:00:21. > :00:25.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme. It's Tuesday, which
:00:25. > :00:29.means we've got First Minister's Questions for you. But we do have
:00:29. > :00:32.some changes in our line up here on the sofa. Our political
:00:32. > :00:36.correspondent Tomos Livingstone will join us later.
:00:36. > :00:41.Feel free to get in touch with us while we're on air. You can do that
:00:41. > :00:45.via Twitter. The address is @walespolitics. Or you can send an
:00:45. > :00:48.e-mail to am.pm@bbc.co.uk. Right, that's the housekeeping out
:00:48. > :00:56.of the way, let's go over to the Senedd now to catch up with
:00:56. > :01:02.questions to First Minister Carwyn Jones.
:01:02. > :01:07.I call the National Assembly for Wales to order. Questions to the
:01:07. > :01:10.First Minister. Will the First Minister explain how he and his
:01:10. > :01:15.Government intend to increase employment for young people in
:01:15. > :01:19.Wales? Increasing the employment opportunities for young people
:01:19. > :01:22.remains a key priority for the Welsh government and that is why be
:01:22. > :01:32.implemented our new employability programmes in August. That is why
:01:32. > :01:34.
:01:34. > :01:40.we have extended apprenticeships and established jobs growth Wales.
:01:41. > :01:45.It is a very credible target that you have set but, in the present
:01:46. > :01:49.economic situation, youth unemployment has risen by 15 %. Can
:01:49. > :01:57.you please tell me, because I don't think it has been fully explained,
:01:57. > :02:01.how you attend -- intended to achieve this target? Through jobs
:02:02. > :02:07.growth Wales, as we have already illustrated. We have already
:02:07. > :02:14.launched that. And the programmes we introduced on August 1st of this
:02:14. > :02:19.year. The UK government is failing to support young people as clearly
:02:19. > :02:26.shown by a youth unemployment racing this year it to the highest
:02:26. > :02:31.level since records began in 1992. The UK government's policies don't
:02:32. > :02:35.work. But in Wales, we are tackling this head-on with the jobs growth
:02:35. > :02:40.Wales programme which will provide 4,000 places for young people in
:02:40. > :02:44.Wales this year. Can the First Minister update Assembly with
:02:44. > :02:52.regards to the British ships and youth training schemes? We launched
:02:52. > :03:02.a trainee programme in August and a programme for adults over the age
:03:02. > :03:29.
:03:29. > :03:36.of 18. Mohammed as carp. -- Mohammad Asghar. If every... Do you
:03:36. > :03:39.agree that failure to offer sufficient support will do nothing
:03:39. > :03:47.in terms of increasing employment opportunities for the young people
:03:47. > :03:51.of Wales? Let me give you an example. A small retailer said to
:03:51. > :03:55.me that as a result of that the levy on single used carrier bags he
:03:55. > :04:00.was saving �2,000 a year. That is a significant amount and I am sure
:04:00. > :04:07.other retailers are benefiting from that. It is his equivalent of
:04:07. > :04:10.business rate relief. First Minister, I am sure you will
:04:10. > :04:15.remember that one of my concerns I have expressed about the future
:04:15. > :04:20.jobs fund and also jobs growth Wales was the fact that the
:04:20. > :04:24.placements were six months in length. I was hoping we would be
:04:24. > :04:28.able to look for ways in which we can improve the sustainability of
:04:28. > :04:32.those placements. I was lucky enough to visit a mental health
:04:32. > :04:36.charity which set up an enterprise for young people in my constituency
:04:37. > :04:42.and I was wondering whether you would consider using some of the
:04:42. > :04:47.�38 million consequential announced last week to help the creation of
:04:47. > :04:54.more similar enterprises. That is a matter of discussion between the
:04:54. > :04:58.parties. The future jobs fund was abolished by the member's party.
