Browse content similar to 22/11/2011. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme. We will take you over to | 0:00:20 | 0:00:23 | |
the Senedd in a moment for our coverage of First Minister's | 0:00:23 | 0:00:30 | |
Questions. It is non-stop questions on am.pm this week as tomorrow from | 0:00:30 | 0:00:33 | |
11.30 we will bring you live coverage of Welsh Questions and | 0:00:33 | 0:00:35 | |
Prime Minister's Questions from the House of Commons. Let's not wish | 0:00:36 | 0:00:41 | |
our lives away! Why don't you get in touch with us. You can do that | 0:00:41 | 0:00:48 | |
while we are on air. The address is @walespolitics or you can send an | 0:00:48 | 0:00:53 | |
e-mail to [email protected]. I have my am.pm mug of tea at the ready to | 0:00:53 | 0:01:01 | |
watch First Minister's Questions. Let's go over to the Senedd. | 0:01:01 | 0:01:04 | |
move to First Minister's Questions. Rebecca Evans. Will the First | 0:01:04 | 0:01:08 | |
Minister make a statement on Marine Conservation Zones? Yes, we are | 0:01:08 | 0:01:14 | |
aiming to have a small number of highly protected Marine | 0:01:14 | 0:01:18 | |
Conservation Zones to support the marine ecosystem and of course | 0:01:18 | 0:01:21 | |
enhance resilience. Thank you. I warmly welcome the important | 0:01:21 | 0:01:26 | |
contribution that the zones will make to resilience of ecosystems in | 0:01:26 | 0:01:32 | |
Welsh seas. Given their expected small size, there is still a big | 0:01:32 | 0:01:35 | |
challenge ahead. Will the Government commit to introducing | 0:01:35 | 0:01:38 | |
further zones after the initial designation and how else will the | 0:01:38 | 0:01:42 | |
Government support Welsh seas? I can say we have consistently said | 0:01:42 | 0:01:45 | |
we will keep under review the need for further Marine Conservation | 0:01:45 | 0:01:50 | |
Zones and I can reaffirm that commitment. But it is also right to | 0:01:50 | 0:01:53 | |
say that we are already making a significant contribution to | 0:01:53 | 0:01:57 | |
protecting Welsh seas through our existing extensive range of Marine | 0:01:57 | 0:02:05 | |
Protected Areas which cover 36% of our seas. First Minister, given | 0:02:05 | 0:02:10 | |
there has been no real development on the marine planning act since | 0:02:10 | 0:02:15 | |
autumn last year, can you advise me if there are any blockages with it | 0:02:15 | 0:02:21 | |
being finalised? I didn't hear that question. First Minister, given | 0:02:21 | 0:02:25 | |
there's been no real development on the Marine Planning Act since last | 0:02:25 | 0:02:29 | |
year, can you advise me if there are any blockages with it being | 0:02:29 | 0:02:36 | |
finalised? Right. Yes, there are no blockages but clearly we take the | 0:02:36 | 0:02:42 | |
view when it comes to marine planning, particularly for energy | 0:02:42 | 0:02:50 | |
consent, that our powers should be extended here in Wales. First | 0:02:50 | 0:02:56 | |
Minister, with regard to management... Has the given | 0:02:56 | 0:03:00 | |
considered delivering the management of those zones by the | 0:03:00 | 0:03:08 | |
Marine and Coastal Access Act? we are looking at the best way of | 0:03:08 | 0:03:13 | |
ensuring the management of MCZs and I suspect it will take an | 0:03:13 | 0:03:16 | |
examination of a number of items of legislation to ensure that the | 0:03:16 | 0:03:26 | |
0:03:26 | 0:03:26 | ||
management system that is in place is the most effective. Diolch yn | 0:03:26 | 0:03:33 | |
fawr. Following the deferral announced in England by the | 0:03:33 | 0:03:37 | |
minister, recently, I am pleased to hear the First Minister intends to | 0:03:37 | 0:03:45 | |
proceed in Wales. Would he agree that the Marine Conservation Zones | 0:03:45 | 0:03:49 | |
are important not in terms of fisheries conservation and that is | 0:03:49 | 0:03:55 | |
very important in terms of European policy, but also in terms of our | 0:03:55 | 0:03:59 | |
marine industries, including the importance of further investment in | 0:03:59 | 0:04:04 | |
wind energy offshore? Well, it's exceptionally important that we | 0:04:04 | 0:04:07 | |
have an integrated system as regards the development and | 0:04:07 | 0:04:12 | |
conservation of the seas and that means that the system in Wales will | 0:04:12 | 0:04:22 | |
0:04:22 | 0:04:23 | ||
be the same as the one in Scotland. Question 2. What plans does the | 0:04:23 | 0:04:26 | |
First Minister have to encourage economic growth in South Wales? | 0:04:26 | 0:04:35 | |
plans are set out in the Programme for Government. Thank you. With the | 0:04:35 | 0:04:38 | |
prospect of electrification of the commuter rail services in-and-out | 0:04:38 | 0:04:44 | |
of Cardiff getting closer, would he agree to negotiate with the | 0:04:44 | 0:04:48 | |
Business Department in Westminster to a redefining of the labour | 0:04:48 | 0:04:51 | |
market boundaries, removing the distinction between Cardiff and the | 0:04:51 | 0:05:01 | |
0:05:01 | 0:05:02 | ||
Vale and the Valleys because so we have a city region on the lines of | 0:05:02 | 0:05:07 | |
Greater Manchester? You will be aware there is a Task and Finish | 0:05:07 | 0:05:11 | |
Group which will inform our future approach to this. That is due to | 0:05:11 | 0:05:21 | |
report back in the early part of next year. The director of Wales | 0:05:21 | 0:05:25 | |
expressed concern last year that no economic growth in Welsh | 0:05:25 | 0:05:28 | |
departments have little understanding concerning the impact | 0:05:28 | 0:05:31 | |
their activities have concerning competitiveness of the Welsh | 0:05:31 | 0:05:35 | |
economy. Given that this competitiveness is central to | 0:05:35 | 0:05:41 | |
economic growth, what step have you taken to ensure that your | 0:05:41 | 0:05:44 | |
administration understands the cross-portfolio nature of this | 0:05:44 | 0:05:47 | |
important issue? We understand the need for competitiveness which is | 0:05:47 | 0:05:51 | |
why we are ensuring we are investing in people's skills, | 0:05:51 | 0:05:55 | |
particularly through the Welsh Jobs Fund. What we will not do is | 0:05:55 | 0:05:59 | |
