22/11/2016 am.pm

Welcome to am:pm and the weekly Questions to the First Minister.

As ever, they cover a range of topics, including the value

of overseas exports, new rental rules for

private landlords, and the education curriculum.

Don't forget, we're @walespolitics on Twitter, where you can follow

all the latest on the Assembly and Welsh politics.

For now, it's time to go over to the Siambr for today's questions

Order. I call the Welsh Assembly to order. The first item on our agenda

is questions to the First Minister. Leanne Wood. Will the First Minister

make a statement about the value of overseas exports to the Welsh

economy? Increasing the value of exports and the number of exporters

in Wales has both been central pillars of our economic strategy for

some time. We know that trade is a key driver of economic growth. The

Welsh government is organising a subsidised trade mission to Saudi

Arabia in March of next year and I'm sure I don't need to remind members

that Saudi Arabia is a place where people are executed for crimes such

as speaking out against the regime. With the help of UK exports, they

are also waging a brutal war against the Yemen, which has claimed the

lives of thousands and the blockade of Yemen has caused a humanitarian

crisis. Amid all this brutality, is it appropriate to cosy up to Saudi

Arabia? Don't you think you should be taking a stand on this? And given

the news that arms sold to Saudi Arabia have ended up in the arms of

Isis fighters, can you reassure us today that this mission has nothing

whatsoever to do with the defence or the arms industry? Trade missions

are all encompassing. We do trade with companies whose values we would

not share. There are issues within a number of countries around the world

where we would prefer it if their systems were more open and close two

hours but I believe that through trading with these countries, it is

possible to show that there is a way of government that is different and,

to my mind, better than the ones that exist in their countries. It is

up to them how they govern themselves but we are guided by the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office whether it is appropriate to have

trade links with countries or not. Wales is a small but passionate

country that punches above its weight. I note that the value of

exports for Wales for the year up to and including 2016 was ?12.1

billion. With export to the European Union accounting for almost 40% of

Welsh exports. As a passionate and successful advocate of selling Wales

to the world, what future plans has the Welsh government put in place to

make sure that Welsh goods and services can continue to be exported

to the world? We are expanding our overseas activity for 2016-17 and

that will include a balance of traditional markets and seeking new

markets and there will be six trade missions that will take place over

the next six months. First Minister, the Welsh business barometer from

the south Wales chamber of commerce reports that the number of small and

medium-sized enterprises are reportedly in growth in export sales

and orders has fallen in the third quarter of 2016. My own postbag is

growing with small businesses contacting me concerned about the

potential increase in their business rates. Will you consider increasing

the funding that you have put in place for support with the

transition because that would help a lot of small businesses that are

very uncertain about how their business rates are going to be after

2017? We will be able to give full consideration to that issue once we

know what the Chancellor has announced in the Autumn Statement.

If he is generous, so can we be. Neil Hamilton. Can I commend the

First Minister on his response to the first question today, while

agreeing with the Plaid Cymru comments on the attitude of the

Saudi Arabian government. Nevertheless, it is vitally

important that we improve our trade links with Saudi Arabia. But trade

with the rest of the world outside the EU is going to become of growing

importance to us as a nation. 40% of our exports go to the EU. It was 60%

ten years ago. Would you agree that it is vitally important that we have

trade missions to the rest of the world to capitalise on this growing

imbalance? We have had missions to the US, the United Arab Emirates,

which is a major export market for us, but we must guard against the

scenario where we have barriers in place in terms of access to the

European market and the American market. I am totally convinced that

we will see a free-trade deal with the US that would do anything other

than benefit from the US. That's exactly what President-elect Tramp

was elected to do. I don't share the optimism that the UK will be in a

privileged position with regard to the US. We will continue to run our

trade missions, to look at important markets, and to look for new ones.

Question two is withdrawn. Question three. Will the First Minister

provide an update on the implementation of A Curriculum for

Wales, A Curriculum for Life? As set out in A Curriculum for Wales, A

Curriculum for Life, the Digital competence framework was made

available to schools on September the 1st and the development of the

wider curriculum and assessment arrangements is on track to be

available from September 20 18th to support learning and teaching from

September 20 21. With that in mind, will be First Minister answer how

will the Welsh government make sure that every teacher and teaching

assistant has an understanding of appropriate workload? Delivery of

the reform can only happen if we have such a system and a workforce

that embraces inclusive education and work for every learner in every

classroom. We will work with the teaching profession to make sure

that the right level of support and training is available to them.

