23/11/2011 am.pm

Good morning, welcome to the programme. We have got a

Westminster at the Al of coming up for you. In a moment we will take

you to the Commons for Prime Minister's Questions and Welsh

Questions. Feel free to get in Before we head off, we will have a

quick chat with one of our studio guests. Good morning, Leeanne. We

will be joined by Nick Ramsay later on. Why you have got the sofa to

yourself, we know that there is a blight Cymru leadership competition

starting in January. You're one of the names that is being talked

about. If anyone put your name into YouTube they might see a film that

has been made, calling on you to put your name forward. Any news on

that? I am considering the situation in the leadership. I know

a number of young members of Plaid are running a fierce campaign to

persuade me to stand. It is an exciting time for the party at the

moment. A lot of people are coming into the party, and people are

looking at what happened in Scotland and seeing major

opportunities for Wales in terms of expanding our devolution settlement.

People are keen to be involved in that kind of politics. I am getting

some messages to try to persuade me, but I am trying to wait for up at

the moment. You are getting some messages to persuade you, I think

you could be persuaded! Other people have said that they are

going to put your names forward, why don't you? Blight can read his

undertaking an internal review at the moment and we are looking at

the future direction of the party - - Plaid. I am expecting some

political discussions and debates to come out of that. Members have

been having those debates already, and I am encouraged about the

direction the blood talking about going in. But I would like to see

the review take its evidence and produce something before finally

making up my mind. I think that, depending what comes out of the

review, I will make my decision. That will give you an idea of where

the party wants to go, and if those ideas match your own? The debates

that have taken place so far, what I am picking up, is that people are

up for some kind of radical direction. I think that the

politics of the time is calling for that as well, so we are in

interesting times, I think. Thank you. I thought the house of Commons

was ready, but let's look ahead first. We have got Welsh Questions

and Prime Minister's Questions. What do you think we are likely to

see today? Yesterday in the First Minister's Questions, York leader

attacked Carwyn Jones for writing to the by Minister about talking

about constitutional issues. Will we get a flavour of that today?

think the economy is bound to dominate, as it has in First

Minister's Questions all through the summer. The situation is

getting more serious. We are seeing unemployment rising. I did some

work this week showing that there is a high number of part-time and

temporary workers as well, which could be masking the unemployment

figures. We have got huge problems with youth unemployment. I imagine

that will be a major topic in the House of Commons today. What you

think about the attack on Carwyn Jones - he asked if he had his

priorities right on constitutional matters. This has been the

frustration of all of us, since the election last May. We need a major

focus on the economy. We need a new thinking, and we are not saying it.

We are seeing Carwyn Jones spending his time sending off letters about

voting systems. A Bentley for your time for the moment. We are going

over to the House of Commons now where Tomos Livingstone will be

taking us through the next hour. Introduction of the fair fuel

stabiliser, and a cut in fuel duty at the Budget earlier this year.

thank the Minister for that response. Can I ask him to urge

upon his Right Honourable Friend, we need to push government to

produce a troupe fuel duty stabiliser, which would trigger an

annual reduction in the pump price as the so-called fair fuel

stabiliser announced in the March Budget does not go far enough, not

anywhere near far enough. The volatility in petrol prices means

businesses cannot budget, as noted by the FSB yesterday. Well, I hear

what the Right Honourable Gentleman has to say, but I feel that I have

to point out to him that, as a result of the tax measures we have

taken, petrol prices are now approximately six pence per litre

love with them they would have been had that escalator not been

scrapped. Even taking VAT into account, fuel prices are

approximately three pence a litre Le weather may would have been.

Further to that response, could I ask the Minister a slightly

different matter. What support is the UK Government providing for the

use of electric cars? There are no charging points at all in Wales,

not even one in each constituency. What is being done to encourage

that? The Right Honourable gentleman is quite correct. This is

the technology of the future. This is something that, as he knows, is

being rolled out in the urban areas, and I hope solutions will be found

to ensure that Rourke users will also be able to find access to

suitable charging points -- rural users. Would the minister agreed

that it would indeed be highly desirable to reduce fuel costs, but

is it possible to do so while we are running a deficit of 1 �60

billion a year as a result of the Honourable Ladies and Gentlemen

opposite? I could not put it better myself. For commuters and

businesses in my constituency, high fuel prices are painful enough

without the exorbitant cost of the Severn Bridge tolls which, if they

followed the normal pattern of toll rises, will hit nearly �6 for a car

this year. What action is the Secretary of State taking to help

constituents with these costs? Severn Bridge is privately operated,

but the franchise comes to an end in 2017, at which time the

Government will consider its options.

Mr Speaker, with permission, I will answer questions to and eight

together. The latest unemployment figures in Wales a disappointing.

They show that there is still much for both the Welsh government and

the UK government to do. We have made it clear that, whilst tackling

the deficit remains a top priority, we are committed to creating the

right conditions for the private sector to expand and grow in Wales

to create much-needed jobs. Will be Secretary of State join me

in congratulating the Labour Welsh government on the launch of the

jobs growth Wales, which I'm sure we'll create 4,000 jobs per year.

Will she encourage a Cabinet colleague to establish a similar

scheme in this country because our constitute -- constituents are

desperate for jobs? As the Honourable Gentleman knows,

I would congratulate any government that tries to make the effort to

reduce unemployment that blights so many families, particularly in

Wales, no more than under the last Labour government. However, I must

say to him that the verdict will be out until we see the results from

that scheme. She will be aware that in my

constituency and hundreds of people crossed the border both ways for

Employment - some constituents from Wales who travel in to major

employers across the border. Doesn't she think there needs to be

some joined-up thinking with her colleagues in the Department of

business to address the challenge by Honourable Friend has just

raised. There is a good scheme in Wales. Why not replicated in

England? The Honourable Gentleman is wrong.

This is a new scheme in Wales been brought forward by the but govern.

And I'd agree with him. The �400 million investment in the Airbus

factory will secure at 6,000 Welsh jobs, and many jobs in the supply

chain to the Airbus factory. The Prime Minister was able to open the

new North factory recently, and we know that that is going to secure

employment and development in that area for a long time to come.

Enterprise Zones is of real concern to the communities in Wales. I am

grateful to my Honourable Friend of reminding me that we started the

enterprise zones in England at a much earlier stage than the Welsh

government debt. But I am pleased to welcome the fact that the Welsh

government has designated some areas in Wales as enterprise zones.

I do know from my discussions with business and industry that they are

keenly awaiting more details on these zones, which has been very

slow in coming forward. Mr Speaker, will be Secretary of

State well come with me the announcements by sawmills in

Newbridge in my constituency that they are about to create another 20

jobs, bringing Christmas cheer to those families who will benefit

from that employment? Well, the Honourable Gentleman is

right, and I know how hard he works in his constituency to insecure

jobs, and I would often likened -- congratulations. I think we forget

in this day and age, when we are seeing, unfortunately, figures in

unemployment going in the wrong direction at the moment, but plenty

of companies are creating jobs, and... For order, order. Can the

Secretary of State face at the house so we can all hear her dulcet

tones. I think she is finished and we are grateful to her. Mr Speaker,

doesn't the Secretary of State realise how out of touch she is.

