26/01/2016 am.pm


26/01/2016

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LineFromTo

Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly

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coverage of questions to the First Minister.

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Carwyn Jones is scheduled to take questions

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as usual on a range of topics including questions on economic

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development, the railways, and doctor recruitment.

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All three opposition party leaders will ask three questions

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Before we whisk you off to the Senedd,

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let me remind you that you can follow all the latest

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on Welsh politics on our Twitter feed - we're @walespolitics.

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Well, business in the chamber is already underway,

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

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Good afternoon. Now in session. The first item this afternoon 's

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questions to the First Minister. First Minister, will you make a

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statement on what support of the Welsh Government is given to provide

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community-based treatment to people suffering from eye conditions

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including age-related macular degeneration. Yes, the new 400,000

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pounds investment establishes caring out of hospital settings making it

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more convenient for people to access the right care at the right place

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and time. This will be to transfer services away from hospitals. We

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will be welcoming this recent announcement. I certainly do. Moving

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services out of hospitals and into people's homes will help them

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enormously, especially as some of them are already suffering from

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significant sight loss. But I can I ask you after the results of

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currently planned schemes published, does the Welsh Government plan to

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extend these scheme, for example Formica vigilance and across the

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rest of Wales's yes, the overall aim is to establish models of care that

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can potentially be replicated across other health board areas, depending

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on what the evaluation tells us it will be extended to other parts of

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Wales. There are currently 40,000 people accessing these services in

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secondary care across Wales and we anticipate there will be a

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considerable number of these people accessing primary to treatment. 29%

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of people within the University health or do not have regular two

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yearly eye tests with one of the primary reasons given that they have

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not even thought about it or did not see the importance of it. Given the

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other serious eye conditions that can be detected during a routine I

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test, how would you work to ensure that we have a better improved

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uptake of regular eye tests? These things are important as the member

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has said. We are of course the first country in the world to have an eye

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care plan, and of course we encourage people to take regular eye

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tests. Not just to test their eye site, but to detect conditions via

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such a test. -- not just to test their eyesight. Will the First

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Minister make a statement on the health provision for people with

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haemophilia in Wales? We continue to support services within the NHS and

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the third sector. The Welsh health specialist services committee is

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working with health boards and undertaking service planning in

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various areas related to the future provision of services. A lot of

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progress has been made in Wales with access to the new life transforming

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drugs for people who have contracted hepatitis C. But there is still an

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ongoing problem with financial support for people with haemophilia,

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and the haemophilia community awareness are deeply disappointed by

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the statement made by the Westminster Government towards the

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end of last week about changes to the support given to people with

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haemophilia. Too little, too late and not enough attention to

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dependents. We'll First Minister personally approach Westminster and

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speak up for the haemophilia community in Wales to try to get the

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better settlement after such a blow to the table because community? Yes,

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I will. We know a huge metal progress has been made in terms of

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the treatment of -- is due progress in terms of the management of

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haemophilia. I have been asked to raise an issue with the UK

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Government. We now move to questions for party leaders. First the Leader

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of the Opposition. First Minister, tomorrow the Welsh Conservatives

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have tabled a debate on the local Government settlement and in

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particular the inability to support rural councils, for example the 4%

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cut in your facing. The First Minister was unable to confirm

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whether the local Government settlement was part of the overall

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budget agreement that you had agreed with the Liberal Democrats. You able

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to confirm whether you did have agreement with the local Government

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settlement should have been supported along with the main

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budget? It is a matter between ourselves and the liberal Democrats

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in terms of the budget agreements that has been struck. We are

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confident that the local Government settlement that will be announced as

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part of the draft budget in due course will be one that will be

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acceptable. I have to say to the Leader of the Opposition that his

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party's policy is to further cut local spending as has happened in

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England. I think it is a legitimate question to ask whether you or your

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Government is able to confirm whether it was part of the overall

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budget deal. The public services Minister was unable to confirm that.

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It shows the chaos and confusion at the heart of the Government when it

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comes to the budget. When we will look at education, for example, and

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the Estyn report that is out today, it shows that under 17 years of the

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leadership of the Labour Government here on education there is still in

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marked contrast between the quality of teaching and learning. There is

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still a huge gap between the schools that were doing well and those that

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are not doing so good, the gap is still considerable. And there is a

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poll arises in the inspection outcomes for secondary schools. --

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depolarisation. After 17 years of Labour running education you're in

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Wales, do you not think this report is a damning indictment of your

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failure to improve outcomes in education? I have to say what is

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agreed between ourselves and the Liberal Democrats is a matter for

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us. He cannot complain in those circumstances. I bet he hasn't read

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the Estyn report. Let me remind him what is actually in it. Levels of

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excellence in primary schools have risen over the last five years.

