20/06/2012

0:00:20 > 0:00:26Good morning and welcome to the programme live from Cardiff Bay. We

0:00:26 > 0:00:29will be spending half an hour in Westminster on today's programme.

0:00:29 > 0:00:36William Hague stands in for David Cameron for Prime Minister's

0:00:36 > 0:00:44Questions today. And forget the football, can Wales

0:00:44 > 0:00:53help host the Games in 2020? What is the future for by

0:00:53 > 0:00:55healthcare in Wales? I will be speaking to a campaigner.

0:00:56 > 0:01:00Joining in the art two Assembly Members, Rhodri Glyn Thomas and

0:01:00 > 0:01:06Peter Black. Good morning. We will begin today's programme with the

0:01:06 > 0:01:11latest unemployment figures. Unemployment broadly down,

0:01:11 > 0:01:21reflecting a pattern across the rest of the UK. It's up 9% in Wales

0:01:21 > 0:01:23

0:01:23 > 0:01:27at the moment. -- at. Context is everything with these figures.

0:01:27 > 0:01:32you look back to last year, the figures are still substantially up

0:01:32 > 0:01:37and there is concern that the figures are continuing to go up and

0:01:37 > 0:01:41they are at this level which is very worrying. What is really of

0:01:41 > 0:01:44concern is it does not seem that the Government of Wales is doing

0:01:44 > 0:01:49anything specifically of its own making to try and address this

0:01:49 > 0:01:53issue. The figures tend to reflect what is happening in the rest of

0:01:53 > 0:01:57the UK. The beauty of being a small country with your own Government

0:01:57 > 0:02:03should be that you could put forward packages which address the

0:02:03 > 0:02:06issues within that geographical area. Carwyn Jones did mention lots

0:02:06 > 0:02:13of projects he says his Government has put forward to increased

0:02:13 > 0:02:17economic prosperity in Wales. need a package which makes a

0:02:17 > 0:02:23substantial difference. But the last election, we put the

0:02:23 > 0:02:31substantial idea forward of a policy... We keep hearing about

0:02:32 > 0:02:34this but you did not win! All we are getting is very small schemes

0:02:34 > 0:02:38which do not seem to be making a difference to the underlying

0:02:38 > 0:02:42factors in terms of the figures. They are still very worrying.

0:02:43 > 0:02:48Black, the Government can argue there is not much they can do to

0:02:48 > 0:02:53affect these figures. What do you think? I think they can do a lot

0:02:53 > 0:02:57more. For example, we have waited almost a year for the business rate

0:02:57 > 0:03:01review. The Minister has had the results of that review and she will

0:03:01 > 0:03:06reflect on it over the summer. Why aren't we doing more in terms of

0:03:06 > 0:03:14business rates to attract firms into the country? We have Trav our

0:03:14 > 0:03:16heels on enterprise zones. We haven't said Dock -- set up at we

0:03:16 > 0:03:21only have one enterprise on actually receiving the capital

0:03:21 > 0:03:25grants. We need tour to better in terms of art.

0:03:25 > 0:03:29It is clearly welcome that the unemployment figures are down but

0:03:29 > 0:03:34the rate of youth unemployment is very worrying. Are we embracing the

0:03:34 > 0:03:41UK Government's youth contract? A billion pounds trying to get

0:03:41 > 0:03:43400,000 peak -- young people back into work or training. The Welsh

0:03:43 > 0:03:47Government seemed to be shouting the odds from the sidelines when

0:03:47 > 0:03:50they should be focusing more on creating a business-friendly

0:03:50 > 0:03:57environment and working with the UK Government on the schemes they are

0:03:57 > 0:04:04put in place. -- they have put in place.

0:04:04 > 0:04:08Regional pay is something we have heard lot of discussion about. The

0:04:08 > 0:04:12Government here says it would be a bad thing for Wales. Your party is

0:04:12 > 0:04:16part of the Government in the UK level, they seem to suggest it is

0:04:16 > 0:04:20something they are going to go after. I do not think so. Nick

0:04:20 > 0:04:28Clegg was clear last week when he came to Wales that he is opposed to

0:04:28 > 0:04:33regional pay. He might be. He is the deputy prime Minister after all.

0:04:33 > 0:04:39Danny Alexander has been backtracking.

0:04:39 > 0:04:44I think Nick Clegg is prevailing on this. The Welsh Liberal Democrats

0:04:44 > 0:04:49Andy Welsh Conservatives to be fair have been opposed to reach will pay.

0:04:49 > 0:04:54Most of the commentators I have read have been saying Kirsty

0:04:54 > 0:05:04Williams's opposition to reach will pay is having a bash an impact on

0:05:04 > 0:05:06

0:05:06 > 0:05:15UK policy. -- regional pay. Your party on not supporting

0:05:15 > 0:05:21regional pay either. I am not sure if we should have can

0:05:21 > 0:05:31he Alexander backtracking on things. But at least he is going in the

0:05:31 > 0:05:32

0:05:32 > 0:05:36right direction. In Wales, we are just talking about

0:05:36 > 0:05:38jobs now, we are so dependent on the public sector. If you had

0:05:38 > 0:05:45regional pay and people were leaving Wales because the pay was

0:05:45 > 0:05:49lower, that would have an immense effect on the economy. It could

0:05:49 > 0:05:54leave us with situations where we had public services but we would

0:05:54 > 0:05:58not have properly qualified people wanting to going to those jobs.

0:05:58 > 0:06:04will leave it there for now. We will be speaking to you lot during

0:06:04 > 0:06:10the morning. -- a lot during the morning and what is left of the

0:06:10 > 0:06:13morning. Good morning. An interesting

0:06:13 > 0:06:18programme ahead in the Senedd this afternoon. We start off with

0:06:18 > 0:06:24questions to ministers. Today, that is the Housing Minister and the

0:06:24 > 0:06:27Counsel General. Then there is a brief motion to

0:06:28 > 0:06:31revise the standing orders, the rules by which the Assembly

0:06:31 > 0:06:34operator, in relation to the bringing Ford of private Bills.

0:06:34 > 0:06:40Then the first debate of the afternoon, affordable housing. This

0:06:41 > 0:06:48is a major problem. There is some research by the Welsh Government,

0:06:48 > 0:06:53rather on behalf of the world's Godman, that shows Wales's short of

0:06:53 > 0:07:02some 14,000 houses for the next 14 years -- on behalf of the Welsh

0:07:02 > 0:07:07There is a committee that has just issued a report into that. It will

0:07:07 > 0:07:11form the basis for this debate this afternoon. There is a range of

0:07:11 > 0:07:17recommendations. One is to go back and review the housing strategy.

0:07:17 > 0:07:18Another is to set a target. An interesting debate in store

0:07:18 > 0:07:23potentially. Then we will have the Welsh

0:07:23 > 0:07:26Conservative nominated debate this week. It is on transport. The

0:07:26 > 0:07:31importance of Transport connectivity to trap -- economic

0:07:31 > 0:07:34growth. It will be be ongoing issue of when and how the main line to

0:07:34 > 0:07:39Swansea, the Great Western main line, is known to be electrified.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42This has become a bit of a political football. The Assembly

0:07:42 > 0:07:45Government routinely point to what they see as the slowness of the

0:07:45 > 0:07:49Department of Transport at Westminster in coming up with the

0:07:49 > 0:07:53money to do this. The Conservatives will take it from another angle

0:07:53 > 0:08:03this afternoon and argue that the summit and that is not working well

0:08:03 > 0:08:07enough with local authorities. -- the Welsh Government.

0:08:07 > 0:08:16And we have the Welsh Liberal Democrats debate on maternity

0:08:16 > 0:08:23services. A recent report by the Auditor-

0:08:23 > 0:08:27General indicates that in many areas of Wales, the services patchy.

0:08:27 > 0:08:31The Liberal Democrats are particularly concerned about it.

0:08:31 > 0:08:41They point to the fact there has been a 10 % drop in midwives across

0:08:41 > 0:08:43

0:08:43 > 0:08:46Wales over recent years. Again, a very interesting debate in

0:08:46 > 0:08:54prospect. At the end of the afternoon, as always, the short

0:08:54 > 0:08:59debate. It is from Lynne Neagle. She will be looking at the impact

0:08:59 > 0:09:07of welfare reform on mental health and well-being in Wales.

0:09:07 > 0:09:13Thank you. A full run-down of what is going on today. You can find out

0:09:13 > 0:09:20more on the Democracy Live online coverage.

0:09:20 > 0:09:24What about Westminster? As we have already discussed on the programme

0:09:24 > 0:09:30on the latest unemployment figures are out. Do they make welcome

0:09:30 > 0:09:35reading? Mixed news really. The unemployment total is certainly

0:09:35 > 0:09:42falling. And given the state of the economy and the recession, that is

0:09:42 > 0:09:50a bonus but of course, unemployment is lagging -- is a lagging

0:09:50 > 0:09:56indicator and could well go up again. Economic inactivity rates,

0:09:56 > 0:10:00that is something that has been a recurring problem. That has gone up.