:04:58. > :05:07.That is why jobs growth Wales is designed to pick up some of the
:05:07. > :05:11.slack when that scheme disappeared. I saw that Labour had produced a
:05:11. > :05:16.five. Plan to regenerate the economy in Wales and only one of
:05:16. > :05:20.those points is relevant your government. Namely, a scheme to
:05:20. > :05:25.help bring capital spending plans forward. When will you announce
:05:25. > :05:29.that? This is something we are currently considering. We have a
:05:29. > :05:37.good record of publishing programs to assist people to find employment
:05:37. > :05:42.as the evidence shows from August and the last few weeks. First
:05:42. > :05:45.Minister, what assessment has the Welsh government made of the
:05:45. > :05:51.effects on individuals and public services in Wales of the UK
:05:51. > :05:56.government's changes to the benefits system? I understand that
:05:56. > :06:02.you have granted permission for this question to be grouped with
:06:02. > :06:10.questions 4, 8 and 9. Of course, we have serious reservations about the
:06:10. > :06:14.UK government's proposed changes to the benefits system. We have
:06:14. > :06:19.established a ministerial task and Finnish group in order to undertake
:06:19. > :06:27.a comprehensive assessment of the cumulative affect of the benefit
:06:27. > :06:31.changes. Be changes proposed to the benefits system are very concerning
:06:31. > :06:34.indeed and therefore I am pleased to see the commitment in the
:06:34. > :06:39.programme of government to alleviate their effects. Those
:06:39. > :06:45.impacted directly include those claiming disability benefits and
:06:45. > :06:49.those on employment benefits. Those people claiming disability
:06:49. > :06:55.allowances living in a local government care homes will be
:06:55. > :06:58.withdrawn. Whilst I accept this is a non devolved issue, and many of
:06:58. > :07:04.my constituents receive these benefits, would you agree with me
:07:04. > :07:08.that this will have a very negative impact? I would agree. An
:07:08. > :07:15.assessment of how negative the impact of these changes that are
:07:15. > :07:20.imposed by the UK Government is yet to be seen. Were you join with me
:07:20. > :07:25.in supporting the day of action by disabled people this Saturday as
:07:25. > :07:30.part of a campaign against the cuts you have already mentioned. It is
:07:30. > :07:36.estimated that the cuts will see �450 million lost by disabled
:07:36. > :07:40.people in Wales over a period of four years. Your programme for
:07:40. > :07:42.government has stated you will attend to alleviate the effects of
:07:42. > :07:46.changes to the benefits system but how can you do that effectively
:07:46. > :07:51.without having the powers and resources over these areas
:07:51. > :07:57.devolved? This is what the ministerial task group will be
:07:57. > :08:01.doing. May I also support you as regards to the concerns of disabled
:08:01. > :08:07.people on the changes that are coming from the UK government.
:08:07. > :08:10.Sandy Mewies. I am sure he will join me in welcoming
:08:10. > :08:13.representatives from the hardest hit campaign representing the
:08:13. > :08:16.various disability charities who will be taking part who are in the
:08:16. > :08:21.Gary today and have come to share their concerns with Assembly
:08:21. > :08:27.members. You are probably also aware that disabled people in Wales
:08:27. > :08:31.will lose an estimated �450 million over the next four years due to
:08:32. > :08:36.benefit changes. Like me, we welcome the fact that members of
:08:36. > :08:41.all political parties in this chamber have signed the statement
:08:41. > :08:44.of opinion on this issue which I have raced and we you reassure us
:08:44. > :08:49.once more of that you will do all you can as a government to
:08:49. > :08:55.ameliorate the change, the impact of these changes will have on the
:08:55. > :08:58.people of Wales? Can I welcome those representatives here today?
:08:58. > :09:02.They will share great concern with us in terms of what these changes
:09:02. > :09:06.will mean. We believe the changes will be detrimental, as I have
:09:07. > :09:10.already outlined, which is why the ministerial group will be making an
:09:11. > :09:17.assessment of those changes. We will also see what we can do to
:09:17. > :09:20.ameliorate the proposals which have been put forward. Rebecca Evans.
:09:20. > :09:26.will be marching alongside people with disabilities and their
:09:27. > :09:33.families on Saturday. The people marching on Saturday represent only
:09:33. > :09:36.the tip of the iceberg. Many disabled people are to physically,
:09:36. > :09:40.mentally or financially vulnerable to add their voice to the protest.
:09:40. > :09:46.How will the Welsh government makes sure it listens to the voice of all
:09:46. > :09:48.disabled people in its attempt to mitigate cuts? We will be listening
:09:48. > :09:52.to disabled people and their representative organisations so
:09:52. > :09:58.there we can hear from as many people as possible about the issues
:09:58. > :10:03.that affect them. Now that it is Labour policy that people should
:10:03. > :10:06.not get something for nothing, would be First Minister join me in
:10:06. > :10:10.congratulating the Westminster government in moving towards a tax
:10:10. > :10:15.benefits system that will ensure that anyone able to work will
:10:15. > :10:21.always be better off with a job than unemployed? And that the bold
:10:21. > :10:27.move to raise basic income tax threshold to �10,000 and the
:10:27. > :10:34.elimination of punitive marginal tax rates add to 96 % in some
:10:34. > :10:38.instances that trap people wanting to move from welfare into work are
:10:38. > :10:42.welcome steps towards eradicating in degeneration witlessness and
:10:42. > :10:45.poverty which has blighted families and communities in North Wales?