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Levels of skills to displaying some excellent has risen. Levels of basic

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literacy and numeracy are improving. The gap between the price pupils and

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their peers show the biggest closing of the gap in recent years this

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year. -- between deprived pupils and their peers. Improvements have been

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seen this year across the foundation stage and Key stages two and three.

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The best GCSE results ever, level two inclusive, up 2.5%. You should

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not have asked the question if you didn't want the answer. 64.4%

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achieved a star to see in maths. In addition, we are building and

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improving skills. Over 150 schools across Wales, the 21st century

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skills programme, and we are proud of what we are doing. The fact is

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when you internationally benchmark education you're in Wales, when you

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look at the gap between other part of the United Kingdom where there

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have been huge improvements of pupils being taught in schools with

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far greater achievements than the direction your Government has set

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schools in Wales, we are still lagging behind other parts of the UK

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and Europe and this report clearly shows this. Another report out today

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of the Public Accounts Committee report into the sell-off of land

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that the Welsh Government held on the heart of the Welsh people. When

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you look at the sums involved, they are actually astronomical. Selling

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to developers to build houses on. When you look at the Lisvane land,

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selling for ?2 million and no having a value of ?37 million. The land in

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Abergele wassail from ?100,000, against ?7,000 that that -- several

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thousand pounds that is awful. This is money that has been lost from the

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Welsh first. Do you not think that is a damning indictment of the way

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your Government and your ministers account to the Welsh people for

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looking after their assets and disposing of them in such a cavalier

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fashion? I am not surprised the Leader of the Opposition moved on

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from education after his after failure to convince the people of

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Wales of what he sees as failings in the Welsh education system. The

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Estyn report says quite the opposite if you read it. The situation in

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England is an unaccountable mess were nobody seems to be accountable

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for school progress. In Wales we are seeing progress improving in our

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schools. That is not the case in England. We are building schools,

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and you're not building schools in England. You dropped it. If you came

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anywhere near power in Wales, you would not build schools because you

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have no real stake in the Welsh education system. Let me turn to the

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issue you raise. It is correct to say that the way the sale was

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managed fell way below the standards we would expect as the Government

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and for that we are sorry. The concept was good but the delivery

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was flawed. Of course the Government will give a full response to the

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report itself which does raise serious issues we acknowledge in the

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proper course of time. Leanne Wood. Universities and higher education

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institutions are the backbone not only of our economy but of our

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entire country. In your draft budget, you are proposing what is in

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effect a ?41 million cut to Welsh universities funding. Lastly we have

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the devastating news about job losses at Tata Steel. There is every

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possibility that the job losses facing higher education could be

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greater in number than those announced by Tata last week. And

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they will impact on almost every community throughout the country.

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Have you made any assessment as to the number of job losses as a result

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of that Scott? -- that cut. I do not expect any job losses. It is a small

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percentage of the total income of higher education in Wales. We know

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that many institutions have substantial reserves, up to 100

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million and many beyond. We know that if the colleges to -- further

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education colleges... We major at the situation was easier for them.

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Higher education institutions are a far more robust in terms of their

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reserves, in terms of the income they can attract. We will listen to

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them, of course, but nevertheless they have an income. There will be a

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cut. There is a reduction in the budget according to her own figures

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from ?129 million this year to ?88 million next year. That cut could

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translate to a 40% cut to research funding, and that is according to

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have to go. That will not only result in job losses but also brutal

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Welsh universities anti-competitive disadvantage when it comes to

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research. -- will pay Welsh universities at a competitive

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disadvantage. You will be spending more money on universities outside

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of whales and you will be spending on the entire higher education

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budget. Are you prepared to confirm that that is the case?

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I do not accept there will be any job losses as a result of what is

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being opposed. Other organisations are expected to draw on their

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reserves, I fail to see why university should be treated

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differently. That said, many sectors have found it difficult, but they

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cannot be immune to cut we are seeing from the UK Government. Their

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total income is far higher than the income that exists for further

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education colleges. You want to stop paying the tuition fees of those

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students in Wales whose choose to study in England which is your

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party's policy. I do not support that in principle. It is important

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money follows Welsh students and institutions in Wales must compete

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for Welsh students rather than having them delivered on a plate. It

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is important Welsh students have a choice and if they have the chance

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to go to Oxford or Cambridge, they should go there. Why should they be

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penalised financially for the fact they would then have to pay between

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times as much as they pay now? I would not support a situation where

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we should look at crudely cutting back on tuition fees supports to

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students from Wales if they wish to study outside of Wales. This

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questioning session is not about Plaid Cymru's policy. We will have

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plenty of opportunity to do and discuss that. It is without dispute

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that you will spend over ?90 million on funding universities outside

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Wales. For the first time ever that will be more than the entire budget.