support moves that will undermine the rights of workers such as the | 0:05:59 | 0:06:04 | |
reduction of the National Minimum Wage or the removal of the right to | 0:06:04 | 0:06:10 | |
gain compensation for unfair dismissal unlike your party. First | 0:06:10 | 0:06:15 | |
Minister, you have been at pains to say that there is no extra money | 0:06:15 | 0:06:20 | |
available for the economic stimulus that we in Plaid Cymru have been | 0:06:20 | 0:06:25 | |
kauing for. Much-needed investment -- have been calling for. Much- | 0:06:25 | 0:06:30 | |
needed investment could be provided if the money that Wales returns to | 0:06:30 | 0:06:34 | |
the Treasury is part of the housing revenue account subsidy could | 0:06:34 | 0:06:42 | |
remain here. The money is not insignificant. It is estimated to | 0:06:42 | 0:06:46 | |
be between �75 million and �80 million each year. Do you share the | 0:06:46 | 0:06:49 | |
view that we are being treated unfairly on this? If you do agree, | 0:06:50 | 0:06:53 | |
what representations have you made to your counterparts in Westminster | 0:06:53 | 0:06:58 | |
for this scheme to be scrapped in Wales as is happening in England? | 0:06:58 | 0:07:04 | |
Well, it isn't fair and that of course is a view taken by your own | 0:07:04 | 0:07:09 | |
Housing Minister in the One Wales Government. This Government's view | 0:07:09 | 0:07:14 | |
remains the same as that of the previous Government. Peter Black. | 0:07:15 | 0:07:23 | |
Thank you, Presiding Officer. You know that now you have failed to | 0:07:23 | 0:07:26 | |
put an enterprise zone in Swansea based around the university, as has | 0:07:26 | 0:07:29 | |
been requested, there is very little in place which is going to | 0:07:29 | 0:07:32 | |
be able to turn the work that is going on in the higher education | 0:07:32 | 0:07:36 | |
sector into jobs and in future investment in that particular area. | 0:07:36 | 0:07:40 | |
Can I ask you what plans you have to put right that particular | 0:07:40 | 0:07:45 | |
problem? As we have said on many occasions before, we are actively | 0:07:45 | 0:07:48 | |
considering new enterprise zones and where they might be placed | 0:07:48 | 0:07:52 | |
bearing in mind that it is important we don't have too many | 0:07:52 | 0:07:56 | |
otherwise their effect is diminished. We are still examining, | 0:07:56 | 0:08:01 | |
the Minister is still examining where new enterprise zones might be | 0:08:01 | 0:08:08 | |
placed if that is appropriate. PRESIDING OFFICER: Julie James. | 0:08:08 | 0:08:13 | |
take your commitment to using all the levers in the Welsh, all the | 0:08:13 | 0:08:16 | |
levers that you have to encourage economic growth very seriously. | 0:08:16 | 0:08:19 | |
Would you agree that when those levers are held by Westminster, | 0:08:19 | 0:08:22 | |
that they should also seek to encourage economic growth here in | 0:08:22 | 0:08:25 | |
Wales by investing in rail electrification all the way to | 0:08:25 | 0:08:30 | |
Swansea? It is crucial we see the UK Government playing its part. It | 0:08:30 | 0:08:38 | |
can't be right that somehow all the the responsibility of the eurozone. | 0:08:38 | 0:08:41 | |
The German economy is doing far better than the UK economy. It is | 0:08:41 | 0:08:46 | |
at the heart of the eurozone. The UK Government needs to rethink its | 0:08:46 | 0:08:49 | |
macroeconomic policy to create real growth and jobs in the UK. | 0:08:49 | 0:08:53 | |
PRESIDING OFFICER: We move to questions from the Party Leaders. | 0:08:53 | 0:09:01 | |
We start with Ieuan Wyn Jones. his final budget, Alistair Darling | 0:09:01 | 0:09:06 | |
predicted that growth for 2011 would be 3.5%, and next year it | 0:09:06 | 0:09:11 | |
would be 3%. Mervyn King said last week that we would be lucky to get | 0:09:11 | 0:09:15 | |
growth of 1% this year and 1% next year. It is pretty clear the | 0:09:15 | 0:09:21 | |
economy is in something of a crisis. We in Wales now have an | 0:09:21 | 0:09:24 | |
unemployment at a record high, as high as it was in the teeth of the | 0:09:24 | 0:09:28 | |
recession. We have also had more young people out of work with one | 0:09:28 | 0:09:35 | |
in four 16 to 24-year-olds out of work. First Minister, have you made | 0:09:35 | 0:09:39 | |
representations to the Chancellor as to what he should do in his | 0:09:39 | 0:09:42 | |
Autumn Statement next week? If so, would you tell assembly what you | 0:09:42 | 0:09:47 | |
have done? Well, we have regular meetings with Government ministers, | 0:09:47 | 0:09:50 | |
but we also take responsibility ourselves. One of the arguments | 0:09:50 | 0:09:53 | |
that's been put is somehow the Government, the Welsh Government is | 0:09:53 | 0:09:57 | |
sitting back and doing nothing. Last week we saw an announcement of | 0:09:57 | 0:10:03 | |
�55 million that will help businesses. We will key an | 0:10:03 | 0:10:06 | |
announcement this week. We will see a further announcement of the �39 | 0:10:06 | 0:10:10 | |
million that has come to us as a result of the council tax freeze | 0:10:10 | 0:10:14 | |
and it will build on the budget we have which is a budget for jobs and | 0:10:14 | 0:10:18 | |
growth. My complaint isn't that you haven't been critical of the | 0:10:18 | 0:10:21 | |
Westminster Government, it is that you haven't put a credible plan in | 0:10:21 | 0:10:24 | |
its place. That is the reason I have been requesting you. I fully | 0:10:24 | 0:10:27 | |
understand why you want to criticise Westminster. It is also | 0:10:27 | 0:10:32 | |
incumbent on you to tell us if the Westminster Government was to do | 0:10:32 | 0:10:35 | |
something in its Autumn Statement how that should help Wales. Let me | 0:10:35 | 0:10:40 | |
tell you what John Swinney did. The Scottish Finance Minister at the | 0:10:40 | 0:10:46 | |
weekend called on the Chancellor to borrow an extra �20 become for | 0:10:46 | 0:10:50 | |
capital investment. -- �20 billion for capital investment. The UK | 0:10:50 | 0:10:55 | |
Chancellor is looking for a �50 billion fund making sure you have | 0:10:55 | 0:10:59 | |
public and private finance very similar to the Build For Wales | 0:10:59 | 0:11:04 | |
