:00:27. > :00:33.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme and the weekly coverage of
:00:34. > :00:37.questions to the First Minister. We can expect questions on
:00:38. > :00:42.homelessness, criminal Justice and the devolution of taxes and
:00:43. > :00:46.borrowing powers. That is what politicians will talk about but what
:00:47. > :00:50.do you want to talk about? If you want to comment on the programme or
:00:51. > :01:00.any other political news, get in touch with us.
:01:01. > :01:13.Well, business in the chamber is under way. Let's look now at today's
:01:14. > :01:18.questions to the First Minister. Good afternoon, I call the assembly
:01:19. > :01:27.to order. Questions to the First Minister. Question one.
:01:28. > :01:32.Will the First Minister make a statement on the commitment to
:01:33. > :01:36.promoting Welsh heritage? The programme for government and our
:01:37. > :01:41.environment strategy outline our commitment to support and promote
:01:42. > :01:47.the Welsh heritage sector. I thank him for the answer. As
:01:48. > :01:58.colleagues will be aware, we are approaching the commemoration of the
:01:59. > :02:04.assassination of a man on the 11th of December 12 82. As you may know,
:02:05. > :02:10.the standing stone and memorial is within Powys County Council
:02:11. > :02:12.jurisdiction which has undertaken health and safety works however
:02:13. > :02:20.there is a need for some enhanced signage on the road and
:02:21. > :02:26.interpretation works. Will you consider a directive to work with
:02:27. > :02:30.the council to bring forward these works befitting a memorial of
:02:31. > :02:38.national significance? Yes, the issue has been raised before. The
:02:39. > :02:42.memorial is not in the ownership of the Welsh government but
:02:43. > :02:47.nevertheless it is important all parties including the Council works
:02:48. > :02:58.together to ensure the memorial is well maintained.
:02:59. > :03:06.First Minister, I want your views on seeking the return to Wales items
:03:07. > :03:12.important to our heritage, I made remarks about investiture regalia
:03:13. > :03:18.and the campaign regarding the red Lady. What will your government do
:03:19. > :03:24.to help museums across Wales with the conditions necessary to help
:03:25. > :03:33.bring back, repatriate items to Wales? We are more than happy to
:03:34. > :03:39.work with the museums and galleries to seek the return of items that are
:03:40. > :03:47.originally from Wales, you mentioned the red Lady, it was in fact a man!
:03:48. > :03:53.The first example of human habitation and ritual were found in
:03:54. > :03:59.the caves. Where there are samples of where items can be returned to
:04:00. > :04:07.Wales, we are happy to work with the relevant authorities. First
:04:08. > :04:15.Minister, over the past few months, we have seen an increasing number of
:04:16. > :04:19.reports in terms of heritage crimes, particularly by developers who do
:04:20. > :04:23.not understand the concept of heritage undertaking new
:04:24. > :04:26.developments, is there anything in the heritage bill which would allow
:04:27. > :04:34.you to look into this issue because we believe it's important that many
:04:35. > :04:42.of these sites in our local areas should be restored properly. The
:04:43. > :04:44.bill will consider this problem, namely the situation, I saw this for
:04:45. > :04:53.the first time in relation to Denbigh Hospital where owners have
:04:54. > :04:59.not ensured the building is looked after and therefore there was a
:05:00. > :05:05.danger the building will be lost for the community. So, the Bill itself
:05:06. > :05:12.will consider in what ways we can ensure and strengthen legislation to
:05:13. > :05:20.ensure that heritage resources in Wales are protected in the way we
:05:21. > :05:23.want. Will the First Minister make a statement on any discussions he has
:05:24. > :05:28.had with the UK Government regarding the criminal justice system. I have
:05:29. > :05:33.had discussions with the UK Government on a number of issues.