0:10:00 > 0:10:07People in the UK Government are certainly happy with the direction

0:10:07 > 0:10:17in one sense but nobody is claiming that the problem is anywhere near

0:10:17 > 0:10:17

0:10:18 > 0:10:21solved. We touched on on the sofa. The opposition debate. What

0:10:21 > 0:10:30argument will we hear from the Labour benches? We will hear the

0:10:30 > 0:10:35divisive. It would see people paid less in certain parts of the

0:10:35 > 0:10:39country for doing the same job. Labour are trying to flush out

0:10:39 > 0:10:47Cornish intentions on this. The Liberal Democrats are noticeably

0:10:47 > 0:10:50less keen on the idea of regional paint -- regional pay. Liberal --

0:10:50 > 0:11:00label will be tried to get some Liberal-Democrats on board and try

0:11:00 > 0:11:03

0:11:03 > 0:11:06and clarify where the Government's The Chancellor has written to the

0:11:07 > 0:11:12pay review bodies, yes he is waiting for the report, it is due

0:11:12 > 0:11:18next month but it does look as if the Government is not going to push

0:11:19 > 0:11:22ahead with this for all sorts of political reasons. A lot of the

0:11:22 > 0:11:25Government are away. William Hague is answering questions because the

0:11:25 > 0:11:31Prime Minister and his deputy are in Central and South America

0:11:31 > 0:11:37respectively. That is right. The Prime Minister is at the G20 in

0:11:37 > 0:11:42Mexico. Nick Clegg is in Rio de Janeiro. He -- he is at the

0:11:42 > 0:11:50environmental summit. He says he will be leading the way, looking at

0:11:50 > 0:11:55ways of measuring prosperity. That means we have William Hague against

0:11:55 > 0:12:04Harriet Harman. The roles reversed Perhaps from when Harriet Harman

0:12:04 > 0:12:09used to stand in from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. William Hague in

0:12:09 > 0:12:13opposition as Tory leader was always rather good at asking

0:12:13 > 0:12:20questions. He was good that the game which is parliamentary Prime

0:12:21 > 0:12:27Minister's questions. We will see what he is like a dancing them. --

0:12:27 > 0:12:37at answering them. Fines cable gets a mention every week. -- Vince

0:12:37 > 0:12:38

0:12:38 > 0:12:43His idea will be more popular with the Liberal Democrat members,

0:12:43 > 0:12:49definitely. But there is a feeling that the issue of executive pay has

0:12:49 > 0:12:53to be tackled. And certainly linked more closely to the performance of

0:12:53 > 0:12:59companies. One of the ideas that Vince Cable is going to be

0:12:59 > 0:13:04revealing in his statement at half- past 12 is this idea of companies

0:13:04 > 0:13:09having to link or at least publish any correlation between the

0:13:09 > 0:13:13performance of a company in terms of share price and the profits and

0:13:13 > 0:13:18so on and the actual pay that they -- their directors are getting. If

0:13:18 > 0:13:28you look at the stock market, over the last decade, share prices have

0:13:28 > 0:13:30not gone up but executive pay has. Even the economists in the

0:13:30 > 0:13:37Government would argue there is a political problem that needs

0:13:37 > 0:13:41tackling of there. Thank you. We will catch up with you in 10

0:13:41 > 0:13:51minutes or so. If you would like to get in touch,

0:13:51 > 0:14:03

0:14:03 > 0:14:10That is enough of that. I want to talk about I care, the

0:14:10 > 0:14:15future of it in Wales. I am joined by a be acting director of the RNIB.

0:14:15 > 0:14:19There was an important vote yesterday. Would you mind going

0:14:19 > 0:14:23through what that achieved? We are absolutely delighted. We have been

0:14:23 > 0:14:29campaigning for over 10 years on these issues and yesterday was

0:14:29 > 0:14:39fantastic. We have now got real momentum, rots a priority being

0:14:39 > 0:14:39

0:14:39 > 0:14:45placed on it by the Welsh governor. It need -- Welsh Government. We

0:14:45 > 0:14:49have got significant issues within the system around primary and

0:14:49 > 0:14:59secondary care and what we need to find out his who was getting access

0:14:59 > 0:15:09

0:15:09 > 0:15:15to tests, treatment and cool macro Now we have the momentum, we want

0:15:15 > 0:15:19to keep it going and we want to ensure that children, in some areas

0:15:19 > 0:15:24of Wales, there is no vision screening going on, and we know

0:15:24 > 0:15:28parents don't treat I help in the same priority they give to teeth,

0:15:28 > 0:15:31so it is really important children have access to screening in school.

0:15:31 > 0:15:36We have got lots of children in classrooms struggling to see the

0:15:36 > 0:15:40blackboard, so it is going to have an impact on their education and

0:15:40 > 0:15:44attainment, so we are really delighted. We have got significant

0:15:44 > 0:15:49capacity issues still within the hospitalised servers, and we do

0:15:49 > 0:15:53need to see a huge change in terms of public perception. A lot of

0:15:53 > 0:16:00people going for sight tests do actually see that as part of

0:16:00 > 0:16:03needing glasses. What we need them to understand is it is part of the

0:16:03 > 0:16:07fight on eye checks. Your site can be saved if something is picked up

0:16:07 > 0:16:11early enough. Having children go through this as a matter of course,

0:16:11 > 0:16:16this could have a knock-on effect for awareness across the community.

0:16:16 > 0:16:21We are made aware of things through our children have a. We want to

0:16:21 > 0:16:25change family behaviour so if the children have the vision screening,

0:16:25 > 0:16:29the information should go back to the parents and if they take some

0:16:29 > 0:16:33for a sight test, it might have an impact on other members of the

0:16:33 > 0:16:39family. What happened here yesterday it is really good news.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42At the end of the day, 50% of sight loss is avoidable, and a lot of

0:16:42 > 0:16:49that is in a change of public perception, getting people to look

0:16:49 > 0:16:55after their eyes, and our optometry contract is from 1948, and we need

0:16:55 > 0:17:03to address those issues. What we had here yesterday was the platform

0:17:03 > 0:17:08to really take those issues forward and to start looking at how we can

0:17:08 > 0:17:13stop people going blind in Wales. So, the next stage is hospital

0:17:14 > 0:17:18capacity. Yes. We have been monitoring this for some time. And

0:17:18 > 0:17:26we know there are huge issues around cancer delayed appointments.

0:17:26 > 0:17:34For some people, go coma patients, they will lose sight permanently,

0:17:34 > 0:17:39so if they see a consultant, 12 months down the line, they will

0:17:39 > 0:17:44lose their side. Some permanently. It is critical week address those

0:17:45 > 0:17:51issues. Some of those issues have come up about because of pressure

0:17:51 > 0:17:57on referral times. The pressure to see new patients and follow-up

0:17:57 > 0:18:02appointments, we need to address that balance. We have got work on

0:18:02 > 0:18:07eye care pathways, which means that more people that need to see the

0:18:07 > 0:18:12consultant will see the consultant, and those people whose risk is not

0:18:12 > 0:18:16so high will be monitored by ophthalmic nurses. People are still

0:18:16 > 0:18:22going blind because that capacity is not there and we knew it to

0:18:22 > 0:18:28address it. A real step forward. You're up convinced the Assembly is

0:18:28 > 0:18:35committed? We are convinced and we are the envy of our colleagues in

0:18:35 > 0:18:41London so we are delighted. We want to see huge improvements moving

0:18:41 > 0:18:45forward. Thank you for joining me. Still to come, we will go live to

0:18:45 > 0:18:50the House of Commons for Prime Minister's Questions today with

0:18:50 > 0:18:54William Hague standing in for David Cameron. First, the Lords. The

0:18:54 > 0:18:56House of Lords spent the day discussing the electoral

0:18:56 > 0:19:02arrangements for the National Assembly. The UK Government is

0:19:02 > 0:19:09consulting on plans to reduce the number of constituency ams from 30

0:19:09 > 0:19:15to 40 and increasing the number of amRevolution to 30. The debate

0:19:15 > 0:19:20continued this morning. One issue that has caused pulses to

0:19:20 > 0:19:23raise is the future of the assembly's electoral arrangements -

0:19:23 > 0:19:27- arrangements. The Lords debated the matter and joining the are

0:19:28 > 0:19:33three of those whose picturing that debate. You are in favour of

0:19:33 > 0:19:36cutting the number of Assembly constituencies from 30 to 40. Why?

0:19:36 > 0:19:44We have to rearrange the constituencies. Doing nothing is

0:19:44 > 0:19:50not an option. Following legislation in Westminster to the

0:19:50 > 0:19:54UK as a whole. Moving to a 30-30 system would be fair and I am in

0:19:54 > 0:20:00favour of that. It is crying out as common sense to have the same

0:20:00 > 0:20:04boundaries for MPs and Assembly Members for their constituencies.

0:20:04 > 0:20:09It is complicated for Members of Parliament and four Assembly

0:20:09 > 0:20:12Members, for their constituents, for civic society as a whole, if

0:20:12 > 0:20:16they are working to different boundaries. Board Wigley, you are

0:20:16 > 0:20:25not in favour of the green paper in the sense this is a matter that

0:20:25 > 0:20:29should be decided in Wales. Yes. I agree with the First Minister that

0:20:29 > 0:20:33this issue should be decided by Wales alone. Having said that,

0:20:33 > 0:20:38Plaid Cymru would like to see an STV system as is used in Northern

0:20:38 > 0:20:44Ireland. It is a system tried within the United Kingdom and I

0:20:44 > 0:20:49would like to see it applied in Wales. Do you think that the

0:20:49 > 0:20:52constituencies must change to reflect those for Parliament here?

0:20:52 > 0:20:56I do not necessarily think that has to happen, but it does make life

0:20:56 > 0:21:01easier. I feel they should not be a lessening in the proportionality.

0:21:01 > 0:21:05There was a settlement in 1997 on which the referendum was taken with

0:21:05 > 0:21:10an assumption there would be a PR element, and it should be

0:21:10 > 0:21:15maintained. The only way to do it would be to move up to 90 Assembly

0:21:15 > 0:21:23Members and I do not think that is acceptable at this moment in time.

0:21:23 > 0:21:29Therefore, we must find another way forward. He said the way Assembly

0:21:29 > 0:21:34Members are elected is balmy. Why? It is. It means the party that gets

0:21:34 > 0:21:44most votes gets no seats. West Wales, Labour got 46% of the vote,

0:21:44 > 0:21:44

0:21:44 > 0:21:50in the Topshop, no seats. -- in the top up. This introduces no results.

0:21:50 > 0:21:55What change should happen? should be asking questions about

0:21:55 > 0:22:00the whole electoral system. This Green Paper is not asking enough

0:22:00 > 0:22:06questions. If people do want to understand the system, and I do

0:22:06 > 0:22:08take the point there are complications if you do not have

0:22:08 > 0:22:17some coal terminal city between Westminster and Assembly seats, but

0:22:17 > 0:22:23we need some more. One Lord said that the number of Assembly Members

0:22:23 > 0:22:33should be increased. It is hugely unpopular now, but it should be

0:22:33 > 0:22:34

0:22:34 > 0:22:38addressed at some stage. I think that we will have a problem as the

0:22:38 > 0:22:43Assembly has more powers accrue ring to it, which is what we want

0:22:43 > 0:22:47to happen, and if you have ministers, Shadow ministers,

0:22:47 > 0:22:52chairmen's of committees, who is left to do the scrutiny? There is

0:22:52 > 0:22:56not a great culture yet of scrutiny in Cardiff, as we know it in

0:22:56 > 0:23:03Westminster. It will take time, but to achieve that, we will have to

0:23:03 > 0:23:09have more members. Do you agree? Must there be more as a be members?

