:00:23. > :00:27.Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly coverage
:00:27. > :00:30.of questions to the First Minister. Lots of different issues on the
:00:30. > :00:33.order paper this afternoon. AMs are keen to ask Carwyn Jones about
:00:33. > :00:36.plans to devolve power over policing and the planned changes to
:00:36. > :00:39.the organ donation system amongst other things.
:00:39. > :00:41.And I'm sure there'll be plenty of discussion, too, about the
:00:41. > :00:46.Conservatives' announcement yesterday that they'd like to see a
:00:46. > :00:49.cut in the 40p rate of income tax. If you want to comment on anything
:00:49. > :00:59.on the programme or any other political news, get in touch with
:00:59. > :01:00.
:01:00. > :01:10.Well, business in the Chamber is already underway. Let's take a look
:01:10. > :01:23.
:01:23. > :01:27.now at today's questions to the Her will the First Minister make a
:01:27. > :01:37.statement on policing in that statement on policing in that
:01:37. > :01:38.
:01:38. > :01:45.Wales? Devolving the police service will deliver significant benefits.
:01:45. > :01:55.Will he agree that it would bring it Wales into line with Scotland
:01:55. > :02:02.and 11 I learnt? -- and at Northern Ireland? It is important that the
:02:02. > :02:12.emergency services is co-ordinated emergency services is co-ordinated
:02:12. > :02:20.
:02:20. > :02:25.under one roof, and the National Assembly for Wales. I am grateful
:02:25. > :02:32.for your positive response to the concept of the devolution of police
:02:32. > :02:33.services. Would you accept that two things - there is a difference
:02:33. > :02:41.between police services and the between police services and the
:02:41. > :02:46.police as they regime, and we could move very quickly towards a
:02:46. > :02:51.devolved police services to wards full devolution? Would you also
:02:51. > :02:56.accept that the devolution of that criminal justice system would go
:02:56. > :03:03.hand-in-hand with the devolution of police services? Regarding the
:03:03. > :03:08.police, the Government's stand point is there should be devolution
:03:08. > :03:12.of the police forces in its entirety. Some things would be
:03:12. > :03:17.retained, such as the work pertaining to terrorism, and we
:03:17. > :03:22.would have to secure full collaboration between the police
:03:22. > :03:27.forces of the United Kingdom and Europe. Regarding the criminal
:03:27. > :03:33.justice system, that is more long term because that is a significant
:03:33. > :03:38.piece of work. We would have to build up a department from scratch
:03:38. > :03:47.in the Government here to do with criminal justice, and we would have
:03:47. > :03:56.to consider the number of prisons in Wales. We would have to plan for
:03:56. > :04:05.that. And that would have to be holistic. Will he make a statement
:04:05. > :04:15.on the progress of the strategy? issued a statement to members on
:04:15. > :04:27.
:04:27. > :04:33.the science strategy. The science strategy identifies three areas,
:04:33. > :04:43.and they are part of the economic sectors. As the Government
:04:43. > :04:45.
:04:45. > :04:55.identified how the Government will focus on a priority sectors?
:04:55. > :04:56.
:04:56. > :05:01.Science of Wales focuses on three areas - research and business
:05:01. > :05:11.sectors. Two items I would refer to - but the proposed innovation
:05:11. > :05:12.
:05:12. > :05:19.strategy, to enhance innovation in its broadest sense. I can confirm
:05:19. > :05:26.that we will World Cup three new projects, directly relating to the
:05:26. > :05:32.new challenges. The First Minister will remember that when the science
:05:32. > :05:42.strategy was introduced, it was following on from concerns that
:05:42. > :05:43.
:05:43. > :05:49.there was an almost Cinderella like status attached to science in Wales.
:05:49. > :05:59.Can you tell us, a year on from the strategy, how have things been
:05:59. > :06:03.
:06:03. > :06:10.moved on? Pique �50 million project is underway. We have started co-
:06:10. > :06:15.operative work with universities to improve research effectiveness. We
:06:15. > :06:21.have agreed financial assistance from the National Science Academy,
:06:21. > :06:31.enabling more than 20 projects across Wales to encourage young
:06:31. > :06:32.
