23/02/2016 am.pm

Welcome to the programme and our weekly coverage of

After a short recess last week the countdown is now on

to the end of the Assembly term ahead of May's election.

But there's still plenty to discuss before then.

And according to today's Order Paper we can expect questions

on healthy lifestyles, training for doctors and nurses,

and support for people living on the Welsh coast.

Don't forget you can keep up to date with

all the political goings-on in Wales by following us on Twitter.

Well, business in the chamber is already underway

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

Good afternoon. The National Assembly of Wales is in session on

the first item is the question as to the First Minister. Questionable one

by Mohammad Asif R. What action is the Welsh Government taking to

promote healthy lifestyles in South Wales East?

We are focused on ensuring a whole of society in approach. We wanted

address the wider determinants of health such as good employment,

quality housing and cycling poverty. Thank you. This figure was reduced

by the Child measurement programme Wales that reveal a quarter of

children in South Wales East at all overweight or obese. Blaenau Gwent,

Caerphilly and Torfaen would all above the Welsh national average of

overweight and obese children starting school. What action with

the Welsh give-and-take to reverse these shocking statistics and to

promote healthier lifestyle to parents in South Wales East?

In 2010 we launch the all Wales obesity pathway which provides

national strategic direction by setting out its tiered approach for

the prevention and treatment of obesity from community-based

prevention and early intervention to surgical services.

First Minister, to have a more physically active and healthy Wales

we need key organisations to come together and accept their

responsibility. Would you join me in welcoming you work taking place in

my area where the Aneurin Bevan health board, Newport, Newport City

Council, sports bodies and the range of others are meeting to develop

joint strategy and policy for a more physically active and healthy

population. I thank the member for that question. I welcome the

crosscutting work that has been taken forward by those

organisations. It isn't a case of one organisation by itself changing

people's habit and encourage people to do more exercise. When they come

together they can have a much greater effect. Lindsay Whittle.

In view of the fact of reports by Public Health Wales stated and they

quote, "There is limited impact in programmes that focus on lifestyle

behaviour change". How can we justify spending public money on

trying to change peoples choices when this approach is clearly

failing and many people, not me, regard it as the nanny state

interference, and do you believe there should be a greater emphasis

on concentrating on children's healthy eating?

We need to emphasise that people can acquire good health or can improve

their health at any age. The member is try to say with regard to

children, it is important children learn good habits young. It is

important to ensure people are encouraged to stop smoking, but has

an enormous effect on health even later on in their lives. I don't see

that as a nanny state, that is something that helps people to ditch

a habit that harms their health. Jack Cuthbert.

Will be First Minister join with me in applauding the work of Diabetes

UK in providing their book. The book is designed to collect real

experiences of people with diabetes and the tips they offer about how

they are coping with the condition. Clearly, leading a healthy lifestyle

is important for someone with diabetes and especially avoiding

smoking. Yes, I do agree that Diabetes UK as

an extremely valuable partner. We know there is also to help many

people come to terms with their condition. We work closely with

Diabetes UK. They have a seat on the Bay beaches delivery plan group and

we are looking forward to working with them in future.

Questionable too. Were the First Minister make a

statement on doctor and nurse training at Swansea University. It

plays a key role in supporting the NHS in Wales by providing a wide

range of programmes. With regard to nurse training places at Swansea, we

are now at the highest level we have seen in the course of this

government in terms of the nurse training places commission. That

figure starts at 331. When the Assembly was created there

were no doctors in training in Swansea University. It is something

that is comes as the Assembly is here. I'm pleased to note the

increase in numbers and they agreed that there is a whole range of other

services such as physiotherapists etc, but I don't think I would have

got past the Presiding Officer if I'd listed them all. Is this not an

example of the Welsh Labour government supporting the Welsh NHS

by having more doctors and more nurses?

Absolutely. We have more doctors than ever, we are increasing the

number of nurse training places. We see with concern what is happening

in England. The minister did announce an ?85 million package to

support a range of education and training programmes for health care

professionals and we know that investing in our workforce is the

key to the NHS's sustainability. Suzy Davies.