The unemployment figures in Wales are not disappointing, they are

shocking. We have had a 20% rise in the number of women claiming

jobseeker's allowance since she came to power in 20th May 10. That

includes an increase in one 5th out of work for over 12 months. Why,

according to her parliamentary answers to me, hasn't the Wales

Advisory Business Council yet discussed the plight of jobless

women in Wales? The Right Honourable Gentleman is right to

commiserate on those people that are looking for employment, but I

am not going to take any lessons from him, he was part of a

government where youth unemployment rose by over 40% under Labour, and

female unemployment rose by over 30% under the last Labour

government. What world is she living in? We

created a record number of jobs in Wales. Mr Speaker, there are 10 men

on her business advisory council. Why doesn't she appoint at least

one woman to it? And, with the deficit rising and growth stalling,

isn't it also time a government adopted Labour's five-point plan

for jobs and growth in Wales, including a cut in VAT for home

improvements to 5%, a tax break for every small firm which takes on

extra workers, and a �2 billion tax on bankers' bonuses to create

100,000 new jobs. And lest she act now, she will condemn tens of

thousands of men and women in Wales to misery.

In Wales there is an acid test of Labour's policies, and the fact is

that a Labour government is in power in Wales, and as the First

Minister in Scotland said the other day, if Labour had the answer to

economic problems and unemployment, then why is unemployment in Wales

higher than it is in Scotland? Why his youth unemployment higher than

it is in Scotland? If Labour had any magic solutions, why aren't

they implementing them in the one place in these islands where they

are still in government? We are determined to tackle this

and will announce additional measures as part of phase two of

the growth review. That is to ministers now that have

used the word disappointing about unemployment. It is a tragedy, and

one of the worst things about it is that a previous Conservative

government consigned constituencies like mine, and whole communities

like the rounder, too long term a mass unemployment, and they are

doing exactly the same now to a generation of young people. Will he

suggest one single thing that he personally in his department is

doing now to tackle youth unemployment in Wales and in the

Rhondda? Mr Speaker, of course youth

unemployment is too high, and sadly it is not a new phenomenon. In the

last Parliament, youth unemployment in Wales increased by 73%. Not a

word of apology from the Honourable Gentleman for that. We recognise

the importance of the problem, and that is why we have introduced the

work programme which provides properly targeted support to young

job seekers. Mr Speaker, is export-led growth

one of the Ritz to addressing youth unemployment? In that regard, will

my Honourable Friend take this opportunity to congratulate the

private sector business in Wales which has seen, since the last

election, a 31% increase in Welsh exports, double the national

average, and the largest increase of any part of the United Kingdom?

Yes, my Honourable Friend is entirely right. The export figures

for Wales were extremely encouraging, debt particularly as

they were by the engineering sector. -- led particularly as they were.

We must commend Airbus for the wonderful work they are doing in

I welcome at the latest fall in inflation published last week.

this government's watch, average food bills have increased by 5%. It

puts more pressure on families. I have listened to the Secretary of

State's responses. Can she guarantee that she is fighting a

Wales's corner? I thank the honourable gentleman for what I

think is a questions. I always fight Wales corner in Cabinet. I

thought that he would at least be incurred in because the Bank of

England has forecast that inflation should fall rapidly in 2012. This

Government is taking very strong action to help consumers with high

costs. We all want to help households and his government goes

to the last degree to do so. right honourable friend the

Secretary of State is meeting of members of the Welsh solar industry

next week along with the Shadow Minister for Wales. It is to

discuss concerns businesses have about the tariffs. The Minister

will know that confidence in the solar industry has been damaged

considerably by the decision on its tariffs. Will he now, with the

Secretary of State, stand up for Wales and asked the Department of

Climate Change to defer the decision date of implementation for

December 12th. At least the consultation which finishes on

December 23rd goal had the view of the solar industry which is meeting

next week? I understand the Right Honourable General -- right

honourable gentleman's concerns. There is a consultation going on.

It ends on 23rd December, and although the reference date is 12th

December, that is subject to the consultation. The Business Group in

my constituency has well-developed plans for a Hydro-Electric scheme

which will benefit the environment. It also provide an income. They are

concerned that any future change in the terrace will undermine the

financial basis of this game. What can the Wales offers do to insure

it is not jeopardised by this Government's sanctions?

consultation preceding at the moment relates only to

installations. There will be a further consultation in due course.

Mr Speaker, this Government's tower that fiasco risks investor

confidence in manufacturing in the Wales. What will the Minister do to

prevent imminent job losses in the industry and insure any change to

the tariff is given a long lead-in time and said at a rate which will

encourage investment and not increase unemployment? We fully

understand that the difficulties that companies involved in this

sector face as a consequence of this. The fact is, if things had

been left as they were, the feed in terror of budget would have been

eaten up. There is a consultation preceding and I have no doubt she

will be participating in it. I have regular discussions with

ministerial colleagues and the First Minister on various issues

including enterprise zones in Wales. It is vital businesses investing in

Wales are given the same, or even better, it has advantages as in

places such as Bristol and Mersey's said. Given that enterprise zones

create jobs and have a wider geographical impact on the supply

chain with regards to the economy, does the Minister share my surprise

about the progress summation of the World Government in locating

enterprise zones in Wales? This is becoming a common theme. Although

we do have the enterprise zones declared by the Welsh Government,

we have only got a recent letter from the Minister for business on

22nd November, which says they are currently working hard with

colleagues in transport, planning and elsewhere to insure their

enterprise zone policy could be delivered. We can only hope that

they hurry up and get these details out to businesses as fast as

possible. There is very high unemployment but great potential in

Gwent. It includes an enterprise zone. The Secretary of State

offered to speak to Treasury Ministers about a new race track.

Following these representations, can she need me to see back on

progress? I am always happy to meet with the honourable gentleman

because I was very pleased to meet with him and those business people

who were thinking of investing in Gwent in this way. There is a lot

of work to be done on the project, it is exceedingly ambitious. As

this area has been designated as an enterprise zone for the automation

industry, I hope there will be good progress on this. If any help can

be given I will see what I can do. Would my right honourable friend

share my regret that it is almost impossible... There is a very

considerable noise in the chamber. It is unfair to the Minister asking

the questions. Let's have a bit of order. Would my right honourable

friend share my regret that it is almost impossible to answer the

question about cross-border implications because there are no

details other than the location and the sector's for the Welsh

enterprise zones? It is increasingly difficult when you are

relying on another Government to implement its policies. I remain

optimistic because I want the message to go out that Wales is

open for business. We know that enterprise zones will give an

advantage to business going into these areas and will create jobs.