:06:32. > :06:39.people and children to engage with signs. The chakras science.
:06:39. > :06:44.chief scientist has given support to the garden up to stabilise its
:06:44. > :06:48.position. Do you agree that the garden it is to co-ordinate its
:06:48. > :06:53.work with institutions, the Countryside Council and other
:06:53. > :06:57.bodies to develop for the future and to be an institution that all
:06:57. > :07:03.be self-sufficient in the future? It is very important that the
:07:03. > :07:07.Botanic Garden ensures that the use every opportunity available in
:07:07. > :07:14.order to develop the garden and the knowledge that is created because
:07:14. > :07:17.of their work. We must remember it is not solely a scientific
:07:17. > :07:25.institution but it is right to say that everybody can appreciate the
:07:25. > :07:33.fact they should be working closely with educational institutions.
:07:33. > :07:39.21% of the eco-port of students entering A-level physics, and
:07:39. > :07:44.increasing the number of goals is one of the aims contained in the
:07:44. > :07:48.sign strategy. This gender inequality is bad as we limit our
:07:48. > :07:56.talent pool. Welcome the Welsh Government do to encourage more
:07:56. > :08:06.girls to study stem subject, and physics in particular? The project
:08:06. > :08:07.
:08:07. > :08:11.is supported by a wide range of groups. It aims to wide and deep
:08:11. > :08:16.engagement of course in stem education. The aims are to increase
:08:16. > :08:23.the number of goals pursuing careers in science and address the
:08:23. > :08:33.negative perceptions Qatar some times around the site is not for
:08:33. > :08:42.
:08:42. > :08:51.girls. What action it will the Welsh Government take to support
:08:51. > :08:55.veteran spinner or Wales? We are reviewing it. Paying report called
:08:55. > :09:00.for public bodies in Wales to do know to support Armed Forces
:09:00. > :09:04.veterans in Wales, particularly in housing and health. The committee
:09:04. > :09:11.found that veterans can struggle to obtain information about the
:09:11. > :09:15.services available to them. Will the First Minister commit his
:09:15. > :09:21.government to encouraging the establishment of a network of one-
:09:21. > :09:29.stop-shop support veterans as they have in Scotland, to ensure they
:09:29. > :09:37.are aware of advice and support available? Just some achievements -
:09:37. > :09:44.�485,000 for veterans, the Shared Equity Scheme covers widows and
:09:44. > :09:54.widowers, automatic entitlement for blue badges for seriously injured
:09:54. > :10:01.
:10:01. > :10:04.service personnel, and a total disregard of of the war pension.
:10:04. > :10:14.Ex-service personnel are more likely than other people to become
:10:14. > :10:15.
:10:15. > :10:20.homeless. The LED assessment have you made to of how the homeless
:10:20. > :10:26.plan for Wales is delivered for people in the Armed Forces? Were
:10:26. > :10:32.are funding a research in this area. Her to ensure they get the full
:10:32. > :10:38.range of assistance they need. In August, 2012, we published guidance
:10:38. > :10:46.for all local authorities. We have promoted connections between the
:10:46. > :10:52.MoD veterans service and housing organisations to ensure support is
:10:52. > :10:58.available. On 30th November, 2011, this Chamber was informed your
:10:58. > :11:02.officials will be working with the Ministry of Defence to ensure a
:11:02. > :11:07.joined-up approach to services for those veterans suffering from
:11:07. > :11:11.mental health issues. Can you tell us a particular plot progresses
:11:11. > :11:17.been made, and how much money has the Ministry of Defence given to
:11:17. > :11:24.ensure this is provided? Interns at health, we would expect to provide
:11:24. > :11:32.health services for those who live in Wales and any event. It does
:11:32. > :11:37.compare favourably. Facts so he here we look to ensure there is
:11:37. > :11:47.sufficient capacity to meet demand, and the latest report shows waiting
:11:47. > :11:51.times have improved, and that works with the charity sector itself.
:11:51. > :11:56.will be aware of the large number of veterans groups campaigning for
:11:56. > :12:02.better services for veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder, and
:12:02. > :12:08.Wales remains the only part of the UK with no residential facility.