:10:45. > :10:50.What we are talking about are changes that will penalised
:10:50. > :10:54.disabled people up. Some of whom can work and want to work, some of
:10:54. > :10:59.whom are unable to work. The context in which the question was
:10:59. > :11:04.asked was with regard to the effect on them. It is unfortunate the UK
:11:04. > :11:08.government feels its disabled people should be penalised. I have
:11:08. > :11:11.got to say that is not my reading of the UK government's stance
:11:11. > :11:18.whatsoever. I am not surprised that you are not prepared to offer even
:11:18. > :11:21.a modicum of agreement to those proposals, despite Ed Miliband's
:11:21. > :11:25.very robust statement about the fact it needs to be changed. It
:11:25. > :11:29.would have made uncomfortable reading but I'm sure you would have
:11:29. > :11:33.read the report on the benefits system. When you're ministerial
:11:33. > :11:38.group looks at this subject, rather than just looking at it in
:11:38. > :11:42.inevitably -- negative way to complain, could I urge you to ask
:11:42. > :11:46.your task group to look at what we should be doing to ensure that we
:11:46. > :11:53.get poor people out of their poverty trap and workless people
:11:53. > :11:57.back into work that sustains them financially and emotionally?
:11:57. > :12:00.course work should pay, nobody would disagree with that, but we're
:12:00. > :12:06.talking about people who white disabled and they are being
:12:06. > :12:09.penalised on the basis of these proposals. Those are not my words,
:12:09. > :12:12.those are their thoughts. I would agree it is important that people
:12:12. > :12:16.have access to jobs and access to training which is why the UK
:12:16. > :12:20.government needs to change its mind and make sure it conducts policies
:12:20. > :12:24.and takes forward policies that provide the jobs and training that
:12:24. > :12:32.people required. There is no point encouraging people to work if there
:12:32. > :12:42.is no work there. Both have got a run together. Mark Isherwood.
:12:42. > :12:44.
:12:44. > :12:54.Question 3. I have got you down on these questions. May I withdraw? I
:12:54. > :13:01.apologise. The Leader of the Opposition. First Minister, earlier
:13:01. > :13:05.this year, you outlined two key flagship health policies. One was
:13:05. > :13:09.extending GP opening hours and the other about health checks for the
:13:09. > :13:13.over-fifties. However, on questioning of your Health Minister
:13:13. > :13:18.we are unable to find the costings or the workings of these programmes.
:13:18. > :13:24.Are you able to provide the costings of these programmes?
:13:24. > :13:27.is no cost to the GP opening hours. We are asking them to provide a
:13:27. > :13:32.better service for the people they service and I think that is
:13:32. > :13:36.absolutely crucial. We are not suggesting GPs should work long
:13:36. > :13:40.hours or more hours. The same hours but making sure they are more
:13:40. > :13:46.flexible. You were really trying to tell the chamber that there is no
:13:46. > :13:51.cost implications for increasing GP opening hours and renegotiating the
:13:51. > :13:55.GP contract? Time and time again you have put these facts before you,
:13:55. > :14:01.the National Audit Office came it lasted and said the Welsh NHS will
:14:01. > :14:05.have the porous settlement of all the NHS services in the UK. You
:14:05. > :14:08.have brought these policies forward in a document you said was the most
:14:08. > :14:14.scrutinised documents that had ever been laid before the people of
:14:14. > :14:18.Wales. That is debatable. Is it not the case that both these policies
:14:18. > :14:24.were work out on the back of a cigarette packet and you have no
:14:24. > :14:28.idea how he will implement them and when people might benefit? This is
:14:28. > :14:33.from a party who worked out their budget proposals on a piece of
:14:33. > :14:36.paper without any detail at all. The proposal to make sure that GPs'
:14:36. > :14:41.surgeries are more accessible was widely popular and that's why
:14:41. > :14:44.people voted for us as a party and not for you. It is a policy that is
:14:44. > :14:48.popular with the public, when the Leader of the opposition would have
:14:48. > :14:52.done well to come up with himself. All we are doing is asking GPs to
:14:52. > :14:56.be more flexible in the hours they work and I think that is perfectly
:14:56. > :15:00.reasonable. Here we see this morning that there are �20 billion
:15:00. > :15:05.worth of cuts to the NHS in England, I think the ground has been taken
:15:05. > :15:08.from underneath them up. National Audit Office in Wales
:15:08. > :15:13.highlighted, and every other organisation highlighted that your
:15:13. > :15:20.government is giving the Welsh NHS the poorest settlement in benighted
:15:20. > :15:30.kingdom. But as you constantly try and reverse the questions -- in at
:15:30. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:37.the United Kingdom. You could not identify what the consequential
:15:37. > :15:42.work, you were talking about 5 million pound consequential. Euros
:15:42. > :15:46.a minister in scrutiny last week was acting a bit like a fish out of
:15:46. > :15:51.water when she was asked about the policy and how it would be
:15:51. > :15:54.implemented. Is it not the case that time and time again, when your
:15:54. > :15:58.government has been bringing policies forward, they are not
:15:58. > :16:02.thought through, they are not costed, and ultimately it is the
:16:02. > :16:08.Welsh taxpayer who falls foul of that. When is your government going
:16:08. > :16:12.to stop working these policies out on the back of a cigarette packet?