There are good forecasts for the number of private sector jobs to be

created by 2015. I encourage the Welsh government to do everything

they can and I stand ready to help them. The funding available for the

Bristol Enterprise Zone is nearly as much as the entire amount for

enterprise zones for the whole of Wales. How can she justifies

supporting that, alongside the tax on trade and investment into Wales

which the Severn Bridge toll represents? When she resist this

massive investment to the doorway of Wales which will stop inward

investment in Wales? Can I just say that the amount given to the Welsh

government as a consequence of what is being spent on enterprise zones

in England is calculated in exactly the same way under our government

as the last Government. The Minister has �10 million towards

enterprise zones. The Minister also has merely a �15 billion budget at

her disposal. She can decide how she spends that. I would encourage

her to look at what she can do to encourage business. Mr Speaker, I

have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, trade,

investment and others in promoting investment in Wales. I have met

with the cheek -- chief executive in the last month, and history are

met with senior investment adviser for Wales as part of discussions to

be to promote Wales to potential investors. The Welsh Affairs Select

Committee recently heard from the chief executive that he, like a

committee, is still waiting in hope for his first meeting with the

Business and Enterprise Minister. Given the fact the Secretary of

State has met with him many times, what advice can she give the Welsh

Business Minister on the interests of Welsh business? I try to give

encouragement to to the Labour Welsh Minister for Business, rather

than giving her advice. I am pleased that the Welsh Select

Committee here is investigating trade and investment. I am looking

forward myself to giving evidence to the committee next month. I am

continuing a whole series of meetings to see how we can assist

and work with the Welsh government to improve those figures. His and

inward investment always a second best. An indigenous Welsh bakery to

go for an inward Investment Company in my constituency who were about

to close it down. On Monday they increase their workforce by one

third. Will she give congratulations and support to

indigenous Welsh companies and insure that the rest of the country

enjoy the great merits of Welsh cakes and Welsh bread! Now the

honourable gentleman is tempting the! Can I just say to him, he

should know how much I encourage indigenous Welsh companies, not

least by my support to the fast growth 50 which celebrates

indigenous companies in the way which they grow. He must not do

down inward investment. In 2010-11, 28 inward investment projects led

to the creation of over 2000 jobs. I think that is important and

certainly not second best. My right honourable friend and I have

regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, the Welsh

government and other organisations to discuss measures which would

help stimulate economic growth in Wales. Does my honourable friend

agree that the private sector in Wales represents too small a share

he tell us what steps he is taking to change that? My honourable

friend is entirely correct, I agree. So does the Shadow Secretary of

State and the Welsh First Minister. The Government's plan for growth is

aimed at making the most competitive taxes and making the UK

the best place in Europe to start finance and grow a business. That

applies to Wales as much as anywhere. Do you agree that one of

the best ways to incentive eyes growth is to invest in green jobs

and a Green economy. What would he say to my constituent, Labour

councillor who has put together proposals for investment in 1500

homes in five of the most deprived areas of Wales using the feed in

tariff scheme by next March. This Government has cut the legs away

from that scheme. What would he say to him? I am sure that the

honourable gentleman has listened carefully to my previous answers

and I would urge him, and his constituents, to engage with the

consultation out proceedings. permission I will answer questions

10 and 11 together. My right honourable friend the Secretary of

State and I have regular discussions with ministerial

colleagues and Ministers to support Welsh business. Given the

importance of SME is and the vital task of job creation in Wales and

across the United Kingdom, could my honourable friend tell the House

what steps the Government is taking to reduce the burden of regulation

on businesses in Wales? Mineable Friend is quite correct, SME plu

macro are the backbone of other Welsh economy. We are easing the

burden on them and setting up new businesses and it is hope that it

will cause the sector to flourish in Wales. I think the Minister had

intended to announce gripping of 10 and 11th. I will soon that he has

done so. Would my honourable friend agree with me that rises in

interest rates would be catastrophic for the prospect of

SME is in Wales and that maintaining our low-interest rate

could be at risk if we were to lose her triple-A rating and make it

more difficult for Wales to it maintain its competitive edge when

it comes to export? That is correct. This Government has had to take

difficult decisions on the economy. We have maintained a triple-A

rating and the consequence of that is it that this country is in a

better position than many of our competitors. Small businesses in my

constituency have written to me this month saying they're going to

lay off people and may face closure because of the Government's policy

on at Harrods. Will the Minister give a categoric assurance that he

will lobby the Treasury and the Ministers to ensure that this

scheme is scrapped to help businesses who were doing the right

thing in Wales? The honourable gentleman will have heard my

previous answers on this question. I would urge him to contribute to

the consultation and no doubt he will participate in the debate this

afternoon. SME accounts for 90% of employment in Wales. What

discussions have you had with the World Government about promoting

this vital sector? The honourable gentleman is entirely correct, it

is the backbone of the Welsh economy. We have regular

discussions with the Welsh government and I meeting the

appropriate Welsh Minister on Monday of next week. I had a recent

discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department of

Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues. My honourable friend the

Parliamentary Secretary of State had recent discussions with the BBC

Trust, and independent Welsh Well my right honorable Friend join

with me I'm calling on the head of the BBC to reconsider his savage

cuts to BBC local radio said that the people of Wales can continue to

enjoy a broadcasting in the Welsh language, alongside people in

Cornwall broadcasting in the Cornish language? I don't know if

it is the microphones that are playing tricks with us or, more

likely, that there is too much noise. I think I got her drift. Can

I just say that I congratulate her on being a champion of the Cornish

language. She, like me, will want to recognise and congratulate both

the BBC and S4C in reaching an agreement on the accountability and

funding of S4C, thereby securing Welsh language broadcasting in

Wales. If anyone is watching BBC Wales's coverage of sport this

weekend, I did notice that her odds have dropped. Would she like to

have an flutter on that? I would tell the Honourable Gentleman not

to bother wasting his money. Westerns to the Prime Minister.