:12:08. > :12:12.Will walk 2013 be the year when we will start building such a centre
:12:12. > :12:17.for a Armed Forces veterans? There are a large number of organisations
:12:17. > :12:21.to offer different types of treatment. We should be careful of
:12:21. > :12:26.ensuring that the right support it and treatment is made available for
:12:26. > :12:34.people across Wales. People need to access a services close to them as
:12:34. > :12:44.possible. That need not mean a national centre in Wales. But we do
:12:44. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:55.remain committed to ensuring the service is available. We now move
:12:55. > :12:56.
:12:56. > :13:01.to questions for party leaders. proposed changes have no medical
:13:01. > :13:05.consensus. Up to two years, the Welsh Government have to take a
:13:05. > :13:11.political decision, and I know from experience that you will not give
:13:11. > :13:15.up your opinions on these proposals. I wonder if you can tell me where
:13:15. > :13:21.to wait were you look and the Health Minister give to local
:13:21. > :13:29.opinion before reaching a conclusion? The matter is in the
:13:29. > :13:34.hands of the Ministers, and I can give no view on this, legally. But
:13:34. > :13:38.all relevant factors will be taken into account, bearing in mind that
:13:38. > :13:46.we want to see a safe and sustainable hopes service. The
:13:46. > :13:51.British Medical Association have all opposed the removal of Level 3
:13:51. > :13:55.neonatal services from a North Wales up to England. That move is
:13:55. > :14:01.also opposed by the public and politicians from all four political
:14:01. > :14:06.parties. That will remove this service from Wales, and it will be
:14:06. > :14:12.Welsh taxpayers' money that will be invested in the English NHS, under
:14:12. > :14:16.Conservative control, been privatised and which you have
:14:16. > :14:26.previously condemned. This cannot be a decision for the local health
:14:26. > :14:32.
:14:32. > :14:40.board alone. Yes, or no, we now Once the deadline is reached,
:14:40. > :14:46.ministers will consider further action. I was looking for yes or no
:14:46. > :14:52.answer, Minister. Once again, do have not answer that question. It
:14:52. > :14:58.is about removing a service to outsider Wales. The continued
:14:59. > :15:04.changes in the English excess -- NHS means we can't know what the
:15:04. > :15:07.facility will look like in five years. First Minister, your
:15:07. > :15:16.government is decommissioning a Welsh service and spending the
:15:16. > :15:22.money on the English NHS instead. How can you justify that?
:15:22. > :15:28.NASA 11 -- nationalism, isn't it, really? Light is simple for the
:15:28. > :15:33.leader of Plaid Cymru. She has not been in government. It is not
:15:33. > :15:37.possible to give a few are less all matters are properly considered.
:15:37. > :15:42.Simon Thomas knows this full well. He has been a special adviser in
:15:42. > :15:47.government. She does make a point that I think is one that needs to
:15:47. > :15:53.be considered. That is, should we be over reliant in the future, and
:15:53. > :15:58.this is a general point, on the health service in England? That is
:15:58. > :16:01.a fair point, and one that will need to be considered in its
:16:01. > :16:10.entirety when we consider the future direction of the health
:16:10. > :16:14.service in Wales as a whole. Leader of the Opposition.
:16:14. > :16:18.The First Minister in October, 2012, said we want to see a health
:16:18. > :16:23.service allowing people access to services that are local and as safe
:16:23. > :16:27.as possible. He then reinforced that in January of this year, by
:16:27. > :16:33.saying, I want to see a safe and sustainable health service. Do you
:16:34. > :16:43.stand by those comments? This document that was produced
:16:44. > :16:44.