:16:12. > :16:18.Let's examine the Leader of the Opposition and what he said. He
:16:18. > :16:22.keeps demanding �1 billion or more for the NHS. Our policies are well
:16:22. > :16:26.costed. The people of Wales supported those policies far more
:16:26. > :16:31.than they supported the policies put forward by his own party. There
:16:31. > :16:35.is no extra cost to making GPs' surgeries more accessible, we are
:16:35. > :16:39.simply asking people to be more flexible in the hours they work.
:16:39. > :16:47.That is perfectly reasonable. It is a shame his party does not spend
:16:47. > :16:53.more time examining its policies more carefully. Ieuan Wyn Jones.
:16:53. > :16:56.your budget for next year, you give an additional �83 million to the
:16:57. > :17:03.health service. But the budget narrative states that the service
:17:03. > :17:07.in the same year has to make savings of �250 million. That is a
:17:07. > :17:11.massive some bearing in mind there are cuts in real terms in the
:17:11. > :17:21.health service. Can you tell us how many hospitals will have to close
:17:21. > :17:24.
:17:24. > :17:30.and how many services centralised �288 million has been put in the
:17:30. > :17:34.health service. There are pressures, but that is because of the
:17:34. > :17:40.financial settlement we received from the UK government. There are
:17:40. > :17:46.no plans to close hospitals. We want to insure people ensure the
:17:46. > :17:56.finest of service as possible. you say there is an extra 280
:17:56. > :18:02.million, that it is over the period of making savings of the two large
:18:02. > :18:07.and �50 million. The health service have made Sir -- savings every year.
:18:07. > :18:12.-- to under �50 million. What your own budget narrative States is
:18:12. > :18:16.third in order to keep within your budget, the service will have to be
:18:16. > :18:20.transformed. The only way you can transform the service is change the
:18:21. > :18:25.way in which the service is delivered. There will be
:18:25. > :18:35.significant changes in the service. What you haven't said it is what
:18:35. > :18:40.exactly does changes mean. We have said that the scheme will be
:18:40. > :18:46.published in terms of the way forward, it is true to say, we have
:18:46. > :18:51.to change the way in which some services are applied because things
:18:51. > :19:01.change. Some are services exist which are available in GPs's
:19:01. > :19:04.surgeries. The most efficient and effective way is this. We need to
:19:04. > :19:11.ensure the people get the finest possible treatment as close to home
:19:11. > :19:15.as possible. I accept what you say on one level, but the problem is,
:19:15. > :19:19.so people know how those changes will impact upon them, we have to
:19:19. > :19:28.tell them what is happening. People have to know exactly what the
:19:29. > :19:34.government's plans are. When it changes were introduced, the
:19:34. > :19:40.government said it was clinical reasons that trove that those
:19:40. > :19:45.changes. What you are acknowledging in your budget is that the only way
:19:45. > :19:51.you will keep within your budget is by transforming the service. --
:19:51. > :19:57.drove those changes. Therefore, they are not clinical reasons but
:19:57. > :20:00.financial reasons. We be completely honest with the people of Wales and
:20:00. > :20:10.say it is financial and monetary reasons that are driving these
:20:10. > :20:15.changes? -- will you be completely. People out there are worried about
:20:15. > :20:18.the health service, and you have to tell them. The way to do this is to
:20:18. > :20:28.ensure that you are in contact with doctors and nurses and everyone
:20:28. > :20:32.
:20:32. > :20:42.working within the health service. I think that is the responsible way
:20:42. > :20:44.
:20:44. > :20:50.of approaching this. More than �6 billion has been invested through
:20:50. > :20:54.EU regeneration money, and 58 out of the 66th European regions that
:20:55. > :21:04.to receive this money have got relatively better off. Why is Wales
:21:05. > :21:05.
:21:05. > :21:10.not one of them? Wales has got better off. If you look at GDP
:21:10. > :21:14.figures, Wales is better off. When it comes to catching up with the
:21:14. > :21:20.rest of the UK, there is some way to go, but the progress of the past
:21:20. > :21:28.decade has been substantial. reality is that despite that huge
:21:28. > :21:37.injection of money, areas like Latvia and Slovakia have used that
:21:37. > :21:44.money to become relatively richer. Whale, however -- Wales, however,
:21:44. > :21:48.has got poorer. The EU commissioner stated, no one is more disappointed
:21:48. > :21:52.than the representatives of the Welsh government themselves. A
:21:53. > :22:02.usenet you do not find these figures are disappointing? -- are
:22:03. > :22:04.