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What is clear is you have no policy beyond the diamond review, you have

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not confirmed what you will do for student support. The only thing you

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have confirmed if you want to make this ?41 million cut, which is a cut

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of 32% to Welsh universities. Do you have any intention of being open and

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transparent with people about your intentions for higher education

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before the election next May? Will you start that process by reversing

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this cut? The leader of Plaid Cymru suggests I am not answering her

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questions. I am, but she does not like the answers. She dresses up her

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argument that we are funding universities in England to the June

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of 90 million. We are funding Welsh students. What she objects to, and

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it is a matter for her party, is that we should fund Welsh students

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to study outside Wales, that is what she objects to. I do not agree with

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that position. I do not think it is right for student in Wales to pay

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?9,000 in tuition fees, I do not accept that. Secondly, I do not

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accept students in Wales should be penalised because they study outside

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Wales or study courses that are not available in Wales. She tries to

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suggest this money is being given to universities in England, we are

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giving money to Welsh students to study and escape the debts of their

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Welsh colleagues. Thank you. We now move to the leader of the Welsh

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Liberal Democrats. First Minister, today's report demonstrates that

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schools displaying some elements of excellence are improving, which is

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good news, but the number of skews that are viewed as unsatisfactory

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has also increased. The report challenges you and local authorities

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to identify and support schools that are struggling sooner and earlier.

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Could you outline how you will address that point? We are seeing

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some very good improvements across the sector in parts of that scheme.

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I look that Tony Pandy and their community School has seen an

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incredible increase in performance in just one year. From our point of

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view we have put money into the schools that are not up to the

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standard we would expect and we are seeing results in terms of

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performance. Local authorities deliver education on the ground. I

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am glad to see there are fewer local authorities who are the subject of

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special measures and that will help to strengthen consistency. But the

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Challenge scheme only tackles specific schools. There are schools

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that do not get any additional support at all. Those are schools

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who have been identified as struggling. The question is, why do

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those schools not receive support and Schools Challenge and schools

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not under special measures potentially do. The report also says

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initiatives are only as good as the people who implement them. What are

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you doing as a government to foster strong leadership and excellent

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teaching and high aspirations in all of our schools? It is time to

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establish a Welsh Academy of leadership to promote quality of

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leadership and help the best leaders to work in the most challenging

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schools. We are seeing examples of that across Wales at it is. They

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have the initial responsibility for helping schools and they identify

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schools quickly and make sure help is made available to those schools

:20:08.:20:13.

in a timely manner and it is for the local authorities to provide that

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help. The Challenge scheme helps to do that. It would be more useful for

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us as a government, in terms of providing training, in terms of

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providing a good package for teachers, if we had control of

:20:30.:20:33.

teachers' pay and conditions. We cannot control it, we cannot control

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things like that, so to be able to deliver a proper package in terms of

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pay, conditions and leadership, we would deliver more comprehends of

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package on top of these other schemes. You may have had the

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opportunity to have those powers if Owen Smith had not objected

:20:59.:21:02.

wholeheartedly to teachers' pay and conditions being devolved. The one

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good piece of news in this report, which you referred to earlier, is

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the closing of the gap between those pupils from our most deprived

:21:16.:21:19.

backgrounds who qualify for free school meals and those who do not.

:21:20.:21:26.

Would you agree that the outstanding success over the last couple of

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years has been the introduction of the people deprivation ground, won

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the Liberal Democrats had to persuade you to introduce? I will

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give her that one in terms of the people deprivation grant. We have

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seen the results and I have been fairly open about the fact that it

:21:45.:21:48.

was suggested by the Liberal Democrats. It is one element. It is

:21:49.:21:55.

responsible for improvements in some areas. We look at the highest GCSE

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results ever and that is what we have done as a government. Literacy

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and numeracy improvement is because of the framework and we are seeing

:22:07.:22:10.

schools in Wales improved year by year which is a tribute to those who

:22:11.:22:16.

work in those schools. It is a tribute to many local authorities

:22:17.:22:18.

who have put in the work to improve schools in their area and it is

:22:19.:22:24.

testament to the fact we have put in over a billion pounds worth of

:22:25.:22:32.

investment so children can expect to be taught in the schools where they

:22:33.:22:37.

want to be taught in, unlike in England where schools are crumbling.

:22:38.:22:45.

Paul Davies. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve the

:22:46.:22:50.

economy of Pembrokeshire? It is a priority for the Welsh Government

:22:51.:22:55.

and we are taking wide-ranging action to improve the business

:22:56.:22:57.

environment for Pembrokeshire and the whole of Wales. TRANSLATION: One

:22:58.:23:03.

way of improving the economy is to ensure the agriculture industry

:23:04.:23:07.

receives the support it deserves. I was very proud to sponsor a

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breakfast to celebrate Welsh produce and to recognise the significant

:23:13.:23:16.

contribution that agriculture and farming makes to the Welsh economy.

:23:17.:23:22.

Given the importance of the industry to Pembrokeshire and the Welsh

:23:23.:23:25.

economy, tackling bovine TB is crucially important and given that

:23:26.:23:30.

the vaccination programme has failed, what steps is the Welsh

:23:31.:23:35.