scheme that Plaid Cymru put forward at the Assembly election. This is | 0:11:04 | 0:11:07 | |
the kind of innovative, bold and radical plan that we should be | 0:11:07 | 0:11:11 | |
asking the UK Government to do in relation to Wales. Why haven't you | 0:11:11 | 0:11:16 | |
First Minister been doing like the Scottish Government pressing the | 0:11:16 | 0:11:18 | |
Westminster Government for real action to boost jobs in Wales? | 0:11:19 | 0:11:23 | |
have. We have been talking to the UK Government about the �50 billion | 0:11:23 | 0:11:27 | |
pot and Welsh projects that might benefit from it. We do the talking | 0:11:27 | 0:11:32 | |
in private rather than broadcasting in public. Isn't that interesting? | 0:11:32 | 0:11:38 | |
The letter that you have published, and you have told us about, is your | 0:11:38 | 0:11:42 | |
latest letter to David Cameron. Is it about the dire state of the | 0:11:42 | 0:11:48 | |
economy? Is it about the latest unemployment figures? Is it about | 0:11:48 | 0:11:52 | |
the potentially lost generation of young people? No, it is about the | 0:11:52 | 0:11:56 | |
way we elect members to this Assembly. I put it to you, First | 0:11:56 | 0:12:00 | |
Minister, the only jobs you are worried about are the Labour | 0:12:00 | 0:12:04 | |
backbenchers over there that will be losing as a result of the | 0:12:04 | 0:12:09 | |
election. First Minister, what does this say about the priorities of | 0:12:09 | 0:12:14 | |
the Labour Party in Wales? leader of Plaid Cymru gives the | 0:12:14 | 0:12:19 | |
impression it is the only letter I have sent to David Cameron. I'm | 0:12:19 | 0:12:21 | |
surprised Plaid Cymru's contempt for the views of the people of | 0:12:21 | 0:12:24 | |
Wales. They support the Conservatives in trying to change | 0:12:24 | 0:12:27 | |
the electoral system here via Westminster. That is what comes of | 0:12:27 | 0:12:33 | |
having MPs that are too London- centric. PRESIDING OFFICER: We now | 0:12:33 | 0:12:38 | |
move to questions from the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. | 0:12:38 | 0:12:42 | |
Thank you. First Minister, the latest Government statistics show | 0:12:42 | 0:12:46 | |
that there are 45 consultant posts in the Welsh NHS that have been | 0:12:47 | 0:12:51 | |
vacant for three months or more. Six months earlier only 11 | 0:12:51 | 0:12:55 | |
consultant posts were vacant for that same period of time. A lack of | 0:12:55 | 0:12:59 | |
consultants of course means cancelled operations and patients | 0:12:59 | 0:13:02 | |
denied the clinical expertise they need. Why is this situation | 0:13:02 | 0:13:06 | |
deteriorating under your leadership? The reality is, it's | 0:13:06 | 0:13:11 | |
becoming difficult to attract, it's always been difficult to attract | 0:13:11 | 0:13:16 | |
consultants further west this Wales. It is particularly true now. What | 0:13:16 | 0:13:21 | |
are we doing? We are launching a campaign to attract doctors into | 0:13:21 | 0:13:25 | |
Wales, it is important that Wales isn't seen as a closed shop for | 0:13:25 | 0:13:28 | |
graduates from a particular university. That campaign will seek | 0:13:28 | 0:13:32 | |
to attract doctors into Wales for medical reasons and for quality of | 0:13:32 | 0:13:36 | |
life reasons. It is right to say that in that way, I believe we will | 0:13:36 | 0:13:40 | |
fill most of those posts. Presiding Officer, the famous recruitment | 0:13:40 | 0:13:43 | |
plan that the First Minister has been discussing and talking about | 0:13:43 | 0:13:50 | |
in this Chamber for many months. There are no details for that. It | 0:13:50 | 0:13:55 | |
is not only consultants, let's look at vacant doctor posts. The BMA say | 0:13:55 | 0:13:59 | |
there are 400 vacant doctor posts in Wales and the BMA's Richard | 0:13:59 | 0:14:04 | |
Lewis says the waiting lists will rise because of the considerable | 0:14:04 | 0:14:07 | |
number of vacancies of doctors at all levels. The number of people | 0:14:07 | 0:14:12 | |
waiting more than nine months for treatment, which is the maximum | 0:14:12 | 0:14:16 | |
referral treatment time target has risen for the fifth month in a row. | 0:14:16 | 0:14:19 | |
I raised this issue with you 18 months ago. You are promising | 0:14:19 | 0:14:25 | |
action again now. In 12 months' time how many of those vacant | 0:14:25 | 0:14:30 | |
doctor role also be filled by your plan? I mentioned this two weeks' | 0:14:30 | 0:14:32 | |
ago. Let me tell the leader of the Liberal Democrats something that | 0:14:32 | 0:14:36 | |
will help us relaxing the ridiculous immigration laws that | 0:14:36 | 0:14:39 | |
have prevented so many doctors coming to the UK. One of the | 0:14:39 | 0:14:42 | |
problems we have, it is the same about students and many | 0:14:42 | 0:14:46 | |
professional people, in an attempt to cut down on what is seen as | 0:14:46 | 0:14:49 | |
illegal immigration we find there are qualified professionals who | 0:14:49 | 0:14:53 | |
have staffed the NHS for the past 40 years who are unable to come to | 0:14:53 | 0:14:57 | |
Wales to fill those posts. Yes, we will do our bit. It is also true | 0:14:57 | 0:15:00 | |
that the UK Government must ensure that qualified professionals are | 0:15:00 | 0:15:04 | |
able to come to work in the UK without bowing to a misplaced sense | 0:15:04 | 0:15:14 | |
Of course, there might be a bit more conviction in the first | 0:15:14 | 0:15:17 | |
minister's argument if those proposals were not first grown up | 0:15:17 | 0:15:23 | |
by Labour's own Liam Byrne when he was in government. The reality is, | 0:15:23 | 0:15:26 | |
18 months ago there were fewer vacancies and you promised action | 0:15:26 | 0:15:31 | |
then. You describe the problem as being historic. It is not historic, | 0:15:31 | 0:15:37 | |
it is here and now. Consultant and doctor, and nurse vacancies. Let me | 0:15:37 | 0:15:43 | |
give you one example of what that means. Last month, one health board | 0:15:43 | 0:15:48 | |
had to temporarily closed the minor injuries unit in one town because | 0:15:48 | 0:15:52 | |