-- questions. Mr Speaker, I am sure the whole

House will wish to join me in paying tribute to private Matthew

Thornton from the 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, Lieutenant

David Boyce from the Queen's Dragoon Guards, and Private Thomas

lake from the Prince of Wales Royal Regiment. They were all courageous

soldiers held in the highest regard by their comrades, and we owe them

a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. We sent our

condolences to their families and friends. I am sure the whole House

will also want to join me in paying tribute to Alan Keen, who has died

after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a popular

constituency MP serving has done for nearly 20 years. Before

entering politics he was a scout for Middlesbrough Football Club,

and continue to be an advocate for sport, not least through his

chairmanship of the all-party football group, which routes to be

large and if his leadership. We sent our leap -- sympathies to his

family and all his constituencies. He will be missed by all members of

this house. I had meetings this morning with ministerial colleagues

and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, I will have

further mark such meetings later today. Can I join the Premier stay

in those words and the tributes to those brave shoulders who this week

gave their lives to our country. -- brave soldiers. The mass strikes

proposed by the unions for next week will cause great upheaval for

many of our constituencies. Does the Prime Minister, like me, then

it is the responsibility of the unions not to bring the unions out

on strike based on such a small number of votes? My Honourable

Friend makes an important point. It really is irresponsible when

negotiations are ongoing to cause strikes that will actually lead to

the closure of most of the classrooms in our country. It is

the height of irresponsibility. What is on offer is an extremely

reasonable deal. Low and middle income earners getting a larger

pension at retirement than now. All existing accrued rights being fully

protected. Any worker within 10 years of retirement saying no

change in either the age they can retire or the amount they can

receive. I think it is also a tragedy that it is not just union

leaders who don't understand this, but the party opposite refuses to

condemn these strikes. Ed Miliband. Mr Speaker, I start by joining the

primacy in paying tribute to private Matthew Thornton, Lance

Corporal Peter Eustace, Lieutenant David Boyce, and Private Thomas

lake. All of these men died serving our country with the utmost bravery

and courage, and my deepest condolences and those of the whole

house are with their family and friends. I also want to pay tribute,

as the Prime Minister rightly did, to Alan Keen, the former member for

Feltham and Heston. He was somebody who had friends in this house. He

believed in young people and opportunities for young people, and

most of all, in the power of sport to change people's lives. As I

heard at his funeral yesterday, he had an unusual idea of his first

date. He took his wife to the Orient, which turned out not to be

a Chinese restaurant but Leyton Orient, who were playing that day.

He was a great and lovely man. He will be missed by all of us, but

most of all by his wife and family. Mr Speaker, can the Prime Minister

tell us what the increase has been in long-term youth unemployment

since he's cracked the future jobs fund in March?

-- since he has scrapped. Youth unemployment is up since the last

election and it is unacceptably high in this country, as it is

right across Europe. The problem is that youth unemployment in this

country has been rising since 2004. Under the last Labour government,

it went up by 40%. What we have got to do to help get young people back

to work is improve our school system so they have got proper

qualifications, improve our welfare system so it pays to work, and

improve our employment system so there are proper apprenticeships to

help young people. We have three had and 60,000 apprenticeships this

year helping young people to get work. -- 360,000. Under 13 years of

a Labour government, youth unemployment never reached one

million. It has taken him 18 months to get to that tragic figure. And,

since he did not answer the question, the reality is that,

since he scrapped the dip future jobs fund in March, you long-term

youth unemployment has risen by 77%. Now can he tell us what has

happened to long-term youth unemployment since he introduced

his work programme in June? Let me just repeat, youth unemployment up

40% under a Labour government. Let me just remind him of something his

brother said last week. He said very clearly, "this government did

not invent the problem of youth unemployment". We should have that

sort of candour from this brother. The leader of the opposition asked

me specifically about the future jobs fund and the work programme.

Let me give him the answer. The work programme is helping 50% more

people than the future jobs fund. It will help 120,000 young people

this year, where the future jobs fund only helped 80,000 people. The

waiting time for the most needy young people will be half of the

waiting time there was under the future jobs fund. Under the work

programme, those who are not in education, employment or training,

will get help. I would have thought members opposite would want to hear

what about what we are doing for young people. They will get help

within three months, rather than six months. But the absolute key is

that because we are paying by results the work programme will

help those who need it the most help. Whereas the future jobs fund

put a lot of graduates into public sector jobs and was five times more

expensive than the alternative. That is why be scrapped it and

replaced it with something better. Classically, lots of bluster but no

answer to the question that I asked. They will be interested in the

answer, Mr Speaker. They will be interested in the arts are the

prime minster did not give because in 20th June 11, when the bright

programme was introduced, there were 85,000 young people unemployed

for more than six months -- work programme. Now it is 133,000, a

massive increase, since he introduced the work programme. If

he is serious about tackling youth and a private, he should get those

on the highest incomes to help those with no income at all. Why

doesn't he attacks the bankers' bonuses and use the money to create

100,000 jobs for our young people? -- attacks the bankers' bonuses.

have induced the bank lending that will raise more every year than his

bonus tax would raise in one year. Mr Speaker, we just heard a new use

for the bonus tax. They have been nine already. He has used his bonus

tax for higher tax credits, giving child benefit to those on the

highest rate of tax, cutting the deficit, spending on public

services, more money for the regional growth fund, turning empty

shops into cultural community centres, and higher... This is the

back tax that likes to say yes! No wonder the shadow chancellor has

stopped saluting and started crying! A reference to Ed Balls

crying on Antiques Roadshow last week. In even for this Prime

Minister to be playing politics with the youth unemployment... And

order, order! I apologise for interrupting. The Prime Minister

will be heard, and the leader of the opposition will be heard.

Laughing about the denial of a hearing is not to the credit of any

Honourable All right honorable Member. Mr Ed Miliband. The truth

is, he is the one cutting taxes for the banks here on year in the

course of this Parliament, and that is the reality. He is creating a

lost generation of young people and he knows it. It is his

responsibility, it is happening on his watch. He said on Monday to the

CBI that it was harder than anyone envisaged did get the deficit down.

But, Mr Speaker, he was warned that his strategy of cutting too far and

too fast would not create jobs. He was warned it would not create

growth, and he was fined that -- warned that he would find it harder

to get the deficit down. Isn't that exactly what has happened?

accuses us of cutting taxes. We are cutting interest rates, which is

giving this economy a boost. We are cutting corporation tax. We have

now got the lowest rates of corporation tax in the G7. We are

cutting tax for the low-paid and have taken one million people out

of income tax. We a freezing council tax, cutting petrol tax,

and scrapping Labour's dog attacks. Of course, let me answer him

directly on the issues of growth and dead. He is at it again, I'm

afraid. All over Europe are there is an interest rate storm with high

interest rates in Spain, high interest rates in Italy, even in

some of the country is at the heart of the euro-zone. We must make sure

we keep this country safe with low interest rates. Let me just remind

him of this. If interest rates went up by 1% in this country, that

would at �1,000 to the typical family mortgage. That is the risk

that we would have with Labour's plans for more spending, more

borrowing and more debt. There he goes again - when it goes

wrong, it is nothing to do with him. It is the prime minister's ABC.

Anyone but Cameron to blame when things go wrong. What are the

Chancellor say at the time of the Budget last year? That his approach,

"would deliver a steady and sustained economic recovery". Low

inflation and falling unemployment. Mr Speaker, three promises made,

three promises broken. Their plan is a failing, and that is the truth.