Government taking to eradicate this disease? TRANSLATION: This is under

:23:36.:23:40.

consideration at present. What we know is the culling of badgers has

:23:41.:23:47.

no impact. Culling actually exacerbated the problem because of

:23:48.:23:52.

the method used. The vaccination programme has taken place and I know

:23:53.:23:56.

the Minister is now considering how to proceed how to deal with TB and

:23:57.:24:02.

this is a serious matter for the agricultural industry, but it is

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important we have an effective system to deal with it. TRANSLATION:

:24:06.:24:13.

You will know from your visit to Pembroke Dock last weekend that the

:24:14.:24:17.

people of Pembrokeshire gave a very warm welcome to visitors and the

:24:18.:24:21.

tourism industry is crucially important along with the

:24:22.:24:25.

agricultural industry. Plaid Cymru has announced we will double the

:24:26.:24:29.

budget for tourism in Wales and will give particular emphasis on tourism

:24:30.:24:33.

is one of the mainstays of our economy. What do you intend to do to

:24:34.:24:39.

promote the tourism industry in Pembrokeshire? TRANSLATION: I had

:24:40.:24:47.

thought this was not a question session on the policies of Plaid

:24:48.:24:51.

Cymru, but I will answer that question. Tourism is extremely

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important and in 2014 it was a record year. 10 million visitors for

:24:57.:25:01.

the first time ever, a 7% increase on international visits. We saw a

:25:02.:25:07.

marketing campaign last year and that generated ?240 million of

:25:08.:25:16.

spending in Wales, 36% up from the previous year. Steps are being taken

:25:17.:25:24.

to develop a strategy for Wales to ensure that people know what Wales

:25:25.:25:28.

has to offer and, of course, this year we have the year of adventure

:25:29.:25:36.

to promote the outdoor sector. People want to cycle, Walker and so

:25:37.:25:41.

on, and to tell people to come to Wales because Wales is a place where

:25:42.:25:45.

you can have both adventure and fun and that is what we are doing this

:25:46.:25:50.

year, bearing in mind the fact tourism is extremely important to

:25:51.:25:56.

our economy. Question four. By the Prime Minister make a statement of

:25:57.:26:00.

the remapping of the Wales and Borders rail franchise. Discussion

:26:01.:26:05.

about the scope of services to be included are ongoing. No decision

:26:06.:26:10.

has been going to remap any services. I am aware a joint Welsh

:26:11.:26:15.

and the UK Government working group has been discussing remapping

:26:16.:26:21.

services to be operated by the replacement Wales and border

:26:22.:26:26.

franchise posted October 2018 and a consideration was given to splitting

:26:27.:26:31.

it to the Birmingham International service trains, and I ensure you

:26:32.:26:42.

will this would be detrimental and an inconvenience to passengers. It

:26:43.:26:46.

would have a negative impact on the Welsh economy. Will you provide

:26:47.:26:51.

instructions to officials to prioritise in any negotiations

:26:52.:27:01.

passenger precedence, but to provide a commitment that services from

:27:02.:27:05.

Aberystwyth to Birmingham will continue? It is our intention to

:27:06.:27:11.

continue at least with the existing service. There is a threat to the

:27:12.:27:17.

Cardiff-Manchester service whereby the Department for Transport wants

:27:18.:27:20.

to see no service that begins in Wales and terminates in England,

:27:21.:27:27.

operated by the Wales and Borders franchise. The only service run by

:27:28.:27:31.

that franchise will be services that begin and end in Wales. Why? I have

:27:32.:27:40.

no idea because Scotland does not have that restriction. ScotRail runs

:27:41.:27:44.

sleeper chains from Euston to Scotland, but at the moment it is

:27:45.:27:48.

the suggestion for the Department for Transport that they do not want

:27:49.:27:53.

to see these services exist between a departure point in Wales and the

:27:54.:27:57.

terminus point in England and vice versa. We are more than happy to

:27:58.:28:01.

make that case to the UK Government, but that is the attitude taken so

:28:02.:28:07.

far by the Department for Transport. TRANSLATION: Argued very much. What

:28:08.:28:13.

preparatory work has the Welsh Government undertaken with a view to

:28:14.:28:18.

having a not for profit model to be responsible for the new rail

:28:19.:28:23.

franchise for Wales? TRANSLATION: This is under consideration at

:28:24.:28:27.

present and we are considering whether there is any way of ensuring

:28:28.:28:32.

there is a not for profit company available to take it on and to see

:28:33.:28:37.

whether it is feasible model and we are considering this in detail at

:28:38.:28:40.

the moment and I believe the people in Wales will wish to see any

:28:41.:28:43.

company running the railroad in Wales will reinvest the profit that

:28:44.:28:46.

they make back into the service. TRANSLATION: Thank you. I am also

:28:47.:28:58.

concerned about the service between Holyhead and Manchester, and also

:28:59.:29:06.

between Wrexham, as well as the situation to Birmingham. Can I ask

:29:07.:29:13.

you if your officials are holding any discussions with the Wales

:29:14.:29:25.