of lack of staff. Patients are putting up at longer waiting times, | 0:15:52 | 0:15:57 | |
reduced patient care and the NHS is shelling out money for expensive | 0:15:57 | 0:16:01 | |
locums and temporary cover at huge expense. Do you not agree with me | 0:16:01 | 0:16:05 | |
that this historic problem you talk about, or shortages across the NHS | 0:16:06 | 0:16:12 | |
workforce, is now reaching crisis point? The Lib Dems have been in | 0:16:12 | 0:16:14 | |
government for a year-and-a-half and still it is the fault of the | 0:16:14 | 0:16:18 | |
previous government. You must take responsibility. It is no good | 0:16:18 | 0:16:22 | |
saying, a previous Labour minister said this, that all the other. The | 0:16:22 | 0:16:28 | |
reality is that as a Conservative Lib Dem UK government, it was that | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
government that imposed the changes on immigration controls and as a | 0:16:31 | 0:16:37 | |
result, we find ourselves where those people who historically used | 0:16:37 | 0:16:41 | |
to stuff the NHS are not coming to the UK it all because of an need to | 0:16:41 | 0:16:49 | |
the panda -- to pander to the Daily Mail. First Minister, it is nearly | 0:16:49 | 0:16:54 | |
two years since he became First Minister, and in that time, not 18 | 0:16:54 | 0:17:00 | |
and E -- acts in an emergency department has hit the target of | 0:17:00 | 0:17:04 | |
people waiting for hours and less. What are you doing to recognise | 0:17:04 | 0:17:09 | |
this? That is not a fact. It is a fact. If you look at other waiting | 0:17:09 | 0:17:17 | |
times, orthopaedic waiting times, when you first became First | 0:17:17 | 0:17:23 | |
Minister there were 11 patients waiting, that figure today stands | 0:17:23 | 0:17:27 | |
at 5344 patients. Do you agree with your health minister when she said | 0:17:27 | 0:17:31 | |
in the summer that the these are waiting lists were all -- would all | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
but be eliminated by next March? Yes, and I will give you two | 0:17:36 | 0:17:40 | |
reasons. First, the reality is we put money into orthopedic waiting | 0:17:40 | 0:17:44 | |
times in May, it takes some time for money to have an effect on the | 0:17:44 | 0:17:49 | |
waiting lists. That is happening. He fails to mention most waiting | 0:17:49 | 0:17:53 | |
lists are on the way down. They went up for time because there was | 0:17:53 | 0:17:57 | |
an enormous Spike in demand, but we put that money in to cover that. He | 0:17:57 | 0:18:01 | |
fails to mention also that in England, waiting times are | 0:18:01 | 0:18:06 | |
rocketing. Time and time again, it you refer back to England in this | 0:18:06 | 0:18:10 | |
chamber, at 74 times since September when responding to First | 0:18:10 | 0:18:14 | |
Minister's Questions. It would be nice for you to actually take | 0:18:14 | 0:18:18 | |
responsibility for what is in your portfolio in your area of | 0:18:18 | 0:18:21 | |
responsibility. You have actually said that outside of this chamber, | 0:18:21 | 0:18:28 | |
when you said on Capri -- sharp end, what happens in Westminster is of | 0:18:28 | 0:18:32 | |
no concern to us as a government. When are you going to start acting | 0:18:32 | 0:18:35 | |
on that and delivering or the patience and medics in the NHS in | 0:18:35 | 0:18:40 | |
Wales? You ask members of NHS whether they would prefer to work | 0:18:40 | 0:18:44 | |
in England or Wales, they say they will prefer to work in Wales. I | 0:18:44 | 0:18:50 | |
take no lessons for -- from the leader of the opposition when I see | 0:18:50 | 0:18:53 | |
the Prime Minister week after week mentioning what is happening in | 0:18:53 | 0:18:59 | |
Wales. If it is so important, tell him not to mention it, he is your | 0:18:59 | 0:19:06 | |
master after all. What discussions has the Welsh government had | 0:19:06 | 0:19:12 | |
regarding emerge it is a this is in Wales? The relevant ministers of | 0:19:12 | 0:19:16 | |
course I hold discussions with officials. They are in regular | 0:19:16 | 0:19:20 | |
contact with the appropriate services. I am grateful to the | 0:19:20 | 0:19:23 | |
press minister for that response. I have received comments regarding | 0:19:24 | 0:19:33 | |
0:19:34 | 0:19:35 | ||
the use of the eco responder its units provided in emergency | 0:19:35 | 0:19:40 | |
services. The purpose of these units is to divide swifter response | 0:19:40 | 0:19:46 | |
services. But I am given to understand these units are not used | 0:19:46 | 0:19:48 | |
at the airport capacity, and some calls are not transferred to them | 0:19:48 | 0:19:55 | |
at all. -- at their full capacity. In some cases, this can lead to | 0:19:55 | 0:19:59 | |
ambulances being called from further away than the Cote | 0:19:59 | 0:20:04 | |
responders. In these circumstances, could the first minister look at | 0:20:04 | 0:20:08 | |
the situation to make sure these units are used where appropriate, | 0:20:08 | 0:20:12 | |
because, of course, they do do excellent work in our communities? | 0:20:12 | 0:20:18 | |
Of course, I cannot say that this government will work with the -- I | 0:20:18 | 0:20:21 | |
can say that this government will work with the ambulance service to | 0:20:21 | 0:20:26 | |
make sure the ambulance service is used in every part of Wales. I am | 0:20:26 | 0:20:31 | |
sure like all of us you agree police are vital part of the | 0:20:31 | 0:20:36 | |
University -- the emergency services in Wales, so training | 0:20:36 | 0:20:40 | |
announced last week is excellent news, it will give support to | 0:20:40 | 0:20:47 | |
communities in Wales with community support officers. Anti-social | 0:20:47 | 0:20:51 | |
behaviour is disrupting people in my constituency, and the delivery | 0:20:52 | 0:20:59 | |
of PCSOs helped the burden caused by the cuts from the UK government. | 0:20:59 | 0:21:03 | |
Do you know when the first tranche of training will be in operation? | 0:21:03 | 0:21:10 | |
Yes, night of November, -- full deployment will deploy on all | 0:21:10 | 0:21:15 | |
forces from April next year. The training begins in November. | 0:21:15 | 0:21:18 | |