Doesn't that show why the Autumn Statement the Prime Minister should

change course? Let me just give him the latest growth figures in Europe.

Britain grew at 0.5% in the last quarter - the same as the US and

Germany. It is faster than France, faster than Spain, faster than the

EU average, and a faster than the euro-zone average. Of course, it is

a difficult economic environment we are in, but is there a single other

mainstream party anywhere in Europe who thinks that the answer to the

debt problem is more spending and more borrowing? If he is worried

about the level of debt, why is he proposing to add another �100

billion to it? It is the height of irresponsibility, and the reason

why people will never trust Labour with the economy again. How out of

touch does this by ministers and? One million young people and their

families worried about finding a job, and all he offers his

complacency and more of the same. Now we know, Mr Speaker - however

high youth unemployment goes, however bad it gets, it is a price

worth paying to protect his failed plan. I tell him this, and the sea

changes course next week, -- unless he changes course next week, one

million young people will become the symbol of his failed economic

plan and and out of touch Prime Let me just say to him what the

leading economic organisations across the world say about that

issue. The IMF say this, is there a justification for a shift in the

policy mix? We think the answer is that no. There has to be a plan A,

a this country needs a fiscal consolidation starting from its

largest peacetime budget ever. Who give us that peacetime budget? The

Labour Party. The CBI, the leading business organisation in this

country, priorities for the next 12 months. Stick closely to the

existing plant. That is what the experts say. That is what business

says, that is what the Bank of England says. Would you listen to

them or the people who got us into this mess? Returning to next week's

public sector strikes. Mr Speaker, that they do not like it. Is the

Prime Minister aware that of the three largest unions, the turnout

in the strike ballots was 32%, 31% and 25% respectively. Will he agree

that any striker has the right to strike if he so wishes, but he

should not engage in mass action unless he has the support of the

majority of these unions? The my honourable friend makes an

important point. It is wrong that the strikes are going ahead when

negotiations are under way. It is wrong to close so many classrooms

and essential services. It is being done on the basis of these turnouts.

23% of those balloted at Unite union have voted in favour. I am

not surprised Labour members want to shout me down. We know why they

will not condemn the strikes because we have the figures to date

of where they get their money from falls docked in his first year of

leader of the party, 86% of Labour donations have come from the trade

unions. Under the last Labour leader it was 56%. He is about the

only thing he has improved since the time of Gordon Brown's.

understand that the Prime Minister is having trouble connecting with

women and is seeking advice. Given that female unemployment has

increased this year by 20%, given that women have been hardest hit by

public sector cuts and the VAT rise, and given they have benefited least

from his tax giveaways, would he not agree it is time for a plan B

which reverses VAT increase and insures benefits increase in line

with inflation? I do not agree. Every family in Britain is facing a

difficult time with rising inflation, tight household budgets

and the fact there has been a public sector pay freeze. If you

look at what we're doing to help women, the million people we have

lifted out of tax, many of those are women. In terms of additional

child care, that is helping women. The extra hours we are giving for

two-four year olds, that is helping women. This is a difficult economic

environment. With the changes we are making to public sector

pensions, low-paid people in the public sector will actually get a

better pension including many women. But because she, like everyone else

on the other side is in the pocket of the unions, they cannot see that.

Given the Government's intention to freeze council tax, is the Prime

Minister is astounded that Brighton and Hove Council are planning to

decline of �3 million of council tax and rise council tax. This is a

very important point. At a time of difficult household budgets, this

Government has cut the petrol tax, is freezing my council tax and made

that available to councils up and down the country. It is a decision

for individual councils. If they want to go ahead with the council

tax freeze, the money is there. If they reject it, as they plan to in

Brighton, I think it is a huge mistake because it will be asking

families to pay more when they should be on their side. Earlier

this year the Prime Minister confirmed he would meet with

members of the cross-party inquiry which I chair. It is welcome news

that the Home Office will be consulting with a view to legislate

in. Would he confirm that the inquiry's evidence-based

deliberations and conclusions will be taking into account when

considering future legislation? can certainly give that assurance.

That is seen as important that we take forward the work that the Home

Office and the Justice Department have done in terms of looking at a

proper, a separate offence for a stocking. There is a gap in the

current law. There is genuine concern in crew in my constituency

about over-development with housing. How can my right honourable friend

insure that my constituents good degree to stay in planning

decisions for new housing estates required for a housing shortage?

The great strength of the Localism Bill which is now the localism Act

is that we are giving local people a much greater say. Been many parts

of the country that will be welcomed because people can see the

advantages of development going ahead and recognise that if they do

build extra houses, they will keep the council tax. If they attract

extra businesses, they will keep the business taxes. That will help

end the problem of communities not seeing any advantage of development

taking place. It should be a matter for them to decide. With the Prime

Minister agree that the history represents a modern morality tale

of play. We have a decent, a mutual building society which is then

privatise. It then over extents, it then goes bust, it is then bailed

out by the taxpayer, and now, sadly, instead of returning to mutuality

it is sold off did she to one of the brashest companies in England.

I was with the right honourable gentleman for some of the way

through his question, but if you look at the decision the Government

has taken, at first, we are selling a business that was costing the

taxpayer money and getting it well over �700 million for that business.

The second thing we are doing which is in the interests of every single

person in this country is to get another functioning bank and

building society on our high-street lending money. How many times do go

to our constituencies and hear people say, I cannot get a mortgage.

For small businesses saying I cannot get a loan. We need a good,

healthy lending institution out there and we should welcome that it

will be based in the north-east of England as a Northern Rock was.

the Prime Minister update the House on what measures are being taken to

attract high quality into prize Investment -- it into prize --

enterprise and investment. If you take the enterprise zone and

Wolverhampton were Jaguar Land Rover had said they are going to

establish a new plant, employing 1000 people. Enterprise zones are a

success story and our government is behind them. The damage caused by

long-term unemployment can be phenomenal. Some unemployed --

unemployed for more than six months is more likely to have as serious

mental health problems. Doesn't the Government worry we will have a

generation of young people suffering many of the problems of a

lack of self-esteem, never having a first job. Wouldn't it make more

sense to be guaranteeing every under 24-year-old a job after six

months unemployed, paying them to work, not paying them benefits.

This is an important point, the scarring effect of long-term youth

unemployment. Gerard two important things we are doing to help them.

Helping within three months of the work programme rather than six

months. One of the most successful schemes there had been in recent

years is giving people work experience placements. We will be

producing evidence for this in, but in many cases it is leading to

direct employment opportunities for those young people. The Deputy

Prime Minister will have more to say about this later in the week.