In view of the falling numbers of GPs and the ageing population of

GPs, what work is the Welsh Government done to help as a

postgraduate students who studied at Swansea to consider general practice

as a career path and how would Welsh Government encourage them to take a

stake in practices of their own? Should avoid thinking that the only

way GPs can practice is by buying into practice. That is in decline.

Many more wish to be salaried GPs. They are as valid as those who wish

to buy into a practice. What is important is the service that is

available to the public. We work closely with the BMA to identify any

barriers that may exist to recruitment on GPs. We have 2000

more GPs than we did ten years ago. That shows that the investments we

did as a government is bearing fruit.

Peter Black. The BMA have written to the

Immigration Minister to express concern and proposals coming out of

the migration advisory committee. They seem to have a devastating

impact on the 500 overseas medics who qualify that graduate from

medical schools each year because of the changes to visas which are being

proposed. Can I ask whether you have carried out in evaluation of the

impact on medical schools in Wales and whether you have made

representations to the UK Government about them?

They will be detrimental. There are some who argue we don't control our

borders. Say that the doctors who think they can't stay in Wales in

order to offer their skills to the people of Wales. I often hear the

argument migrants place a burden on behalf of service, but it is those

who staff much of the service. The health service is reliant and

grateful for the skills that they bring. Anything that imposes a

barrier on those who wish to use their skills for the benefit of the

people of Wales is something that we would oppose the stock David lease.

?85 million which was announced for health care professionals is

welcomed. That includes other professions such as radiographers

and physiotherapists. Then you restless the Welsh Government in

this complements the work of Swansea University. It is an excellent job

in training doctors and paramedics. Will you expand it. It will be

looked at in future. It has been pointed out that at one time medical

training was centred around Cardiff. They were medical students who spent

time in hospitals around Wales but that isn't a training centre such as

Swansea. What is important is investing in the workforce to make

sure that the people of us have access to the right level of

services in future. We moved to questions the party

leaders. First this afternoon, Andrew RT Davies.

First Minister, at the moment AMD departments and hospitals and the

huge pressure the length and breadth of Wales but the length and breadth

of the UK. I take that point. Whether it is in West Wales, South

Wales or North Wales, people are being advised not to share in

hospitals because of the pressure some A department Arendell. What

assessment of the government is made of the demands being placed on our

dedicated medical workers, the length and breadth of Wales, and has

any extra requests come from our health boards to support the

day-to-day operations of our district general hospitals so

operations will not be cancelled and people will not face undue delays?

The level of demand is unprecedented. It can be difficult

to assess the level of demand will be over the course of the winter. We

see on this occasion incredibly high demand. I am grateful to the

dedication of staff in as a Zouma departments for the work they put

in. I know as far as Ysbyty Gwynedd is concerned, some of the pressure

has come off because these tend things to go open down quickly.

There are no requests for extra resources. Our health boards are

managing. With regard to not going to A, people should choose well.

A is an emergency service. People should see the pharmacist as a

first, the nurse, the GP, rather than going straight to A If

you've got a genuine emergency, they should go there. We ask people at

this time to consider whether A is that best place they should go for

treatment. One thing that would be help is the

reintroduction of minor injury units. Also, the other point is,

these pressures on hospitals could have a dramatic impact on waiting

times. Just before the half term recess the new waiting times were

out that showed an increase again in waiting times that have doubled on

your watch as First Minister. Ultimately, what people want to know

is when they will have the operational procedure they have been

allocated either hospital? Can you give a commitment that your

government is on top of the waiting times that have come as I said,

doubled on your watch and show no respite from the spiral upwards that

we have seen over the last five years.

I disagree with him on that. We have seen waiting times come down. We

have allocated resources to do with the issue of waiting times. I have

to say, for example, the average weight in cattle 2-mac is two hours

and ten minutes. More people have remained in A for more than 20

hours. We know in England, the figures originally showed that a few

thousand people were in A for more than 12 hours, those figures are now

120 4000. We know there are pressures across the whole of the

UK. What we are seeing in Wales is waiting times coming down, ambulance

response times at improving, the same with cancer waiting times. They

are high-level when compared with England. I am confident we will see

waiting times continue to drop in future. On cancer waiting times,

they are not improving. The more recent waiting times showed a

substantial the crease to 78% of referral time when your -- number is

90%. Labour government, if elected, would deliver a shorter waiting time

within our NHS. That was nearly ten years ago. At a conference this Eiji

were talking you are only halfway through your decade of delivery. 15%

of the population and on a waiting list in Wales. With your pledges,

you haven't committed to protecting the NHS budget. How can anyone have

confidence that you will be able to get on top of the waiting time lists

that are spiralling out of control and do your leadership which is the

day-to-day affect the patients and clinicians the length and breadth of

Wales they are not getting the service they need?

