21/06/2016 am.pm

Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly

coverage of questions to the First Minister.

We're expecting Carwyn Jones to be quizzed on cancer detection rates,

Natural Resources Wales and standards of care in health

Don't forget you can Follow all the latest on Welsh politics

on our twitter feed, we're @walespolitics.

Well, business in the chamber is already underway,

so let's take a look now at today's questions to the First Minister.

Assembly members observed a member -- like a minute of silence in

memory of Jo Cox and there was an opportunity for members to pay

tribute to the Yorkshire MP. Call the National Assembly to order. On

behalf of the National Assembly for Wales, I wish to express our

heartfelt simply to the family, friends and colleagues of Jo Cox MPs

who died so tragically last week. Jo Cox was killed in the course of her

public duty, gratefully serving her constituents as a democratically

elected member of Parliament. The shock and sadness of this loss had

been felt greatly right across the United Kingdom and the many who

attended a vigil in her memory outside this Senedd building are

testament to that. Her loss has been felt both deeply as a personal

tragedy for those who knew and loved but also an attack on our democratic

life. We will continue to uphold the values that Jo Cox stood for,

compassion, tolerance, and respect, in her honour. Before I asked for

statements from party leaders, and as we stand to honour Jo Cox's life,

let others do so by recalling the words of a poem read in this Chamber

only two weeks ago today. We give thanks there are no bullet holes in

the pillars of this house. Just a cloud of witnesses who maintain us

in all manner of beliefs. May we therefore remember Jo Cox. Member of

Parliament. Thank you. I now invite party

leaders and others to say a few words, beginning with the First

Minister, Carwyn Jones. With Jo Cox or Joe Leadbetter or little jewel as

many would have remembered her, she led a full and brilliant life. She

was well-known in Labour and developed a passion for

International development and social justice. There is little doubt that

the attack on Jo Cox was political in nature. It was an unforgivable

and brutal attack not just on a female politician going about her

work, but against everything she stood for. But it is not the

politics we should reflect on today. It is the person. She had very many

friends in Wales and everyone knew her political career was going to be

something special, not because of her ambition, but because of her

fierce determination, her decency, and to absolute fundamental desire

to get things done. That meant offering the hand of friendship

across the political divide. Tomorrow would have been Jo's 42nd

birthday, and there will be events across the world where people will

repeat that phrase that has already become a mantra. We are far more

united and have far more in common than that which divides us. Jo's

life was cut short, but it was a life lived in full and a life that

has given us inspiration. It is that inspiration we must focus on today.

And in the future. And not just the devastating events that took place

last Thursday. I never met Jo Cox, but I am sure I am not alone in

identifying with aspects about what we have heard about her and with

some of the politics that she represented. Rather than use my

words today, I would prefer to use hers. In her maiden speech in

Westminster, Jo Cox MP said, "Our communities have been deeply

enhanced by immigration. Be it of Irish Catholics, across the

constituency, or of Muslims from India or from Pakistan, principally

from Kashmir. While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time

and time again as I travel around my constituency is that we are far more

united and have far more in common with each other than that which

divides us. Now, it remains to be proven beyond all reasonable doubt

whether she was killed for holding these beliefs. But it seems to me

that the most fitting tribute we can play to this woman is to remember

her words and in her memory, for all of us to work for a society and a

politics which is free from heat. I now call the leader of the Welsh

Conservatives. I make no pretence to a non-Jo Cox, but the events last

Thursday mortified us all. Pure evil visited Jo Cox Hunter family last

week and her constituency when she was going about her job, which she

cared passionately about anything she said in her own words that it

was a job which she thought was a job that she had been groomed for

life to achieve success for the communities that she represented and

the causes that she helped the two. Then she certainly took those causes

right to the heart power in Parliament and worked across the

political divide and proved when politicians do work together, we

actually achieve far more. One thing we must remember is that a family

today will not feel the warmth and love of a mother and also a wife,

and they are the ones who have lost the most in all of this. But we as a

society are far poorer for losing such an individual is Jo Cox. And we

should never let the flame that she let go out and stand up for the

beliefs and causes that she fought for and make sure that the evil that

visited this country, her constituency, and her family last

week, triumphs. I now call on the leader of the UK group, Neil

Hamilton. I would like to associate myself and my party with everything

that has been said here today and like Andrew Davis, I did not know Jo

Cox. She was clearly a very remarkable person on the threshold

of what I am sure would have been a very successful political career.

The impact of her tragic death would not have achieved the huge publicity

that it has, but for the nature of her personality, and although I did

not know her, I did know the last member of Parliament to be

assassinated, Ian Gow, very well, so I do understand from personal

experience the effect upon those who knew her. Rachel Reeves said

yesterday in the House of Commons that what Andrew Davies has just

reminded us of that this is a personal tragedy as well inasmuch as

Batley and Spen may acquire a member of Parliament, but those poor

children will not acquire a new mother and that certainly should

affect us all and we should go forth, I think, in our different

parties and in our different ways in the spirit in which Jo Cox lived her

life and fought her politics. Compassion and respect and first and

foremost, respect for the whole of human kind and I think that in her

death she will achieve far more than any of us will achieve in our lives.