:16:44. > :16:49.last week, by three of the most respected bodies in the profession,
:16:49. > :16:53.clearly outlined their major concerns over the reconfiguration
:16:53. > :16:57.of health services in North Wales. They felt so strongly as to use the
:16:57. > :17:00.words, what is on the table at the moment is a second-class ticket to
:17:00. > :17:07.mediocrity. We believe that the people of North Wales deserve
:17:07. > :17:11.better than that. Do you believe the professionals, First Minister,
:17:11. > :17:15.when they say such strong language about what is proposed by the
:17:15. > :17:21.bureaucrats? As the Leader of the Opposition
:17:21. > :17:29.knows, these are proposals. It is a matter for the C H C to see what
:17:29. > :17:38.they will do. The document that the professionals
:17:39. > :17:43.in our have sold us a -- health service brought forward by
:17:43. > :17:46.highlighting the major concerns over the relocation of maternity
:17:46. > :17:52.services, in particular around distance and the ability to keep
:17:52. > :17:57.capacity within what is proposed by the health board. It is a fact that
:17:57. > :18:01.you have the ability to reinforce the statements that you have made
:18:01. > :18:06.previously on health reorganisation by about creating sustainable
:18:06. > :18:12.services. We intervene to support the professionals in their judgment
:18:12. > :18:17.as to what needs to be retained in North Wales? -- will you intervene.
:18:17. > :18:27.All really stand by and allow a deterioration in the provision that
:18:27. > :18:27.
:18:27. > :18:33.could risk the loss of life? -- or are you really standing by.
:18:33. > :18:36.The first step is the commission has a deadline to reach. Was that
:18:36. > :18:40.has been reached, ministers will consider what happens next. He is
:18:40. > :18:44.right to say that the opinion of the medical profession is
:18:44. > :18:49.exceptionally important. We have always said that. It is a shame
:18:49. > :18:53.that members of his party do not see it that way elsewhere in Wales,
:18:53. > :18:57.frankly, where they have dismissed the views of medical practitioners.
:18:57. > :19:03.As I have said, what we want to see is a safe and sustainable service
:19:03. > :19:08.in Wales. We will examine very carefully any details of proposals
:19:08. > :19:11.that will affect any part of Wales. The last thing we want to see is a
:19:11. > :19:18.wrecked and demoralised health service along the lines of what his
:19:18. > :19:22.party is doing been England. The leader of the Welsh Liberal
:19:22. > :19:27.Democrats. Complaints to the public service
:19:27. > :19:32.ombudsman about the Welsh NHS have tripled in the last six years. Yet,
:19:32. > :19:35.when talking about the Welsh NHS, your health minister said that,
:19:35. > :19:40.when I going to hospitals, I don't thing I had ever come across a
:19:40. > :19:45.patient who was criticising it. Democrats are complaints in the
:19:45. > :19:50.Welsh NHS. Why is your Health Minister are aware of them?
:19:50. > :19:57.That is not what she said. In terms of any system, there will always be
:19:57. > :20:01.complaints. No system can be perfect. We do know, however, from
:20:01. > :20:05.our own surveys and opinion polls that people are happy with their
:20:05. > :20:09.experience of the NHS. Our job, as a government, is to make sure that
:20:09. > :20:14.remains the case. In relation to the Mid-
:20:14. > :20:18.Staffordshire scandal, and a failure to listen to those who
:20:18. > :20:21.received care through proper consideration of their complaints,
:20:21. > :20:26.yes they are met with a group of my constituents to talk about their
:20:26. > :20:30.recent experiences within the Welsh NHS. They described patients crying
:20:30. > :20:36.out for water, being fed by visitors they had never met, left
:20:36. > :20:41.without an adequate pain relief, and resorting to changing their own
:20:41. > :20:46.bedsheets once they had been sick. If your Health Minister does not
:20:46. > :20:52.think there are complaints in Wales, how will she make sure that we
:20:52. > :21:02.avoid a Mid-Staffordshire in Wales? They is no suggestion that that
:21:02. > :21:03.
:21:03. > :21:10.will happen in Wales. -- there. I'm my constituents constantly
:21:10. > :21:20.write to the Health Minister about concerns. -- by and -- myself and
:21:20. > :21:28.
:21:28. > :21:31.Gigawatts trying to raise their concerns. -- people are trying.