0:23:09 > 0:23:16Inevitably, that is going to happen if we want more scrutiny. We have

0:23:16 > 0:23:20to apply ourselves here to scrutiny much more. There are 650 members

0:23:20 > 0:23:27here. If we are to have an effective legislature, there have

0:23:27 > 0:23:34to be the numbers to do the job and what I would like to see is the

0:23:34 > 0:23:38resources, to be given to the Assembly. That would be hugely

0:23:38 > 0:23:44unpopular at the moment, though, would the public, to increase the

0:23:44 > 0:23:49number of elected politician. think he has acknowledged that

0:23:49 > 0:23:54although all of us would agree an increase is highly desirable, it is

0:23:54 > 0:23:58not on the cards at the moment. It is important that we carry on

0:23:58 > 0:24:03talking about it because, actually, it reform of the House of Lords

0:24:03 > 0:24:06goes through, it would cut the number of peers from 900 to 400,

0:24:06 > 0:24:12which will reduce the number of people who come from Wales and

0:24:12 > 0:24:18speak in Westminster. And combined with a reduced number of MPs, that,

0:24:18 > 0:24:21I think, will, in the end, have an impact on Welsh interests, and we

0:24:21 > 0:24:30need to consider extending the powers and the numbers in Cardiff

0:24:30 > 0:24:34Bay, but it is not popular at the moment. What do you say, finally,

0:24:34 > 0:24:39that this should be a matter for the people of Wales, that

0:24:39 > 0:24:44Westminster should but out? In an ideal world, it showed. It is

0:24:44 > 0:24:48rightly a matter on which the Welsh Assembly expresses an opinion, but

0:24:48 > 0:24:55the legislation was written by the last Labour government, could

0:24:55 > 0:25:01change the electoral system and the details of it without any

0:25:01 > 0:25:05consultation, direct input from the Welsh Assembly. We are still in

0:25:05 > 0:25:10that system, but primary legislation would replies here

0:25:10 > 0:25:15legally means we have to do it here. -- which applies here.

0:25:15 > 0:25:21government thinks the Welsh Assembly is somebody else to be

0:25:21 > 0:25:24consulted. But it is the major body to be consulted. Until these

0:25:24 > 0:25:30matters are devolved to Wales, these issues should be decided in

0:25:30 > 0:25:36Westminster which you cannot treat the Assembly as just another

0:25:36 > 0:25:41consultancy. Providing we can get a consensus with -- in the Assembly

0:25:42 > 0:25:50that is good for all parties. That was Bethan James talking to

0:25:50 > 0:25:54the Lords. We had a mention of 90 Assembly Members, a 50% increase.

0:25:54 > 0:25:59Jenny Anderson says that her and her fellow lords need to keep

0:25:59 > 0:26:03talking about more Ms because the public will cave in the end, but it

0:26:03 > 0:26:09is going to be very unpopular suggesting we have more politicians.

0:26:09 > 0:26:13It seems to be working. We had talk about further devolution. Moving

0:26:13 > 0:26:18forward, we need to increase the numbers. It is having an effect on

0:26:18 > 0:26:22the House of Lords. But we did have the opportunity with the Richard

0:26:22 > 0:26:26Commission. We should have bitten the bullet at that time. It is

0:26:26 > 0:26:30never going to be popular to talk about more politicians but it is

0:26:30 > 0:26:36desperately-needed. 60 members are not enough to ensure proper

0:26:36 > 0:26:39scrutiny. The government caved in to public pressure at that time,

0:26:39 > 0:26:46and it is going to be very difficult now to increase those

0:26:46 > 0:26:50numbers, but we should be talking about 90-100 members. Really? 80 is

0:26:50 > 0:26:57what Richard suggested. If we are talking about but the dock where

0:26:57 > 0:27:01will you put them? In the car park? We will cope with them in the

0:27:01 > 0:27:07building. A minimum of 80 if you are talking about effective

0:27:07 > 0:27:10scrutiny of his plays. We are where we are, 60 members, and the

0:27:10 > 0:27:15pressure on members in terms of sitting on committees and doing

0:27:15 > 0:27:21other duties within the Assembly, because of that number, it is

0:27:21 > 0:27:31greater than any other I can think of. When we had the referendum last

0:27:31 > 0:27:36year. -- last year, a yes vote would be a slippery slope, more and

0:27:36 > 0:27:40more powers coming to the Assembly. One year on, new politicians are

0:27:40 > 0:27:45talking about getting more politicians in. Some politicians

0:27:45 > 0:27:50are talking about that. It isn't a good idea? It is inexcusable at

0:27:50 > 0:27:54this stage. Is it feasible the public will not like it? No. In

0:27:54 > 0:28:01this time of economic recession, any argument for more politicians

0:28:01 > 0:28:08will hit a rock straighter way. I am yet to be convinced. Let's see

0:28:08 > 0:28:15when the legislation starts flowing. We have very little legislation.

0:28:15 > 0:28:19Why? I am waiting for an answer. Let's see how we cope with the

0:28:19 > 0:28:24legislation. It is difficult to make that case at the moment. I do

0:28:24 > 0:28:34not see how we can make that case. We may end up with a tea. The

0:28:34 > 0:28:38chamber is designed to take 80. -- with 80. At this stage, we have got

0:28:38 > 0:28:4360 and we will have to make do with fat to see how we cope. If we can

0:28:43 > 0:28:47provide the evidence to say we cannot, then we can make the case.

0:28:47 > 0:28:51If there is evidence, the fact that legislation isn't scrutinised

0:28:51 > 0:28:57properly and we end up with poor legislation, that isn't great. Is

0:28:57 > 0:29:02it? We scrutinise legislation more effectively than Westminster in the

0:29:02 > 0:29:06sense we actually discuss all the clauses. We take evidence on the

0:29:06 > 0:29:10legislation before we go into the discussion of the detail. There is

0:29:10 > 0:29:15an argument that when this avalanche of legislation comes in,

0:29:15 > 0:29:19but will not happen. We will see what happens when it happens and

0:29:19 > 0:29:21the government may have to adjust their timetable. If that happens

0:29:21 > 0:29:26the government puts forward legislation that will take twice as

0:29:26 > 0:29:31long to get through because of that, then we will have a problem and we

0:29:31 > 0:29:36will have to ovale waited at that stage. You are convinced that you

0:29:36 > 0:29:44will need more. I know politicians don't like making predictions, but

0:29:44 > 0:29:50when will we have more than 60? the context of the situation, we

0:29:50 > 0:29:56are in a very difficult economic situation and people will not

0:29:56 > 0:30:03support any call for more politicians. But you haven't got

0:30:03 > 0:30:07the time to scrutinise. At the moment, it is being scrutinised. I

0:30:07 > 0:30:12am sceptical as to whether we could cope with a raft of legislation

0:30:12 > 0:30:22coming through with the numbers are we have. Thank you. Let's head over

0:30:22 > 0:30:26

0:30:26 > 0:30:33to the Commons now, to Westminster, Just finishing off Scottish Office

0:30:34 > 0:30:36questions. You can see William Hague getting ready to answer

0:30:36 > 0:30:42questions for the first time. He asked plenty of questions when he

0:30:42 > 0:30:47was leader of the Conservatives in the first four years of Tony

0:30:47 > 0:30:57Blair's Government. Today, he will be answering them. Harriet Harman

0:30:57 > 0:30:59

0:30:59 > 0:31:09will be asking those questions. Could I commend the honourable

0:31:09 > 0:31:09

0:31:09 > 0:31:17member for the role he has played in promoting the bicentennial a --

0:31:17 > 0:31:27David Livingstone bicentenary? Order. Questions to the Prime

0:31:27 > 0:31:32

0:31:32 > 0:31:36Minister. Mr Speaker, I have been asked to

0:31:36 > 0:31:41reply. My right honourable friend, the Prime Minister, is attending

0:31:41 > 0:31:45the G20 summit in Mexico. The House will wish to join me in paying

0:31:45 > 0:31:55tribute to those servicemen who have lost their lives in

0:31:55 > 0:31:58

0:31:58 > 0:32:01Afghanistan's is the last Prime Minister's Question Time. Our

0:32:01 > 0:32:08sincere condolences are with families and their loved ones. Last

0:32:08 > 0:32:13week, I visited our armed forces in Helmand Province. I was reminded of

0:32:13 > 0:32:23their exceptional work on behalf of this country. That work can be

0:32:23 > 0:32:28

0:32:28 > 0:32:32sacrifices must never be forgotten. Belfast International Air link into

0:32:32 > 0:32:38Heathrow is an invaluable asset to the economy of Northern Ireland.

0:32:38 > 0:32:42There are deep concerns that this link is at risk because the landing

0:32:42 > 0:32:47slots are allocated to carriers rather than to regional airports.

0:32:47 > 0:32:54Will the Government urgently publish an aviation strategy that

0:32:54 > 0:32:59in Shaw's the airport maintains its link with Pep -- Heathrow? We will

0:32:59 > 0:33:04consult in the summer. As for evidence on options, by maintaining

0:33:04 > 0:33:07the UK status as an international hub, he is quite right that the

0:33:07 > 0:33:17London to Belfast link is it -- important of the economy. They are

0:33:17 > 0:33:22

0:33:22 > 0:33:32more than 18,000 flights per year. - there are. Steps to devolve will

0:33:32 > 0:33:33

0:33:33 > 0:33:37As my right honourable friend will know from my recent letter to the

0:33:37 > 0:33:45Prime Minister, the situation at the oil refinery on the Thames is

0:33:45 > 0:33:50becoming increasingly difficult. In an attempt to secure well-paid jobs

0:33:50 > 0:33:54and secure UK fuel supplies, when he used the offices of the Prime

0:33:54 > 0:33:58assessors -- to secure and it is summer, bringing together the heads

0:33:58 > 0:34:05of the Treasury to explore every single avenue possible to keep this

0:34:05 > 0:34:10refinery open? I know this has been very defiant -- disappointing news.