Jo Cox MP, a passionate activists and unwavering humanitarian and a

committed feminist, a friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother and

MP for Batley and Spen, the Yorkshire community in which she

grew up. Jo Cox was one of us and we were profoundly shocked and

devastated and moved by that murder, but today is a time to remember the

incredibly significant and valuable contribution that Jo Cox made in an

all too short time with us. I was only lucky enough to meet Jo briefly

to the Labour's women's movement so I sought guidance today from those

who knew Jo far, far better than I. Jo achieved so much before entering

the House of Commons, with Oxfam and the European Parliament and

encouraging women into politics. She was chair of the Labour women's

network from 2010 to do part of a group of women with big ambitions to

develop the organisation to support Labour women from all walks of life

into the body and into public life. The focus and determination that Jo

ought to drive forward and actually get things done was the focus and

determination that she brought to everything that she did. A friend

and colleague of Jo wrote in the last few days how she supported and

empowered other women by half holding you upright and half shoving

you forward. The alliances that Jo built on what she achieved in her

months as an MP is testament nodded to the tenacity and the depth of

experience she brought to the issues that she focuses on the courses that

you champion, but also to her personality. Friends have cheered

how Jo was let them sleep positive and the bundle of energy, a force of

nature that enjoyed life to the full. They have written how in

reflecting on Joe's life, it is not just what she did but how she did

it. The power of common action and not to simply believing in her

ideals but loving them and doing something to advancing every single

day. To me, Jo Cox personified everything a politician should be,

and let us go forward in her own words shaping our deeds that we have

far more in common with each other than that which divides as. I thank

you all and we now move to the first item on our agenda today. Questions

to the First Minister. The first question is from Vicki Howell. First

Minister, what actions is the Welsh Government taking to improve cancer

detection rates? We will continue with our population screening

programme as well as improve our support to GPs to better recognise

symptoms and improve the access to testing. Thank you, First Minister.

Last week, was screening awareness week, a European wide project to

raise awareness of the role of screening in tackling cervical

cancer. Whilst mortality rates for cervical cancer are dropping, there

is also a slight decline in screening uptake and I am

particularly concerned that one in 325 to 29-year-olds do not attend

their smear tests. How can the Welsh Government encourage Welsh women of

all ages but younger women in particular to attend these rulings

that could save their lives? Well, the screening engagement team of

Public Health Wales is working with our local public health teams and

with health boards and with primary-care clusters to consider

screening uptake in each region and has plans specific activities to

improve uptake including social media activity and there will be

specific focus on the groups in each region where uptake is at its

lowest. Thank you. It is not unusual for a GP to fail to diagnose the

symptoms of cancer on the first appointment, but if a diagnosis is

ultimately made following a second or third appointment, does the First

Minister agree that the clock should start thinking in terms of when

treatment starts from the time of that first appointment? Because

Swift treatment for patients is the most important thing, not hitting

Government targets. Well, it is the patient who is important in this,

but may I say about diagnostic tests for example that we are seen a

significant improvement in the past year. The figures from April 2016

are 26% less than April of last year. And the same is true for the

July figures. What is important is that the whole thing is dealt with.

First Minister, young children between zero and 14 are twice as

likely to be diagnosed from emergency presentation for cancer. I

would like you to consider the children's charity who called for a

refreshed Wales Cancer delivery plan intended for later this year to

improve initial and ongoing training for children and young people's

house. They should report on the level of access GP practices have

two paediatric and young people health expertise to help this issue.

To be between zero and 14 years of old when you are rushed to uni is

not acceptable and I think your government needs to look out to

address that situation. -- rests to A Many cancers present themselves

at A Children I suspect, I am not medically qualified, it is always

assumed it will be something else. It is difficult for GPs to diagnose

cancer, but as part of the refreshment of the Cancer delivery

plan we were locked at what can be done to assist GPs and other primary

cable fresheners to improve the ability to detect cancer where it's

possible, as quickly as possible. Diolch, Llywydd.. As someone who

survived cancer I can tell you from first-hand experience that early

diagnosis is key to survival. GPs are the front line in the fight

against cancer and are critical for early diagnosis. First Minister,

Cancer Research UK from that there is a huge variation in GP's direct

access to diagnostic tests and Wales. What will your government do

over the next five years to ensure that every GPU has access to vital

diagnostic tests? Well, I think I answered this question in response

to the question posed by the previous member. Reducing diagnostic

waiting times is a priority for this government. You will see from the

figures I mentioned earlier that diagnostic waiting times are

reducing quickly in Wales. Question two, Bethan dragons. Will he First

Minister make a statement on the latest survey of staff at Natural

Resources Wales? Yes. It's a big file, as you can see. I am aware of

staff survey results. It is a matter for the board of Natural Resources

Wales that the Cabinet Secretary has met with the chair and Chief

Executive of Natural Resources Wales, and outlined the

disappointment with the figures. Thank you, for that answer. The

survey indicates that there is a problem with senior management and

it is far worse than last year. I have had constituents who contacted

me, they don't wish to be named, they are fearful for the comments

they have sent me. They said they had a meeting with the director and

their leaders last week, this included in-depth analysis of survey

results which made for worse reading than those published. I think that

the feeling from that meeting was that the problems were with lower

management, and they should go off and fix it to themselves. Although

they see it more as something that needs to be fixed from the top.