:21:31. > :21:36.Mortality statistics in Mid- Staffordshire were higher than the
:21:36. > :21:40.average. It was those figures that attracted attention and led to the
:21:40. > :21:44.investigation in the first place. I have asked the Health Minister to
:21:44. > :21:49.publish the equivalent mortality figures for Wales, and had written
:21:49. > :21:53.answer indicated that these are monitored on a local level but they
:21:54. > :21:59.are not available on and all Wales bases. How could your Minister ever
:21:59. > :22:03.identify a problem if she does not identify and monitor these
:22:03. > :22:07.statistics on and all Wales basis? It is not good enough to come here
:22:07. > :22:12.and make allegations that are not backed up by evidence. If she has
:22:12. > :22:15.it, we will be more than happy to consider the evidence. Rather than
:22:15. > :22:21.trying to stand up and grandstand, which is what she is doing. In
:22:21. > :22:25.terms of mortality rates, if she can find a doctor to explain
:22:25. > :22:29.mortality rate, I will like to see it. Mortality rates are not a good
:22:29. > :22:34.guide to hospital performance. Why? De doctors have to deal with the
:22:34. > :22:39.underlying health of the population. Second, if you publish mortality
:22:39. > :22:42.rates, you run the risk of operations not being carried out
:22:42. > :22:46.because they are too risky. That is too nobody public benefit. Another
:22:46. > :22:50.way of doing it is to look at complication rates. They arise
:22:50. > :22:55.after operations. That is something that we are considering at the
:22:55. > :22:58.moment. With mortality, there's a danger that if doctors feel they
:22:58. > :23:03.are going to be judged on their mortality rates, they will always
:23:03. > :23:06.play safe in terms of operations. That is not, I think what the
:23:06. > :23:09.leader of the Lib Dems would want to see anyway, but if she has any
:23:09. > :23:16.evidence to back up what she has said, we would be pleased to
:23:16. > :23:20.consider that evidence. Back to questions on the paper.
:23:20. > :23:30.What is the world government doing to encourage cross-border Dell at
:23:30. > :23:33.
:23:34. > :23:39.the moment -- development in North The thank you for that response.
:23:39. > :23:45.North East Wales and north-west England is the only shared urban
:23:45. > :23:55.area or that is divided by a national boundary. -- thank you for
:23:55. > :24:01.
:24:01. > :24:05.It is a growing concern in the north east of Wales that
:24:05. > :24:12.development of an Enterprise Zone seems to be controlled more from
:24:12. > :24:21.Cardiff and that the zone and bored still receives no feedback from the
:24:22. > :24:26.Welsh government 70 months after the zone was first announced.
:24:26. > :24:30.The honourable member is not aware that it was a founding member of
:24:31. > :24:37.the Mersey alliance. We are well aware of the alliance between the
:24:37. > :24:40.north-west of England and the north-east of Wales. The Enterprise
:24:40. > :24:46.Zone, the idea came from here. The theme of the Enterprise Zone came
:24:46. > :24:51.from here. We are committed to the Enterprise Zone on this side, and
:24:51. > :25:01.we recognise that the economic zone it is part of his very much across
:25:01. > :25:03.
:25:03. > :25:10.borders. I seems to have a different agenda
:25:10. > :25:14.to everybody else! Question five. Will the First Minister provide an
:25:14. > :25:19.update on the Welsh government's plans to increase organ donation in
:25:20. > :25:25.Wales? Members will be aware of the bill.
:25:25. > :25:30.Given the serious criticism from a professor that the government
:25:30. > :25:37.misled the assembly at the evidence from Spain, and with legal doubts
:25:37. > :25:42.over whether or not it is possible to obtain true, informed consent,
:25:42. > :25:47.would you agree that if more lives would be saved through better
:25:47. > :25:52.promotion and improvement of the current system and the need for
:25:52. > :25:55.legislation, however symbolic, should be reconsidered.
:25:55. > :25:59.Are we to understand the honourable member is against the organ
:25:59. > :26:02.donation bill? That is something she has not said before. We can't
:26:02. > :26:06.accept whether that is Conservative policy, because we don't know who
:26:07. > :26:12.speaks for the Conservatives because of the tweets of the past
:26:12. > :26:16.24 hours. The reality is, we were elected on the basis of taking
:26:16. > :26:21.forward the bill. It enjoys support be on the party I lead. Indeed, it
:26:21. > :26:28.is fair to say it had its genesis in an idea proposed by an assembly
:26:28. > :26:30.member here. It is something we will take forward. We see no
:26:30. > :26:33.difficulty in the committee expressing views as to the working
:26:33. > :26:38.of the bill and suggesting improvements. That is how democracy
:26:38. > :26:46.should work. We intend to take for the organ donation bill so we can
:26:46. > :26:51.make sure that in future more lives are saved.