I have to say to the Leader of the Opposition, we now know that the

figures in England have been massaged. BBC Radio 5 found that for

any waiting times over 12 hours. We see a record amount of money coming

into the NHS in Wales. We spend 1% more per head in Wales on health

than England does. 7% more in social care. Only today we are hearing that

social care is on the verge of collapse in England. That is not

happening in Wales. You cannot divorce the two - one follows the

other. Despite the 10% cut we have had from his party in London, we

have managed to increase health spending as a percentage, and we

have done that despite the cuts that his party have imposed on us. That

is a record which we are proud to take to the people of Wales. We now

move to the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood. You said recently in

response to the GP recruitment crisis in the north - there will be

issues from time to time where a GP decides to stop, but then that

service is carried on by salaried GPs. From our point of view, I do

not think there is a crisis, you said. Do you accept that this

response was dismissive to people's concerns and do you regret not being

more sympathetic to patients who were experiencing problems as a

result of the GP recruitment crisis in the north? I have to say, I am

not aware of patients suffering as a result of the lack of GPs in the

north. The question she asked me was, over some practices which have

decided not to continue, their services have been covered by

salaried GPs. As far as the public is concerned, the service will

remain the same. First Minister, that sounds like you are in denial

as to the extent of the problem. The secretary of the North Wales Local

Medical Committee believes that urgent action is needed for the out

of hours service in the north. The vice-chair of the committee has said

the situation is at breaking point. Will you now concede that there is a

recruitment crisis? And will you agree that patients deserve better?

I accept there is a challenge to recruit GPs in some parts of Wales -

that much is true. There are various reasons for that, as there are for

medicine in general. Nevertheless we do welcome the efforts to identify

every barriers which might exist to recruitment. We do have 2000 more

GPs in Wales than was the case. That is something we are looking to build

on in the future. First Minister, Wales has a few words doctors per

head of the population than all but three European entries. You do not

seem to be accepting of that fact. Is it acceptable to you, First

Minister, that people are lying on the floors of emergency departments

waiting to be seen Is it acceptable to you that GPs are withdrawing

their contracts? Is it acceptable that all but emergency cases have

been turned away from a GP practice? Metellus that you are halfway

through a decade of delivery, First Minister, under your stewardship. If

you get a chance to see it through, what kind of NHS will we be left

with at the end of your tenure? We will be left with a pull NHS where

more is spent, more money has been allocated, where more money is going

into mental health, substantially more money into child and adolescent

elf careful stock we will have a Wales with a new treatment fund for

life-threatening illnesses. We will see investment into NHS buildings.

We will see further examples, as we have seen in Morriston, of a

brand-new front to the building, a fantastic extension of the building,

making it much easier for people to go to A, and to see doctors. That

is what we will see, good facilities for the people of Wales, paid for

without privatisation, delivered three at the point of delivery for

our people. -- free at the point of delivery. For the Welsh Liberal

Democrats, Kirsty Williams. Last year, following a ministerial

resignation and questions raised about the operation of the

ministerial cold, you told the Assembly that you would be willing

to ponder further potential changes to that code. Could you give us an

update on your pondering? I have to say, I have pondered this issue, as

she puts it, but I do not see the need for there being some kind of

independent adjudication process. That does not exist in London,

either. I am sorry your pondering has not come to a more positive

conclusion, First Minister. At the same time I said that it is

perfectly appropriate for governments to take outside advice,

but that advice should be transparent. When I asked you to

publish details of meetings with pressure groups and lobbyists, you

replied, there are none. It is not our policy to meet with lobbyists.

But Freedom of Information requests have revealed that you personally

have met with external organisations 144 oh times since May of last year.

I assumed you were not just tossing the time of day and drinking tea.