view of the continuing failure of the Welsh ambulance service to meet | 0:21:18 | 0:21:23 | |
its emergency targets, what would be a government's response to the | 0:21:23 | 0:21:26 | |
proposal to transfer the ambulance services to be control of the | 0:21:26 | 0:21:30 | |
health service? I have seen nothing to suggest that would improve | 0:21:30 | 0:21:35 | |
matters, imposing artificial birders -- boundaries on the | 0:21:35 | 0:21:38 | |
ambulance service needs to be looked at very carefully to make | 0:21:38 | 0:21:44 | |
sure it does not deteriorate. latest response times of the large | 0:21:44 | 0:21:49 | |
ambulance service shows that the service -- they were hitting the | 0:21:49 | 0:21:57 | |
eight-minute target in the North Wales reason. It has also met its | 0:21:57 | 0:22:04 | |
targets in 65% of the time. What efforts are being made to improve | 0:22:05 | 0:22:08 | |
performance in North Wales this Christmas and make sure I knew him | 0:22:08 | 0:22:13 | |
-- more ambulances respond within eight minutes? This shows it has | 0:22:13 | 0:22:16 | |
been done, and it illustrates the false premise of the question that | 0:22:16 | 0:22:26 | |
0:22:26 | 0:22:27 | ||
was put by the leader of the opposition. Could the minister | 0:22:27 | 0:22:34 | |
provide... Our plans and priorities for Torfaen can be summarised by | 0:22:34 | 0:22:39 | |
the government. There has been a great deal of concern amongst my | 0:22:39 | 0:22:44 | |
constituents about the proposed closure of the minor injuries unit | 0:22:44 | 0:22:48 | |
at the County Hospital. I vividly chaired a packed meeting where | 0:22:48 | 0:22:52 | |
local residents expressed concerns about the decision, in particular, | 0:22:52 | 0:22:58 | |
or whether GPs will fill gaps in primary care services currently | 0:22:58 | 0:23:02 | |
provided on the unit. Local representatives have called for a | 0:23:02 | 0:23:06 | |
halt and the closure progress, and I was pleased the ministers were | 0:23:06 | 0:23:10 | |
raising this issue with the local health board. Will you agree to | 0:23:10 | 0:23:13 | |
discuss this manner -- matter with the health minister to endure these | 0:23:14 | 0:23:17 | |
concerns are fully addressed? understand you have expressed your | 0:23:17 | 0:23:21 | |
concerns to the health board and the health minister. The health | 0:23:21 | 0:23:24 | |
minister has agreed to discuss your concerned with the chair and chief | 0:23:24 | 0:23:32 | |
executive of the board. You have already answered my question which | 0:23:32 | 0:23:38 | |
might honourable lady... What discussions has the world | 0:23:38 | 0:23:41 | |
government had with the UK government about the Welfare Reform | 0:23:41 | 0:23:47 | |
Bill? These are none the bolt issues, but we have been monitoring | 0:23:47 | 0:23:52 | |
the situation closely. -- these are not devolved issues. Ministers are | 0:23:52 | 0:24:01 | |
working through eight number of DW peak Forums to see what the effect | 0:24:01 | 0:24:08 | |
on Wales would be. Have plans to devolve the discretionary part of | 0:24:08 | 0:24:12 | |
the fund to weld been fleshed out? While the coalition is abandoning | 0:24:12 | 0:24:16 | |
its responsibility for the scheme, we have an opportunity in Wales to | 0:24:16 | 0:24:19 | |
reform what has always been a safety net for the vulnerable | 0:24:19 | 0:24:25 | |
people, tying it in with our wider policy agenda. I can say that a | 0:24:25 | 0:24:30 | |
consultation on the options for a replacement arrangement in Wales, | 0:24:30 | 0:24:33 | |
following the evolution of the Social Fund, is being developed by | 0:24:33 | 0:24:40 | |
officials -- following the devolution of the Social Fund. | 0:24:40 | 0:24:44 | |
First Minister, fact, Wales is now the poorest part of the United | 0:24:44 | 0:24:50 | |
Kingdom. Yet in this chamber, every week, as my leader has pointed out, | 0:24:50 | 0:24:57 | |
you unfounded the blame the UK government. This is a cover of your | 0:24:57 | 0:25:02 | |
own government's inactivity of failure. You continuously failed to | 0:25:02 | 0:25:06 | |
accept any responsibility for this, and it was your Labour government | 0:25:06 | 0:25:11 | |
that moved billions of pounds around the tax benefits system. In | 0:25:11 | 0:25:16 | |
an attempt to address poverty, yet forced thousands of... Are you | 0:25:16 | 0:25:22 | |
coming to the question? The UK government in West Minister is | 0:25:22 | 0:25:28 | |
actually brave enough now to tackle this minister -- this issue head on. | 0:25:28 | 0:25:34 | |
Where is the question? It is difficult, when... No, it is. | 0:25:34 | 0:25:40 | |
Difficult, ask the question. Do not support this is irresponsible. Is | 0:25:40 | 0:25:43 | |
it's your duty to support the initiative of the UK government for | 0:25:43 | 0:25:47 | |
the sake of our Welsh families here that you have forced into poverty | 0:25:47 | 0:25:55 | |
was back? I think the term a parallel universe has some | 0:25:55 | 0:26:00 | |
resonance here. What we have seen since we saw the election of the | 0:26:00 | 0:26:03 | |
government last year his record levels of youth unemployment across | 0:26:03 | 0:26:08 | |
the UK. Unemployment going up across the UK, attacks on | 0:26:08 | 0:26:16 | |
employment right across the UK, we have seen a tax on benefits on -- | 0:26:16 | 0:26:21 | |
across the UK. Apparently according to one minister, it is to do with | 0:26:21 | 0:26:25 | |
welfare benefits. I tell you what it is a moral, all the party | 0:26:25 | 0:26:29 | |
opposite do his attack people on benefit. They attack people on low | 0:26:29 | 0:26:35 | |
pay. They leave the fat cats, the executives, untouched. Why? Because | 0:26:35 | 0:26:39 | |
they fund them. We are BP -- Party of people who are struggling, | 0:26:39 | 0:26:48 | |
people on low pay, p -- they look after the rich. TRANSLATION: Thank | 0:26:48 | 0:26:53 | |
you very much. I am not quite certain in what way the Labour | 0:26:53 | 0:26:56 | |
government attacked the fat cats when they were in government, but | 0:26:56 | 0:27:02 | |
that is another matter. I am sure the Welfare Reform Bill will impact | 0:27:02 | 0:27:06 | |