:26:51. > :26:57.TRANSLATION: Thank you. One of my constituents has been fighting for
:26:57. > :27:03.her life for many years while awaiting kidney transplant. How
:27:03. > :27:07.long before your legislation comes into force and to give hope to
:27:07. > :27:12.young people such as the one I'm alluding to, and that she will be
:27:12. > :27:16.given an assurance that there might be a suitable key before her sooner
:27:16. > :27:23.rather than later? The aim is that the new system
:27:23. > :27:27.should be in place by 2015. We will have to insure that everything is
:27:27. > :27:32.in place to ensure the system works, and that is something we are
:27:32. > :27:42.working on present. Of course, it depends on the timetable within the
:27:42. > :27:46.assembly itself. 2015 is the aim. TRANSLATION: Will the First
:27:46. > :27:54.Minister confirm the Government's commitment to a Zero Waste
:27:54. > :28:01.Strategy? The will to Government is committed to Zero Waste goals. --
:28:01. > :28:07.the Welsh Government. 70% should be recycling and 30% less a residual
:28:07. > :28:16.waste should be sent for recovery. We aim to have zero land filled by
:28:16. > :28:21.2025. -- landfill. Country is like Sweden have reached
:28:21. > :28:31.levels of 90% recycling. -- countries. I would hope that is a
:28:31. > :28:40.
:28:40. > :28:46.more long-term goal for the Welsh We must remember that countries
:28:46. > :28:55.such as Sweden started from a higher base than we did in 2000.
:28:55. > :29:01.40% of their waste it was recycled then. It is true to say that the
:29:01. > :29:04.rest would have to be dealt with in a way that is not recyclable, and
:29:04. > :29:09.it depends what happens at the beginning of the production process,
:29:09. > :29:14.rather than at its conclusion. It is important that we increase the
:29:14. > :29:21.rate of recycling in Wales, but we must accept that for a decade or
:29:22. > :29:31.more, there will be some ways that we have to be dealt with, such as
:29:32. > :29:36.
:29:36. > :29:43.I am sure you would like to congratulate with meet those
:29:43. > :29:50.councils that a meeting their targets. However, from figures
:29:50. > :30:00.released by your government in November, for all local authority
:30:00. > :30:05.
:30:05. > :30:12.us have seen their target rates below 50%. I am aware that Cardiff
:30:12. > :30:17.City Council, in 2012, handed out �44,000 in fines to households who
:30:18. > :30:26.left at their bins out on the run day. What steps is the Welsh
:30:26. > :30:32.Government taking to incentive fires householders to encourage our
:30:32. > :30:36.recycling rates? We know that different approaches have been
:30:36. > :30:43.taken across Wales, and they have been successful in their different
:30:43. > :30:51.ways. In my local authority area, it is normal for people to separate
:30:51. > :30:57.waste before collection of. It means that it is a saving for the
:30:57. > :31:01.local taxpayer because ultimately, funds are not being paid to dispose
:31:01. > :31:08.rubbish in ways that are not environmentally friendly. I welcome
:31:08. > :31:13.what has been done by Welsh local government. It varies every year.
:31:13. > :31:20.But we have come a tremendous way over the last 13 years in terms of
:31:20. > :31:26.recycling. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh
:31:26. > :31:36.Government's commitment to renewable energy in it Wales?
:31:36. > :31:41.committed to the transmission to a low carbon system. I would like to
:31:41. > :31:45.thank the First Minister for his answer. There is increasing
:31:45. > :31:54.interest in the hydra sector, particularly in smaller-scale
:31:54. > :32:02.projects. One such example is the successful green valleys project.
:32:02. > :32:07.This concern is about an Environment Agency consultation on
:32:08. > :32:14.water abstraction, and there is concern that if implemented, the
:32:14. > :32:20.proposals could make many hydro schemes unviable. Since the
:32:20. > :32:24.creation of natural resources Wales takes place, or the day that
:32:25. > :32:32.consultation ends, could be First Minister clarify whether natural
:32:32. > :32:40.resources Wales or be bound by the outcome of that consultation, or
:32:40. > :32:49.whether other specific arrangements may apply? It is relevant to other
:32:49. > :32:54.areas. Consultations are meant to be as wide-ranging as possible.