Will you commit to creating an accessible register of all meetings

between Welsh government ministers and non-governmental organisations

to be made available on the Welsh the website? These are not

lobbyists, these are businesses and organisations that I have met out

and about in Wales. We do not meet with professional lobbying companies

or organisations. That is our policy and no such meeting will ever take

place. But when you meet these organisations, what ever you decide

to define them as, you are not just passing the time of day. No doubt

they are taking the opportunity to try and influence the governments

thinking, which is perfectly acceptable. I am asking that you

make that accessible to the people of Wales, so that they know who you

are meeting with and what you are talking about. And I turned to a

third measure of transparency here in Wales? Under current rules, the

chairs of committees are appointed by party leaders. This is a system

of patronage and control so discredited that they do not even do

that in Westminster any more. Can you think of a single good reason

why these posts should not be elected by the whole of the

Assembly, rather than being down to party leaders? And would you support

such a change? The committee chairs in my party are not within the gift,

they are elected by the entire group, not appointed by Amy. That is

how it should be. The last thing which should happen is that party

leaders are point committee chairs. It does not happen in my party.

There has to be an element of independence when it comes to

scrutiny and committees. Order! Sorry... The Leader of the

Opposition is most vocal. He of course HAS sacked a committee chair

so he would know more about it than I do. I understand within his party,

it IS the leader! We do not accept it on these benches. Order! In terms

of the suggestion that she made, it is an interesting idea. It is

something I think which is worth exploring. Hopefully now move to a

quieter session. We have a question from Darren Millar. Will the First

Minister make a statement on support for coastal communities in Wales?

Yes, our flagship regeneration programme has seen local authorities

sharing more than ?100 million of capital funding for regeneration

schemes. That has been invested across Wales, including coastal

communities, for example 12000000 pounds invested in Colwyn bay and ?7

million in Holyhead. You will be aware that tourism is crucially

important to the coastal economy, including in my own constituency.

But one of the things which may put the tourism industry at risk is the

potential move to four weekly in collections in my area, which could

see an increase in fly-tipping, bitter and pests. What action will

you take to ensure that local authorities are responsible in the

way that they manage their waste collection services so that these

sorts of unintended consequences do not arise and do not cause a problem

for tourism? The borough council must make their decision based on

encouraging recycling. We just do not have as many homes in the ground

to put rubbish in, as was the case, in Wales. -- Alex in the ground.

Also making sure that the rate of collection is robust enough in order

to avoid fly-tipping. First Minister, one coastal community in

my region which HAS received special support is Fishguard, which two

years ago had ?50,000 awarded to it from this governments town centre

partnership fund. That money has helped do all sorts of things, to

name a few of them, better Wi-Fi, and of course, the Fishguard bay

app. Can I ask, will it be the case that this government, or any future

government, will assess the value of those projects, so that we can take

them to the next stage? Yes, as the member says, the town centre

partnership in Fishguard was awarded ?50,000. It has devised and

developed its own bespoke actions for the locality. The town centre

app has been mentioned. There is the he is festival as well. It is

important that we are able to assess the effectiveness of that funding.

But it seems that the early evidence in that case is that it has been put

to very good use. TRANSLATION: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like

to turn to the economic viability of coastal communities in Wales as part

of a green growth strategy. In his recent report on the potential of

the Marine economy in Wales, the Enterprise And Business Committee

which I am a member of, or for a clear strategy in this area to

include energy initiatives, tourism, environmental tourism, transport and

so on. Does the First Minister agree with our impression as a committee

that the governments response to developing a green economy has been

patchy or fragmented and that there is not adequate evidence of action

taken country handsomely as a government, something which is

crucial in coastal areas such as my constituency of Anglesey? In looking

at Ynys Mon, there is great potential to develop energy, and

with new powers which will hopefully come in the Wales bill, it will be

easier to develop that potential, such as in Holyhead, particularly

with the 7 million which is available to Holyhead and to the

island as a whole. We developed the coastal path around the island and

we are still continuing to work with the council to develop the economy

and tourism in Ynys Mon. May I ask what consideration has been given to

the impact in terms of flood problems and the problem that you

have just referred to, the Vibrant And Viable Places Scheme? No, if we

look at Colwyn bay, and rate deal of work has been done there over the

years. I visited a watersports centre twice and that has been an

extremely important development for the town itself. And of course we

have invested in flood prevention in a number of places throughout Wales.