Darren Millar. One of the features of your government is that very good

schools that are delivering the National Curriculum have been

closing across the country, particularly in rural parts of

Wales. I know there is additional assistance on the way and some

changes in the way the local authorities will have to think about

their schools in the future but what will you say to people in my

constituency that are supporters of a school threatened with closure for

the second time? And will you intervene personally to secure the

future of that school which has growing numbers of pupils as parents

are putting their confidence in the ability of that school to deliver?

The member knows full well it is a local authority decision and he

should direct his anger towards the local authority. The Welsh

government only intervenes under certain circumstances. I wonder if

he has made those representations to the local authority. I'm sure his

constituents would want to find out. But as the Education Secretary has

already announced, we are looking at new models in order to enable

schools to deliver better and to stay open in the future, some of

them, and I suggest he goes to the local authority and makes

suggestions to them. One of the central elements of the reform is

the role of the innovative schools but concern is being increasingly

expressed that schools are not in that category feel excluded. The

teaching union have said that the situation with the new arrangements

is a pipe dream and even the educational workforce council has

said that we are facing a two T a situation where some feel they are

inside the system and others outside. What is your government

doing to make sure that everyone feels ownership of the new

curriculum to make sure it's delivered in a timely manner? We

know that it's vital to make sure we have an effective manner of working

with the profession. We are dealing with training, for example, but we

don't deal with terms and conditions. We hope to change in

future because there is a kind of artificial distinction between

teacher training and renew my rating teachers. By doing that, it would be

easy for us to get a copy has save package for the profession.

Questions now from the party leaders. Welsh Conservatives, Andrew

RT Davies. The Circuit of Wales offers a huge potential to

regenerate a very poor part of Wales and offer opportunities both in

regeneration terms and job prospects for the Blaenau Gwent and South

Wales area. In fact the whole of Wales. Transforming the image to a

high value destination for tourists and the engineering industry. But

sadly the Heads of the Valleys company which is promoting this

project has been suffering really bad headlines of late and there has

been a slow, slow drip effect of evidence to point that they really

are the best partners to actually deliver the project. Do you have

confidence in the leadership of the company to deliver the circuit for

Wales project? I have to say to the leader of the Welsh Conservatives,

it is a member of his party that has provided that drip, drip of

criticism. Do we have confidence in the company? That is a matter for

them, of course. We have to make sure that we are prudent in terms of

public money being made accessible and we have done that to make sure

that any project is only financed if there is a fair division of rest

between the private and public sectors and that is not the position

yet. I notice you didn't say you have confidence, you said there is

potential in the project, but FOIA from your government clearly show

that civil servants raised concerns with ministers over the plans for

the heads of the Valley development Corporation owned by Michael Carrick

to pay almost ?1 million in consultancy fees. Effectively paying

themselves to advise themselves. That clearly cannot be right,

especially if there hasn't been a robust tendering process and when

the civil servants themselves, a director-general is offering such a

device to ministers. Why would ministers go against that advice and

approve such a transaction? It is a member that the minister who was in

place at that time is no longer a member of this Assembly. As far as

this government is concerned, we will seek to assure, as she did, to

make sure there is prudence when access is made to the public purse

and that is why we did not release the money for the project to proceed

some months ago on the basis that we were not convinced that the project

was robust enough in terms of the sharing of risk. But public money

has gone to this country, as I have highlighted. ?1 million just on

consultancy CBEs, ?9 million in total with bad loans can pay by the

Welsh government. We know there is a loss-making at Silverstone, and also

purchasing a motorbike company for ?400,000 that has gone bankrupt.