:05:34. > :05:42.For example, a new prison in the North, the rehabilitation agenda and
:05:43. > :05:49.other criminal justice matters. Thank you. As you know, Lord Stevens
:05:50. > :05:55.published his report on the future of policing in England and Wales
:05:56. > :05:59.which was commissioned by the Labour Party and recommended the abolition
:06:00. > :06:03.of the police commissioners. Bring that on, please. Will you tell us
:06:04. > :06:07.what submission you made to the commission and whether as a
:06:08. > :06:12.government you have a position on his suggestion there be one force
:06:13. > :06:18.for England and Wales or that Wales has a national force of its own.
:06:19. > :06:26.Neither, is the position we take. The idea of a England and Wales
:06:27. > :06:30.falls does not sit well with us. The idea of a single Welsh force carries
:06:31. > :06:37.its own controversies as many will remember ten or 12 years ago this
:06:38. > :06:41.was discussed. The position is best outlined by saying we want the
:06:42. > :06:44.devolution of policing, in terms of the structure of the police forces
:06:45. > :06:54.in Wales in the future, that is something to be considered at a time
:06:55. > :06:57.that is appropriate. The First Minister knows how important
:06:58. > :07:03.restorative justice is. Will he join me in paying tribute to the work
:07:04. > :07:07.done by victim support, they say victims want offenders punished but
:07:08. > :07:13.also they do not want to see the offender carry out other crime.
:07:14. > :07:24.Restorative justice helps victims move on with their lives and can
:07:25. > :07:28.reduce crime through repentance. It is important that restorative
:07:29. > :07:30.justice is an increasing part of the crime and a justice system, it
:07:31. > :07:35.cannot replace the punitive measures, they have to be there for
:07:36. > :07:40.serious offences but it does merit with younger offenders for them to
:07:41. > :07:47.be able to see the effect of their offending on others. Sometimes it
:07:48. > :07:51.works, sometimes it doesn't. Nevertheless, it's important that
:07:52. > :07:55.there is a better understanding amongst offenders of what their
:07:56. > :08:04.actions can lead to in terms of the detrimental effects on other people.
:08:05. > :08:11.As the Welsh government moves towards a youth Justice Bill, what
:08:12. > :08:15.is the government view on the idea considered by the UK Government on
:08:16. > :08:21.secure colleges bearing in mind you are responsible for the education
:08:22. > :08:25.within these institutions and if that does happen, will you, the
:08:26. > :08:30.government, ensure there is provision in North and mid Wales
:08:31. > :08:34.where there is no such provision. We are willing to consider any good
:08:35. > :08:40.idea that is implemented in other parts of the UK and also other parts
:08:41. > :08:46.of Europe. That is to ensure that there is a service available across
:08:47. > :08:55.Wales in future. Questions from the party leaders.
:08:56. > :08:59.Where the Welsh audit office is wrong when they stated Cabinet
:09:00. > :09:06.colleagues were kept in the dark over the tuition fee policy? Yes,
:09:07. > :09:15.and I will reveal the minutes. That is interesting. Most people think
:09:16. > :09:19.the evidence the Welsh audit office collates is factually correct so we
:09:20. > :09:23.look forward to the statement for you to correct. If we look at two
:09:24. > :09:28.education policies, it does show there is a great difficulty in
:09:29. > :09:33.having any cohesion between your Cabinet ministers because on the 8th
:09:34. > :09:40.of October you said I expect to see an improvement in the results in
:09:41. > :09:45.December. Only a few weeks later, your education minister said, I
:09:46. > :09:49.anticipate any realistic person would look at the next set of
:09:50. > :09:58.results with a great deal of caution. Who is right? The education
:09:59. > :10:03.minister or yourself? In fairness, he moved swiftly on from the answer
:10:04. > :10:07.he did not expect. We all want an improvement in terms of performance
:10:08. > :10:10.but it will take some time for their to be a significant improvement
:10:11. > :10:18.because the measures that will put in place a year or two ago will take
:10:19. > :10:21.some time to bear fruit. What we are seeing coming out of the department
:10:22. > :10:26.and the government is an inconsistency, the Welsh audit
:10:27. > :10:30.office last week said your flagship higher education policy was under
:10:31. > :10:36.thought, and evaluated and under resourced. When it comes to your
:10:37. > :10:42.government's responds and the lead up to the results, there is a