And of course I made a statement some weeks ago about dealing with

the situation on the A55, and also at Taliban.

-- Tal y Bant. The primary objective of the Welsh government, in England,

the rural development programme, is to support the rule of becoming and

agriculture in particular. Thank you for that response. The window for

applications for the six schemes under the RDP was opened earlier

this month. And if all the applications were paid out, we are

talking about some 250 successful applications. It was announced that

there will be no window for subsequent entry, so that last

year's entries will not be able to carry on with their work at that

level. All Welsh farmers contributed to go from pillar one to pillar to,

but the reality is that a very small proportion is actually going to be

able to access that funding. What are you doing to see the

transformational change which we want, to ensure that an adequate

number of farms do have access to that funding, or otherwise the money

will go to far too small a cohort? Well, the minister of course did

make a statement a fortnight ago with regards to Brand schemes where

the window has opened. ?7 million has been paid out to date with

regards to the new scheme. And of course, funding has been committed

also to some other groups for future programmes. Of course we want to

ensure that the majority of farmers are able to receive support. And of

course, the major problem is that we have to ensure that there will be an

RDB available in the future. But that is a question for another party

in this chamber. The sustainable grant is legible to

be funded. In this farming climate it will agree it is difficult for

farmers to commit to such difficult investment. There are very few

members who have applied as a result of the limited scope. I am aware of

the previous answer. How were you going to address the RDB has made

more accessible to a greater proportion of farmers? His party

leader yesterday his view was there should be less accessibility to this

scheme given the fact he is going to vote to leave the EU and wishes to

remove ?200 million of support to Welsh farmers. What he... We will

await the explanation as to where that many will come from. We can't

afford it here. We will continue to support Welsh farming, we will

continue to access European funds. Welsh Labour will stand up for Welsh

farmers as the Welsh Tories sell them down the river.

First Minister, as you have said, the decision by the Leader of the

Opposition yesterday to oppose British membership of the European

Union reaches the very consensus that has taken place within this

chamber over the past 17 years. In that period, the rural development

plan, over three consecutive period, has developed -- delivered ?100

million of investment into rural communities in Wales. Given the

danger of the wild eyed zealots heading the cliffs, would it not be

prudent for this Welsh Government to ramp up the conversation with rural

communities across Wales so that is a follow understanding of what is at

stake in the months to come? I recognise the passion the member has

displayed. Welsh farmers will note that one of their own believes their

ships they should be put in jeopardy. -- subsidies. The question

for his sisters, Welsh farming receives more than ?2 million worth

of Dedek subsidy every year, where it is that many going to come from

in future? Where this is when to come from? It can't come from Welsh

Government, it is too much money for this to be able to afford. Welsh

farmers know where they stand at the moment and they will resist being

invited to jump off the edge of a cliff hoping there is a net on the

other side as they have been invited to do by the leaders of the

opposition. I am sure the chamber hasn't changed

since last week so it must be the people. Let the Minister answer and

other people ask the question. Questionable five.

Were the First Minister make a statement on the effectiveness of

Welsh Government investment in the upgrading of school buildings.

Our 21st-century schools programme will see an investment of ?1.4

billion over the five-year period to 2019. 96 projects have been approved

within the programme. I'm grateful for your answer. In

2006, Rhodri Morgan, your predecessor, stated many of our

Welsh schools were trash built. Your funding has reduced from 50% to 30%

of that funding. It gives rise to situations that happened in Newport.

You will note that the possibility is to have a Welsh medium school on

the same site, and yet the NRW have sabotaged that application. Cannot

be avoided in future? It is a matter for the Council what

happens in terms of planning. Just to be clear, the issue of the

refurbishment of that school in the building of a new Welsh medium

comprehensive School are not issues of finance. The money is there. This

is an issue where a planning application was rejected. They will

be a fresh planning application and it is a matter for the Council to

decide. But the money is there to refurbish the schools through our

programme and there are planning issues that need to be resolved.