0:34:10 > 0:34:13The workforce on the local community have worked tirelessly to

0:34:13 > 0:34:16help the administrators secure the long-term future of the refinery.

0:34:16 > 0:34:22We are keeping in close contact with the administrators also they

0:34:22 > 0:34:27are looking at further options. We are working with the council as

0:34:27 > 0:34:37well. The Minister has met with representatives of the workforce

0:34:37 > 0:34:40

0:34:40 > 0:34:50and the there will committee. -- local community. Can I join in

0:34:50 > 0:34:50

0:34:50 > 0:34:56paying tribute to lance-corporal James Ashworth. These soldiers die

0:34:56 > 0:35:00serving our country with the utmost bravery. We joined in sending our

0:35:00 > 0:35:04at most condolences to their family and friends.

0:35:04 > 0:35:07We know there is a long way to go until the people of Burma get the

0:35:07 > 0:35:11democracy to which they are entitled. The fact that progress

0:35:11 > 0:35:17has been made is due to the extraordinary commitment and

0:35:17 > 0:35:20courage of one woman enduring more than two decades of house arrest.

0:35:20 > 0:35:28Will the Foreign Secretary join with me in expressing our at most

0:35:28 > 0:35:32admiration? I absolutely well. It is highly appropriate to raise this

0:35:32 > 0:35:36in Prime Minister's Question Time. I think I was the first European

0:35:36 > 0:35:41foreign Minister to visit her, visit Burma at the beginning of

0:35:41 > 0:35:47this year. And I found her not only in repetition but in substance, I'm

0:35:47 > 0:35:51absolutely inspirational figure. There is still a long way to go.

0:35:51 > 0:36:01Not only in bringing democracy to burner but ending ethnic conflicts.

0:36:01 > 0:36:05

0:36:05 > 0:36:11One of those continues right now. - Across all parties, we are looking

0:36:11 > 0:36:15forward to giving her a tremendous welcome tomorrow. I found the

0:36:15 > 0:36:21Foreign Secretary for that answer. He is right -- he was right to

0:36:21 > 0:36:27visit Burma when he did. When he reassured us that the position of

0:36:27 > 0:36:31the British Government will remain that sanctions will be reimposed

0:36:31 > 0:36:37unless there is sustained progress towards democracy and the rule of

0:36:37 > 0:36:41law? That is very much our position. I have said that with the foreign

0:36:41 > 0:36:46Minister of Burma and indeed, we argued within the European Union

0:36:46 > 0:36:52that sanctions should not be lifted unconditionally, but should be

0:36:52 > 0:36:57suspended. They can be reimposed if necessary. They have been suspended

0:36:57 > 0:37:02for 12 months. We will continue to review progress through that period.

0:37:02 > 0:37:05I believe, having met the President of Burma on my visit, that he is

0:37:05 > 0:37:09absolutely sincere in his intentions but there will be

0:37:09 > 0:37:15elements within the Government of Burma who are not so enthusiastic

0:37:15 > 0:37:21about these changes and who will be alarmed about the success in recent

0:37:22 > 0:37:28by-elections. We will keep up the pressure as well as the welcome for

0:37:28 > 0:37:34these changes. I thank the Foreign Minister -- Foreign Secretary for

0:37:34 > 0:37:38his answer. Now can I turn to domestic issues are specifically

0:37:38 > 0:37:42the National Health Service. This week, a survey showed 90 % of

0:37:42 > 0:37:46Primary Care Trusts, because of the financial pressure they are under,

0:37:46 > 0:37:53are restricting access to treatment. This is going to particularly hit

0:37:53 > 0:38:00older people. How can he justify an elderly person with cataracts in

0:38:01 > 0:38:05both eyes being told that they can only have surgery in one of them?

0:38:05 > 0:38:10It is totally unacceptable if trusts are rationing on grounds of

0:38:10 > 0:38:14financial considerations. The NHS medical director has written to the

0:38:14 > 0:38:17trust to tell them the only criteria of decision must be

0:38:17 > 0:38:22clinical and not financial. If evidence is found that they are

0:38:22 > 0:38:25ignoring that, the Secretary of State can intervene. The Department

0:38:25 > 0:38:30of Health will look into any cases where they are using financial

0:38:30 > 0:38:33conditions. Allegations have been made before, including under the

0:38:33 > 0:38:40last Government. The Department of Health are very clear about that on

0:38:40 > 0:38:44that to be welcomed across the House.

0:38:44 > 0:38:50There is evidence and he is not acting. It is not just cataract

0:38:50 > 0:38:55operations. There are 125 different treatments being rationed on the

0:38:55 > 0:39:03grounds of cost. Including hip and knee replacements. What does he say

0:39:03 > 0:39:13to one elderly patient who needs a hip-replacement? Wait in pain or

0:39:13 > 0:39:13

0:39:13 > 0:39:18pay and go private? I say first of all what I said earlier and

0:39:19 > 0:39:27secondly, restricting access to operations was allowed under the

0:39:27 > 0:39:37last Government. In 2007, patients in Suffolk have to wait 14 weeks

0:39:37 > 0:39:43

0:39:43 > 0:39:48for routine surgery. -- had. And to any of those individuals, their GP,

0:39:48 > 0:39:52their doctor, should be gone to work tomorrow, not on strike. --

0:39:52 > 0:39:56going. And we on this side of the House encourage them to go to work

0:39:56 > 0:40:06and I hope she and all of that side of the House was a clearly today

0:40:06 > 0:40:11that those doctors should be at We do not want patients to suffer.

0:40:11 > 0:40:18We do not want the GPs to be going on strike. But we are proud of what

0:40:18 > 0:40:24we did in the NHS. More doctors, more nurses, cutting the waiting

0:40:24 > 0:40:31lists, and it is always the same. Labour builds up the NHS and the

0:40:31 > 0:40:34Tories target down. Today, he is saying he is 100 % behind the

0:40:34 > 0:40:41Government's health plans. It is a different story in his own

0:40:41 > 0:40:47constituency. Last month, the Foreign Secretary took to the

0:40:47 > 0:40:53streets, marching in protest against the NHS cuts. Let's remind

0:40:53 > 0:40:56ourselves of what the Prime Minister said about midwives. Just

0:40:56 > 0:41:00before the general election, the Prime Minister wrote for the Sun

0:41:00 > 0:41:05newspaper because professionally, of course, they were all in it

0:41:05 > 0:41:11together, he said in the Sun newspaper, we will increase the

0:41:11 > 0:41:18number of midwives by 3,000. Can he confirm they have broken their

0:41:18 > 0:41:21promise on midwives? That was a long question but I congratulate

0:41:21 > 0:41:26her on not having the Shadow Chancellor here every day. It helps

0:41:26 > 0:41:33everyone to be able to share everything. That is a reference to

0:41:33 > 0:41:37Ed Balls. The Chancellor -- the Shadow

0:41:37 > 0:41:42Chancellor is presumably doing another opinion poll on what people

0:41:42 > 0:41:49think of him. On the questions that she asked, we

0:41:49 > 0:41:56could have told him that for nothing! But on the questions that

0:41:56 > 0:42:01she asked, I am glad she said GPs should be at work tomorrow because

0:42:01 > 0:42:11she should tell that to her own spokesman, the lady -- on a lady

0:42:11 > 0:42:16

0:42:16 > 0:42:21for Hackney. -- Honourable. There is a clear division across the

0:42:21 > 0:42:31floor of the House. What is happening in my constituency is

0:42:31 > 0:42:32

0:42:32 > 0:42:38nothing to do with hunt are funding or health reforms. -- NHS funding.

0:42:38 > 0:42:46We are proud of what is happening in the bass of service and we look

0:42:46 > 0:42:51at average best in the NHS, when we look at average waiting times. The

0:42:51 > 0:42:55best performance ever has now been obtained for patients waiting after

0:42:55 > 0:43:0018 weeks to be treated. The total number of cloak -- clinical staff

0:43:00 > 0:43:05is higher than at the election. There are 3,900 more doctors is the

0:43:05 > 0:43:11election and hospital infection levels are not their lowest levels

0:43:11 > 0:43:15since surveillance of them began. - - are at.

0:43:15 > 0:43:20And he never answered the question about midwives because before the

0:43:20 > 0:43:30election, the Leader of the Opposition was all, yes we can, as

0:43:30 > 0:43:34

0:43:34 > 0:43:44well as he became Prime Lister, it The Prime Minister once told us he

0:43:44 > 0:43:53

0:43:53 > 0:43:58could sum up his priority in three It took a long time to think of

0:43:58 > 0:44:02that one. I have set out the achievements of

0:44:02 > 0:44:07the Government on the National Health Service, even the King's

0:44:07 > 0:44:13Fund in its latest report which has sometimes been courted by the

0:44:13 > 0:44:20opposition, so there is no evidence of a decline in service quality or

0:44:20 > 0:44:26performers -- quoted. Infection rates have not noticeably gone up,

0:44:26 > 0:44:33they have remained stable. These are important achievements in the

0:44:33 > 0:44:43NHS. The health spokesperson of the opposition said in 20th June 10, it

0:44:43 > 0:44:47

0:44:47 > 0:44:50is irresponsible to increase NHS spending in real terms. -- 2010.