First Minister, how will this be done given that it is an

organisation, as you say, that is arms length from yourself? How will

you achieve the ?150 million savings over ten years, when, as I believe

from staff, processes and contracts that are now in place cost more than

when they were filled by the legacy organisation?

There is a responsibility on the chair and Chief Executive to make

sure staff feel valued. I notice that overall staff were more

satisfied than they were last year. But, it is right to say that when we

drill down underneath those figures in terms of management, career

development and understanding the organisation's directionally figures

are not as good. I mentioned earlier on the Cabinet said she has met with

the chair and chief executive. It has been made clear to them that

they must drive positive change from the top. They have to make sure that

people do feel more valued within organisation.

Paul Davies. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister according to

the survey there is great concern that staff in Batley and Spen feel

that they don't have access to learning and personal development

opportunities -- Batley and Spen. People need these opportunities.

Given that Natural Resources Wales is accountable to your government

how will we ensure that the staff in this organisation can access

training and learning? Well, although it is an arm's-length body

Natural Resources Wales Natural Resources Wales, of course, has a

clear interest in ensuring that the body works as Richard the Minister,

or the Cabinet Secretary has responsibility in this. To ensure

that the career paths of individuals are developed and are available to

people as they required. Diolch, Llywydd. The Plaid Cymru

member opposite is right to draw the First Minister pass macro attention

to the recent survey asked Natural Resources Wales. The results are

disappointing and concerning. Is the dissatisfaction of staff a

reflection on how well the body is serving the general public? No, I

don't believe that's right. Natural Resources Wales are doing a good job

in terms of managing our forestry resources. They are making advice

available to businesses to mitigate the environmental impact and manage

the countryside for the benefit of people.

I now call on the party leaders to question the First Minister. First

of all, the Leader of the Opposition, Leanne Wood. Before I

start my questions today I would like to place, on record, my

congratulations to the Welsh football team and the fans who did

us proud in France last night. I could go on in that vein, but I'm

going to move on to my questions now. First Minister, you and I have

crossed swords on many occasions on the National Health Service. Last

night I hosted a packed public meeting in the Rhondda, a community

that is due to lose a doctor 's surgery because the health boards

tell me there is a shortage of doctors, which we all know about.

Now without getting into arguments about how many doctors we need, will

you confirm that if we leave the European Union on Thursday the Welsh

NHS will find it even more difficult to recruit doctors from overseas

than it has been up until now? Can I first of all express my slight

annoyance that the Leader of the Opposition has got in before me when

it comes to congratulating the Welsh football team on a wonderful result

last night. Ken skates was there, he is looking well! It was hugely

important for Wales and our profile around the world, and the fact that

there are fewer and fewer people who will say, wheels, ways that? That is

important. What message are we comparing to our doctors? If we

leave the EU? We know for example that people who come you put

pressure on the edge yes, I don't buy that. They are young, they are

working, they barely see a doctor. The reality is that they are often

helping to care for sick people in Wales. The effect of a leave vote

would be to send the message to medical professionals, don't come

here. Go everywhere else in Europe, but don't come here. That'll make it

even more difficult to attract the medical expertise we need here in

Wales. Thank you for your answer. You will

be aware that for many years now Plaid Cymru has advocated incentives

to attract doctors to Wales. One important fact if we are going to

attract people to live and work here as GPs, while we train more doctors,

is the state of the economy. How much more difficult to you assess it

will be to attract GPs to those areas where vacancies are difficult

to fail, if the economy takes the dip that it is predicted to if there

is a leave vote on Thursday? If you are a doctor qualified in the

European Union and you told you can't travel to 27 other countries

without the need for a Visa, or come to the UK but you need a Visa, it

doesn't take a genius to about it is easier to go to the other countries.

The UK will become a more difficult place to recruit medical staff into.

They will be an effect on the economy. I spent much of my time

talking to businesses about attracting investment into Wales.

Evidence how that has ruled, this would be a self-inflicted wound. We

would not be able to offer the same certainty to businesses as Ireland

or France or Germany would because we would not be able to say for

years what kind of access the European market could enjoy if they

were to be based in Wales. That is bad/. I don't disagree with

you there, First Minister. We may well have disagreements in the

future of the Welsh NHS, what needs to happen to safeguard it, but we

agree on our joint opposition to privatisation. I wonder whether or

not you think it is more or less likely that the NHS will be opened

up for privatisation in the event of a leave vote? We know that

right-wing politicians across a number of parties in Westminster are

keen to sign up to the transatlantic trade and investment partnership

which will, of course, make it easier to sell off public services

to their mates. Do you think that we've got a better chance of

avoiding the damage that could be caused to RHS from TTIP by joining

and remaining with other countries who can resist it?