:10:43. > :10:45.difference in opinion is at the top of government and the education
:10:46. > :10:55.minister. What I would say to you when I heard the news... I thought
:10:56. > :10:59.you had bought Leighton Andrews back into government. If Monty Python
:11:00. > :11:06.want to find a classic comedy sketch, they need to look no further
:11:07. > :11:15.than your government's education policies and the performance of
:11:16. > :11:20.successive Labour ministers. Monty Python is not a double act. There
:11:21. > :11:26.are... I thought you would know that. I just about remember them. I
:11:27. > :11:31.think comedy is not his strong point, he labours it too much. We
:11:32. > :11:36.can see the Cabinet papers and minutes when there are published. We
:11:37. > :11:43.know his party wanted trouble tuition fees. It is something they
:11:44. > :11:47.have not hidden. We take the view education should be affordable. He
:11:48. > :11:55.doesn't. That is the difference between us. Let think again about
:11:56. > :12:00.the policies he wants to put in place. A fifth of teachers losing
:12:01. > :12:06.their jobs, these other things he does not want to trumpet. We have
:12:07. > :12:11.invested in education, we have invested in higher education and
:12:12. > :12:11.teachers and children and these are all investments his party would
:12:12. > :12:25.withdraw. Thank you. What ever others think,
:12:26. > :12:34.there was nothing comedic about the Wales figures. The rankings show
:12:35. > :12:38.Wales had fallen behind in reading, maths and science and was lagging
:12:39. > :12:43.behind Scotland and Northern Ireland and England. The education minister
:12:44. > :12:47.described this as a wake-up call to a complacent system and said that we
:12:48. > :12:56.will aim to improve results in the next assessment in 2012 and aim to
:12:57. > :13:02.be in the top 20 by 2015. Is your government on track to deliver? I
:13:03. > :13:07.have not seen the figures but it is our hope we see an improvement.
:13:08. > :13:12.Realistically, the measures we have put in place will take some time, a
:13:13. > :13:18.few more years, to have a maximum effect but the direction of travel
:13:19. > :13:21.is current. There has been activity in the three years since the
:13:22. > :13:25.results. Your government has introduced a number of plans and
:13:26. > :13:30.interventions and presumably all of the activity was aimed at making
:13:31. > :13:35.progress. The head says improvement next week is absolute crucial if
:13:36. > :13:43.Wales is to meet its target of being in the top 20 by 2015. Do you agree?
:13:44. > :13:48.We want improvements in the figures, it is something we will look to as
:13:49. > :13:55.the measures we put in place bear fruit. Last May, you told me we
:13:56. > :14:00.expect an improvement in the results. You confirmed that in June
:14:01. > :14:05.and October saying I expect to see an improvement in the results in
:14:06. > :14:10.December. There were no caveats. No caveats about being realistic. Your
:14:11. > :14:15.education minister has been busy about town playing down expectations
:14:16. > :14:19.saying we do not expect to see large improvements. What level of
:14:20. > :14:26.improvement will you be satisfied with next week if we are to reach
:14:27. > :14:31.your government target of 2015? I wish to see some improvements next
:14:32. > :14:42.week and substantial improvements in terms of 2014. The north of Wales is
:14:43. > :14:48.the most obvious and shortest transport link from island to Wales
:14:49. > :14:56.and the British mainland yet a decision has been made that Holyhead
:14:57. > :14:59.is not a core port in the EU commission report. What influence
:15:00. > :15:03.did your government have on the decision? We made numerous
:15:04. > :15:14.representations, as did your predecessor. At least three letters
:15:15. > :15:17.were sent to the UK Government. We regard the networks as extremely
:15:18. > :15:23.important. We are part of the comprehensive network but not of the
:15:24. > :15:27.corridor but that is a matter for the UK Government. The Catalan
:15:28. > :15:32.government has got Catalonia included despite opposition from the
:15:33. > :15:37.Spanish government. Wales could have been included but only if there was
:15:38. > :15:42.a government prepared to fight our corner. Last week, the European
:15:43. > :15:47.Commission said that you could have lobbied but you didn't. You have
:15:48. > :15:56.failed to persuade the UK Government. Why have you failed? It
:15:57. > :16:04.would help me if I understood what it is she says we are not part of.