Hardly a success story. When the evidence is pointing that civil

servants were warning ministers about making this money available

and wanting more information, we saw last week that the governors

chairman, Lord Kinnock of the company, was lobbying excessively

with at least five or six calls to the leader of Blaenau Gwent Council,

as well as using House of Lords notepaper to write lessons on to

make the point that he wanted to make, that cannot be acceptable. And

now I have invoices here, invoices here... And they show that at least

?2400 to the Labour Party, and ?960 paid to the Labour Party. Different

invoices paid by Michael Carrick to have access to Welsh government

ministers, I would suggest. Are you confident there has been the proper

transparency and, above all, the assurances when the initial ?9

million has been handed over? As I said, this project is of a great

opportunity but it is the execution... And the company... And

the company that has been brought forward to promote this company

clearly has evidence to the contrary.

He can't have his cake and eat it. He can't say on one hand this is a

good project and on the other hand this project shouldn't have been

financed in its initial stages. If he's suggesting that in some way it

was possible for the company to sponsor events in order to get the

decision that they wanted, they didn't, did they? The whole point

was that if it was the case influence could be bored, they would

have had the funding for the Circuit of Wales by now but that has not

occurred. If you could only see the money that is wasted by his

government in Westminster, the amount of money hosed away on NHS

reorganisation that don't happen, hosed away on rail privatisation, we

could go on. The reality is that we as a government took the view that

initial finance, if he listened, he would learn. As a government, we

will provide amounts of money for businesses in order to take them to

the next stage of business development and a project in terms

of development but there comes a point where it is absolutely right

to say to any business, we will not finance the project unless you find

in a Private backing that will take the project ahead without there

being a 100% guaranteed from the public sector. That was something we

were not prepared to do and that represents value for money for the

taxpayer. Will the First Minister make a

statement on the proposed takeover by Severn Trent Water? The concern

is that it will reduce consumer choice and will increase prices,

which is something that, to my mind, would not be acceptable. I don't

believe that people would accept higher prices for their water when

they can see the reservoirs in their locality that provide it. There are

fears that the company's strong Welsh identity and standing in the

country could be lost. There are real concerns amongst the workforce

about job security. The fear is that centralisation will lead to fewer

local jobs. Can you tell us what contact you have had with the

parties involved? I know that the minister is looking at this

carefully. She has received representations from constituency

members, and concern will be expressed from us as a Government

along the lines I mentioned. I'm surprised you can't tell us that you

have written a few letters about this, given the concern. This

proposed takeover raises serious questions about the future of our

national resources. Those resources should be benefiting the people in

this country, but they are being bought and sold as we speak. As the

First Minister considered what impact this takeover bid could have

on the water industry in Wales, bearing in mind the competitive

model being pushed in England has been rejected here? And will he join

me in making a clear statement today that Welsh water services should be

run from Wales, and not from Coventry for a bunch of

multinational shareholders? We have been clear that we want to see power

was overwater devolved. It was always a matter of great regret to

me that the people of Wales did not have control over one of their major

national resources. That will change in 2018 and I welcome that, it will

give us the opportunity to look at how that resource can be developed

as far as the people of Wales are concerned. Until that concession was

made by the UK Government, we were still in a position where we did not

have control. That, I welcome, and it gives us the opportunity to avoid

situations like this occurring in the future. In his evidence to the

scrutiny committee last week, the First Minister ask the Chancellor of

the Exchequer to do something about energy prices in the Autumn

Statement in order to help the steel industry in Wales, something which I

support. He pointed out that energy prices in Britain are 46% higher

than in some other places in Europe. Does he not agree that one of the

principal reasons for that is the 2008 climate change act passed by

the then Labour Government of which has committed Britain uniquely in

the world to a legally binding obligation of cutting carbon

emissions by 80% by 2050, as a result of which we are actually

placing a millstone round the next of the people, like British Steel

makers, who are placed at a competitive disadvantage with

countries like Germany? It is cheaper than in some countries. The

amount of renewable energy that feeds into national Grid in Spain is

comparable. It is to do with the market in Great Britain and the fact