:32:54. > :32:59.What happens in a consultation is relevant in terms of any final
:32:59. > :33:04.decisions that take place. It could not be binding. The final decision
:33:04. > :33:10.would rest after a final consultation has taken place.
:33:10. > :33:14.You're be aware that technical advice on renewable energy has been
:33:14. > :33:18.very controversial in Wales over the past few years. One of the
:33:18. > :33:22.consequences is that wind farms are developed in areas where they are
:33:22. > :33:28.difficult to connect to the National Grid. There is a
:33:28. > :33:34.consultation in my constituency, and many of my constituents are
:33:34. > :33:41.proposed -- concerned about a proposed route. What consideration
:33:41. > :33:47.would you give to reviewing the fact the great connections are
:33:47. > :33:55.considered by a people making decisions? It could connections
:33:55. > :34:01.have to be upgraded, it suggests it is above 50 megawatts, and that is
:34:01. > :34:11.not a decision for the Welsh Government. Any issue regarding
:34:11. > :34:12.
:34:12. > :34:16.infrastructure is an issue for his party in London. If you take your
:34:16. > :34:20.government's commitment to strengthening the renewable energy
:34:20. > :34:25.annual submission to the Silk Commission, and bring those two
:34:25. > :34:32.things together, it is that it package that could create wealth in
:34:32. > :34:37.Wales if it was properly managed and exploited, rather than the 40%
:34:37. > :34:47.tax rates for people like you and me? Could you tell us how would you
:34:47. > :34:48.
:34:48. > :34:52.could make that aim real wealth Fund For All Wales? One of the
:34:52. > :34:56.problems at the moment is the Community initiative, which has not
:34:56. > :35:05.been devolved. Because it has not been devolved, it is not possible
:35:05. > :35:10.to intervene when with the section of the Planning Act either, and so,
:35:10. > :35:15.we must ensure that is also devolved. The debate at the time
:35:15. > :35:20.was that it was a tax and therefore could not be devolved, but that
:35:20. > :35:29.could create the package for jobs and a benefit for local people and
:35:29. > :35:33.the whole of Wales. Will the First Minister make a statement on the
:35:33. > :35:42.devaluation of consenting performance on renewable energy?
:35:42. > :35:47.There is room for improvement in terms of consenting. I am sure you
:35:47. > :35:54.will be familiar with research undertaken on the Welsh
:35:54. > :36:00.Government's behalf. He can imagine my reaction to a recommendation one,
:36:00. > :36:09.which states that the Welsh Government should establish an
:36:09. > :36:17.energy unit as the determined and - - as the determining authority, up
:36:17. > :36:24.to 50 megawatts. You say you believe in local democracy. How
:36:24. > :36:32.does this proposal fit in with your perspective on local determination?
:36:32. > :36:37.They isn't local determination, but it is subject to appeal. -- there
:36:37. > :36:47.is so. The vast majority of applications are controversial
:36:47. > :36:52.because they are about 50 megawatts. He makes the point about local
:36:52. > :36:57.responsibility, well, I would argue it is equally as well have an --
:36:57. > :37:07.irrelevant that the people of Wales should gain sufficient control as
:37:07. > :37:08.
:37:08. > :37:13.well. Wales should have executive responsibility on the same lines as
:37:13. > :37:21.Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure there is a been -- easier
:37:21. > :37:24.and better understood process and Wales. Will the First Minister make
:37:24. > :37:30.a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to revitalise
:37:30. > :37:36.the Welsh economy? As the Member knows, there are a number of
:37:36. > :37:42.programmes in place. I recently met good local traders and
:37:42. > :37:47.Pembrokeshire to discuss the decline of town centre as. In light
:37:47. > :37:51.of the report into town centre regeneration, where we saw the
:37:51. > :37:55.committee made up 21 recommendations, can he named one
:37:56. > :38:02.of the recommendations that has been implemented? At present, we
:38:02. > :38:07.are considering the regeneration of towns, and there will be a
:38:07. > :38:13.statement. That will be from the Minister leading the way on this.