Office, because on the 11th of January you responded to a written

:29:26.:29:33.

question saying, it is expected that services primarily serving English

:29:34.:29:39.

markets will be mapped into other departments for transport franchises

:29:40.:29:42.

in England and we will consult our specific proposals in due course.

:29:43.:29:48.

Therefore, perhaps the member from Michael Meacher could have a quiet

:29:49.:29:56.

word with his fellow member of the Conservative Party to ensure the

:29:57.:30:00.

Wales Office is also fighting Wales's corner. -- from

:30:01.:30:03.

Montgomeryshire. The Wales Office job is to fight four-wheeled and not

:30:04.:30:08.

to explain to the people of Wales what is

:30:09.:30:08.

to explain to the people of Wales not good for them. -- to fight for

:30:09.:30:16.

Wales. If they are not our friends we will receive very little support

:30:17.:30:22.

in Whitehall. There are many cross-border services and they do

:30:23.:30:28.

generate profit, and for example the service from North Wales to

:30:29.:30:31.

Manchester - if you take those services out of the franchise there

:30:32.:30:34.

is less money available. I don't see any problem. With the Scots running

:30:35.:30:42.

services into England, but for some reason the UK Government and the

:30:43.:30:46.

Wales Office, after hearing what the member has said, have the idea that

:30:47.:30:51.

it is only services which start and finish in Wales should come under

:30:52.:30:54.

the franchise. This is totally unfair, irresponsible and it is not

:30:55.:31:02.

something that is true for Scotland. Will be First Minister outlined the

:31:03.:31:07.

action of the Welsh Government in the recruitment and retention of

:31:08.:31:14.

doctors in Wales? Recruitment and retention of doctors is the

:31:15.:31:17.

responsibility of health boards and trusts. We support that work in a

:31:18.:31:22.

number of ways, and a ten workforce strategy is being developed which

:31:23.:31:26.

will determine the shape of our medical workforce. -- a ten year

:31:27.:31:34.

workforce strategy. One of the barriers to the recruitment of

:31:35.:31:36.

doctors is the state of our education than system. Many doctors

:31:37.:31:45.

in England do not want their children educated here. Order, let

:31:46.:31:56.

the member finished. Many qualified doctors in England refused to come

:31:57.:32:00.

to Wales because they do not want their children educated here. We

:32:01.:32:04.

have seen massive cuts to the higher education sector in particular. In

:32:05.:32:09.

high-cost subjects such as medicine which will have a huge impact on the

:32:10.:32:14.

number of doctors we train. When will you get your eyes back on the

:32:15.:32:20.

ball and deal with an education system which is fit for purpose and

:32:21.:32:26.

not a barrier to recruitment of doctors? I absolutely reject the

:32:27.:32:31.

idea that the member has put forward and that the Conservative Party's

:32:32.:32:36.

line should be that the message they give to doctors is don't come to

:32:37.:32:41.

Wales because of the education system. Where is there loyalty to

:32:42.:32:49.

Wales? I find that extraordinary. I have to say to the party said that

:32:50.:32:53.

the greatest barrier to recruitment in England is the fact that junior

:32:54.:32:57.

doctors go on strike. There is no greater disincentive to doctors to

:32:58.:33:01.

go to England than the fact they are treated by such disdain by Jeremy

:33:02.:33:07.

Hunt and the UK Government. -- treated with such disdain. We have

:33:08.:33:12.

no trouble recruiting doctors in Wales. GP numbers have increased by

:33:13.:33:27.

25%. There are no over 2000 GPs serving communities across Wales.

:33:28.:33:31.

More than there were ten years ago. The number of hospital consultants

:33:32.:33:39.

increased annually 50% between 2004 and 2014, up by 721 to 2270. That is

:33:40.:33:46.

a sign that Wales is the place to work. Doctor see it as a place they

:33:47.:33:50.

want to come and study and work in the future, and I've reject utterly

:33:51.:33:54.

any idea that the Conservatives won to spread around that somehow there

:33:55.:33:58.

is something wrong with the Welsh education system. They have been

:33:59.:34:01.

responsible for the mess we see in education and health in England.

:34:02.:34:09.