badly on the lives of many people in Wales, so the question is, in | 0:27:06 | 0:27:09 | |
what way is your government and your ministers, have been what I | 0:27:09 | 0:27:16 | |
have they tried to influence the contents of that bill in order to | 0:27:16 | 0:27:20 | |
safeguard is one of a people? TRANSLATION: It we are working with | 0:27:20 | 0:27:28 | |
Biddy debut peak -- the DW p so we can see how these changes impact on | 0:27:28 | 0:27:32 | |
people. We want to make sure we use every tool available to us to help | 0:27:32 | 0:27:39 | |
them. At the same time that the welfare reform proposals are taking | 0:27:40 | 0:27:46 | |
�2 billion out of the pocket of the poorest families in Wales? The same | 0:27:46 | 0:27:51 | |
government is cutting its legal aid proposals that would help those | 0:27:51 | 0:27:56 | |
families deal with the debt into which they will be plunged. Will | 0:27:56 | 0:27:59 | |
you join organisations in Wales in condemning these proposals and the | 0:27:59 | 0:28:02 | |
effect they will have on some of the most disadvantaged communities | 0:28:02 | 0:28:06 | |
and amongst the most needy families in our land? I work within that | 0:28:07 | 0:28:13 | |
system for 10 years, and I can say that the legal aid is not available | 0:28:13 | 0:28:22 | |
for people who cannot afford it. It is a false saving, because people | 0:28:22 | 0:28:26 | |
will represent themselves and it will cost more in advocacy. It is | 0:28:27 | 0:28:31 | |
typical of the party opposite that all they want to do is insured the | 0:28:31 | 0:28:37 | |
rich get access to justice and the poor can go to hell. Will the first | 0:28:37 | 0:28:40 | |
minister make a statement on the local authority job evaluation | 0:28:40 | 0:28:47 | |
process? Yes, they are matters for local authorities but they insure | 0:28:47 | 0:28:52 | |
that local authorities are able to demonstrate a commitment to equal | 0:28:52 | 0:28:57 | |
pay. First Minister, it is frankly quite shocking that in your own | 0:28:57 | 0:29:00 | |
constituency, the label run -- Labour-run local authority is | 0:29:00 | 0:29:06 | |
proposing pay cut of up to 50% without pay protection. They are | 0:29:06 | 0:29:10 | |
refusing to honour back pay which could end up costing citizens' lot | 0:29:10 | 0:29:14 | |
-- millions in lawyer's fees, and this while the council leader | 0:29:14 | 0:29:19 | |
dismisses the concerns as inevitable and fails to take | 0:29:19 | 0:29:24 | |
responsibility by calling it an officer led process. That remind me | 0:29:24 | 0:29:31 | |
of "the thick of it". Will you stand with the staff of the council | 0:29:31 | 0:29:35 | |
and call urgently with the Bridgend council leader to start the process | 0:29:35 | 0:29:38 | |
from scratch, engage with the unions so that staff can be given | 0:29:38 | 0:29:44 | |
the respect they have not been given to date? I have met with the | 0:29:44 | 0:29:47 | |
council cabinet on many occasions and they are keen for a fair | 0:29:47 | 0:29:50 | |
settlement. I have also led to the unions and many members of the | 0:29:50 | 0:29:55 | |
public on this Aegean -- on this issue, and discussed it with them. | 0:29:55 | 0:29:59 | |
In terms of discussing it with the unions, a meeting with the cabinet, | 0:29:59 | 0:30:03 | |
I believe that is the most effective way of dealing with this | 0:30:03 | 0:30:07 | |
issue rather than making pronouncements in the press. First | 0:30:07 | 0:30:12 | |
Minister, in your meetings with Bridgend County Borough Council, | 0:30:12 | 0:30:16 | |
did you at any point ask them why they were so late in starting this | 0:30:16 | 0:30:23 | |
job evaluation process? Bay was one of the last in Wales to do it. Are | 0:30:23 | 0:30:30 | |
you satisfied that the changes that a likely to happen to 25% of the | 0:30:30 | 0:30:33 | |
workers in that council are down to genuine job evaluation, or is there | 0:30:33 | 0:30:39 | |
an element of economic expedience seat in this? The job evaluation | 0:30:39 | 0:30:42 | |
scheme will cost more money than the present salary bill, it is no | 0:30:42 | 0:30:45 | |
saving for the council. It is important the settlement is fair. | 0:30:45 | 0:30:49 | |
That is what people want to see. You criticise the lack of action in | 0:30:49 | 0:30:56 | |
the past. York council -- your party ran the council between 2004 | 0:30:56 | 0:31:06 | |
0:31:06 | 0:31:09 | ||
and 2008. And they did nothing for Diolch, Llywdd. A letter from the | 0:31:09 | 0:31:13 | |
Chief Executive of the council says there is a right for anyone over 55 | 0:31:13 | 0:31:18 | |
to receive an early pension which isn't reduced and these retirements | 0:31:18 | 0:31:22 | |
will create vie can Sis for staff to apply for promotion. However, | 0:31:22 | 0:31:29 | |
after one application from one head teacher -- vacancies for staff to | 0:31:29 | 0:31:33 | |
apply for promotion. In a church school they were told the process | 0:31:33 | 0:31:38 | |
wouldn't have an impact on them as this has an impact on every member | 0:31:38 | 0:31:40 | |
of administrative staff in Carmarthenshire schools, will the | 0:31:40 | 0:31:45 | |
First Minister agree this is unfair as they all make contribution to | 0:31:45 | 0:31:53 | |
the local authority pension fund? It's true, of course, that teachers | 0:31:53 | 0:32:03 | |
0:32:03 | 0:32:07 | ||
are part of employment and superannuation system covering | 0:32:08 | 0:32:15 | |
England and Wales. It would be best for me to write to you with a | 0:32:15 | 0:32:19 | |
comprehensive reply. Thank you. First Minister, in my view, job | 0:32:19 | 0:32:24 | |
evaluation has a long delayed process of about implementing | 0:32:24 | 0:32:27 | |
single status which should have been dealt with several years ago. | 0:32:27 | 0:32:35 | |
It is about dealing with systemic discrimination in the pay system. | 0:32:36 | 0:32:41 | |
Do you share my view that the best way to resolve these hugely | 0:32:41 | 0:32:44 | |
practically difficult issues setting aside the fact that equal | 0:32:44 | 0:32:49 | |