0:44:50 > 0:45:00During their last year in power, the number of NHS managers rose six

0:45:00 > 0:45:04

0:45:04 > 0:45:08times as fast as nurses. In Wales, Mr Mr Speaker, given the appalling

0:45:08 > 0:45:12behaviour of Liberal Democrat cabinet members in not supporting

0:45:12 > 0:45:18the Secretary of State for Culture and Media and Sport, would my

0:45:18 > 0:45:23preferred Deputy Prime Minister arrange a divorce from the Yellow

0:45:23 > 0:45:33peril so that we can govern with Conservative policies as a minority

0:45:33 > 0:45:35

0:45:35 > 0:45:40government? I think... Order. I am sure members having heard the

0:45:40 > 0:45:48questions would wish to hear the answer. I am sure they will, Mr

0:45:48 > 0:45:52Speaker. I think, actually, my honourable friend brings up of the

0:45:52 > 0:45:56problem of divorce which will be deeply troubling to Mrs Bone and we

0:45:56 > 0:46:03will have to reassure her he is talking about a political one. As

0:46:03 > 0:46:08somebody who helped to negotiate three coalition, I will not be

0:46:08 > 0:46:14advocating a divorce in the government. Can the Foreign

0:46:14 > 0:46:18Secretary confirm that apart from Italy, the UK is the only country

0:46:18 > 0:46:23in the G20 in a double dip recession? Well, actually, the

0:46:23 > 0:46:28actual fact of the matter is the IMF now forecast that in the coming

0:46:28 > 0:46:32year the British economy... Well, they may not want to know what is

0:46:32 > 0:46:36going to happen, the Shadow Chancellor again is not here with

0:46:36 > 0:46:42his hand gestures, but he has always said we should take note of

0:46:42 > 0:46:47the IMF, and they say that in the coming year, the British economy is

0:46:47 > 0:46:52going to grow faster than the German or French economy. That next

0:46:52 > 0:46:57it grossed will be similar to that of the United States and twice that

0:46:57 > 0:47:04of the eurozone. And that would not be happening had we not brought the

0:47:04 > 0:47:08excessive debt under the last government under control. In light

0:47:08 > 0:47:12of the historic signing in China for record investments to rural

0:47:12 > 0:47:16waters, also the granting of the turnaround cruise terminal in

0:47:16 > 0:47:20Liverpool and the support of the automotive industries for 1,000

0:47:20 > 0:47:24more jobs in Jaguar and saving of Fox Hall, would you say this

0:47:24 > 0:47:32government had done more in two years to expand private enterprise

0:47:32 > 0:47:40on Merseyside than Labour did in its entire tenure? Well, yes, I

0:47:40 > 0:47:50would. I would say exactly that. And I would point out that that

0:47:50 > 0:47:51

0:47:51 > 0:47:57success which she described his British exports to China going up

0:47:57 > 0:48:0061%, British exports to India going up 73%, and that is also because

0:48:01 > 0:48:07the British Government is out there championing British business, which

0:48:07 > 0:48:16the other side neglect it to do! Can the Secretary of State inform

0:48:16 > 0:48:22the housewife he wants to see nurses in Yorkshire to be paid

0:48:22 > 0:48:28substantially less than nurses doing exactly the same job in

0:48:28 > 0:48:33Richmond, Surrey? This is an issue the pay review bodies are examining,

0:48:33 > 0:48:38as the Honourable Member will know. They will report next month. The

0:48:38 > 0:48:43case for local pay, and they will back their recommendations, it was

0:48:43 > 0:48:48once made by a Chancellor of the Exchequer. He said, it makes sense

0:48:48 > 0:48:53to recognise a more considered approach to local and regional

0:48:53 > 0:48:58approach is to pay makes it better for employment in our country. That

0:48:58 > 0:49:04Chancellor of the Exchequer was the right honourable member for

0:49:04 > 0:49:12Kirkcaldy, Gordon Brown. I am sure Conservative backbenchers wish to

0:49:13 > 0:49:16hear from one of the coalition colleagues. Thank you. The

0:49:16 > 0:49:20Department of Health accepts that radiotherapy is the cheapest and

0:49:20 > 0:49:24most effective way of treating cancer, despite this the department

0:49:24 > 0:49:28will spend over �1.5 billion on cancer drugs this year but less

0:49:29 > 0:49:33than a third of that on radiotherapy. In the South West,

0:49:33 > 0:49:40several hospitals rely on charity to fund basic radiotherapy services.

0:49:40 > 0:49:45Cancer drugs fund is underspent... Border. Order! A one-sentence

0:49:45 > 0:49:48question and a short sentence. could the Right Honourable

0:49:48 > 0:49:51Gentleman speak to the Prime Minister about authorising the

0:49:51 > 0:49:58investment of that unused money into radiotherapy so hospitals in

0:49:58 > 0:50:02my region... My Honourable Friend is right to point to the importance

0:50:02 > 0:50:06of radiotherapy. It is also important to stress that decisions

0:50:06 > 0:50:12on treatments should be made by clinicians based on whatever is

0:50:12 > 0:50:16most appropriate for their patients, but we are investing over �150

0:50:16 > 0:50:20million more over the next four years to expand radiotherapy

0:50:20 > 0:50:25capacity. And I know my Honourable Friend will welcome that, as well

0:50:25 > 0:50:31as the fact that at the same time over 12 a half 1,000 extra patients

0:50:31 > 0:50:36have benefited from the �650 million drugs fund introduced by

0:50:36 > 0:50:42this government. -- over 12,500 more patients. The regional growth

0:50:42 > 0:50:46fund is the Government's flagship scheme for boosting growth in jobs

0:50:46 > 0:50:52in regions. The recent National Audit report criticised it for

0:50:52 > 0:50:57spending too much money on projects creating too few jobs, in some

0:50:57 > 0:51:02cases �250,000 per job. What is the government doing about it?

0:51:02 > 0:51:05Honourable Member's own region will benefit from this fund, including

0:51:05 > 0:51:09�235 million from the regional growth fund. It is important that

0:51:09 > 0:51:13money is spent effectively and by ministerial colleagues will do

0:51:13 > 0:51:17their utmost to ensure that is happening, but it is also important

0:51:17 > 0:51:20to remember his region benefits from so many other things the

0:51:20 > 0:51:25government is doing, including infrastructure projects to support

0:51:25 > 0:51:27growth in the West Midlands, an enterprise zone in Birmingham city

0:51:27 > 0:51:32centre, an enterprise zone for the Black Country, and these measures

0:51:32 > 0:51:38are much more likely to get regional growth going than the

0:51:38 > 0:51:43excessive tax and spending of the party opposite. My constituent has

0:51:43 > 0:51:47now lost 300 cattle to bovine TB, a scourge exacerbated by the fact the

0:51:47 > 0:51:51last government did precisely nothing about this issue and whilst

0:51:51 > 0:51:54I recognise the sterling work this government has done, would my Right

0:51:54 > 0:52:00Honourable Friend will reassure my livestock farmers but when it comes

0:52:00 > 0:52:04to disease Control regulations, there will be proportionality and

0:52:04 > 0:52:07nothing that will detract from their lively for it? My Honourable

0:52:08 > 0:52:11Friend raises an important issue. Bovine TB is one of the most

0:52:11 > 0:52:15serious challenges facing the British cattle farming industry and

0:52:15 > 0:52:21last year around 26,000 cattle were compulsorily slaughtered in England

0:52:21 > 0:52:26alone. Death row will be making an announcement tomorrow about how

0:52:26 > 0:52:34they intend to proceed. -- DEFRA. Cattle measures continue to be the

0:52:34 > 0:52:39foundation of our TB control, and I invite him to stand by for a

0:52:39 > 0:52:46further announcement tomorrow. Foreign Secretary will be aware

0:52:47 > 0:52:50that today it is the Dalai Lama will be visiting Parliament this

0:52:50 > 0:52:55afternoon. On such an auspicious day, will he used that opportunity

0:52:55 > 0:53:02to restate his Government's commitment to the human rights of

0:53:02 > 0:53:06Tibetans within China? We believe in this country and in his house

0:53:06 > 0:53:11and in the universality of human rights and that is a point I often

0:53:11 > 0:53:16make to Chinese leaders, including in the strategic dialogue that I

0:53:16 > 0:53:19conduct with China on an annual basis. We also have a formal human

0:53:19 > 0:53:24rights dialogue, which we do not shy away from raising any of these

0:53:24 > 0:53:29cases. Of course, we do see, as did the last government, we see Tibet

0:53:29 > 0:53:32as part of the People's Republic of China, but we also look for

0:53:32 > 0:53:38meaningful dialogue between representatives of the Dalai Lama

0:53:38 > 0:53:41and the Chinese authorities and we will continue to support that.

0:53:41 > 0:53:46government has made clear its commitment to root out tax

0:53:46 > 0:53:53avoidance by public officials and civil servants and can the Foreign

0:53:53 > 0:53:58Secretary make it clear... That the government might well be equally

0:53:58 > 0:54:03robust in rooting out tax avoidance by the corporate sector, who do

0:54:03 > 0:54:09jobs for government or are employed by the government? Absolutely and I

0:54:09 > 0:54:19will not mention to the Deputy Prime Minister his slip. It is

0:54:19 > 0:54:20

0:54:20 > 0:54:23entirely between ourselves. Yes, the Chancellor set out very clearly

0:54:23 > 0:54:28in the Budget his absolute determination to deal with tax

0:54:28 > 0:54:32avoidance and to do so without warning in future. And I know that

0:54:32 > 0:54:41the Chancellor if he were here, he would say that would apply to the

0:54:41 > 0:54:45corporate sector as well. Closed questions. No. 8. The government

0:54:45 > 0:54:48believes it is not reasonable for further tussles should receive a

0:54:48 > 0:54:52greater income from benefits than the average weekly wage for working

0:54:52 > 0:54:56households. In some cases, it can be more than double the average

0:54:56 > 0:55:03household income. Our changes will mean no family on benefits will

0:55:03 > 0:55:06earn more than a working family's average salary, �26,000 a year.

0:55:06 > 0:55:16This strikes a balance between supporting families and providing

0:55:16 > 0:55:17

0:55:17 > 0:55:22incentives to work. When I was in London, Jobcentre Plus have written

0:55:22 > 0:55:28to 900 families in my constituency who have between them 2000-4,000

0:55:28 > 0:55:33children that their benefits will be cut by �200 a month. This will

0:55:33 > 0:55:39cause them to rack up rent arrears or have to move. The mayor, Boris

0:55:39 > 0:55:45Johnson... Says he will not preside over the removal of the poor from

0:55:45 > 0:55:49inner London but why doesn't the Government get it? The Honourable

0:55:49 > 0:55:53Member has long-running concerns about this, and has frequently

0:55:53 > 0:55:57expressed them. I think it is important to stress that for all

0:55:57 > 0:56:01but the most expensive parts of London, at least 30% of all private

0:56:01 > 0:56:07rental properties will be affordable and under the system

0:56:07 > 0:56:11that we inherited, 150 families were receiving housing benefit of

0:56:11 > 0:56:16over �50,000 a year. And that is not acceptable to the taxpayers of

0:56:16 > 0:56:23this country in general. Our reforms are fair. Housing benefit

0:56:23 > 0:56:26will still be paid to meet rents of �21,000 a year. There is also �190

0:56:26 > 0:56:29million fund for discretionary payments to couple local

0:56:29 > 0:56:34authorities with changes and including assistance to renegotiate

0:56:34 > 0:56:37a low rents with landlords, but the principle is that it is not fair

0:56:37 > 0:56:45that people on housing benefit can afford to live in streets and homes

0:56:46 > 0:56:50that people out working hard are not able to we live in themselves.