The reality is that the EU won the US are large trading blocs, the UK

is much, much smaller. It comes down to how much muscle you have in the

market. We would not want to see any kind of privatisation of the

National Health Service. I see the leave campaign's figures, Nigel

Farage, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, I do not trust them with the future

of a public funded, publicly available NHS. I am glad that the

health services devolved so they can't get their hands on the Welsh

NHS. I'm sure she and I share some scepticism that the people who front

that campaign have become converted to the power of the state to ensure

the welfare of its people. The leader of the Welsh

Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies. I would like to identify with the

sentiments of the Leader of the Opposition and the First Minister

about the victory last night, I had several members out there. Going in

a camper van for a week is not a brilliant advert, now they have to

extend their time for the next match and continue through the

championships. Congratulations to the Welsh fans on the way they

conducted themselves, but Morgan graduation should the team on the

way they played last night. It is vital that we make improvements in

autism services here in Wales. Last Saturday was autism pride today. In

2009 the Government passed a act to improve services in England, as part

of our manifesto was to bring forward an act in this Assembly term

to seek improvements in Wales so that health was an public bodies

would know exactly what commitments they would have to make to the

34,000 people who have this diagnosis and battled to get the

help and support they require here in Wales. Will you commit to your

government is putting forward an act to support autistic services here in

Wales, similar to the one in England?

It is something we are actively considering. I am not saying we can

replicate what happened in Westminster. It needs consideration

separately from other legislation. It is something we willing to

discuss with other parties in order to ensure that services we have for

autism are the best they can be. Thank you for that answer. I would

like to to my colleague who has championed the cause around autistic

services here in Wales for many years. Once those discussions are

going on, and certainly not ruling out the opportunity to bring forward

legislation, what... What improvements can we see why those

discussions are being undertaken around that legislation framework,

because there are 34,000 people in Wales who have a diagnosis that the

autistic Society identifies services to support them as patchy here in

Wales. What can we expect in the intervening time when we will

hopefully find agreement to bring forward legislation to enshrine the

rights of people with a diagnosis to expect delivery here in Wales.

The first challenges the diagnosis. That can take some time. Because

autism exists on a spectrum there are some elements of autism that are

not easily diagnosed. The diagnosis is the first step. He has housed the

as about those who have been diagnosed with top we have ring

fenced mental health spending we need to make sure there are more

services available. The demands on Calms has been substantial. We

expect a consistent service to support not just those who are

diagnosed with autism, but those who care for them as well.

You introduced cams into the line of questioning, mental health services

for young people in particular have seen a massive increase in

referrals, over a since 2010. The waiting times in this particular

area are horrendous to say the least with one in eight people who are

referred waiting in excess of 40 weeks.

The target is 14 weeks. What action will be new Welsh Government be

doing to actually tackle these chronic waiting times, that as I've

said, have seen one in eight young people waiting in excess of 40 weeks

for the help and support they require when in the last financial

year, the Welsh Government did cut the money to CAMS by nearly 7%?

Well, that is not correct. Money has gone into CAMS. CAMS in some ways

was the victim of its success at the beginning. Once it was known that

the service was there, GPs were far more able to revert into CAMS and

indeed it is right to say that demand did become quite high. We

then took steps, of course, to make sure the funding was available to

meet that demand and I fully expect to see waiting times to reduce

overtime as the money flows through the system. Last night's result

shows that small countries can take on much bigger ones in the world and

succeed. If they approach a task in the right spirit and I'm sure at

that can's gates will be an advantage were ever in the world.

But to revert to the question of the opposition, there is no reason why a

points -based immigration system as varied in Australia should in any

way restrict the number of doctors coming to the UK, but it might

enable us to restrict those who don't come for jobs which compete

with others, and I wonder if he agrees what Ken McCluskey is

reported as having said in the papers today that opening borders to

eastern European countries in 2004 has led to a gigantic experiment at

the expense of ordinary workers and has led to sustain pressure on

living standards, a systematic attempt to hold down wages, and cut

the costs of social conditions for working people. At the beginning, he

was advocating Wilson dependence on those comments. I am sure he

explains his position later. I do not believe that and I will explain

why. The reason why people are angry at the moment is because they feel

their jobs are unsecured. They remember the days when there were

jobs available, when they have long-term contract, whenever

pensions at the end and there was strong trade union recognition.