We're doing everything we can it to prevent the scarring effects that

he talks about. Alan Keen was our dear friend and colleague on the

select committee and everyone who worked with him or will miss him

greatly. Will the Prime Minister acknowledged that one of the most

disruptive impact on it next week's strikes will be on parents with

children in school? Will he encourage employers to allow

parents to bring their children to work where it is safe for them to

do so? I'm sure that everyone in the House of would agree with the

tribute to which she paid to a colleague from the Select Committee

and the good work that he did. She makes a good point about the

strikes. Frankly, these strikes are going to go ahead. Everyone should

be clear about where responsibility lies, it is with those union

leaders and the party opposite who are taking their side and backing

the strike. Where it is safe, we should help people to bring their

children to work. Organisations should do so. The Prime Minister

will probably be aware that there are up to 20,000 individuals in the

United Kingdom who have lost considerable sums of money, often

their pension savings. Will the Prime Minister now heed of the

calls from all sides of the House for the Government to use the

powers open to them to institute an immediate inquiry under section 14

for the financial services so this never happens again? I have had

contacts from my constituents who have lost money because of this

fund. There has been a Westminster debate on this issue and the

Ministers set out to the position in terms of the responsibility that

financial-services a priority. I will look at what he says and see

if we can do more. I am very concerned at the proposals for

significant cuts in the Ministry of Defence police budget and the

possible implications for security at the nuclear bases in my

constituency is. Will the Prime Minister look at these proposals

very carefully? This is an important point. If you look at the

defence budget overall it is �35 billion and will continue at pretty

much that cash figure throughout this Parliament. It will be the

fourth largest defence budget in the world. I can assure you there

are no current plans to reduce the number of the Ministry of Defence

police at the bases in his constituency. These are vital sites,

but we have to look at all the costs in the Ministry of Defence

and make sure what we are getting in terms of outcomes is the safety

that we need. Does the Prime Minister believe the establishment

of local authorities to meet only to give a context to others and

provide those services to the local population should be support a

question mark I support local authorities to provide good

services and keep their council taxes down. In his part of the

world he has had the advantage of some change and commonsense

conservatism. People employed by Thomas Cook at their headquarters

in Peterborough are rightly concerned about media coverage

after the last two days. Will my right honourable friend join me in

supporting this great British institution which has been

providing travel to British people for 170 years. People can support

the company by booking their holidays through Thomas Cook, safe

in their knowledge that it will be secured on to the atoll scheme.

is a light comic business which has given people a lot of pleasure over

the years. By her last the business department to give me a report on

what is happening in terms of Thomas Cook. It is important that

the business is in a healthy state. Recent research has shown the NHS

achieve the biggest drop in cancer deaths and the most efficient use

of resources in 10 leading countries. Will the Prime Minister

accept he did not inherit an NHS in and stop using it dodgy ten-year-

old statistics to justify his wasteful and destructive NHS plans?

I am a huge supporter of the NHS and there are many things that are

truly wonderful about the NHS. Under the last government, the

number of managers in the NHS doubled. The number of NHS managers

was increasing six times faster than the number of nurses and NHS

productivity was falling. You inherit a situation like that and

it makes sense to make some changes. Since we have come in, 14,000 fewer

non-clinical staff and we have actually got more doctors, more

midwives, more operations taking place. If she wants something to

celebrate in the NHS through, mixed-sex accommodation, mixed-sex

wards are down 90% since we came to Is my Honourable Friend aware by

research which shows that residents of the Maldon district are paying

more in motoring taxes and receiving less indirect benefits

than anyone else in the constituency? My constituents

appreciate that under the plans of the last Labour government they

would be paying even more in motoring taxes, but will he accept

that for them and others in rural areas this is becoming an

intolerable burden? I do accept what my Honourable Friend says, and

that is why, in the Budget, we took the decision not only to get rid of

the tax increases on petrol that were coming down the track, but

also to make a cut in petrol duty, so effectively that was 6p of a

litre of diesel or petrol. It is essential that at a time of

economic difficulty we demonstrate that we are behind those people who

want to work hard and do the right thing. Raising council tax,

scrapping Labour's job tax, and helping them with motoring expenses.

This government is committed to doing that. It is all very well

members opposite shouting about the taxpayers alliance. They do a good

job to draw attention, and the difference is, they don't actually

pay us to put down amendments. I think the whole house will

approve of the belated conversion of the justice secretary to the

office of chief coroner -- promotion. But there are still

concerns about war memorials. Will the Prime Minister now use his

office and his weight to provide the Justice Secretary and his

ministers that they need to look urgently at new penalties and a new

protections both for war memorials and for those who attack them?

Honourable Gentleman speaks for the whole house, and the whole country,

in saying what has been happening to our war more it -- our war

morals has been unacceptable. I suspect the answer may lie in some

new punishment and roles, but it also lies in looking at the scrap

metal market and how that is currently regulated. I hear very

clearly what he says about the Office of the chief coroner. I am

delighted that we have been able to put forward an amendment and to

accept some of the. There. What the one thing we should avoid, and this

is really important, because all of us want to do the right thing for

those solders and their families who have given so much to our

country, I don't think having an endless right of appeal after

inquests would be a good idea. At think that would damage the

interests of families. Mr Stuart Andrew. Over the last 30 years,

thousands of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK

have been supportive through projects funded by Children in Need.

Would my right honorable Friend join me in congratulating them in a

racing over �600 million over the years, and they particular to my

constituents in pubs the who welcomed but the bare home for the

first time. -- pussy. I apologise for almost squeezing him out. It

would be a tragedy if we didn't have this opportunity to pay

tribute to Children in Need. Last week I visited Afghanistan through

the armed forces Parliamentary Scheme and had the opportunity to

meet the commanding officer in Helmand. He said there are two

issues that he needs to put forward. Political help and influence with

neighbouring countries to Afghanistan to enable Afghanistan

to develop, and secondly, sufficient training and adequate

equipment for the Afghan army. Can the Prime Minister assure the House

today that these requests will be delivered by to any 2014 withdrawal

from Afghanistan? The Honourable Gentleman is right to speak up on

this issue and to repeat what he heard in Afghanistan. He is

absolutely right that we need to help neighbouring countries and

members of my team are in Pakistan speaking to the government there as

we speak. In terms of the equipment, assistant and training given to the

Afghan National Army, we now publish a national monthly report

to this house so everyone can see the progress we are making with

equipment and training of the Afghan police and army. In spite of

all the difficulties in Afghanistan, that is broadly on track. Statement

by the Secretary of State for energy and climate change.

Well, my guests are still with us. Our presenter pointed out there

that the economy dominated. Youth unemployment dominated, didn't it?

It did, and I thought that it would. I was in a school last week,

talking to the head teacher there. He told me that out of the entire

Leah -- year that had left, only five pupils were actually in

employment now. That is very worrying. There would have been

about 200 people leaving the school in that year. Admittedly, it is a

particularly deprived ward that the school serves, but if we have that

kind of problem on an ongoing basis, we will get into serious trouble.