Torfaen councillors consulting on the flows of Victoria Village and

the intake nursery schools as part of the 21st-century schools

programme. I've raised concerns throughout the set to the

consultation process. I realise you can't comment on individual school

closure proposal but in the recent letter to me, the deputy minister

indicated the new school closure process will be subject to a review

by Welsh Government. Can I ask for your assurances any review will take

into account the views of parents and communities, and can I ask you

to discuss this with the Minister for education Y Clwb Rygbi I know

this is an issue. She has a meeting with the deputy

minister I know she will make a case for her constituents.

Bid is a risk that one language cohort is set against the other. We

see disagreements on the future of English medium schools with the

Welsh medium school and Welsh medium schools in places such as

Haverfordwest and Brecon and Radnorshire. What is the Welsh

Government doing to ensure language choices are recognised in the

process of building and creating new schools and given you are not

hitting targets nationally to attain your aim of getting children into

Welsh media medication, how we going to ensure this scheme does make

provision for that? That is a very relevant question.

Firstly, what is important is that local education authorities consider

the Welsh medium education plans that they have, namely the west, to

make sure that they are catering for the demand that exists for Welsh

medium education. At one of the problems that, or one of the issues

that entails there is less growth than one would wish for in some

areas is the distance that people have to travel to get to a Welsh

medium school. They will be a new bilingual secondary School in

Newport, that'll hopefully assist and we would wish to see more such

schools being opened in Powys. But if parents see it is easier to

attend a primary and then a secondary school, then be of great

help to ensure parents consider Welsh medium education, not just for

the primary but throughout the whole life of the child's education. Had

the Conservatives won the last election the 20% cut in education

they would have imposed would have meant they would be no 21st-century

schools programme. It would mean the new ?24 million school in my

constituency would not go ahead. The ?43 million schools fought on the

level would not go ahead. Cudjoe outline for me, because of

the success of this programme, what the government is's plans are in

terms of the next phase of false Labour's 21st-century school

building programme. We still have a lot of work to do.

The member is correct to point to the new schools that have been built

in his constituency. We will continue with our programme to make

sure we refurbish schools where that refer percent built in his

constituency. We will continue with our programme to make sure we

refurbish schools with atrophied distances needed. One of the things

the opposite did was to slash the budget. Almost nothing is now

happening in England. We will not do that to children in Wales. Before

the last Assembly election, it was a different leader they have then, he

appeared saying they would be a 20% cuts in education. Since the

election, the party opposite has said it is 12%. They now say the

number is out of date! The whole of Wales will be delighted to know what

the scale of the court is that the party opposite, the Conservatives,

actually proposes. First Minister, one of the other

challenges facing the government is asbestos. Can I ask you there for

them it is clear there is a special working group established in England

by the Department for Education dealing with this as soon but they

have been quite clear in stating that they only have responsibility

for England. Can I ask you to bear in mind that's working group

includes members of the trade unions and specific experts. Is this go

from us to look at a similar arrangement in Wales and would you

be willing to look for representation from Wales on the

group in London. It is the Hater see which is

responsible for the safety of the schools. -- HST. Guidelines have

been is stewed to the duty holders of the owners of properties that

they know what their duties are. They know what their duties are

under the health and safety regulations and action group. It has

been established to make sure our guidelines are appropriate for the

future and also to review both the policy and the guidelines in Wales.

What assessment has the First Minister made of the recent OECD

report on the review of health care quality in the UK.

This highly respected body fat quality at the heart of the Welsh

health system and we prioritise health care.