TRANSLATION: First Minister, around ?50 million of funding is spent on

:34:10.:34:15.

expensive courses that include medicals studies and your intent to

:34:16.:34:19.

cut this budget. What assessment have you carried out on how many

:34:20.:34:23.

fewer doctors will be trained in Wales as a result of these cuts or

:34:24.:34:32.

do you expect universities to use their reserves to fund medical

:34:33.:34:38.

education? I expect universities to use their funding, the funding

:34:39.:34:41.

available to them. They have substantial income, and we also must

:34:42.:34:45.

ensure that we have a continuous number of doctors. While that is the

:34:46.:34:51.

case that the number of GPs in Wales have increased, that is guaranteed

:34:52.:34:58.

compensation to a number of areas that have seen primary care services

:34:59.:35:01.

lost or threatened because of an inability to recruit full-time GPs

:35:02.:35:12.

or difficulties in accessing cover. For instance in my own constituency,

:35:13.:35:15.

what steps is the Government taking to address one of the concerns that

:35:16.:35:21.

has previously been raised around a single practitioner's list that

:35:22.:35:25.

would cut down the bureaucracy and in Barcelona GPs to work more easily

:35:26.:35:31.

on both sides of the border? -- and thus allowed GPs to work more

:35:32.:35:39.

easily. If you look at the examples where GP's practices have decided to

:35:40.:35:43.

cease operating, the health board takes them over and salaried GPs are

:35:44.:35:47.

placed there is there. That is the practising medicine anyway. There

:35:48.:35:50.

are fewer students know who want to bang into a practice. They would

:35:51.:35:55.

rather be salaried because that gives them greater flexibility. That

:35:56.:36:02.

is what they would want. It is true to say, and she has raised issues

:36:03.:36:06.

with me in the chamber before, but in some parts of Wales there have

:36:07.:36:10.

been difficulties with GP practices. That the decision of GP practices,

:36:11.:36:14.

not the health service, in terms of the services they provide. We are

:36:15.:36:18.

practices have decided not to operate the health board does take

:36:19.:36:20.

them over and salaried GPs are in place. Will the First Minister make

:36:21.:36:27.

a statement on the economy of the Swansea Bay region? The economy of

:36:28.:36:33.

the Swansea Bay region as the economy of Wales is a priority for

:36:34.:36:37.

the Welsh Government. We are taking wide-ranging actions. Development by

:36:38.:36:45.

Swansea University and the University of Wales alongside mixed

:36:46.:36:53.

developments are very important to the Swansea region. What work is

:36:54.:36:57.

being done with the universities to grow the local economy in high

:36:58.:37:06.

school and high wage services? Yesterday I launched the engineering

:37:07.:37:11.

services Institute working closely with higher education offering

:37:12.:37:16.

opportunities to study at Ph.D. Level. We are working with Swansea

:37:17.:37:23.

Council to bring development under the Swansea Vale joint ventured in

:37:24.:37:29.

order to see how creative sector projects can be taken forward there.

:37:30.:37:41.

In the Aberavon constituency, fantastic adventure and huge

:37:42.:37:43.

potential opportunities for the areas as well. The Minister for

:37:44.:37:51.

economy sizes and transport has committed to work with the

:37:52.:37:54.

University on developing its business collaboration as it

:37:55.:38:01.

develops its new campus. The economy minister has announced her intention

:38:02.:38:04.

to consider the potential for an enterprise zone around Port Talbot,

:38:05.:38:13.

and as you sort the area has great appeal for engineering companies.

:38:14.:38:17.

Retaining that engineering expertise any wider area would be very

:38:18.:38:23.

valuable, but we have seen that there is a risk of depending on one

:38:24.:38:28.

particular type of industry foreign area's economic success. The Bay

:38:29.:38:34.

region is going to meet the mixed economy -- need a mixed economy with

:38:35.:38:37.

the range of skills including linguistic is ill -- linguistics

:38:38.:38:48.

kills. The reason why the enterprise zones are sectoral is to attract

:38:49.:38:54.

clusters. So that we see companies in a similar sector clustering in

:38:55.:39:00.

one area as we have seen on the M4, around Heathrow Airport as well. We

:39:01.:39:05.

have written to the Chancellor with our intention to create an emperor

:39:06.:39:10.

varies zone around Port Talbot. -- and enterprise zone. We have not yet

:39:11.:39:14.

had a response. I hope we have your response in the next few days. She

:39:15.:39:17.

is right to say it is never help you to rely on one industry alone. The

:39:18.:39:24.

Secretary of State himself last week said that there are remaining person

:39:25.:39:30.

will still suffering from colliery closers. It was honest of him to

:39:31.:39:34.

admit that given it was his party that close them in the first place.

:39:35.:39:38.

We want to broaden the Welsh economy. In Swansea Bay, we have the

:39:39.:39:44.

power station, the university Bay campus, and creative industries.

:39:45.:39:54.

TRANSLATION: The UK prime minister said recently that his enthusiasm

:39:55.:39:58.

for the tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay was ebbing away. Is your confidence

:39:59.:40:05.

still in place for that scheme, and also for the plans for other lagoons

:40:06.:40:09.

around the Welsh course? TRANSLATION: Guess, it is, 100%. We

:40:10.:40:14.

are the Government are extremely supportive of the plans for Swansea

:40:15.:40:21.