that discounts are not available for energy intensive industries. We have

to look at nuclear but we also have to look at harnessing the power of

the tide, rather than relying on imported coal, which I know he has

suggested in weeks gone by. Germany has been opening new coal-fired

power stations, 11 gigawatts in the past five years. The Vice Chancellor

of Germany and chairman of the social Democratic party, and also

the energy minister, has said that Germany will not be phasing out

coal-fired power stations before 2040 as the Government looks for

ways to minimise job losses. The German Government is doing what it

can to minimise job losses in its coal regions at the expense of

British Steel makers. I am going to pause for a minute at the irony of

that. In the 1980s, he sat there while thousands upon thousands,

30,000 jobs were lost in the mining industry in Wales. Now he says we're

not doing enough to protect jobs. The reality is, if we were to have

more coal-fired power stations, we would have to import coal. Germany

relies heavily on Russia for and given the current state of world

affairs, that is an uncomfortable position for Germany to be in. I do

not think that in terms of Britain's energy security, importing more coal

is the answer. It is the cheapest form of power generation and it

doesn't seem to me to be an economically or commercially

sensible thing to do. We have another climate change conference in

Marrakesh coming up, and there will be a lot of hot air, like last week,

where a lot of hot air was expended. Given that countries like China are

not planning to reduce their CO2 emissions, in fact they are

increasing their capacity, and China proposes to double its coal-fired

capacity within 15 years, and India promises to treble its output of CO2

emissions, isn't written generally, and Wales in particular, placing

itself out a vast competitive disadvantage by forcing up energy

prices which are the lifeblood of industries like the steel makers of

Wales? Spain is an example of a country where coal is not a major

factor in energy production. Collies yesterday -- coal is yesterday's

technology. People are not looking to build more coal-fired power

station. China has a problem with pollution, and it sees the smog in

its major cities. First, we should have more more air pollution, is

what he is suggesting. We should import more coal, which is more

cost, and less energy security as far as Britain is concerned, which I

cannot agree with him on bass and of course, what he is saying, in

effect, that we should look to build more coal-fired power stations. Good

luck to him on that. If he wants to see people angry and annoyed with

her coal-fired power station next them, it's a sure-fire way of doing

that, pardon the pun. Tidal energy that is there will always be there

as long as the moon is there. It has not been harnessed or developed, but

it should be, rather than relying on fossil fuels that need to be

imported. It is not a secure energy policy. Has the First Minister

considered the potential of the Bridgend Hub? The next phase of

metro development will be focused on the Cork Valley lines. I know that

funding for the successive phases of the roll-out are more precarious

after Brexit, but it does provide some exciting potential here in

Bridgend, which is the sixth biggest manufacturing and employment area

within the UK. It has potential and if we were to seize -- if we were to

-- if we are to seize the potential, we must push the matter up the

valleys. If he would come with me and meet with Councillor Hugh

Davies, we can sit down and discuss it over a cup of tea. I will pass

that message on. Bridgend railway station, like so many others, is not

practical for buses. There was a plan to put as is in the car park

behind, but the police objected. There is an issue there. We need to

look at new alternatives in terms of delivering a proper transport hub.

Along the lines of Caerphilly, which was a good example. We need to look

at where bus stations and train stations are not close to each other

in terms of accessibility. I thank him for his question, but I am a

little sceptical about the attention my region has been given in the

course of all this. Even that nonspecific third phase we were

talking about, there are reports of a fast bus in the future. The people

in my region don't see the lines on the map, so what will your

Government do that all these -- to make sure that all these projects

are developed and work properly for my constituents rather than creating

cracks between them? The line coming into the town was built many years

ago and is now a dual carriageway road and much of the line is gone,

so it would be impractical to reinstate the line. We would have to

consider other alternatives for towns like Porthcawl in the future,

given that they were cut off in the 1960s. There was a suggestion of a

fast but as a possibility, but there are other possibilities for towns

that are a distance away from the heavy rail network in the future.

First Minister, in order for the South Wales metro to deliver on its

stated aims,... Argue as disappointed as I am that the

Bridgend interchange will not be completed for another 10-15 years,

and will be South Wales metro be able to deliver the interchange

sooner than in resins -- than envisaged in the original plan? It

depends on the money that we are going to lose - ?125 million - being

made up by the UK Government. That will put a hole in the budget.