Those rights were stripped away consistently over many, many years,

what we see now are too many people in jobs where the wages are lower,

there is casual contracts, zero-hours contract, and recognition

is denied to them. We see that encapsulated in the last few weeks

with Mike Ashley. That is the sort of future that we do not want to see

on these benches, not by any stretch of the imagination, and that is what

drives people's anger, but the reality is that the levels of

migration will remain much as they are for the next few years at least

whatever happens. It is not a question of migrants causing the

problem. It is because the law is not strong enough and trade union

recognition is not strong enough to make sure that people have the

secure jobs that they need, and I have no doubt that those people who

advocate that we should leave the UK are not going to suddenly turn

around and say that we should go back to the days when there was

strong trade union recognition, when we had higher wages, when we had

longer-term contracts and we did not have zero-hours contract, when

people had contracts -- pensions at the end of their jobs. I do not see

that coming from the League campaign. He seems to be denying

that adding a city the size of Cardiff to our national population

of you has no effect on wages. I have to say that the Bank of England

disagrees with that at any report that was not was at the end of last

year, the Bank of England said that a 10% increase in immigration leads

to a 2% fall in wages for unskilled and semiskilled people, so although

it may be very well for professional classes and people who are not

cleaners and gardeners and the like to have unlimited immigration, but

for those at the bottom of the income scale, this is very bad news

indeed. He should look at his own benches when it comes to employing

those people. On the one hand, his party said that you have to stop

people coming in. On the other, they are quite happy to employ people

when they are here. The reality is that out of a published 3 million in

Wales, we're 47,000 people who are nationals of another EU state. It is

a very small percentage. Many of those people are in skilled jobs,

they their working in medicine and nursing and in dentistry, and I can

show him if he likes some of these people in my own constituency and

the services that they contribute. The bike is this, if you are a

doctor and you wish to take your skills around Europe, you are far

more likely to go somewhere where there are no barriers that a country

where you have to fill in forms to work. Simple human nature. And the

more barriers we put in place to skilled workers, the less likely

they are to come here. I think the First Minister had his head in the

clouds on that and huge numbers of ex-Labour voters take the same view.

It is not just about immigration. Bearing down on the living standards

of ordinary people. There are many other ways in which the EU does this

as well. The cost of the common agricultural policy, for example,

which probably adds up to ?500 per year on the household budgets of

ordinary people. ?500 per year for green taxes and other climate change

Levy 's and because of the tariffs which the EU imposes upon the import

of clothing from other parts of the world, the average amount that

people spend on clothing in the average household is but ?150 per

year more than it would otherwise be, so in so many ways, the EU is

against the interests of ordinary people, those who are the most

vulnerable in our society. I wonder if the leader of the Conservatives

heard that. So much for his guarantees. He has decided that they

want to get rid of the common agricultural policy, which means

getting rid of subsidies and allowing in more New Zealand lamb

and taking away the protection of our farmers and the subsidies they

receive and that is what he means by that. He is not thought it through.

He is embarrassed now I'd been on the same side. I am not surprised he

is embarrassed about being on the same side as Ukip on this. What he

is as proposed is that farmers would lose money, they would not be able

to export at a reasonable price to the European market. New Zealand

lamb would come in cheaper because there would be no tariffs because of

free trade and our farmers would be obliterated. Now we know the truth

of what the right are saying, that they want to make sure that our

farmers lose the protection that Europe provides. What is the Welsh

Government doing to improve the standards of care in health and

social services across Wales? We put in robust regulation and inspection

regimes which drive service rates. Thank you, First Minister. Following

the recent publication of the fundamentals of care survey

conducted in all hospitals across Wales, it was revealed that overall

patient satisfaction with the NHS remains extremely high. 90% of

patients documented that they were made to feel safe and 99% said that

they were treated with dignity and respect. These positive findings are

welcome news and a testament to the high quality of work at the heart of

the Welsh NHS, which is reiterated by the OECD report earlier this

year. We'll be First Minister join me in welcoming these results, which

demonstrate that Welsh Labour have not wavered in our efforts to

construct -- given for the challenges we face and would he

agree that it is crucial that the Welsh Government continues to build

upon this and remain committed to excellence in care across the Welsh

NHS? I fully agree. We do remain committed to excellent high-quality

care across Wales and as we said before, the OECD report confirms

that no one system across the UK is outperforming another. While there

was much to be satisfied with in that report, it is still clear that

we cannot be satisfied 100% and we look to health boards to make sure

that they fulfil their potential as organisations that can deliver the

services that people expect. First Minister, key Ams in the social

services and well-being Wales act are integrated, consistency and

cooperation in the delivery of services, yet the reality in Wales

here is that there are 34% of patients waiting well over six weeks

for a transfer home from N -- from an NHS bed and I know from many

casework issues arising and indeed from recent personal experience that

communication links between the health and social care practitioners

is actually very poor and often leads to delays and the lack of

probation services would people often return home in vulnerable

state. Occupational therapy, district nurse care, is essential,

but very rarely available joined up. Through your two-year evaluation now

of this act, how will you address these barriers in order to meet the

pledges contained within your permit bust act to make it meaningful and

relevant to those very people who desperately depend on it? We saw the

level at reduced in April and a further 2.64 was reported in May.