Bay and we know there are opportunities for employment,

:40:22.:40:23.

economic development and for the development of the Port Talbot area

:40:24.:40:26.

and of course for tourism. We are very sorry to see... We see that the

:40:27.:40:40.

United Kingdom Government are becoming tired of the project and

:40:41.:40:45.

they are not as strongly and robustly painted as they used to be.

:40:46.:40:50.

I can say that we have the Government are 100% behind it as a

:40:51.:40:56.

project. While we wait for the UK Government to make their decision it

:40:57.:41:02.

does seem an Offley long time. Can I also asked about the NOR double

:41:03.:41:06.

against then further that the game which has also taken a long time to

:41:07.:41:13.

come forward. I be likely to issue a license for that lagoon to go-ahead?

:41:14.:41:20.

This is not a major issue. What will determine whether the lagoon goes

:41:21.:41:24.

ahead or not is whether the strike price is made available to the

:41:25.:41:31.

developers. We are seeing a UK Government moving away from

:41:32.:41:34.

renewables, we have seen the hatchet job done on wind, the same thing

:41:35.:41:38.

happened to solve. We have seen the money that has gone into Hinkley

:41:39.:41:43.

Point. And we have seen fracking in England, something many members of

:41:44.:41:46.

this chamber do not want to see in Wales. What is the energy policy for

:41:47.:41:52.

the future? We have a tremendous resource in the channel, the second

:41:53.:41:55.

highest tidal region in the world, sitting ready to be used for the

:41:56.:41:59.

creation of energy. The opposition is babbling away there because he

:42:00.:42:04.

has no answers. He fails to explain why his own Prime Minister cannot

:42:05.:42:09.

explain why he won't go ahead with the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, why he

:42:10.:42:14.

will not support job creation around Port Talbot, while he will not

:42:15.:42:17.

support renewable energy, why he will not support an object that will

:42:18.:42:24.

improve the demand for steel. I know energy expert traded in many ways,

:42:25.:42:31.

but the hot air he creates gives us no energy at all. -- energy is

:42:32.:42:37.

created in many ways. It is clear from the responses that you agree

:42:38.:42:41.

with me in developing the economy of the Swansea Bay region it is vital

:42:42.:42:45.

to ensure the benefits are felt in all its constituent parts. Key to

:42:46.:42:49.

this will be developing the skill base across the wider region. I

:42:50.:42:52.

think the recently announced rowing workforces through learning and

:42:53.:42:58.

development project is a very exciting development in this area.

:42:59.:43:04.

-- growing workforces. This scheme will deliver work training

:43:05.:43:10.

programmes to 100 prisoners are beating enterprises in South Wales

:43:11.:43:14.

West. I would very much like to see companies in my constituency amongst

:43:15.:43:20.

that 100. -- 100 companies and enterprises.

:43:21.:43:25.

I am delighted that ?2.4 million through European funds will help to

:43:26.:43:35.

deliver work based qualifications through employers. The announcement

:43:36.:43:48.

was covered widely and I understand that further awareness will be

:43:49.:43:53.

raised the opportunities through the local and regional press, the

:43:54.:43:55.

website, social media taster sessions. Will the First Minister

:43:56.:44:03.

make a statement on Welsh Government action to promote tourism in Wales?

:44:04.:44:10.

Our tourism strategy sets out our priorities to support the tourism

:44:11.:44:13.

industry, including funding and marketing. Do you agree with me that

:44:14.:44:19.

one problem many tourists sites for not going back to an area is litter

:44:20.:44:26.

on the streets? I am concerned about Conway County plans to go from

:44:27.:44:35.

fortnightly to follow weekly intervals for the collection of

:44:36.:44:39.

recipes. Many residents think it is not acceptable particularly for

:44:40.:44:46.

young families with children with nappies and sanitary products, etc,

:44:47.:44:51.

that might be going into the general refuse bins. What action will your

:44:52.:44:55.

government take to ensure that is appropriate guidance for local

:44:56.:45:00.

authorities. ? Local authorities must make decisions based on the

:45:01.:45:04.

recycling targets they are asked to meet. What we do know is we cannot

:45:05.:45:10.

return to the days when everything was chucked into your black bag and

:45:11.:45:15.

put into a hole in the ground. The reality is unless we see more

:45:16.:45:19.

recycling there will be more of a demand for energy from waste plants

:45:20.:45:23.

which remain controversial in many parts of Wales. It is important that

:45:24.:45:29.

recycling is made as easy and as possible for people, to make sure

:45:30.:45:35.

they fully understand which containers their waste goes in, that

:45:36.:45:39.

the containers are big enough as well. I know that is an issue in

:45:40.:45:43.

some parts of Wales. People get used to the idea, but when it comes to

:45:44.:45:49.

the black bag collection, most things will have already been

:45:50.:45:53.