Thank you very much for that. I believe that the OECD report went

into the primary care which is developing in my own constituency

following the funding model of GP surgeries, finally showing up that

when they wanted the event they can retire. The primary care centre that

we're going to have two replace two surgeries in the starting is noted

within the OECD report does the model to take forward. I know you

will agree with me it is time the UK Government looked over this border

with envy at the way in which we actively negotiate, and we actually

value all and working staff in the NHS. It is time that Cameron

conceded to your request that they should apologise profoundly and

profusely for the damage they have done to the dedicated hard-working

members of our Welsh NHS. Here we have the independent

evidence that shows that the claims made by the Prime Minister were

fallacious. It is as simple as that. You have heard my request that he

should apologise, he hasn't. One thing I can promise the people of

Wales is we're not been to import the Tories junior doctors strike

into Wales. We will talk to them rather than force contracts onto

them. We will get back to the reality

shall we. The OECD did not consider waiting times for diagnostic tests

and they did not consider either waiting times for treatment. The

facts are, First Minister, if you live in Wales who are more likely to

be on a waiting list, more likely to wait longer for your tests, wait

longer for your diagnostic treatment. It is a disgusting

treatment for your record to have. Absolutely shameful. Why is it

people wait longer for their heart bypass operations, cataract

operations, hernia operations and their hip operations. Up to three

times as long. If you live in Wales compared to England. That is

unacceptable. That is your record. He always get high pitched when he

is desperate. Let me remind him... There is no need to shout in this

chamber particularly when you are sitting down. And that includes you

Andrew RT Davies. It makes a difference from shouting

at each other which we have seen in the last few days.

This is what the OECD report said. Quality is the heart of the Welsh

health system, the importance of high quality and patient centred

care given priority. It is a deeply established and widely shared

commitment to the Welsh health system. A clear effort has been made

in west to use patient concerns and complains to improve quality of

care. Wales is ahead of securely linking individual's health and beta

and is using some indicators. The commitment to the values of the NHS

in Wales seems strong. A good system of health information is collected

in Wales. The interdiction of a three-year planning cycle for the

Welsh NHS is a step forward. The creation of primary care clusters

can be an important care in Wales. These thousand lives campaign has

been a successful way of fostering a culture of quality improvement. The

Wales surgical laboratories is an interesting model. I could go on. We

spent more on health in West per head than Englanders. That is where

the party is desperate. Yes, First Minister, you do spend

more perhaps on health in Wales than any other nation. But according to

the OECD report, no consistent picture emerges of one of the United

Kingdom's four health system is performing better than the others.

That is including waiting times as we have said. But clearly in terms

of health budgets, size is not everything. Wide as your government

by your own logic get a worse return on investment in terms of patient

outcomes and experience against money invested in the Health Service

than any other part of the UK? If she looks at the report she will see

there are areas where Wales does better than the English NHS, and

there are areas where the converse is true, where improvement is

needed. But what we do know is, when it comes to waiting times, that

England is massaging its figures. If you asked me for the evidence, I

will say it. BBC Radio 5 found that when it came to waiting times of

more than 12 hours, the official figure was a few thousand, the

actual figure was 120 4000. Why? Because England counts its walk-in

centres in the figures. We do not have them in Wales. The one thing I

can promise members in this chamber is, we will never reduce health

spend per head in Wales to the levels that they are under the

Tories in England. Question seven, Kirsty Williams. Will the First

Minister make a statement on education provision in Brecon and

Radnorshire? Yes, provision in this area is the responsibility of the

local authority, in consultation with the regional consortium. Thank

you very much. I'm sure you aware that hundreds, literally hundreds of

people, covered outside County Hall this morning in... To protest about

the reorganisation of secondary schools in Brecon and Radnorshire.

It grieves me to say this, but I think the people of my constituency

have lost all confidence in the ability of the Cabinet of Powys

county council successfully to plan for the future of education in that

part of the county. Their question to me this morning is, what is the

Welsh government going to do about it? There is no evidence to suggest

that the plans put forward will improve the educational output for

the county and for the children, but there is plenty of evidence that the

county's proposals are setting community against community, and

potentially language against language. Would you agree with me,

that is no way to recruit and retain the best teaching staff in the

county, and no way to inspire the young people of Brecon and

Radnorshire to achieve in their schools? The member represents the

case made by her constituents powerfully. She will understand that

Welsh ministers cannot comment on individual reorganisation proposals,

but it stands to reason that where there are fresh proposals that there

should be as much consultation as possible, with the views of the

public being taken into account, and decisions based entirely on what is

best for children. She has made the point that she is concerned that

language is being set against language, community against

community. That does concern me greatly and I think it is hugely

important that Powys is able to reconcile those issues and provide

education which commands the support of parents. It is their decision at

the end of the day. There we are - that was

First Minister's Questions. If you want more more coverage

of the National Assembly, you can go online to BBC

Wales's Senedd Live Don't forget for all the latest

political news, watch Wales Today later today at 1830

on BBC One Wales. As for am.pm, though, from all of us

on the programme, goodbye.