:16:05. > :16:12.What I can say is that we are under no financial disadvantage at all. It
:16:13. > :16:18.isn't just about funding, is it? It is about being an integral part of
:16:19. > :16:24.the overall strategy. In a letter by your Minister to members last week,
:16:25. > :16:29.she says: If what the officials have said about the removal of Wales is
:16:30. > :16:35.true, that is regrettable. What is regrettable about that? What the
:16:36. > :16:44.commission have come up -- have confirmed it is there is advice
:16:45. > :16:48.available. But we are not as any financial disadvantage because we
:16:49. > :16:53.remain part of the comprehensive network and the core network. There
:16:54. > :16:57.are a number of different networks and corridors here, admittedly, but
:16:58. > :17:07.nevertheless, we are part of the networks we need to be part of in
:17:08. > :17:12.order to attract funding. Will you make a statement on what the
:17:13. > :17:24.National science academy is doing to promote stem subjects in Wales? It
:17:25. > :17:31.runs a competitive grant scheme. We heard earlier about the importance
:17:32. > :17:36.of stem subjects in Wales. A few months ago, you are handing out the
:17:37. > :17:44.gold and Silver Crest awards and spoke of the value of those awards
:17:45. > :17:46.to the students that well rewarded for their study of science,
:17:47. > :17:52.technology, engineering and mathematics. Funding has been cut,
:17:53. > :17:58.and you were handing them out five days after it had been announced
:17:59. > :18:02.that no Crest awards would be continuing. What will you do to
:18:03. > :18:11.support those awards and look again at the funding issues? The member
:18:12. > :18:16.gives the impression that the reason the awards have not been funding is
:18:17. > :18:25.a lack of money. It's actually because the business case put
:18:26. > :18:30.forward was not robust. The association submitted applications.
:18:31. > :18:36.Three were successful, including resources in Welsh. However, the
:18:37. > :18:43.proposal was not judged to be of sufficient quality to be awarded
:18:44. > :18:46.funded by an external panel. The scheme did not meet expectations in
:18:47. > :18:56.terms of evaluation rather than having been a funding cut. On the
:18:57. > :19:00.same subject, given the importance of encouraging an interest in
:19:01. > :19:09.science, the question asked is: If Crest awards have been worthy, in
:19:10. > :19:14.the last years, and have achieved twice the level of achievement in
:19:15. > :19:17.the UK, what else needs to be done to convince the National science
:19:18. > :19:27.Academy and Welsh Government this is an important activity? We must bear
:19:28. > :19:34.in mind that the British scientific association has been successful in
:19:35. > :19:40.terms of a number of bids. The programme has not been successful,
:19:41. > :19:44.but that was a decision taken by an independent panel. Every
:19:45. > :19:48.organisation that submitted in all -- submitted an application received
:19:49. > :19:53.a written response as to where and why they failed in terms of their
:19:54. > :19:57.applications. What's important now is that the organisations should
:19:58. > :20:06.consider the response they have received. All the First Minister
:20:07. > :20:11.make a statement on the delivery of programme for government? It sets
:20:12. > :20:22.out indeed progress this government in making -- it is making. One of
:20:23. > :20:26.the key goals in the programme is about sustainable travel and access
:20:27. > :20:31.for all communities to good employment and services. Part of
:20:32. > :20:36.that provision is the provision of local transport, such as bus routes.
:20:37. > :20:41.Across my own electoral region, there has been a dramatic decline in
:20:42. > :20:44.the ability to access local transport via buses because of the
:20:45. > :20:49.change in funding that your government brought forward in April.