:22:05. > :22:09.you not saying. We received a -- we received an award from the European
:22:09. > :22:16.Commission. If you look at the training programmes in Wales, if
:22:16. > :22:21.you look at the money spent wisely around Wales, you can see funding
:22:21. > :22:30.have made a significant difference to the economy of Wales. Just look,
:22:30. > :22:35.for example, at great ideas that have helped people stay in work.
:22:35. > :22:40.am glad that the First Minister can justify himself by claiming that
:22:40. > :22:46.because he has had a reward for filling out his forms probably from
:22:46. > :22:52.the EU, then that makes up for the fact we have not used that money to
:22:52. > :22:59.the best possible effect. If these figures are are not as bad as you
:22:59. > :23:06.say, it is surprising that we have not seen ourselves do better like
:23:06. > :23:10.other regions that had the same money. But, in the future, how
:23:10. > :23:17.confident are you that you will reach the targets you have set for
:23:17. > :23:24.the current round of funding, and we guarantee that at the end of the
:23:24. > :23:31.round, west Wales and the families will have become richer as a result
:23:31. > :23:36.of the Investment they are receiving? -- valleys. Yes. We are
:23:37. > :23:40.all in this together. But I am disappointed with the leader of the
:23:40. > :23:48.Liberal Democrats when she set -- suggests the money has not been
:23:48. > :23:52.well spent. Go and talk to people who have benefited from this money.
:23:52. > :24:01.You will see they have benefited greatly from the use of funds that
:24:01. > :24:05.to make sure they stay in jobs and continue to have jobs. Will be
:24:05. > :24:15.First Minister provide an update on what the was government is doing to
:24:15. > :24:15.
:24:15. > :24:21.tackle poverty in Wales? communities first programme will be
:24:21. > :24:26.a key part of action. I welcomed the world government's commitment
:24:26. > :24:31.to tackling poverty, particularly child poverty. But do you share my
:24:31. > :24:36.anxiety and concerns over the Fiscal Studies report that
:24:36. > :24:41.indicated all the gains made in lifting children out of poverty are
:24:41. > :24:45.likely to be lost over the current period as a direct result of
:24:45. > :24:49.government policy? Can I ask what assessment have you made on the
:24:49. > :24:55.impact those policies will have on this government's commitment on
:24:55. > :24:59.tried to lift children out of poverty? It is inevitable that the
:24:59. > :25:09.UK government's policies will affect our policies in Wales. We
:25:09. > :25:16.
:25:16. > :25:22.are considering how to take forward our commitments in dealing with
:25:22. > :25:27.poverty. Child poverty in Wales is not decreasing. It is the worst in
:25:27. > :25:32.the UK, and statistics have said that child poverty rate in Wales
:25:32. > :25:37.are likely to rise again. The children have told me these figures
:25:37. > :25:43.must act as a wake-up call for the Welsh government, because we risk
:25:43. > :25:51.falling short of the commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020. We
:25:51. > :26:01.you outline your plans to meet this crucial target? We have the anti-
:26:01. > :26:03.
:26:03. > :26:07.poverty action plan, which we will be taking forward, as I have said.
:26:07. > :26:13.Closing of a residential area so children can play safely is very
:26:13. > :26:18.popular in New York. Open space and money is scarce, and some
:26:18. > :26:24.activities cannot go forward. Would you look at extending these
:26:24. > :26:34.benefits to Welsh communities? It helps bind communities in a spirit
:26:34. > :26:40.of togetherness. In Wales, we will be come and sing a measure -- we
:26:40. > :26:50.will be commencing a measure, and secure play opportunities for
:26:50. > :26:51.
:26:51. > :26:56.children in their areas. This is one area that we want to examine.
:26:56. > :27:01.The bank network in Wales is extant -- expanding. On the one hand, the
:27:01. > :27:07.expansion allows more people to access help, but at the same time,
:27:07. > :27:15.it is not good that so many people in Wales are not able to afford the
:27:15. > :27:19.basics of life. The food bank is dependent on donations, and
:27:19. > :27:25.volunteers, and demand is set to rocket for the reasons outlined
:27:26. > :27:29.earlier with the changes to benefits. Can you explore what the
:27:29. > :27:34.Welsh government can provide, so that this service can be fully
:27:34. > :27:44.expanded? I would be more than happy to talk with representatives
:27:44. > :27:49.