0:56:50 > 0:56:54Wales is the only nation in the UK without a single yard of

0:56:54 > 0:56:57electrified rail track thanks in part to the party opposite. As a

0:56:58 > 0:57:02former Secretary of State for Wales, could he persuade the government

0:57:02 > 0:57:05that extending third track as far as Swansea would be great for jobs,

0:57:05 > 0:57:12grade for wealth and cheaper than the refurbishment at Tottenham

0:57:12 > 0:57:16Court Road station? We are committed to elect a find more than

0:57:16 > 0:57:20300 miles of railway routes which compares, actually, with just nine

0:57:20 > 0:57:24miles are electrified under the last government. That is an

0:57:24 > 0:57:28interesting contrast in infrastructure investment. The

0:57:28 > 0:57:32Department for Transport is conjure considering a business case for

0:57:32 > 0:57:37electrification between Cardiff and Swansea. Prepared in Wales. I

0:57:37 > 0:57:41understand the decision will be made by the summer and it will

0:57:41 > 0:57:47depend on whether it is affordable and on the assessment of competing

0:57:47 > 0:57:51priorities as well. Unemployment has reduced in Scotland for the

0:57:52 > 0:57:55third month and for the second year in a row, Scotland is the best

0:57:55 > 0:57:58performing a location for international investment and will

0:57:58 > 0:58:03the Foreign Secretary take the opportunity to congratulate the

0:58:03 > 0:58:09Scottish Government, and the lead agency securing foreign direct

0:58:09 > 0:58:13investments? The Honourable Member is quite right to draw attention to

0:58:13 > 0:58:21the employment figures, which we must never be complacent about, and

0:58:21 > 0:58:25there is always so much work to do. They show a quarterly fall in

0:58:25 > 0:58:31unemployment of 51,000. They do show the rate of unemployment

0:58:31 > 0:58:36coming down. Youth unemployment is also coming down by 29,000. Long-

0:58:36 > 0:58:43term unemployment is still rising, which remains a challenge. Of

0:58:43 > 0:58:47course, Scotland, as part of the UK, is an attractive place to invest in.

0:58:47 > 0:58:51And I congratulate many Scottish people and businesses on their work.

0:58:51 > 0:58:56They have much harder work to do if Scotland were not part of the

0:58:56 > 0:59:00United Kingdom. While welcoming overseas students to come to this

0:59:00 > 0:59:04country to get a world-class education, then return home to

0:59:04 > 0:59:07benefit their countries, will my right honourable friend to look at

0:59:07 > 0:59:12vice-chancellors who believe they cannot compete unless students are

0:59:12 > 0:59:17given an additional incentive to stay on in this country legally or

0:59:17 > 0:59:24illegally, especially as 120,000 students last year sought and were

0:59:24 > 0:59:27granted the right to extend their stay here? Yes, Mr Speaker. The

0:59:27 > 0:59:33government has introduced radical reforms to stamp out abuse and

0:59:33 > 0:59:37restore order to what was then out of control student visa system. It

0:59:37 > 0:59:41made the immigration system easier for students, universities and the

0:59:41 > 0:59:45UK Border Agency to operate, so we are closing bogeys colleges and

0:59:45 > 0:59:48regulating the remainder. We are restricting the right to work here

0:59:49 > 0:59:52and bring dependence and we are making sure that all but the very

0:59:52 > 0:59:56best go home at the end of their studies, and on that basis, of

0:59:56 > 1:00:06course, talented students from around the world are welcome here

1:00:06 > 1:00:09

1:00:09 > 1:00:17As MP for Rotherham, can I welcome the fact the right honourable

1:00:17 > 1:00:27Gentleman has realised the ambition thwarted in 2001 briefly, but will

1:00:27 > 1:00:36

1:00:36 > 1:00:46he take this opportunity to invite a third Asian Nobel Prize winner,

1:00:46 > 1:00:47

1:00:47 > 1:00:51mention his name, inviting here to London next year -- invite him.

1:00:51 > 1:00:56It is nice to issue a nice words about Rotherham during Prime

1:00:56 > 1:01:01Minister's Question Time. We do raise individual cases, of course,

1:01:01 > 1:01:04that I will assess which wants to raise and when to do so, of course,

1:01:04 > 1:01:09but the human rights dialogue we have with China is very important

1:01:09 > 1:01:19and it is important in China there is an understanding of our deep

1:01:19 > 1:01:26

1:01:26 > 1:01:32concerns about many of these cases. The Government is reducing funding

1:01:32 > 1:01:36to the police by 20 % in real terms over four years. Can my right

1:01:36 > 1:01:42honourable friend assure me that also in the cause of deficit

1:01:42 > 1:01:47reduction, he will be insisting on a reduction to our contribution to

1:01:47 > 1:01:51the European Union budget? highly desirable as that would be,

1:01:51 > 1:01:55my honourable friend is aware that contribution is not decided by a

1:01:55 > 1:02:00single decision of Government. It is the balance between two large

1:02:00 > 1:02:05figures determined in other ways. He can rest assured, however, that

1:02:05 > 1:02:09we will be far better at negotiation it than the honourable

1:02:09 > 1:02:14member opposite, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and when he was Minister

1:02:14 > 1:02:21for Europe, the party opposite gave away �7 billion of the British

1:02:21 > 1:02:27rebate. And it was nothing in return. It was an abject failure of

1:02:27 > 1:02:32negotiation and leadership that we will not repeat. Does the Foreign

1:02:32 > 1:02:42Secretary agree with the words of the honourable member for Wrexham?

1:02:42 > 1:02:52I see no argument for real pay. They are on a variety of few was on

1:02:52 > 1:02:54

1:02:54 > 1:02:57regional pay. -- views. It is worth pointing out that the last

1:02:57 > 1:03:07Government introduced local pay into Her Majesty's courts and

1:03:07 > 1:03:15tribunals Ursel stop -- Tribunal Service. What a wonderful

1:03:15 > 1:03:19announcement it was for the role Investment of Rolls-Royce in Derby.

1:03:19 > 1:03:23Unemployment in South Derbyshire has gone down in recent months.

1:03:23 > 1:03:29This indeed is good news. It is good news for investment in this

1:03:29 > 1:03:33country, good news for Derby and the surrounding area and it is good

1:03:33 > 1:03:36news for the long-term security of this country that we are prepared

1:03:36 > 1:03:46to invest confident the in submarine technologies for the long

1:03:46 > 1:03:47

1:03:47 > 1:03:53term. Come the Foreign Secretary tell the House how it differs from

1:03:53 > 1:03:58the proposals in 2009? Both parties oppose that. It differs

1:03:58 > 1:04:05substantially, enormously from that. The proposal of the last Government

1:04:05 > 1:04:10was to hold all data in a central database.

1:04:10 > 1:04:17Although he uses the catchphrase of the snoopers charter, this is

1:04:17 > 1:04:22designed to be a criminal's nightmare. Unless we update it our

1:04:22 > 1:04:26-- Update our ability to detect criminality in this country, that

1:04:26 > 1:04:34will have a very serious effect. Why encourage him to look at this

1:04:34 > 1:04:42in detail. -- I encourage him. The highlight of the Olympic torch

1:04:42 > 1:04:47relay will take place on 6th July, when it arrives in Southend, to be

1:04:47 > 1:04:52met... Would my right honourable friend agree with me the Olympic

1:04:52 > 1:04:56Games is an opportunity for our country to come together and

1:04:56 > 1:05:01celebrate this Government put in the Great back into Britain?

1:05:01 > 1:05:05arrival of the torch in Southend is one of the highlights. The other

1:05:05 > 1:05:11highlight being the fact that today, it is passing through Richmond in

1:05:11 > 1:05:17Yorkshire. I would have dearly love to have been there to see it but

1:05:17 > 1:05:23that is one of the highlights. He is quite right, this is an opera --

1:05:23 > 1:05:29enormous ability for his country. - - to this country. We are looking

1:05:29 > 1:05:35to attract an additional 4 million extra visitors, including to sell

1:05:35 > 1:05:45them, to inspire more young people to take up sport -- Southend. It is

1:05:45 > 1:05:45

1:05:45 > 1:05:49a great moment for Britain. We know the Prime Minister... We

1:05:49 > 1:05:53all know the Prime Minister likes to relax down the pub but when it

1:05:53 > 1:05:59comes to Anglo-French relations, shouldn't he adopt a more sober

1:05:59 > 1:06:02approach? I must say, the Prime Minister

1:06:02 > 1:06:07always has excellent relations with any prime Minister of France,

1:06:07 > 1:06:10including the New prioress of France, and we should welcome and

1:06:10 > 1:06:14applaud be fact that the city we are sitting in today is the

1:06:14 > 1:06:24seventh-largest city for French people in the world -- a prime

1:06:24 > 1:06:34I understand why the right honourable Gentleman would have

1:06:34 > 1:06:39

1:06:39 > 1:06:46liked to have been in Richmond... Thank you, David. William Hague,

1:06:46 > 1:06:53there was a hint of Foreign Secretary customers! Harriet Harman

1:06:53 > 1:07:00started with a Foreign Secretary question. It gave a wider scope to

1:07:00 > 1:07:05the whole affair. I thought William Hague did well. He was masterful,

1:07:05 > 1:07:15to be on us. He has always been a good performer in the House. -- To

1:07:15 > 1:07:16

1:07:16 > 1:07:20He came back strongly on every point. The thing which computers

1:07:20 > 1:07:25confuses me, because can -- Conservatives and Labour are proud

1:07:25 > 1:07:30of their achievements in the NHS, why is it such a mess? The it's

1:07:30 > 1:07:40investigate further. The NHS did come up. -- let's investigate

1:07:40 > 1:07:40

1:07:40 > 1:07:45further. It is the message that keeps recurring from the UK

1:07:45 > 1:07:51Government. It is. I think it is something that has obviously come

1:07:51 > 1:07:54from the Conservative Party. They gave a commitment to ring-fence the

1:07:55 > 1:08:00National Health Service budget at the last election. That meant cuts

1:08:00 > 1:08:05of up to 20 % in other budgets, including education and social

1:08:05 > 1:08:09services. None of the other parties were prepared to support that.