The number of patients delayed into bed also fell in May, down 7% on the

previous month. And the number of patients waiting to leave mental

health facilities was decreased by 20%. Provisions in the act of the

social services and well-being act will ensure for more collaborative

working between health and social services, and I am sure all parties

want to see that. Regional partnerships will ensure that fewer

and fewer people have to wait longer than they need before they can leave

hospital. Thank you. We'll be First Minister make a statement on the

Welsh Government's priorities in ensuring enhanced connectivity for

railway passengers? We are funding enhancements to that line, which we

reopen, which will allow for additional services, improving

stations and also bus connectivity. Thank you for that answer. The

scheme to be in today's passenger services back to the Emperor Vale

railway line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff has been a resounding

success with the public and in great part has been funded by EU

structural funding. It would not have happened if it had been left to

the Tory cuts that have occurred in Wales. With the First Minister

provide an update on how Welsh Government is progressing and

facilitating the process with which the communities I represent are

served by the Ebbw Vale railway line and ensure critical connectivity for

jobs, markets, and community regeneration and would he also

comment on the borders of EU funding in such critical infrastructure

projects for the future? It is like to say that it would not have been

reopened without European funding. There are those who say that the

money will be made up penny per penny by Whitehall. I believe that

that is cloud cuckoo land, if I am honest. I have spent many years in

this Chamber fighting Whitehall for funding, ensuring that we have a

proper funding formula and ensuring that the Barnett formula is

reviewed, and the results have not been happy ones for Wales. I do not

believe for one ms that the money we currently receive from Europe will

be transferred to as without a cut being taken by Whitehall. We saw the

council tax benefit. We had a devolved but only 90% of the budget

was given to us. We know this money will come to Wales and we are

investing ?40 million to improve train services and that will allow

services to Newport which will be procured at the next phase on the

south Wales metal if the European money is met. A crucial development

for transport to people across the wider region will be the creation of

a full Metro system as part of a wider economic and social policy.

But what assurances can be First Minister give to me that at the

heart of this approach will be the aim of spreading job creation across

the South East region so the communities there become growth

areas in their own right, rather than being little more than simply

commuter communities for the capital? To me, it works both ways.

It is right to say that many thousands of people commit to

Cardiff every day. That will continue. But it is also important

that we connect communities to bring investment up from the M4 as well,

so it works both ways. Not just physical connectivity but broadband

as well. Because we know that broadband in the 21st century is the

equivalent of railway lines in the 19th century. It is important to

ensure that communities are connected, so that it doesn't make a

difference if you are a digital business where you are based. To be

in Cardiff. You could be in any community around Wales. The two

things together. It does mean that people need to access and jobs in

Cardiff but also easier to bring investment up from the traditional

areas around the M4. First Minister, a businessman claimed recently that

traffic problems were having a damaging effect on businesses in

Newport. One of the reasons he gave for this increased traffic was the

fact that the very line from Newbridge where he lived by Newport.

In 2007 and 2008, the promises were made in this Chamber by the then

economic minister that prior to this Ryder Cup the activity between

Newport and the railway lines and Cardiff will be made and that never

happened, so basically continued promises by a Government that the

connectivity for the mainline from very line to Newport is bypassed by

the coroner. What action can the Welsh Government take now before the

Metro project is completed to improve connectivity between his

line and Newport? I did see earlier on that the investment we are making

will allow services to Newport and we consider that part of the

procurement for the next franchise. We'll be First Minister provide an

update on any discussions with the UK Government regarding the

devolution of taxes? Well, I made it clear that I warmly supported

devolution of the tax powers if there is a fair fiscal framework.

Discussions are underway and I expect the UK Government to be good

to their word and agree a fair and strong funding deal. I'm getting

predictable. You anticipated my first supplementary. You mentioned

enough to do the last question the challenges which face us in getting

funds, adequate funds, from the Treasury, certainly following the

devolution of taxes it is going to be crystal but that fiscal framework

is in place or that any subscript adoption from the block grant are

actually not going to change Wales. Can you update us on your

discussions regarding progress towards a fiscal framework? I am

made it clear when it comes to the Wales Bill that it is absolutely

crucial that the powers should not be devolved without the consent of

this Assembly. The reason I say that is that there should be an agreement

on the fiscal framework. If it is good enough for Scotland, it is good

for Wales and it certainly isn't for Wales to be imposed on with a fiscal

framework when there is a genuine discussion and agreement between the

Scottish Government and the UK Government. We expect the same to

them to be given to Wales. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Of course,

it is a huge gamble to try to control a macro economic policy.

Welsh income taxes in perfect Westminster and we know they fell by

?40 million, none of which was the responsibility of the Welsh

Government. Does the Minister agree that we need a mixture of psychical

and countercyclical taxes and we needs protection from reduction in

taxes caused by Westminster decisions? The member is right and

we will have to make sure that this is part of the discussions around

the fiscal framework which will need to be agreed with the UK Government.