Without that money, it will be far more difficult to advance, to

quicken, the project along the lines she has mentioned. Will do the First

Minister provide an update on his discussions with local authorities

regarding business rate revaluation? The statutory body responsible for

carrying out a review published a draft rating in September and

ratepayers can check their valuation before it comes into effect in April

next year. The impending revaluation continues to be a source of

considerable concern for businesses in some parts of Wales, I accept not

all, but certainly in my area. Monmouth Chambers of commerce met

yesterday, and I have received their e-mail from a business in Chepstow

that faces a potential doubling of rates. Can you update us on your

discussions with stakeholders and businesses and tell us what you're

going to do to allay these concerns? How will you tailor dismiss relief

to the needs of those businesses worst affected by the revaluation?

The point he makes is fair. We have an ongoing consultation at the

moment. The responses to that have come almost entirely from Monmouth.

There is an issue there for businesses there. Those who have

benefited tend to be silent on these issues. In examining the issues that

they have raised, that will help us to put in place a transitional

scheme that will be as effective as possible for those places. The

effect has been most marked there. We want to make sure that by

listening to businesses that we can get the right scheme in place for

the transitional phase. The First Minister will know that I have

raised other cases with him from North Wales, when I asked him about

the effect of the revaluations there. It is clear that a number of

businesses throughout Wales are facing extreme increases in their

liability as a result of the revaluation, so would he look again

at the level of transitional relief that is provided and whether more

can be done there? We are in an odd position of the revaluation

happening and then I year later, there will be a more fundamental

reform of the business rate scheme as a result of that -- of the

business rate scheme. As a result of that, would it be worth looking at

the relief again? I will do that as part of the consultation. There will

be businesses who have seen a significant increase in business

rates. Others have seen the exact opposite. It is revenue neutral in

its intention, but the scheme is designed to be brought in as soon as

is possible after the consultation has taken place, in order to provide

help on a transitional basis. Then we will look at what the scheme

looks like. Question six. What progress is the

Welsh government making in improving survival rates for cancer? Cancer

survival rates to continue to improve. Five-year survival has

reached 50%. We will continue this improvement through the Cancer plan

which was published this month. Last week Vikki Howells and myself had

the great privilege to tour the laboratories of Cancer research

Wales. We were able to witness the internationally renowned

ground-breaking work which is taking place in Wales to increase

scientific understanding of how cancer attacks the immune system.

May I welcome warmly the Welsh government's revised cancer delivery

plan which has just been launched. All of us can applaud the fact that

patient satisfaction remains positive. Investment on spending has

risen from ?347 million in 2011-12. What can the Welsh government do

going forward to equip the scientists at Cancer research Wales

with the tools they need to improve survival rates by improving early

detection of cancer? We are investing ?4.5 million of funding

over three years at the centre which was launched in October last year.

And ?4.7 million is invested annually in support of recruiting

patients to trials or studies and supporting health board research

efforts. It is well known that survival rates of cancer are lower

for those who receive diagnosis through A departments in

hospitals. It is also known that there is some inequality in terms of

who is likely to get a diagnosis in an A Department and at the less

wealthy are more likely to go through that process rather than

going through alternative processes and going to see their GP and so on.

Would the First Minister agree with me that the government could look at

introducing walk-in centres so that people who do have symptoms that

they may have had for some time can actually go and get a checkup

without going through the GP process in full? The problem is, I believe,

with various cancers, is that they just present when one goes to an A

Department because of the fact that systems -- symptoms aren't serious

or become serious until you have to go to A With pancreatic cancer,

once they get the diagnosis when they go into A, because it is so

difficult to give a diagnosis for that kind of cancer. Others might

feel some pain and they do nothing about it and we know that others

have to go in and have immediate treatment. We have been working with

the doctors to make sure that GPs can move people through the system

so that they can have a cancer diagnosis as soon as. And we see

that the vast majority of people to go through the system and get a

diagnosis as soon as is. First Minister, the key to improving

cancer survival rates is early diagnosis. It is therefore usually

welcomed that the new cancer delivery plan for Wales is piloting

diagnostic centres. However, the delivery plan states that improving

access to diagnostics is an enormous challenge. What actions are you

taking to address the shortage is in equipment and staff in pathology,

radiography and oncology, identified in the delivery plan? We are

investing nearly ?10 million in a new linear accelerator so that

agents have access to the latest radiotherapy techniques and our

centres perform well in terms of the rate of intensively modulated

radiotherapy. We are committed to a new ?200 million Felindre Cancer

centre through the transforming cancer services programme. We will

revolutionise the way cancer services are delivered in the

south-east of Wales. We are providing funding for contamination

services in endoscopy services. All these things taken together will

continue to improve the outlook for so many cancer patients, to help

those living with cancer to use the correct terminology. Mark Reckless.