1:08:09 > 1:08:12Obviously, it would create a situation where other budgets were

1:08:12 > 1:08:18suffering and people would suffer as a result of that. It has given

1:08:18 > 1:08:23ammunition to the Conservatives. They are saying the Government is

1:08:24 > 1:08:33cutting health spending. With health spending in Wales, the

1:08:33 > 1:08:40Assembly budget is about 15.4 �5 billion. Bullfight by seven plants

1:08:41 > 1:08:50-- �5 and billion -- about 7.5 billion tackles on health. There

1:08:51 > 1:08:52

1:08:52 > 1:09:02Measures. But no wonder coalition tensions. -

1:09:02 > 1:09:05

1:09:05 > 1:09:10He is very much a lone voice in the Commons. I know there is

1:09:10 > 1:09:14dissatisfaction. Frankly, the Conservatives did not win a

1:09:14 > 1:09:19majority. The country was facing a minority Government. An unstable

1:09:19 > 1:09:25Government. The double democrats wanted coalition with the object of

1:09:25 > 1:09:35having a stable Government. -- the double pink -- he'd Liberal-

1:09:35 > 1:09:41

1:09:41 > 1:09:51Regional pay was raised. We were talking about art earlier. -- about

1:09:51 > 1:09:55

1:09:55 > 1:10:00Of course, Labour introduced regional pay. That was in the Court

1:10:00 > 1:10:06Service. Labour's record on this is pretty poor. The parties are united

1:10:06 > 1:10:13in saying it would be bad for the Welsh economy. It is not something

1:10:13 > 1:10:20they want to see extended. An MP was reading a question and got told

1:10:21 > 1:10:24off by the Speaker. We see a lot of Assembly Members reading questions.

1:10:24 > 1:10:29You do not see any reading questions. Yes, I do not think

1:10:29 > 1:10:34there is a method. People should do whatever they are comfortable with.

1:10:34 > 1:10:40I prefer not to use paper but other people do. Is that an environmental

1:10:40 > 1:10:45concern? I distanced -- I prefer to ask the question or make a

1:10:45 > 1:10:50contribution without using notes. I think what the speaker was doing

1:10:50 > 1:10:55was that she was taking a long time to go to the point. The important

1:10:55 > 1:11:03thing is you have got to last the question and to that in a sharp way.

1:11:03 > 1:11:07Otherwise, p process gets weary. People ask very wrong questions,

1:11:07 > 1:11:15three questions at the same time, it leaves people in a very

1:11:16 > 1:11:23uncomfortable position -- long questions. Rosemary Butler tends to

1:11:23 > 1:11:32clear her throat to move people on. Is that a success? It is causing

1:11:32 > 1:11:42some resentment. But she is right. They need to focus on the question.

1:11:42 > 1:11:43

1:11:43 > 1:11:47A quick question is often more successful.

1:11:47 > 1:11:50We will be back with you before the end of the programme. Coming up,

1:11:50 > 1:11:54the Welsh affairs Select Committee is holding an inquiry into the

1:11:54 > 1:12:01future of the Welsh Cavalry. We'll be hearing from a member of the

1:12:01 > 1:12:04Defence Select Committee later. We will talk about transport now.

1:12:04 > 1:12:10Transport infrastructure and how important artist of economic growth.

1:12:10 > 1:12:16It is the subject of a concerted debate this afternoon. --

1:12:16 > 1:12:19conservative. What do you hope to achieve this afternoon? It is to

1:12:19 > 1:12:28raise the profile of the issue of bringing electrification down to

1:12:28 > 1:12:38Swansea. And the Connectivity be on that. We hope to get the Government

1:12:38 > 1:12:43

1:12:43 > 1:12:52You are calling on the was committed to more to bring it about.

1:12:52 > 1:12:55The UK Government at Westminster, this is the first time

1:12:55 > 1:13:01electrification has been brought to Wales and been suggested as part of

1:13:01 > 1:13:07the control number five, as they call it, the Westminster Government

1:13:07 > 1:13:13looking at how they can improve infrastructure. But when you look

1:13:13 > 1:13:19at it in context, the previous Westminster Government, the Labour

1:13:19 > 1:13:24Government, did nothing. It is quite an exciting time. Leafy in

1:13:24 > 1:13:34that case that the last Government is being adversarial -- do you feel

1:13:34 > 1:13:39

1:13:39 > 1:13:45in that case? The commitment is going to come one way or the other.

1:13:45 > 1:13:55There has been a good cross-party Richard working almost. There are

1:13:55 > 1:13:59

1:13:59 > 1:14:08some members of parliament but have gone down that track. -- cross-

1:14:08 > 1:14:11party support working on that. I cannot give you an answer today. It

1:14:11 > 1:14:16is a matter for the Government. It is for the Treasury to process it

1:14:16 > 1:14:21out. I am determined to see it come to Swansea and they have been doing

1:14:21 > 1:14:26my very best together with my other colleagues to do that. How much of

1:14:26 > 1:14:30a difference will it make? It is very significant. It is not so much

1:14:30 > 1:14:34the journey time, it is about connectivity and beyond Swansea as

1:14:34 > 1:14:38well. It is what people in west Wales. Young people having an

1:14:38 > 1:14:42opportunity to travel to Cardiff on a daily basis and become involved

1:14:42 > 1:14:51with the insurance industry, perhaps, it is about being able to

1:14:51 > 1:15:00do that on a daily basis. We do not have much longer to wait.

1:15:00 > 1:15:03Thank you for joining us. Back to MPs on the Welsh Select Committee

1:15:03 > 1:15:07are to hold an inquiry into the future of the Queen's Dragoon

1:15:07 > 1:15:10Guards, the Welsh cavalry. There has been cross-party concern about

1:15:11 > 1:15:16reports the Ministry of Defence cutbacks will be abolished or

1:15:16 > 1:15:25Tamsin Hezzell merged with another regiment. Our reporter has been --

1:15:25 > 1:15:29have has been talking to MPs. MPs don't agree on much but they

1:15:29 > 1:15:33are united on one issue, the campaign to save a threatened Welsh

1:15:33 > 1:15:41Regiment, and one MP that has been fighting the cause is Madeleine

1:15:41 > 1:15:45Moon. So, why? This is a cause that hasn't just united MPs but that has

1:15:45 > 1:15:50united people across Wales and you can tell that from every MP's

1:15:50 > 1:15:54embarks. I am getting 35 postcards and about 40 miles a day on this

1:15:55 > 1:15:59issue. What is happening we are reducing the size of the army and

1:16:00 > 1:16:04the government wants to reduce the army to 82,000 with an additional

1:16:04 > 1:16:0930,000 reservists. That means they want to reduce the regiments. Now,

1:16:09 > 1:16:19England has got 30 regiments. Scotland has got eight. We have got

1:16:19 > 1:16:19

1:16:19 > 1:16:22three. Our concern is that we have heard there is a message telling

1:16:22 > 1:16:25theme Ministry of Defence not to touch the Scottish regiments

1:16:25 > 1:16:30because they don't want to influence the vote taking place on

1:16:30 > 1:16:34the issue of independence, so they are concerned that could affect the

1:16:35 > 1:16:38vote. So, we are more vulnerable. We only have three regiments and

1:16:38 > 1:16:43all of our regiments are fully recruited and one of them is the

1:16:43 > 1:16:47Welsh cavalry, the first Queen's Dragoon Guards, they are seen to be

1:16:47 > 1:16:53the most vulnerable. Scotland has got eight regiments, two of which

1:16:53 > 1:16:58are heavy tank, the equivalent of the cavalry regiments. Seven of the

1:16:58 > 1:17:04Scottish regiments are not fully recruited and, in fact, they rely

1:17:04 > 1:17:10on out of area recruitment to keep them fully recruited. We are

1:17:10 > 1:17:17concerned Wales is going to bear the brunt whereas it could be an

1:17:17 > 1:17:26English regimental Tamas Fellegi is Scottish -- English regiment or a

1:17:26 > 1:17:32Scottish regiment. We want to say we will not sit down and accept a

1:17:32 > 1:17:36decision that is not a fair one. Our regiments are fully recruited,

1:17:36 > 1:17:40they are important recruitment and jobs that young people want to take.

1:17:40 > 1:17:45They want to serve in Welsh regiments and most of the three

1:17:45 > 1:17:50Welsh regiments, they are 80% solidly recruited from Wales but

1:17:50 > 1:17:55the Department of Defence must have done some analysis on these

1:17:55 > 1:17:57regiments? Our concern is that we want, and I have a letter from the

1:17:57 > 1:18:02Ministry of Defence, where they talk about the importance of

1:18:02 > 1:18:07demographics. They talk about the importance of making sure there is

1:18:07 > 1:18:12an opportunity for people across the UK to access their regiments.

1:18:12 > 1:18:16Now, I am quite happy with that. What I am not happy about is their

1:18:16 > 1:18:21political implications been taken into consideration in relation to

1:18:21 > 1:18:26which regiment will go. And that is very clear and we heard about the

1:18:26 > 1:18:30advice coming from Number Ten about don't touch the Scottish regiments.

1:18:30 > 1:18:36How shall argue about that? It is quite a plane. We are very clear

1:18:36 > 1:18:41about the message that came out of Number Ten. That is out in the

1:18:41 > 1:18:45public domain. I rested yesterday in an armed forces debate in

1:18:45 > 1:18:48Westminster, and I was given an assurance by the minister that they

1:18:48 > 1:18:53had not made the decision, that he didn't know what the decision would

1:18:53 > 1:18:57be. But that they were aware of the strong feeling in Wales. And we

1:18:57 > 1:19:02have to keep that strong feeling in Wales very high. The Scots have

1:19:02 > 1:19:06been doing it very well and we have been very slow off the mark and now

1:19:06 > 1:19:11we are making absolutely clear that we are solidly behind our three

1:19:11 > 1:19:15regiments and we intend to keep them. We used to have 32 regiments.