What is essential to my mind is that we have an agreement that will

underpin our funding arrangements for the long term and that means of

course putting in place the safeguards that the member has

rightly raised, particularly when it comes to the partial devolution of

income tax or that Wales does not lose it. We want to have a fair

system of taxation but not one which undermines the funding system that

we have found this far, flawed although it is, the Barnett formula

so it is hugely important and indeed is the case that this will form part

of the discussions that will be ongoing. Can the First Minister

explain the confusion that currently exists regarding the passenger duty

on the 9th of June Jim O'Neill on behalf of the tragedy -- Treasury

confirmed that the review on the devolution of the duty to Wales was

ongoing and then in the next few days took them from the Wales Office

and stands up in the House of Commons saying that the decision has

been taking not to default. Which is it and does the First Minister feel

surprised that the Welsh Conservatives seem to be more

willing to listen to an airport in Bristol which is owned by a pension

fund than they are to the Parliament of the people of Wales in this

place? Well, I cannot disagree with you. We have been arguing for some

time that the air passenger tax should be devolved. It has been

devolved to Scotland. The review that the member alludes to, that is

a review into the airports of England and not Cardiff, to see what

the impact would be of devolving air passenger tax to Scotland, so Wales

isn't in the equation, really, so there is no sense whatsoever why

this should be devolved to Scotland and not to Wales. This is something

that he could not agree with because it did not benefit North Wales.

Well, there is a benefit to North Wales. There is a benefit to

airports such as Arden and Valley where there would be an opportunity

to develop the services to ensure that more services coming to those

airfields. So it is not up to me to explain the point of view of the UK

Government on this, but once again, it is something devolved to Scotland

and not to Wales and that in principle is unfair. It was recently

estimated that on a stand-alone basis, the Welsh budget deficit

would be ?14.6 billion with 25% of GDP, up 100 times greater than

estimates of any transfer to and from the EU. The First Minister said

he sees Scotland as the model, but does he not share my concern that in

the long-term we continue going down the tax devolution route,

particularly without a referendum, that that continuing transfer may be

put at risk? Well, I did not hear him advocate a referendum in

Scotland for the transfer of far greater powers in Scotland, but my

view is this. That the UK's tax system needs to be re-examined with,

for example, a system where there is a element of the taxation system

that provides the means to redistribute money across the UK to

where it is needed, while at the same time assuring local

accountability. We have it any fashion with council tax and with

community councils. It is quite normal in most countries were there

to be an element of locally raised income tax. We should not be afraid

of that in Wales. But certainly I would not be an advocate of having a

fully self-contained taxation system in Wales. I do not think that would

be in Wales's financial interest. Will the First Minister make a

statement on the latest employment rate in Wales compared to the rest

of the UK? Well, the improving implement rate in Wales continues to

outperform all other nations in the UK. We are ahead of Scotland,

England, Northern Ireland. With the fastest growing rate of implement

and the shop is declining rate of unemployment over the last 12

months. Well, our record is obviously excellent and colleges

like the Cardiff and the Vale College which to provide excellent

further education for a range of subjects ensure that people do have

the skills they need to get work. What works are we doing to ensure

that we are developing the skills that employers are going to need in

the future so that we are not having to rely on attracting people from

other countries who may be a much broader than us? Well, one example

is jobs with Wales. Hugely successful. In terms of young people

going on to employment or to further or higher education schemes. And of

course a scheme that has helped so many young people get into work and

the genesis of that scheme was that we talk to small and medium-sized

businesses who said that if they want to take people on, they will

have to find the time and money to do it. Many, many young people in

I think the fact that Welsh unemployment is now lower than the

UK average is an important watershed moment. It has happened a view times

over 30 years, but all too rarely. Given that and the fact that the

employment rate now is very small, would he accept that when we compare

that to overall, I would I has a 30% gap, the underlying problem within

the Welsh economy is not jobs per se, it is the quality of jobs. It is

about productivity problem that we have. Should we focus our

priorities? Wales is now accepting a matter guard. We have a legacy from

the 80s and 90s of an economic policy that got rid of well-paid

jobs and put in place jobs that were amongst the lowest paid in Western

Europe at the time. That is not a policy he or I want to see in the

future. We have more investment coming into Wales, companies like

Aston Martin, CGI, these are well-paid skilled jobs. The

challenge prices to make sure that those skills that employers need in

order to prosper in Wales, that is increasingly happening. I expect to

see an increase over the course of the next few years given the fact

that the quality of the jobs we attracting now, and the money that

they pay is in the right direction. We are no longer a Norwegian

economy, low skill economy. That is what Wales was presented as is the

80s and 90s. Never again. -- low wage economy. We have recently

announced nine priority sectors for growth in Wales, five of those

sectors have experienced a decline in workforce in the last quarter,

canny First Minister outlined the reasons for that?

I caution and a member to look as a quarter as being particularly

representative. It is better to look at longer term trends. If we look at

employment we see a trend that has been in place for more than a year.