When did the First Minister first call for the abolition of tolls on

the seven bridges? It was in the manifesto in May. I can send you a

copy if you want. I have read your manifesto. My previous quote was, we

couldn't abolish the tolls, but any money raised can be applied to the

M4. I dreaded the First Minister for the position he now adopts. I raise

the issue that the UK's own powers to levy tolls under the seven

bridges at ends -- expire after a certain amount of money has been

raised. On a half tall, those powers wouldn't take it beyond 2019. Will

the First Minister commit to exploiting his government's and this

Assembly's powers to the maximum possible extent to avoid turning

thereafter. I should have known you would have read the manifesto of

course. I will reiterate what I said in committee, that is something that

needs to be examined carefully. Mohammad Asghar. At a recent meeting

of the Welsh affairs committee, Andrew Jones said in comes from the

tolls of the Severn Bridge will not be used as a profit-making exercise.

Once they return to public ownership. Given that the bridges

generate more than ?90 million a year in revenue but cost only ?14

million to maintain them, will the First Minister join me in welcoming

this indication of a significant cut in tolls in the near future in

Wales? I would prefer it if we controlled the tolls ourselves. They

are in Wales after all. The problem is that I have seen so many

different figures for the maintenance of both bridges, they

range from ?20 million up to ?100 million. I think the issue is what

the condition of the original bridge is. I think it is important there is

a proper survey so it is understood what the liabilities that surround

those bridges are and what the maintenance costs are likely to be

going forward. Then we will have a better idea of what many needs to be

funded in order for the tolls to be abolished. Rhianon Passmore. Last

week the Cabinet Secretary for economy and infrastructure met the

UK Tory government Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and told

him in no uncertain terms that the tolls should be scrapped and if the

UK Government was not prepared to do that it should not make a profit but

simply charge the actual cost of maintenance. Maybe the member for

South Wales East, Mark Reckless, could place in the Assembly library

his contribution when he raged against his Tory government

exploitation of the Welsh economy by refusing to scrap or minimise the

tolls. Will the First Minister state how the Welsh government can

continue to stand up for the people of Wales in the face of UK Tory

government that is literally profiteering at our expense? We did

suggest that we should take over the running of the bridge is subject to

a proper survey and a proper understanding of the maintenance of

those bridges. That was rejected. At the time we were told that the tolls

would remain because they provided a source of income for spending on

roads in England. Not a penny was going to come to Wales at that

point. I think it's worth emphasising that as we look at the

tolls, if we move to a situation with the tolls are abolished or if

the UK Government looks at each Olin, that would cause traffic to

arrive more quickly at the Brynglas Tunnels and add to congestion there.

So the issue of the bridges needs to consider carefully because the

impact of toll reduction has on traffic arriving then in Newport.

Question eight, Adam Price. What consideration has the First Minister

given to the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales having the

function of an infrastructure bank? Well, we are currently out of

consultation on establishing a commission to advise on longer-term

strategic infrastructure needs to support a more stable investment

framework for the future. The body as proposed would not have lending

functions but, of course, a development bank will be developed

so that more financial support will be available to businesses. Already

this month, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has

announced the establishment of an infrastructure bank for Canada. The

former Canadian Prime Minister has called for the same for Australia.