1:19:15 > 1:19:22We have now got three and we don't intend to lose another one. Thank

1:19:22 > 1:19:26you very much. Peter, what do you make of what

1:19:26 > 1:19:29Madeleine Moon said? The message coming from under 10 to the

1:19:29 > 1:19:34Ministry of Defence to leave the Scottish regiments untouched ahead

1:19:34 > 1:19:38of any referendum debate? I have to say that it is a shame the way that

1:19:38 > 1:19:45Scotland and the interests of Scotland is dominating UK politics

1:19:45 > 1:19:49on finance, and now on the regiment and the defence review. If that is

1:19:49 > 1:19:53the case, that is an unacceptable way to carry out a defence review.

1:19:53 > 1:19:58There is a clear criteria in terms of how defence reviews should be

1:19:58 > 1:20:02carried out in terms of the age of the regiment and it is not the

1:20:02 > 1:20:07Welsh Guards turn to be amalgamated but the Scottish regiments turn to

1:20:07 > 1:20:12be amalgamated and that criteria should not be departed from. In

1:20:12 > 1:20:15terms of the Welsh Guards, there are establish since the 17th

1:20:16 > 1:20:19century, they are a good recruiter and largely of people in Wales,

1:20:19 > 1:20:27whereas the Scottish regiments have a large quantity of Fijians in

1:20:27 > 1:20:31there, a very poor recruiter as well. They are the ones that should

1:20:31 > 1:20:36give. Your party has had an issue with the recruiting of soldiers in

1:20:36 > 1:20:39Wales, hasn't it? Only in terms of recruitment in schools, which is

1:20:39 > 1:20:43unfair. There are plenty of opportunities to recruit, but we

1:20:43 > 1:20:48are not in favour of the armed forces going into schools to try to

1:20:48 > 1:20:53recruit there. Staying on defence, you have got an emergency question

1:20:53 > 1:20:58this afternoon on Trident and as a former of CND Cymru, that gives us

1:20:58 > 1:21:02a hint as to which direction you will be coming from. What will you

1:21:02 > 1:21:07ask a? I will not be welcoming the First Minister's statement, which

1:21:07 > 1:21:12she made in the chamber yesterday, for some unknown reason, that he

1:21:12 > 1:21:18wants to welcome Trident 2 South West Wales. The port is not suited

1:21:18 > 1:21:22to it. I am not aware of any work that is the and done. This would be

1:21:22 > 1:21:27ahead of any Scottish independence. Apparently, but it would be nice to

1:21:27 > 1:21:31know what negotiations have gone on or whether this is an idea which

1:21:31 > 1:21:36the First Minister has pulled out of the sky. There are implications.

1:21:36 > 1:21:42When I was chair of CND Cumbria, we had a nuclear free Wales signed up

1:21:43 > 1:21:46to buy local authorities in Wales, many supporters of cm deep in

1:21:46 > 1:21:53Labour, and not many people in Labour will be welcome it. There

1:21:53 > 1:21:58has been no mention of 6,000 jobs, but there is nowhere near that in

1:21:58 > 1:22:01Scotland, it is just under 2000. It is an idea that has come out of the

1:22:01 > 1:22:07blue and the First Minister has to justified because it has major

1:22:07 > 1:22:10implications. Oil, gas and nuclear weapons do not go together. Forget

1:22:10 > 1:22:15the euro 2012 Football Championships in Poland and the

1:22:15 > 1:22:21Ukraine, can Wales has the 2020 championships? There is talk of a

1:22:21 > 1:22:24drink bed with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. This issue was

1:22:24 > 1:22:30raised in First Minister's Questions yesterday.

1:22:30 > 1:22:35Thank you for that response. Of course, we do have three stadiums

1:22:35 > 1:22:38in Wales which could be developed for such a bid. The Millennium

1:22:38 > 1:22:47Stadium, the City of Cardiff stadium and the Liberty Stadium in

1:22:47 > 1:22:50my region. Do you know which criteria on the size of stadium was

1:22:50 > 1:22:54that your way for use in considering bids of this sort? And

1:22:54 > 1:23:01what kind of input would you have as a government jointly with the

1:23:01 > 1:23:07FAW if there were to be such a bid submitted? TRANSLATION: I believe

1:23:07 > 1:23:11the figure is 30,000. That is the minimum a bed. There would not be

1:23:11 > 1:23:15too much of the difficulty to insure the City of Cardiff and the

1:23:15 > 1:23:20Liberty Stadium came up to that standard for. Very few venues could

1:23:20 > 1:23:28do that. Looking at the other nations, and Ireland, there is only

1:23:28 > 1:23:36one stadium which can go up to that apps -- standard. There are a

1:23:36 > 1:23:39number of other stadiums that Dollard in the Republic -- that

1:23:39 > 1:23:44I'll large in the republic but there is work to be done to ensure

1:23:44 > 1:23:52that facilities are available in Wales so that Wales can assist to

1:23:52 > 1:23:55build a future bid. There is a 30,000 capacity minimum. How does

1:23:55 > 1:23:59the First Minister expect the ground improvements including the

1:23:59 > 1:24:03increase in capacity for at least one of the grounds for a European

1:24:03 > 1:24:11tournament to be funded by? Well, this is the question which has to

1:24:11 > 1:24:18be looked at carefully. Swansea City have 16,000 ticket-holders, so

1:24:18 > 1:24:21they would like to have that expanded. Same about Cardiff. A

1:24:21 > 1:24:26case for expanding the stadium there, but how this might be

1:24:26 > 1:24:31financed would have to be explored with the FAW.

1:24:31 > 1:24:34Well, let's explore it with our guests. Peter, as are those Wales

1:24:34 > 1:24:39would qualify for the European Championships of 2020 and that is a

1:24:39 > 1:24:42good enough reason? Yes, the best reason. I am going to support this

1:24:42 > 1:24:46bit and I think we need to think about how we prepared for it. We

1:24:46 > 1:24:53think the issue of the size of the stadiums is the one we need to

1:24:53 > 1:24:59overcome. 30,000 is the size much as the minimum but the Millennium

1:24:59 > 1:25:03Stadium is the only one which is above that. Liberty is about 20,000.

1:25:03 > 1:25:08With an option of extending the. And the Swans are looking to extend

1:25:08 > 1:25:12their own stadium, so hopefully we will have the stadiums in place,

1:25:12 > 1:25:15and it would be a massive boost to whale. You have had discussions

1:25:15 > 1:25:22with the FAW, and you seemed to suggest but doing anything like

1:25:22 > 1:25:27this will be very difficult. When I had those discussions in 2007, it

1:25:27 > 1:25:30was very complicated but there is no reason not to go for it. As

1:25:30 > 1:25:34Peter said, it would be a huge boost for Wales, not only in terms

1:25:34 > 1:25:38of sport, but in terms of the economy and tourism, and we should

1:25:38 > 1:25:42do everything we can to try to see whether this is possible and,

1:25:42 > 1:25:47certainly, I am sure it would get cross-party support in the chamber.

1:25:47 > 1:25:55And one thing in Wales' favour, even though there would be three

1:25:55 > 1:26:02host nations by 2020, we might yet see Wales qualifying. Yes, it might

1:26:02 > 1:26:06be nice to see Wales qualify! If that can't be, then qualifying by

1:26:06 > 1:26:09games, were disqualified by being a host country.

1:26:09 > 1:26:14Let's talk about something your party are raising this afternoon.

1:26:14 > 1:26:18Your party's debate on maternity services. One thing that marks

1:26:18 > 1:26:23suggested was a reduction in midwives. What do you want to

1:26:23 > 1:26:26raise? Harriet Harman raised this in Prime Minister's questions about

1:26:27 > 1:26:31the shortage of midwives that the situation is the same in Wales and

1:26:31 > 1:26:35that shortage of midwives is leading to patchy services around

1:26:35 > 1:26:41Wales in terms of maternity and there is a report which highlights

1:26:41 > 1:26:44that and shows that women who were going to give birth cannot expect a

1:26:44 > 1:26:47consistent service depending on which hospital they go to, and I

1:26:47 > 1:26:51have got a case word from my own hospital in Swansea of some

1:26:51 > 1:26:55horrendous stories of women going in there. It is not down to the

1:26:55 > 1:26:59staff, who are excellent, but there is a shortage of staff, they rushed

1:26:59 > 1:27:03off their feet, they do not have time to do the basics, and, as a

1:27:03 > 1:27:07result, there have been spates of infections, there is issues were

1:27:07 > 1:27:13women are being left for long Torrens, not getting the stuff they

1:27:13 > 1:27:19need in terms of their maternity plan. -- being left for long times.

1:27:19 > 1:27:22These are the issues we want to raise today. Lots of nods of

1:27:22 > 1:27:26agreement from you. One thing we see from opposition debates is

1:27:26 > 1:27:31there is hardly anybody in the chamber. Will there be anybody in

1:27:31 > 1:27:35this one? That is not fair. Maybe it is the ones I watch! I think

1:27:35 > 1:27:42there is a firm number of people but people have no other things to

1:27:42 > 1:27:50do as well. It is not always possible to be in the chamber. By

1:27:50 > 1:27:57and large, people do stay in for most of the debates. One of the Lib

1:27:57 > 1:28:03Dems, You Are What -- the Lib Dems, you are nodding. There have been

1:28:03 > 1:28:07problems. We need to insure the maternity service is consistent and

1:28:07 > 1:28:11of the highest standard. I was out in the Committee of regions in

1:28:11 > 1:28:15Finland last week, and their health service is totally different. All

1:28:15 > 1:28:19GPs family doctors are employed by the state and you have medical

1:28:19 > 1:28:23centres in all parts of Finland, but they have to travel a long way

1:28:23 > 1:28:27to the hospital, so maybe we need to rethink the services and good

1:28:27 > 1:28:31services which meet the needs of the present situation. OK, thank