:27:49. > :27:56.of those running food banks across Wales. As you consider expanding
:27:56. > :28:02.the scheme, would do it consider expanding the scheme so that every
:28:02. > :28:08.child could benefit from the scheme, rather than that the scheme should
:28:08. > :28:11.be restricted to geographical areas? We are considering what is
:28:11. > :28:21.the best and most effective way of doubling the number of families
:28:21. > :28:26.that benefit from that scheme quiz --. Have you had an opportunity to
:28:26. > :28:30.read the reports that have been published over the last weekend,
:28:30. > :28:39.regarding the increase in profits that have been made on the back of
:28:39. > :28:42.every company by private energy companies? In a period where cuts
:28:42. > :28:48.in winter fuel payments to pensioners are being made, don't
:28:48. > :28:53.you think it is time that the Westminster government started to
:28:53. > :28:56.stop the meaningless talk with the energy companies, and insist those
:28:56. > :29:06.companies' share those profits with those customers who truly need
:29:06. > :29:08.
:29:08. > :29:18.their help? It is important that the UK government ensures that they
:29:18. > :29:19.
:29:19. > :29:26.actually take action regarding what they say. But it is difficult, with
:29:26. > :29:31.the competitive energy companies in the UK, but in many European
:29:31. > :29:39.countries, there is no competition at all. It is a problem,
:29:39. > :29:44.particularly with some businesses. Businesses where there are major
:29:44. > :29:49.payment to energy companies, so it is important that customers should
:29:49. > :29:56.see a reduction in the price of energy, but businesses must benefit
:29:56. > :30:02.as well. What plans to the Welsh government have for the development
:30:02. > :30:08.of renewable energy and Wales? action we will take to accelerate
:30:08. > :30:12.the transition to low carbon energy generation are set out in a though
:30:12. > :30:19.carbon that revolution. It is important we take advantage of the
:30:19. > :30:29.potential that exists. Two wind farms are being developed, and they
:30:29. > :30:31.
:30:31. > :30:35.impact my constituency. Why the is it desirable to see and 80 megawatt
:30:35. > :30:42.farm been determined in farm, but that they Westminster ministers
:30:42. > :30:49.should make a decision on a farm that is larger? It is important
:30:49. > :30:54.that this is considered by the UK government. Do you agree with me
:30:54. > :30:59.that we shouldn't put all our energy eggs in the same basket, and
:30:59. > :31:08.to concentrate on the poorer fruition on a wind farms across
:31:08. > :31:14.Wales is the wrong approach? -- play at -- proliferation. And would
:31:14. > :31:19.you agree with me that Marine Energy offers a potential for
:31:19. > :31:25.contribution to our energy needs in Wales, in addition to a potential
:31:25. > :31:35.flood protection benefits? Would you join me in visiting a potential
:31:35. > :31:42.scheme in my constituency later on in the year? The difficulty is that
:31:42. > :31:49.the certificate but is controlled in the UK don't make it attractive.
:31:49. > :31:54.What needs to be done is increase the rocks to the same level as
:31:54. > :31:59.Scotland. Scotland has made it easier to attract investment. We
:31:59. > :32:04.need control of those certificates in Wales, or failing that, it we
:32:04. > :32:14.need the UK government to make sure that it makes it more attractive to
:32:14. > :32:17.
:32:17. > :32:21.us. Modern energy is clean, and efficient. They produce energy for
:32:21. > :32:26.a our homes, schools and communities. There are local
:32:26. > :32:31.economic benefits as well. I welcomed the action the Welsh
:32:31. > :32:36.government is taking to promote investment. But would you agree
:32:36. > :32:46.that if the Tories were as keen to meet the renewable energy targets,
:32:46. > :33:01.
:33:01. > :33:04.surely they would be calling on They are. May I welcome the
:33:04. > :33:12.introduction of the nests scheme to help the most impoverished people
:33:12. > :33:19.in Wales. Particularly in eliminated fuel poverty. I wonder
:33:19. > :33:29.if this scheme could be extended on a temporary basis to people with a
:33:29. > :33:29.
