get an appointment. It is up to any

surgery to explain their methods of working but we would expect everyone

to consider new ways of working and new technologies.

TRANSLATION: How does the Welsh Government ensure effective budget

monitoring? TRANSLATION: The Welsh Government has well-established

processes in place for planning and monitoring expenditures so that

value for money is looked at. Thank you for that response. We want to

work with the different departments, I am aware that it ever, for

example, will see a cut of around 30% over the next year. DEFRA works

very closely with the UK Government on issues such as bio-security,

fisheries and the environment, can you tell us what discussions you as

a government have had with DEFRA and the UK Government before the

decision was taken that it was appropriate to cut 30% of that

budget and how will you monitor the impact of that on Welsh Government

services, because without doubt it will put additional pressures on

your budget? TRANSLATION: We have not been part of those discussions.

They have been discussions between Whitehall departments and the

Treasury in Whitehall. We hear what has been said about DEFRA and it is

true to say that DEFRA does offer services to Natural Resources Wales

and we will carry out an assessment once we know exactly the nature of

those cuts in the DEFRA budget. Angela Evans.

First Minister, in regard to budgets, I would like to ask you

about the 1% additional funding to schools in Wales. We know that the

increase in funding to schools via the revenue support grant was

actually easier appoint 80%, not 1%, however during the scrutiny session

by the children and young educational committee, we were told

that authorities will not -- they will be required to evidence this 1%

being committed. Does this mean that the revenue support grant, which is

to my understanding supposed to be an Chibok dictated, is indeed not on

hype of the key did have the role and if so, how would you actually

monitor that they really are reserving 1% as per your election

manifesto promise? -- 0.83%. We are looking to deliver on the pledge

that the government was elected on in 2011 and we see that pledge being

evidence in the fact that the present figures show that 4% more

per head is spent on education in Wales. Jenny Rathbone, question

seven. Thank you, what discussions has the first Mister had about the

changes to the justice system in Wales? We have regular discussions

with the UK Government and others about changes to the justice system.

We have made stronger representations regarding the likely

impact of proposed closures in Wales and there have been discussions on

the need for training for the judiciary as it develops. I am sure

you are aware that there are increasing charges for anyone who

appears in court for that privilege and so that someone up for a very

minor offence is charged with at least ?150, even if they plead

guilty. And up to ?1000 as they are convicted having pleaded not guilty.

The charges are even higher if it goes to the Crown Court. Because it

costs far less to plead guilty than it does to pleaded not guilty, there

is obviously a perverse incentive to plead guilty, even if the defendant

is not guilty. Many magistrates have actually resign from the bench as a

result of having to uphold the law and they are feeling very concerned

about this flat rate application of these, regardless of the

circumstances of the individual. It seems to me it undermines the Magna

Carta and I wondered, what if anything, the Welsh Government can

do about it? I have put my view on the record that this measure makes

our justice system look more like a racket. It is hugely unfortunate to

say the least. Whilst it has been the case for many years, that a

guilty plea, particularly can attract an early sentence, it has

never been the case that an increase in financial penalties have had the

effrontery to seek a trial, which is what this proposal is about. On a

practical level, as someone who worked in the system, the vast

majority of people that come through the Criminal Justice System are in

no place to pay this money, they will not be able to pay it, so what

is seen as a revenue raising measure by the Ministry of Justice will not

raise much money because very few people could pay that money, they

have no money, so it imposes... And we will have to enforce star's

questions there. -- and we will have to end First Minister's Questions

there. The address is light on the screen for you. That is all for the

moment. Thank you for joining us. Goodbye.