pay law is in my view disfingional and "not fit for purpose", the best | 0:32:49 | 0:32:53 | |
way to resolve these is negotiation with recognised trade unions with | 0:32:53 | 0:32:58 | |
the aim of eliminating that pay discrimination? The issues you | 0:32:58 | 0:33:08 | |
0:33:08 | 0:33:13 | ||
raise will be for respective employee relation forums. PRESIDING | 0:33:13 | 0:33:19 | |
OFFICER: Llyr Huws Gruffydd. Will the First Minister make a statement | 0:33:19 | 0:33:27 | |
on the agriculture industry? I am firmly committing. Thank you for | 0:33:27 | 0:33:35 | |
that response. With the demise of the farming group last week, there | 0:33:35 | 0:33:45 | |
0:33:45 | 0:33:47 | ||
is concern however about the impact that went into the handling of the | 0:33:47 | 0:33:51 | |
urgent consideration to what support the Welsh Government can | 0:33:51 | 0:33:56 | |
provide to ensure that this important service provided by Plaid | 0:33:56 | 0:34:06 | |
0:34:06 | 0:34:11 | ||
Cymru to Welsh farmers can continue? I will. Diolch, Llywdd. | 0:34:11 | 0:34:14 | |
The European regulations on electronic identification of sheep | 0:34:14 | 0:34:19 | |
are widely recognised as an appalling example of unnecessary | 0:34:19 | 0:34:24 | |
regulation which adds many pounds to the cost of sheep farmers whilst | 0:34:24 | 0:34:27 | |
bringing little economic benefit to the industry or indeed improvements | 0:34:27 | 0:34:31 | |
in disease control. In the light of this, will you join me in welcoming | 0:34:31 | 0:34:36 | |
the UK Government's recent efforts to obtain a derogation from | 0:34:36 | 0:34:40 | |
individual sheep recording until 2016 and do you agree that this | 0:34:40 | 0:34:45 | |
approach will be welcomed by farmers who are experiencing | 0:34:45 | 0:34:47 | |
enormous difficulties with the inaccuracy of this technology? | 0:34:47 | 0:34:51 | |
I do. We have supported successive UK governments in their efforts to | 0:34:51 | 0:34:54 | |
get a derogation, bearing in mind the nature of sheep farming, | 0:34:55 | 0:34:58 | |
particularly in Wales, but also in other parts of the UK. We will | 0:34:58 | 0:35:04 | |
continue to do so. It is right to point out that the practicalities | 0:35:04 | 0:35:11 | |
of sheep EID outweigh the benefits in term s of the state of present | 0:35:11 | 0:35:15 | |
technology. Diolch, Llywdd. It is a matter of public record the party | 0:35:15 | 0:35:18 | |
opposite supported EID in sheep and therefore I think in the previous | 0:35:18 | 0:35:22 | |
assembly, therefore I found that question a little surprising. I | 0:35:22 | 0:35:28 | |
wanted to move to the issue of EID in cattle and I want to seek your | 0:35:28 | 0:35:32 | |
reassurance to farmers and hauliers throughout Wales that should that | 0:35:32 | 0:35:37 | |
proposal come forward, that there will be a determined effort to | 0:35:37 | 0:35:42 | |
reduce the bureaucratic burden on farmers throughout Wales rather | 0:35:42 | 0:35:47 | |
than an additional burden arising out of that reform? Thank you. I | 0:35:47 | 0:35:49 | |
heard your question above the dispute that was taking place | 0:35:49 | 0:35:53 | |
between your party and the Conservatives! I very much welcome | 0:35:53 | 0:35:59 | |
that! But in terms of cattle, BCMS has been in place for a number of | 0:35:59 | 0:36:04 | |
years following the controls that were impolzed at after BSE. It is - | 0:36:04 | 0:36:10 | |
- impolzed after BSE. It is a row - - imposed after BSE. It is a robust | 0:36:10 | 0:36:15 | |
system. It provided us with a robust tracing system for cattle | 0:36:15 | 0:36:21 | |
that at that time didn't exist for sheep. First Minister, one of the | 0:36:21 | 0:36:23 | |
issues within the sector that currently concerns me and many | 0:36:23 | 0:36:28 | |
others is the changes to European Union regulations concerning the | 0:36:28 | 0:36:32 | |
welfare of laying hens and the potential for producers in other EU | 0:36:32 | 0:36:40 | |
countries to flout the cage ban. Can I ask you, please, First | 0:36:40 | 0:36:44 | |
Minister, what your Government is doing in collaboration with the | 0:36:44 | 0:36:48 | |
Westminster and Brussels to ensure that the cage ban when it does come | 0:36:48 | 0:36:53 | |
into force on 1st January Wales and the UK will not be inundated with | 0:36:53 | 0:36:58 | |
eggs from producers on the Continent? We share your concerns. | 0:36:58 | 0:37:02 | |
There will be a statement by the Minister tomorrow on this issue. | 0:37:02 | 0:37:06 | |
PRESIDING OFFICER: Question 8, Ann Jones. What is the Welsh Government | 0:37:06 | 0:37:15 | |
doing to support town centres in the Vale of Clwyd? One of those | 0:37:15 | 0:37:21 | |
priorities is of course the regeneration of Rhyl. Thank you. On | 0:37:21 | 0:37:23 | |
the fact that the North Wales coastal regeneration area, can I | 0:37:23 | 0:37:28 | |
say that the work that's been going on to bring down the derelict | 0:37:28 | 0:37:31 | |
buildings, to bring down buildings that remain empty for some time and | 0:37:31 | 0:37:35 | |
have been inhabited by many who perhaps have brought a negative | 0:37:35 | 0:37:39 | |
image to Rhyl, that work is now going on. First Minister, we need | 0:37:39 | 0:37:43 | |
to make sure that the town centre of Rhyl is a vibrant shopping | 0:37:43 | 0:37:47 | |
centre, we have managed to keep Marks & Spencer open for another 12 | 0:37:47 | 0:37:52 | |
months on this issue due to a good strong local campaign. But I needs | 0:37:52 | 0:37:55 | |
a shuernss from the Government, First Minister, that the work -- | 0:37:55 | 0:37:58 | |
assurances that the Government, First Minister, that the work will | 0:37:58 | 0:38:02 | |
continue particularly as the work has already started. So we do see | 0:38:02 | 0:38:06 | |
the benefits from the public money that's been invested? I applaud the | 0:38:06 | 0:38:10 | |
campaign that has been run in Rhyl regarding Marks & Spencer. You will | 0:38:10 | 0:38:17 | |
be aware of the schemes that have been taken forward in Rhyl of late, | 0:38:17 | 0:38:20 | |
the cinema, the progress that's been made on the harbour. It is | 0:38:20 | 0:38:26 | |