You can't take a quarter and say that is typical of the economy in

terms of the trend. In terms of what we see in Wales we see unemployment

lower than Scotland and England, low weather and Northern Ireland. The

same is true of youth unemployment. We saw that youth unemployment in

Wales is lower than Scotland and Northern Ireland, almost as low as

Jersey which is historically unusual for us. That is a sign that the

active policy we have pursued to promote Wales around the world to

attract investment and jobs is working, although whether that will

still be the case after Thursday we must wait and see. Will the first

minute and make a statement on the detection given to Welsh workers as

a result of our EU membership? Since the mid-19 70s the EU has protected

working people. We are all protected by a range of rights relating to

health and safety at work, equal opportunities, protection against

cremation and, of course, the harmonisation of working conditions

across Europe. -- work against discrimination. In 1975 we joined

the EU, in 1977 it issued a directive to protect workers which

in 1981 became the transfer of undertakings regulations. This has

given detection to hundreds of thousands of Welsh workers over

several decades and, in fact, when it turned out the Tory government

did not properly implement that directive you listen was able to go

to the European Court of Justice and actually get an order to give that

prompt action to those hundreds of thousands of workers. When it comes

to protecting worker's rights would you trust most, the European Union,

Michael Gove, Nigel Farage Boris Johnson? Not the last three! These

people are of a tradition that demands that they should be greater

flexibility, as they see it, in the labour market. That means a disease

to sack people, casual as Asian and zero hours contracts will stop I

have no faith that they would be there to attract worker's rights.

Economists who support the leave campaign say they see the future of

the UK as one with almost no rights for working people. Issues for

health and safety are not regarded with the same concerns they are now

and environmental regulations are mainly discarded. Britain,

environmentally, was heavily degraded in the 80s, that is not

what we want. We want a working and physical environment that people

want to enjoy and respect. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First

Minister, who do you believe contributed more to the protection

of workers in the UK, was it the trade union and labour movements or

was it the EU? Is your government's commitment to remaining in the U and

admission that Labour is unlikely to ever form a government in the UK

again? I am the head of government here so I fully accept that we can

form a government share in Wales and in the UK. It is not an either or.

We had been working with colleagues across Europe to ensure that we have

common standards across all you'd be in countries. That is the way it

should be. There is protection for workers across the EU. One country

does not have the advantage over another for lower standards. That

must be in everybody's interests. I do not trust the inheritors of

Margaret Thatcher to actually protect worker's rights. We need to

ask ourselves suicide were these people on during the miners strike,

the wrong side! We saw the destruction of communities in Wales.

That is what brought many of us into politics to ensure that kind of

economic vandalism does not happen again. Thank you, Presiding Officer.

Can I ask the First Minister when he will meet with the ministers of the

other UK devolved nations? Reimer to be First Minister of Scotland and

the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland that the British

Irish Council in Glasgow last Friday. It was also attended by the

Taoiseach and ministers from the United Kingdom government. And the

Crown dependencies. I thank the first reserve for that response, did

he have any discussion with them on the referendum on the UK's

membership of the European Union, particularly on the questions as to

what assurance the other first ministers within the UK, as well as

yourself, have been given on what will happen if finding work to

disappear from Wales and other devolved nations because of a

decision to withdraw from the European Union? Well, I believe that

they were two in favour of withdrawal from the European Union,

the representative of the United Kingdom as it stands at present and

the First Minister of Northern Ireland who has said this in public,

the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey were concerned about the impact on

them. In the Isle of Man and they have an economic pact with the

United Kingdom which means that they are affiliated to the European

Union, so it would have a huge impact on them. We would have to

discuss what the impact would be after Thursday, if the decision is

to withdraw. There are other things we need to discuss internally, with

fisheries there are no fisheries that are managed on a UK level. We

would all have to have joint discussions and negotiations on who

would have access to the waters of Wales, England and Scotland. We

would have to discuss together what kind of individual agreements we

would have with other jurisdictions. There are a number of things we

would have to discuss if that is what happens on Thursday, which will

take a great deal of time. There was huge concern not just between

ourselves and Ireland and Scotland, but with the Isle of Man, Jersey and

Guernsey two. One of the items on the agenda for the British Irish

Council meeting was that of support required by councils across Wales,

particularly young and older carers reconsidered. Was any progress made

on cross governmental agreement? In terms of an approach to providing

guaranteed rights to respite for carers, this is something which my

party proposed in our manifesto in advance of the Welsh Assembly

elections, when you speak to carers there is one thing they are all

asking for. A break at times. I understand that that and that is

issues we are considering. It is useful to consider what others are

doing. It is a kind of mini European Commission. It is a bodywork

governments can come together and understand what is being done and

what works. We have to see what works in other countries,

particularly if they have a similar demographic here two hours and that

is what the British and Irish Council does. It is interesting to

hear what other people are doing in the different countries.

There we are, that was First Minister's Questions.

If you want more coverage of the National Assembly you can go

online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live page at BBC.co.uk/walespolitics.

But that's it for First Minister's Questions.

Don't forget for all the latest political news, watch Wales Today

later today on BBC One Wales and Newyddion at 9pm on S4C.

And don't forget our special programmes covering the result

of the EU Referendum on Thursday evening.

As for am.pm though, from all of us on the programme, goodbye.

Finding out this story matches any pride I had

Marking the centenary of the Somme through personal stories

brings new focus to what happened there.

It puts the human element into war, really.