That is why Plaid is pushing for an economic stimulus here in the

Assembly. You have to have some kind of major stimulus to get

people into jobs because we have got so many people now who are not

even able to buy food or pay for heating. But should not happen in

2011. You are calling for a new deal, I suppose. Nick Ramsay, what

we did see in Prime Minister's Questions was neither your party or

the Labour Party taking responsibility for youth

unemployment figures. It was a brain game that was being played.

Who is to blame? Well, at the end of the day you have got to look at

how long this coalition has been in power in Westminster. OK, a year

now, but still, the Labour Party were in power for 10 years before

that. So Labour is to blame? It is not helpful, as you say, to get

into the blame game because we have got to look forward and how we are

going to stimulate the got - macro economy from here on him. There is

no doubt that the current government have got a massive

problem to deal with. They have got a massive debt situation. It isn't

going to take a while to turn things around. There is light at

the end of the tunnel, but in the meantime we must do what we can to

get the Welsh government to give more support to business. In terms

of the economy, we hear the big picture details, don't we, limited

growth, higher unemployment figures, but I think you were on it last

week talking about food banks. Are they the day-to-day knock-on effect

of having a struggling economy? you can watch things like Prime

Minister's Questions and there was a lot of discussion about jobs and

the economy, but in reality, what it means for people is that people

are now not able to afford the basics of life - food, heating,

shelter. I had a show debated in the Assembly last week raising

awareness of the food bangs, and one of the things I said was about

a woman I heard about he found she was eating paper towel so that she

could provide her children with food and stave off her own hunger.

In 2011 in Wales, there should be those basics for people. They are

not, and it is a pretty grim situation for many people. It is

not just the Assembly Government, it is the UK government as well,

that would deal with those kind of problems we are talking about. How

specifically can the Assembly improve the conditions that Leanne

is talking about? I am hearing similar stories. Things are getting

more and more difficult. In terms of the bulls Government's decision

on council tax that was one easy way that a bit more money could go

into people's pockets so that at this difficult time they would have

more money available. Maybe not enough, but a bit more available.

The problem is, prices are going up and incomes are going down. People

are having pay cuts, benefit cuts, and our members are being squeezed.

To defend those sort of actions that are happening in Westminster,

I think you are on a pretty sticky break because so many people are in

desperate circumstances. I am not defending those conditions. We

would be here whatever. We have got an economic situation that has to

be dealt with. Yes, it is difficult for people, and I think we have got

to make sure we can do whatever we can. A council tax freeze within

Wales, as in England, would have given people at least some money

back. We can carry on this discussion in a moment. We have

seen the businesses when -- well under way in the Commons. Let's

find out what is happening in the Senedd today. Good afternoon. First

of all, questions to ministers. Today, the finance minister and the

business and enterprise minister. Then we have got a Conservative

nominated debate on transport infrastructure. The Conservatives

are concerned about Cardiff airport and want the Government to do more

to revitalise that amenity. They also it would like the Government

to look at the network of service stations and truck stops to do

something to invest in those. Moving on, we have got a plight --

Plaid debate on Nursing, establishing a network of

specialist nurses. Also the opportunity for professional

development within nursing. The Lib Dems have got a debate on housing.

They are concerned that there are so many empty houses - 26,000, we

gather in Wales. That, at the same time as not having enough homes for

people who need them. They will be pursuing those ideas this afternoon.

We will catch up with you before the end of the programme. You can

get more information about what is happening in the Assembly on BBC

Wales Democracy Live online coverage. It is estimated that

domestic abuse accounts for a quarter of all recorded crime here

in Wales and England. The Welsh government has recently campaign to

raise awareness and challenge attitudes towards the issue, and

today sees the launch of a cross- party group on domestic violence.

Mark has been talking to the AM leading the group. I am joined by

Joyce Watson... Sorry. I am joined by... Well, we had some trouble

with our tape. We will carry on and hopefully get back to him a bit

later. Implement and the economy dominated proceedings at Prime

Minister's Question Time -- employment. It was also give

discussion for two MPs earlier. Next week the Chancellor will

deliver his autumn statement here in the Commons. It is expected that

he will cut his broadcast for -- forecast for economic growth and

the next -- this year and the next. The global economic outlook is

looking pretty bleak this winter. Joining me to discuss this matter

further are to Welsh MPs. Labour's Owen Smith and Alun Cairns from the

Tories. Allen, the Prime Minister has admitted that tackling

Britain's debt is proving harder than envisaged. Why is that?

always knew it would be difficult. You have got to accept the context

of what was inherited. �120 million a day in interest alone on the debt

- Black Swan -- a quarter of every penny spent is being borrowed. That

is an unsustainable position. Getting the debt under control is

key to making Britain a safe haven. But in the context of making sense

of what is happening in Europe. The best way to grow the economy is

through exports. When half of your market is in Europe, and the mess

that we are seeing in Europe, it is not necessary helping. If the

coalition government does not hit his deficit reduction targets, it

is a serious political blow. I am confident that we will achieve the

targets. But you need to accept the scale of the economic crisis that

is going on in Europe. It is half of our export market. At the outset

of this crisis, the debt levels in Britain were at the same level or

higher than the debt levels in Greece. Interest rates were at the

same increase and the UK because of the deficit reduction plan interest

rates in the UK are now amongst the lowest in Europe. We are now seen

as a safe haven. There is an influx of funding and it is about turning

that into investment, into infrastructure, into investment,

into business and export. That is the way we get out of it. Because

we are seen as a safe haven, I am optimistic over the long term.

Helen Smyth, you are shadow Treasury minister. Do you in your

team have the answer? We know that we start by understanding that it

is nonsense to compare Britain's economy with that of Greece. It has

always been nonsense to compare Britain with Greece. We are a -- we

are a completely different economy. We are many times greater in size

and capacity. The nature of the debt we had is over a greater

period. But the answer is, of course, that they are getting it

fundamentally wrong. They got it wrong from the beginning. The

austerity measures that they put in place choke off demand in our

economy, they took of confidence in our economy. We have seen

effectively a year of no growth in our economy, whereas other

comparative European economies, even within the euro-zone crisis,

are growing at a higher rate. All of this happened long before the

Eurozone crisis bit, and what we are seeing are the Tory chickens

coming home to roost. They are getting it wrong again today. Today

they are suggesting that the answer to increasing growth in our country

is actually making it easier to sack people. That is the latest

Tory wheeze for getting our flatlining economy running. No

matter what he says, there is nowhere for them to hide on the

economic data. It is a disaster. The answer is when the Chancellor

makes the Autumn Statement to come up with measures to promote growth,

stimulate demand in our economy. We have come up with five suggestions

of our own. Reducing VAT. Reducing it NIC contributions to get small

employers employing people. Stimulating infrastructure growth

through public spending. That is what we need to do so. Ins I simply

do not accept what Labour are talking about. They are talking

about getting out of a debt crisis by borrowing more money. Because of

the action that we are taking in cutting the debt, we are seen as a

safe havens. That is what will get us out of the predicament.