:33:29. > :33:34.systems that are not operating. It is a very important in the coming
:33:34. > :33:38.months, particularly the tough winter we may have ahead, that all
:33:38. > :33:42.households have access to good forms of heating. British Gas to
:33:42. > :33:46.manage the scheme have a processes in place to provide temporary he
:33:46. > :33:50.dares to households awaiting heating installations under the
:33:50. > :33:57.scheme who have no alternative means of heating their home. They
:33:57. > :34:02.can be provided within 24 hours of request. There is a fast track
:34:02. > :34:05.service for householders who are particularly vulnerable. Will the
:34:05. > :34:09.First Minister outline Welsh government priorities for health
:34:09. > :34:15.services in tall pine? priorities for the NHS in Wales
:34:15. > :34:20.were set out in our programme for government. The specialist and
:34:20. > :34:24.critical care centre planned for confined is a fundamental for the
:34:24. > :34:28.future of healthcare delivery. I know that local people were
:34:28. > :34:32.delighted when the scheme was given the go-ahead at the end of the last
:34:32. > :34:35.Assembly and the news earlier this month that detailed planning for
:34:35. > :34:39.the project is continuing was a further boost for campaigners. But
:34:39. > :34:42.as we know, there are enormous pressures on capital spending to to
:34:42. > :34:47.the cuts forced on us by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats
:34:47. > :34:50.in Westminster. Will you take this opportunity to reaffirm your
:34:50. > :35:00.government's commitment to providing high quality healthcare
:35:00. > :35:00.
:35:00. > :35:03.through schemes such as this? await the outlined business case
:35:03. > :35:13.from Nye Bevan local health board and when that is received we can
:35:13. > :35:17.
:35:17. > :35:21.take it forward. William Graham. How is your government working with
:35:21. > :35:24.partners to monitor the most effective parts of the programme so
:35:24. > :35:30.that other progressive care packages can be implemented in
:35:30. > :35:34.Wales? It is an excellent example of co-operation and collaboration
:35:34. > :35:40.and we're very seen -- keen to see that kind of a model reproduced
:35:40. > :35:45.across Wales there. I am delighted that you are continuing with the
:35:45. > :35:48.One Wales commitment to be critical care unit but are you aware that
:35:48. > :35:55.the local health board is closing down a number of minor injuries
:35:55. > :35:59.units across went, including Torfaen, and can you tell us why
:36:00. > :36:04.local accountability has never materialised? The problem with the
:36:04. > :36:08.minor injuries unit is finding doctors, unfortunately. It is not
:36:08. > :36:12.alone in that regard. But when it is not possible to run the unit
:36:12. > :36:18.safely and effectively, there are difficult decisions that a local
:36:18. > :36:24.health board have to take. There needs to be better recruitment of
:36:24. > :36:28.doctors who are accident and emergency specialist. Julie Morgan.
:36:28. > :36:34.What consideration has the First Minister given to the effect of the
:36:34. > :36:37.welfare benefit cuts on people who are disabled in Wales. I would
:36:37. > :36:40.mention the answers I gave to earlier questions but our programme
:36:40. > :36:46.does demonstrate our commitment to mitigating the impact of the
:36:46. > :36:52.welfare benefit cuts on disabled people. Is the First Minister aware
:36:52. > :36:54.that the introduction of the personal independence payment
:36:54. > :36:58.instead of disability living allowance will mean that all
:36:58. > :37:04.applicants will now be means tested, including those who were previously
:37:04. > :37:08.automatically afforded the highest rate such as people who want double
:37:08. > :37:12.amputees. Many of these people will lose out. What can you do to
:37:12. > :37:17.mitigate these affects? I know that the Deputy Minister has raised
:37:17. > :37:26.concerns over the past few months regarding the adverse impact on
:37:26. > :37:29.people in Wales in receipt of disability living allowance. This
:37:29. > :37:39.is why so many disabled people are concerned about seeing the end of
:37:39. > :37:42.that allowance. Nick Ramsay. Would you join with me and share my
:37:42. > :37:46.concern that the current UK government has been put in the
:37:46. > :37:50.position of having to make a whole series of cuts across the board.
:37:50. > :37:57.That is due to the financial mismanagement of your party in
:37:57. > :38:01.power over 10 years previously. Would you agree that the universal
:38:01. > :38:09.credit, which is due for launch in 2013, will actually provide
:38:09. > :38:18.disabled people with a support, is it not better than we support
:38:18. > :38:26.people into work through incentives and support rather than a what the
:38:26. > :38:32.previous Labour government did? Time will tell. I am surprised the
:38:32. > :38:41.old chestnut is still being used. The reality of the situation is
:38:41. > :38:46.this, today we see inflation of 5.2 %, the highest for many years. We
:38:46. > :38:50.have seen unemployment rise under a Conservative and Liberal Democrats
:38:50. > :38:54.government. We see no growth in the economy under this government,
:38:54. > :39:01.despite being told there would be growth in the economy. The country
:39:01. > :39:04.is stagnant, the UK government needs to change. Simon Thomas.