:20:50. > :20:54.Are there any actions or government will undertake that might seek to
:20:55. > :21:00.redress the decline in the services and rebalance the funding that your
:21:01. > :21:05.government announced last April? Discussions will continue with bus
:21:06. > :21:11.operators. We can't allocate money because the funds were not at the
:21:12. > :21:16.same levels they were. But where there are substantial cuts made in
:21:17. > :21:24.services, we will take steps to work with local authorities to ensure
:21:25. > :21:28.services continue in the future. I welcome the fact that the smoking
:21:29. > :21:31.ban has seen a reduction in the number of smokers, but recent
:21:32. > :21:37.reports have highlighted an increase in the number of children
:21:38. > :21:42.experiencing nicotine poisoning, including children coming into
:21:43. > :21:50.contact with nicotine replacement therapies, including gum patches. In
:21:51. > :21:55.light of this, what guidance or advice is the Welsh Government
:21:56. > :22:02.issuing two practitioners to inform people working with families of the
:22:03. > :22:09.dangers of nicotine products? Children in Wales have produced an
:22:10. > :22:17.information sheet for parents, carers and those working with
:22:18. > :22:22.families and children. It does identify all products containing
:22:23. > :22:28.nicotine and emphasises how poisonous nicotine is to children
:22:29. > :22:39.and that children can be poisoned. It gives advice of the storage of
:22:40. > :22:44.nicotine. According to a recent resource by the former Labour
:22:45. > :22:50.minister Adam Milburn, Wales has the joint lowest level of child poverty
:22:51. > :22:55.in Great Britain. Bearing that in mind, and bearing in mind that
:22:56. > :23:00.dealing with poverty is one of the main objectives of the Government,
:23:01. > :23:07.which three outcomes are you most proud of in this area? More children
:23:08. > :23:20.are doing well in school, more families have access to work and
:23:21. > :23:36.there is more support available for families to ensure they can find
:23:37. > :23:41.work and can obtain skills. The 2013 Welsh Government programme for
:23:42. > :23:45.government updates stated your aim was to make communities safer
:23:46. > :23:51.through reductions in fire and road safety incidents. There is a huge
:23:52. > :23:59.concern that my constituency could lose its fire station. Were the
:24:00. > :24:04.First Minister use powers available to him to intervene in this matter
:24:05. > :24:08.to ensure the aims of his programme for government regarding reducing
:24:09. > :24:14.risk for fire and road safety are upheld and can be met? These are
:24:15. > :24:19.matters for the fire authorities who are obliged to ensure there is
:24:20. > :24:24.proper fire cover. But where there are concerns, submissions can be
:24:25. > :24:33.made to the fire authority and the Minister. Will he make a statement
:24:34. > :24:42.on the Government's policy on homelessness? We have a 10-year
:24:43. > :24:53.homelessness plan. Prevention is at the heart of that bill and we will
:24:54. > :24:59.support it. I note you say revenge is at the heart, yet one of the
:25:00. > :25:04.proposals is to remove the priority will and status for ex-prisoners,
:25:05. > :25:13.despite the fact that a report said that was underpinned. 75% of
:25:14. > :25:19.ex-prisoners who reoffended had a housing need. Would you revisit this
:25:20. > :25:26.proposal in the light of your own government's report? It is important
:25:27. > :25:30.that ex-offenders are able to find accommodation as quickly as possible
:25:31. > :25:32.but I do not think it is right ex-offenders should have priority
:25:33. > :25:40.over those who have not been imprisoned. That is a fundamental
:25:41. > :25:43.appraisal. People have come to me and said, why is it right that
:25:44. > :25:48.people go to prison and have priority and I have been waiting and
:25:49. > :25:56.have not committed a crime? That is the reasoning behind what we are
:25:57. > :26:00.trying to do. How will you ensure was government proposals to prevent
:26:01. > :26:13.homelessness will not lead to an increase in hidden homelessness, as
:26:14. > :26:21.it did after 2004? The Bill itself has its base on prevention, making
:26:22. > :26:24.sure those who are threatened with homelessness are assisted at an
:26:25. > :26:39.earlier stage rather than when they actually become homeless. We have
:26:40. > :26:47.committed funding. You have mentioned the importance of
:26:48. > :26:51.preventing homelessness. Would you agree that what will add to
:26:52. > :26:57.homelessness is the bedroom tax? Would you also agree that we need a
:26:58. > :27:04.united voice in Wales, opposing the eviction of people if they can't
:27:05. > :27:18.comply with this policy and the bedroom tax itself? Of course, the
:27:19. > :27:22.member is right. There I is -- is a risk that people may become
:27:23. > :27:29.homeless, therefore, the UK government should change its policy
:27:30. > :27:36.in terms of how we can alleviate the effects. What action for the Welsh
:27:37. > :27:48.Government take to tackle hate crime in Wales? We published responses to
:27:49. > :27:51.this issue. Next year, we will review evidence and work with
:27:52. > :27:57.partners to develop the final framework and delivery plan.