recycled. It is important people understand the reasoning behind any

:45:54.:45:57.

changes and how they can contribute to recycling as well. There has been

:45:58.:46:03.

an enormous growth in tourism in Wales over the past year and one of

:46:04.:46:08.

the attractions is its growing culinary reputation and one of the

:46:09.:46:12.

attractions is our traditional fish and chip shops within Wales. I

:46:13.:46:18.

wonder, First Minister, if you would recognise and congratulate one place

:46:19.:46:26.

in my constituency where Ryan Hughes has been voted the UK's best young

:46:27.:46:32.

friar in the whole of the United Kingdom? Not only will you

:46:33.:46:37.

congratulate him, but write to him and congratulate him and support the

:46:38.:46:42.

Welsh industry and our culinary expertise and join me one night for

:46:43.:46:49.

a fishing trip supper? Can I first of all congratulate the member on

:46:50.:46:57.

the crafty display in being able to raise the issue of the shop in this

:46:58.:47:02.

chamber? Can I add my congratulations to Ryan himself and

:47:03.:47:09.

to the Crispy Cod who provide a wonderful service. It is not often I

:47:10.:47:16.

get an invitation for a bite to eat during First Minister's questions,

:47:17.:47:23.

so I am delighted to accept. TRANSLATION: Coal-mining history is

:47:24.:47:37.

well known on a global medal, but this museum provides a window on

:47:38.:47:42.

another incredible aspect of our industrial history when the town was

:47:43.:47:46.

that the heart of the copper industry on a global level. We need

:47:47.:47:51.

to share that with more people. I invite the Minister to see these

:47:52.:47:56.

attractions for himself. What support will you provide to develop

:47:57.:48:00.

those attractions and to share the story and to celebrate the copper

:48:01.:48:06.

industry? TRANSLATION: I see I am extremely popular this afternoon as

:48:07.:48:10.

regards the number of invitations I am receiving. The member is correct,

:48:11.:48:16.

Powys Mountain is extremely important in our copper heritage and

:48:17.:48:20.

our Welsh heritage. I visited it some years ago and it is important

:48:21.:48:27.

people understand not only do heritage, but also the geography of

:48:28.:48:32.

the area because it is unique as regards the geography of the

:48:33.:48:39.

mountain itself. Of course it is something that Visit Wales could

:48:40.:48:44.

consider, mainly how we promote Powys Mountain to attract visitors

:48:45.:48:51.

into northern Anglesey. The Centenary of raw style's birth is a

:48:52.:48:56.

fantastic opportunity to bring visitors to Wales and other parts of

:48:57.:49:01.

the capital. Would you agree this is the perfect opportunity for the

:49:02.:49:07.

creation of a permanent centre here in Cardiff to bring tourists to ask,

:49:08.:49:12.

but also to inspire the next generation of Welsh writers with a

:49:13.:49:18.

love of literature? It is an interesting idea, it is the finance

:49:19.:49:22.

that is the question. It would need private finance to be given and it

:49:23.:49:26.

would need to be self-supporting. But certainly we would very much

:49:27.:49:32.

alike to work with any organisation that would wish to put in place a

:49:33.:49:36.

centre and celebrate the fact that Cardiff is the birthplace of one of

:49:37.:49:40.

the world's most renowned children's writers. The museum in my

:49:41.:49:48.

constituency is very popular amongst tourists. I am not sure if it does

:49:49.:49:53.

fish and chips, but it offers other things. As a community asset,

:49:54.:49:59.

responsibility for running it was taken over from Rhondda cancelled by

:50:00.:50:06.

local volunteers. As councils are increasingly resorting to these

:50:07.:50:11.

transfers due to the effect of spending pressures, what advice or

:50:12.:50:14.

support can the Welsh Government make available to such assets so

:50:15.:50:20.

they can continue to attract tourists? One of the areas is to

:50:21.:50:24.

engage with volunteers as much as possible. Many people would give

:50:25.:50:32.

their time freely to museums. It is a question of councils finding it

:50:33.:50:36.

difficult in terms of increasing staff, and I am sure volunteers

:50:37.:50:43.

would love to do it. We know museums are not expected to make money. I am

:50:44.:50:48.

sure there are volunteers who would be more than willing to volunteer

:50:49.:50:54.

and give their time. There we are, that was

:50:55.:50:58.

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

:50:59.:51:01.

of the National Assembly you can go online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live

:51:02.:51:04.

page at bbc.co.uk/walespolitics. But that's it for First

:51:05.:51:06.

Minister's Questions. Don't forget for all the latest

:51:07.:51:08.

political news, watch Wales Today later today at 6:30 on BBC1 Wales

:51:09.:51:11.

and Newyddion at 9:00 on S4C. As for AMPM though, from all of us

:51:12.:51:18.

on the programme, goodbye.

:51:19.:51:26.

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