Borrowing levels... Borrow is going to be increased in the way in which

it has been mismanaged. We are talking about playing down the debt

at a slower rate which will allow us more real room to stimulate the

economy. Labour's commitment over the last five years would put an

additional �87 billion worth of borrowings. That is �5,000 for

every man, woman and child in addition to the debt we have at the

moment. The VAT reductions, the rejection to the benefit reform the

system which would make it an incentive to get people into work

and stop them playing incapacity benefit when they can work. It is a

difficult time, but a great opportunity. We need to live within

our means and that is the answer to getting out of this problem.

Politics should have moved on from the way in which the Tories are

making up statistics, adding up so- called spending commitments. We

would pay down the debt at the slower rate than the current

government and that would allow us to stimulate the economy. Paying

their debt at a slower rate was what Italy was proposing to do,

Spain is proposing to do and France is proposing to do. You look at

their borrowing rates compared to Two MPs discussing the economy

there. We have had some problems with gremlins in our works this

morning. The I am joined by a Labour MP and a chief constable.

Nearly 49,000 incidents of domestic abuse in Wales last year. Five

murders, over 14,000 calls to the Wales domestic abuse helplines.

Nearly 2000 people going into refuges. What is being done to

address the problem? Many things are being done. We have got

policies, procedures, we put in a huge amount of money to refuges.

What ultimately has to happen is that everybody takes responsibility.

We can set the scene in terms of our policy and give as much money

as we are able to to help those people find themselves in what is a

terrible and devastating circumstance and situations. But it

has to be wider than that, and that is what this is all about. What is

White Ribbon Day? It is a day when men are being asked to to say no to

violence against women. To talk to their Pearce, to stand proud

wearing their white ribbons and to stand as men who were not abusers.

One in four women are abused, there for three in its four are not

abused. The appeal it is, and always was, to those men to stand

up and say this is a wrong. We all know that it is wrong and that the

majority of men think it is wrong. It is about getting that message,

whether it is at the school gate, whether it is on the playground,

whether it is in sport and we have a message of support from the Welsh

rugby team today., whether it is in a pub, or in any area at where men

congregate. We want this Kong -- conversation brought up. Chief

Constable, is a lot of the police's work targeted at men in general

rather than men who were only abusers? We have moved forward with

the police and the World Government to put plans and it strategies into

action -- Welsh Government. Mickey's success aspect was

understanding, through victims, about the issues they needed to

understand. Welsh government funded under local-authority project got

us to the heart of the issue which was cause and effect. We have

introduced a domestic abuse conference call, which means every

morning information is shared across all agencies are very secure

website. Risk assessments are completed and done, actions and

services to victims circuit in within an agreed period of time by

the key people with the expertise to do it. The police follow-up in

taking positive action, making sure that immediate safety plans are has

put in place in line with the risk assessment. We're working closely

with the Crown Prosecution Service to bring offenders to justice. As

part of that prevention, we are making sure offenders have the

support and help they need in the criminal justice process for them

to realise their behaviour is not right. Is the problem getting

worse? On one hand, it seems things are getting terribly bad, on the

other hand maybe the fact we have the knowledge of what is happening

is a good thing. It is one of those behind net curtain type crimes. At

every minute in the UK the police get a call about domestic abuse.

What we have realised through this working pattern, which has cost us

no more money, that in a six-month trial period in Gwent we have

reduced repeat victimisation down by 25%. We have also, by sharing

information in a timely manner, increase the number of high-risk

individuals. Not everyone was aware previously about the key

information that they had about things. This meant that potential

high risk of victims immediately get safety planning and plans put

in place which make sure they're protected at some time in the

future of. We hope that today's event will go some way to

addressing this very difficult We had a few problems earlier. But

now market is alive here. I am joined by the Liberal Democrat AM.

You're talking about housing this afternoon, specifically empty

houses. But the problem is the size of a large towns. Housing waiting

lists are growing it year-on-year and we're calling on the Government

to take some action. They had been talking about addressing the

problem of very little has been done. We think there are a two

issue is that they could approach this from. The first is to make it

punitive for people who own empty homes to pay additional council tax,

but also we have as social housing grant which has historically been

used to build new homes. With current building costs it would

make more sense to bring these current empty homes back into

circulation. It would also provide a regeneration boost and small

builders and local areas could be used to bring these homes in to use

force stop what would that cost? We're calling for it that social

housing grant... It is reallocated rather than increased of?

million of additional funding was announced yesterday. The Government

should be more direct given the way that that funding is used. At the

moment there's a lot of responsibility on local authority

and we think it is time for the Government to take action to

address this problem. Do you have concerns as a liberal about this

notion of changing council tax because they home is empty? It

would address a problem, such other people might say it is an

individual's home and they can do with it what they will. In a lot of

instances it is not a conscious decision not to do anything with

these homes. A lot of homes or out of the market because of disputes

over money for, because of disputes due to estates, we think if a

penalty was there people would do with the situation more rapidly

than they are doing at the moment. We will speak about the Budget.

Nick Ramsay, start with you. No agreement on a budget yet. Last

week it was said any of the three opposition parties could do a deal

with the Government, could the Tories? I think that is probably

further over the horizon than some other deals. It is a minority

Labour government, we knew this was going to happen. They should have

started discussions earlier so we would not be in this situations. I

think we have got until March for a deal. Can you see the Budget not

being passed on sixth December? There is a real possibility of

that? As far as I can see, there has been a woeful lack of co-

operation. This is a minority Labour Government. To get their

budget through it they have to talk to other parties. This has not

happened and they have put their own interests first. Leanne, we

hear that Carwyn Jones is relaxed about negotiations. Are you relaxed

about them? We are quite keen to be involved in meaningful negotiations.

What does that mean? Why aren't they meaningful? I am not a part of

the negotiating team, but from what I understand, but Labour government

are slow coming forward with concrete proposals. What we have

said is that we want to see some evidence of a change in thinking on

the economy from this Government. You want them to do what was in

your manifesto at the election, but not enough people supported that.

We want them to take action on the economy. We have spent the whole

programme talking about jobs and unemployment. That situation is

worse in Wales and has got worse since the elections. Until we see

some evidence from the Government that they have taken that issues

seriously, and by all accounts that is not coming through at the moment,

but we are open and keen to secure a deal. But it has got to be the

right kind of big deal. And it has got to come from a government that

is serious about making changes to the economy. We spoke about any

leadership ambitions that you may have had. Nick Ramsay, you have

been through the process of standing for the leadership of your

party, would you recommend it? is an experience. If you are in

politics, having a chance to stand for the leadership of your party,

it is not for everyone, but it is an interesting experience. I am

sure Leanne would have supporters. It is always interesting to hear