:39:04. > :39:08.Despite the empty rhetoric of the Conservatives, there is a real
:39:08. > :39:13.division in the chamber between those who want to protect the most
:39:13. > :39:16.vulnerable in society and those looking at the easiest target to
:39:16. > :39:20.pay the bank is bonuses and their excesses. Does he share my concern
:39:20. > :39:28.as regards universal credit that the proposal to cut the disability
:39:28. > :39:33.element of the child tax credit from �54 per week to �27 per week,
:39:34. > :39:38.costing disabled families, families who have disabled children, nearly
:39:39. > :39:43.�1,500 per year. How does that help people get into work? If I don't
:39:43. > :39:49.think I can put it more strongly than the number already has. The
:39:49. > :39:59.reality is, it is those people who have a police many of whopping at
:39:59. > :40:03.
:40:03. > :40:06.the most. But we should not expect anything... One of the issues
:40:06. > :40:09.around the reform of disabled benefits is related to the
:40:09. > :40:14.assessment process and the contracts which were set up under
:40:14. > :40:17.previous governments and, as I believe, about 70 % against these
:40:17. > :40:20.assessments are successful, indicating there was a clear
:40:20. > :40:23.problem in the way those assessments work being carried out
:40:23. > :40:27.and the outcome of those assessments. Would you consider
:40:27. > :40:32.making representations to the UK government about how that can be
:40:32. > :40:38.reformed? Yes, I am more than prepared to do that. Anything that
:40:39. > :40:45.makes it easier on disabled people, clearly will support that. Angela
:40:45. > :40:50.Burns. Will the First Minister make a statement on the delivery of
:40:50. > :40:54.health services in West Wales. NHS aims to provide health services
:40:54. > :40:58.which are safe, sustainable, effective and of the highest
:40:58. > :41:03.quality. I direct this question at you as I am hoping you will be able
:41:03. > :41:07.to bring to this whole debate some joined-up thinking. My concern with
:41:08. > :41:12.the delivery of health services in West Wales is that it is a rural
:41:12. > :41:15.area and is very different to delivering health services in Metro
:41:15. > :41:19.land. The view from Pembrokeshire is different to the view from
:41:19. > :41:22.Cardiff. Will you be able to work on making sure that the minister
:41:22. > :41:25.for health and the minister for transport can work together to make
:41:25. > :41:29.sure that services that are being leached eastwards away from West
:41:29. > :41:33.Wales are actually able to be got at by the patients that need them
:41:34. > :41:41.because the public transport, the roads are so course, it is almost
:41:41. > :41:45.impossible for an elderly person in somewhere like Pembrokeshire to get
:41:45. > :41:51.to Morriston Hospital for any kind of treatment. Ms we have this
:41:51. > :41:55.joined-up thinking, West Wales will suffer. These are factors we will
:41:55. > :41:58.be considering over the next few months. It is important people are
:41:58. > :42:02.able to access services as early as possible but there are some
:42:02. > :42:06.services that can only be delivered in large hospitals because it is
:42:06. > :42:13.safer and more effective that way. But it is important people are able
:42:13. > :42:16.to travel to those hospitals. We will be looking at that issue.
:42:16. > :42:19.That's it for First Minister's Questions this week. You can find
:42:19. > :42:21.out even more on what's happening in the National Assembly on BBC
:42:21. > :42:25.Wales' Democracy Live online coverage. Just go to
:42:25. > :42:35.bbc.co.uk/walespolitics. Our political correspondent Tomos
:42:35. > :42:35.
:42:35. > :42:38.Livingstone is here. We have had a few weeks of Carwyn Jones first is
:42:38. > :42:48.Andrew RT Davies. It is a developing relationship, shall we
:42:48. > :42:51.
:42:51. > :42:56.stay. It was very combative stuff and from Andrew RT Davies. Carwyn
:42:56. > :43:00.Jones is still trying to work out how to play Andrew RT Davies. He is
:43:00. > :43:05.still getting quite animated in his responses, maybe not as much as he
:43:05. > :43:11.was on their first outing earlier this year. I would not go as far as
:43:11. > :43:18.to say Carwyn Jones is rattled in any way but it is a lively exchange.
:43:18. > :43:25.More lively than it used to be when Nick Bourne was here. Let's have a
:43:26. > :43:30.quick look ahead to what is coming up tomorrow. There will be a
:43:30. > :43:36.attempt to ban parents backing their children. It is not the first
:43:36. > :43:40.time this has happened. -- smacking. There will be another vote in the
:43:40. > :43:48.chamber. It will not be binding vote. Assembly members now feel
:43:48. > :43:51.they have the legal power to ban this should they want to. Most
:43:51. > :43:57.parties feel it is an issue of conscience and the divide is very
:43:57. > :44:00.clear. People like Andrew RT Davies say it is set to families to decide
:44:00. > :44:05.how to discipline their children. Others say this is entirely
:44:05. > :44:09.appropriate, for the state to step in and give protection to children.
:44:09. > :44:11.That's it for today. But don't worry, you haven't got long to wait