:38:13. > :38:18.One of the problems is that businesses do not have a sufficient
:38:18. > :38:25.number of customers. It is not an issue of raids. If people do not
:38:25. > :38:29.have money in their pockets, they were not be spending. That is a
:38:29. > :38:39.problem to him and his party in London. Even the Chancellor does
:38:39. > :38:55.
:38:55. > :39:05.not seem to understand that the financial markets understand, and
:39:05. > :39:06.
:39:06. > :39:09.in them the UK's credit status has been downgraded. What work is the
:39:09. > :39:14.Welsh Government doing to support young women at re-entering the
:39:14. > :39:20.Labour market? The purpose of the report was to identify where the
:39:20. > :39:28.recession has had a different effect on women. Generally, the
:39:28. > :39:32.plant contains actions the Government is taking. We offer
:39:32. > :39:38.support to under-represented groups in Wales, looking, for example, to
:39:38. > :39:48.support their own business. It supports the challenges young women,
:39:48. > :39:52.
:39:52. > :39:56.in particular, are facing, especially those with children.
:39:56. > :40:06.Will the First Minister provide an update on what the Welsh Government
:40:06. > :40:09.
:40:10. > :40:19.is doing to manage the risks are flooding? We are investing one
:40:20. > :40:24.
:40:24. > :40:27.London �50 million over the life of this Assembly. -- and �150 million.
:40:27. > :40:32.Recommendations revolve around Welsh Government making
:40:32. > :40:35.representations to the insurance industry as to how they would
:40:35. > :40:41.charge homes Claughton flooded areas and have a consistent
:40:41. > :40:49.flooding, because so many people are trapped and unable to sell on.
:40:49. > :40:56.I just wondered if any progress has been made of this? We know that
:40:56. > :41:02.access to flood issues is a matter of concern to anyone. The insurance
:41:02. > :41:09.industry will remain in place until June. We are working with the UK
:41:09. > :41:11.Government bond auctions to replace that agreement. The Minister for an
:41:11. > :41:21.environment and sustainable development met representatives to
:41:21. > :41:26.
:41:26. > :41:36.discuss the matter further, and with other Ministers in the UK.
:41:36. > :41:46.Will the First Minister make a statement on IVF services? Here is,
:41:46. > :41:46.
:41:46. > :41:49.the new system is complete. The new facility will open in April. That
:41:49. > :41:54.is 18 months since she stopped funding patients to go to London.
:41:54. > :41:59.In the meantime, those women are having to travel 60 miles to
:41:59. > :42:06.Bristol as an additional cost to the NHS up �500,000. Is a good
:42:06. > :42:12.value for money? It is, to have a state-of-the-art facility in Wales.
:42:12. > :42:20.Patients cannot look forward to receiving treatment in new
:42:20. > :42:29.facilities. Patients cannot receive NHS care in Bristol in the meantime.
:42:29. > :42:33.There will be a bright new facility opening in April. Locating IVF
:42:33. > :42:43.services was meant to give a new purpose to a hospital that was up
:42:43. > :42:46.using services. But presumably, empty capacity would result. If the
:42:46. > :42:51.Princess of Wales ends up losing services, do you understand why
:42:51. > :43:00.your constituents have little faith that new services might be located
:43:00. > :43:08.in their place? There are no plans been to locate an IVF clinic in the
:43:08. > :43:17.Princess of Wales Hospital. people do not agree with IVF. Some
:43:17. > :43:27.people do not opt to take it because of religious region's. All
:43:27. > :43:30.
:43:30. > :43:36.this provision offer alternatives? I don't know what they would be a.
:43:36. > :43:46.If people have religious objectors to IVF, I don't see what can be
:43:46. > :43:47.
:43:47. > :43:57.offered as an alternative. -- objections. Will the First Minister
:43:57. > :43:58.
:43:58. > :44:08.make a statement on the local authorities, indemnities for
:44:08. > :44:12.
:44:13. > :44:22.members? He would do sets out the terms, and they are prohibited from
:44:23. > :44:23.
:44:23. > :44:33.offering indemnities in certain circumstances. I am grateful for
:44:33. > :44:35.