Hillary Clinton had campaigned in favour of an infrastructure bank and

although Trump had opposed that, the President-elect has said he wishes

to create an infrastructure bank for the United States. Isn't it time for

us in Wales to take this opportunity, particularly as we are

about to lose the only infrastructure we have in Wales,

which is the EIB. It's not clear we are going to lose the EIB. We have

been in discussions with the EIB and there is no reason why people out

with the European Union can't receive funding, but in that case

there will be less money available to the bank itself and so that is

what the position is at present. We want to make sure that the

development bank will be able to support businesses but at the

present time the work of the commission is being developed. I am

not in favour of a totally independent body, some kind of

quango. We want to make sure the commission is a body that can

develop and plan ahead for the best infrastructure for Wales for the

future. Mark Isherwood. If, as you just indicated, the evolution of

Finance Wales into a development bank might incorporate some

investment or infrastructure bank functions, how will you ensure that

it complies with the sustainable development principle implemented by

the well-being and future generations act, given that we

understand from evidence to committee that it would be bound by

a bank of England requirements or EU rules on capital requirements,

requiring risk sensitive and enhanced risk management? We expect

all public bodies to add her to the principles of the well-being and

future generations act and its seven goals. With regard to the progress

of the development bank, that progress is going well. In order to

which even the correct certifications so that the bank can

operate, and we are confident it is on time. Question nine, Dawn Bowden.

Will the First Minister make a statement on the prospects for

economic growth in the South Wales valleys? We are delivering a range

of actions to deliver strong prospects for the valleys. That

includes a digital and transport infrastructure and we continue to

tailor our approach in response to the outcome of the valleys task

force. Thank you. I recently met with the Bevan foundation to discuss

ideas and strategies for economic regeneration in my constituency and

part of those discussions focused on the Cardiff capital region and the

Metro. The capital region will undoubtedly bring significant

benefits to the South Wales area but there is a danger that areas like

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney may not benefit because of its distance from

Cardiff. In reality, Cardiff in itself cannot provide enough jobs

for the needs of the valleys areas. Given that within 20 minutes of

Merthyr Tydfil there is a population base of around 175,000, it is a key

transport in this -- transport spot... Does the First Minister

agree that Merthyr Tydfil is ideally placed to be a growth head for the

Southeast valleys to act as a counterbalance to Cardiff and that

this should be considered as an integral part of the government's

economic strategy? Yes, Merthyr is in a good place in terms of

transport. The Metro will benefit it greatly, the dualling of the Heads

of the Valleys. The town centre has seen huge amounts of European

funding to get to a position where it is far more attractive for

businesses and the businesses who have come to the developments

outside the town have, lamented the town centre, it seems to me. We see

jobs coming to move the many years ago. The Welsh Governance Centre an

office in Merthyr, General Dynamics, these are signs to me that Merthyr

has a great future and great potential to act as an engine to

drive the economy not just in the town but in the surrounding towns

and villages as well. Question ten, Simon Thomas. Will the First

Minister made a statement on the shortage of GPs in Wales? General

practitioners in primary care remain critical to the success of the NHS

in Wales. We continue to respond to the challenges for GPs and of course

we have our campaign to market Wales as an attractive place for doctors

careers. Well, First Minister, the shortage is critical in some areas.

Not across areas but in certain areas such as Pembrokeshire there is

a grave shortage of GPs. There is a recruitment campaign on going, I

accept that, but in the meantime what are you doing to make sure that

primary care is available to all in areas such as Southern Pembrokeshire

by using pharmacies and using nurse practitioners and alternative

methods of employing GPs directly? Well, the member is talking about

Choose Well, which is a system where patients go to see the pharmacist

first is. Only after that would they go to the GP surgeries, which would

take the pressure off them. Where GP surgeries are closing down, the

services then disseminated, but there is a question for the

profession because more and more young GPs want to be salaried and

not have to buy into a surgery. STUDIO: Pretty feisty exchanges this

afternoon between Mr Jones and the leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

Mr Davies suggested the Welsh Government hasn't done enough on the

company behind the heads of the valleys race track. Mr Jones said

the Government has done enough work and that is why the company has not

got all the public money had asked for. Mr Jones and Mr Hamilton

continue what has become their weekly trip down memory lane,

talking about the coal industry. Continuing questions over the

ownership of and the tolls on the Severn bridges. That was First

Minister's Questions this afternoon. If you want more coverage...

If you want more coverage of the National Assembly,

you can go online to our webpage at bbc.co.uk/walespolitics.

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

later today at six-thirty on BBC One Wales, and

If you want more Welsh politics this week, you can join Huw Edwards

with The Wales Report after the Ten O'Clock News

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