crucial that for towns to be vibrant that they have vibrant and | 0:38:26 | 0:38:34 | |
active town centres. Thank you very much. Based on 143 performance | 0:38:34 | 0:38:38 | |
indicators Denbighshire is the highest performing council in Wales. | 0:38:38 | 0:38:43 | |
In January, in debate on High Street and town centre services I | 0:38:43 | 0:38:46 | |
highlighted proposals by the Rhyl Business Group for a town centre | 0:38:46 | 0:38:51 | |
manager to improve "the vitality and viability of the town centre". | 0:38:51 | 0:38:55 | |
What action do you feel that the Welsh Government should be taking | 0:38:55 | 0:38:58 | |
to engage with local business or what action are you taking to | 0:38:58 | 0:39:01 | |
engage with groups such as the Rhyl Business Group to support | 0:39:01 | 0:39:08 | |
think our record speaks for itself in Rhyl. We see of course what's | 0:39:08 | 0:39:12 | |
happened with cinema, with the harbour, with the Rhyl Sixth, with | 0:39:12 | 0:39:17 | |
the work that's been done to improve the town centre. I think | 0:39:17 | 0:39:21 | |
some �34 million has been invested by the Welsh Government in Rhyl and | 0:39:21 | 0:39:29 | |
that is a significant indication of the commitment that we have given. | 0:39:29 | 0:39:32 | |
Diolch, Llywdd. Thank you. Presiding business rate relief has | 0:39:32 | 0:39:37 | |
been a crucial factor for a number of businesses in the Vale of Clwyd | 0:39:37 | 0:39:40 | |
so they can survive the current difficult economic climate. Does | 0:39:40 | 0:39:43 | |
the First Minister agree that extending the relief beyond next | 0:39:43 | 0:39:48 | |
September would avoid job losses and businesses closing? Well, of | 0:39:48 | 0:39:56 | |
course, there are surveys undertaken under the Minister for | 0:39:56 | 0:40:02 | |
Business and then in due course we will report on the outcome. | 0:40:02 | 0:40:05 | |
PRESIDING OFFICER: Question 9. the First Minister make a statement | 0:40:05 | 0:40:10 | |
on how the Welsh Government are responding to increases to the | 0:40:10 | 0:40:20 | |
0:40:20 | 0:40:22 | ||
cost-of-living? First Minister, with the approach of winter, many | 0:40:22 | 0:40:25 | |
pensioners will face a tough choice due to the rising fuel cost and the | 0:40:25 | 0:40:30 | |
Tory-Lib Dem Winter Fuel Allowance cuts. First Minister, next time you | 0:40:30 | 0:40:36 | |
have a chance to speak to the representatives of the Conservative | 0:40:36 | 0:40:40 | |
high pressure liberal Government, will you tell them they are | 0:40:40 | 0:40:49 | |
fuelling no-one. And... I had a listen to some of the comments. May | 0:40:49 | 0:40:52 | |
I deal with the first issue? It is awful that people aren't getting | 0:40:52 | 0:40:56 | |
the help they should have, as we see fuel costs rising beyond | 0:40:56 | 0:41:00 | |
people's ability to afford fuel. I did listen to the Liberal Democrats | 0:41:00 | 0:41:05 | |
who were saying, who were asking the question why it was we were | 0:41:05 | 0:41:08 | |
fixated on electoral reform. Who had a referendum in May on | 0:41:08 | 0:41:12 | |
electoral reform? Which party is more concerned with electoral | 0:41:12 | 0:41:13 | |
reform than dealing with fuel poverty? | 0:41:13 | 0:41:16 | |
STUDIO: That is where we leave First Minister's Questions this | 0:41:16 | 0:41:26 | |
0:41:26 | 0:41:27 | ||
week. You can see more on BBC Wales Democracy Live. | 0:41:27 | 0:41:33 | |
Our Welsh Affairs Editor is here. Afternoon. Hi. Let's look at | 0:41:33 | 0:41:35 | |
Leader's Questions, particularly Ieuan Wyn Jones's questions to | 0:41:35 | 0:41:37 | |
Carwyn Jones, who seemed to be questioning the Government's | 0:41:37 | 0:41:41 | |
priorities relating to a letter Carwyn Jones has sent to the Prime | 0:41:41 | 0:41:45 | |
Minister? This is quite an odd story. No-one can understand where | 0:41:45 | 0:41:50 | |
it's come from. This is Labour kicking up a fuss about the | 0:41:50 | 0:41:53 | |
Assembly electoral system because they suspect that the Government in | 0:41:53 | 0:41:56 | |
Westminster may be going to change it in a way that is not | 0:41:56 | 0:42:03 | |
particularly favourable to Labour. It does seem to be getting an | 0:42:03 | 0:42:06 | |
inordinate amount of publicity. This is one of these changes that | 0:42:06 | 0:42:10 | |
might happen if something else might possibly have happened. It | 0:42:10 | 0:42:14 | |
looks from the outside - that is what Ieuan Wyn Jones is playing on | 0:42:14 | 0:42:18 | |
- that Labour have lost their sense of proportion when it comes to this | 0:42:18 | 0:42:21 | |
issue. All the other opposition parties said that in the briefing | 0:42:21 | 0:42:26 | |
as well this morning. It seems odd that Labour isn't doing anything to | 0:42:26 | 0:42:31 | |
shut the issue down. There is a suggestion from the Conservatives | 0:42:31 | 0:42:34 | |
that the Government has got its priorities wrong when it should be | 0:42:34 | 0:42:38 | |
looking at improving the conditions of the economy. It is looking at | 0:42:38 | 0:42:41 | |
constitutional change instead? what the Government would say of | 0:42:41 | 0:42:45 | |
course is that they are doing this stuff on the economy, but it is | 0:42:45 | 0:42:49 | |
being done behind-the-scenes. It does sort of raise the question of | 0:42:49 | 0:42:53 | |
well, why release this letter, why not do that behind the scenes? What | 0:42:53 | 0:42:58 | |
the opposition parties say is that this is a way of Carwyn Jones | 0:42:58 | 0:43:04 | |
standing up to Westminster, when not tackling them about the | 0:43:04 | 0:43:08 | |
important issues. I think it's a hand that possibly Labour have | 0:43:08 | 0:43:12 | |
either overplayed a bit or misplayed and really it is not an | 0:43:12 | 0:43:18 | |
issue that is of any great interest to people outside the Cardiff Bay | 0:43:18 | 0:43:20 | |
bubble. Briefly, do you know anything more about any agreements | 0:43:20 | 0:43:25 | |
on the Budget? Talks are continuing. One politician said this morning, | 0:43:25 | 0:43:28 | |
"I would expect a sense of urgency from the Government today. If I | 0:43:28 | 0:43:34 |