:27:58. > :28:04.According to Gwent police, hate crimes are on the rise but still
:28:05. > :28:09.remain incredibly underreported. This is particularly true of
:28:10. > :28:13.disability hate crime, where some victims, such as those with learning
:28:14. > :28:17.difficulties, may not have the capacity to come forward themselves.
:28:18. > :28:23.What is the Welsh Government doing to encourage and assist the disabled
:28:24. > :28:30.to report hate crime so it can be tackled effectively in Wales? Hate
:28:31. > :28:38.crime against disabled people is underreported. The challenge will be
:28:39. > :28:42.to work proactively to identify how we can increase confidence that
:28:43. > :28:47.people need to report crimes across Wales. We also have an excellent
:28:48. > :28:52.relationship with the disability hate crime action group in Wales,
:28:53. > :29:00.where there is representation and officials sit on that group. We hope
:29:01. > :29:04.to inform the framework and make it easier in terms of people's
:29:05. > :29:11.confidence to report hate crimes in future. Putting equality at the
:29:12. > :29:14.centre of government is important to tackling hate crime and is something
:29:15. > :29:24.this government does very well. However, a group of Conservative
:29:25. > :29:30.MPs, including Alun Cairns, are now calling for the UK government's
:29:31. > :29:37.equality office to be abolished. Will you join with me and call in
:29:38. > :29:41.the UK government to publicly state that it has no desire whatsoever to
:29:42. > :29:47.wind up the Government equalities office? Will you give an update as
:29:48. > :29:53.to how the Welsh Government is putting equality at the heart of all
:29:54. > :30:04.its policies? I cannot see how making society unless there is an
:30:05. > :30:09.advance. I would support this and I regret that a group of Conservative
:30:10. > :30:15.MPs has taken the view that equality is something that can be dispensed
:30:16. > :30:20.with. It takes us back to the days before 1970. Equality inclusion is
:30:21. > :30:28.at the heart of Welsh Government and is reflected in our funding
:30:29. > :30:33.legislation. I know from a previous occupation that many incidents of
:30:34. > :30:38.hate crime occur amongst tenants in social housing where victims are
:30:39. > :30:43.bullied in their own homes. I asked you to what extent the Government
:30:44. > :30:49.was engaging in social landlords to address the problem. You replied you
:30:50. > :30:58.were. You able to report back on any successes in these statistics? I
:30:59. > :31:11.will ask the Minister to write to you. Last week I supported
:31:12. > :31:15.Stonewall's campaign to stamp out the use of the gay as an insult and
:31:16. > :31:19.Barnardos showed 60% of children have heard bullying based on
:31:20. > :31:23.sexuality. How is the worst government ensuring schools
:31:24. > :31:28.implement the best antibody in policies? It is exceptionally
:31:29. > :31:33.important. I have heard children throwing the word around almost
:31:34. > :31:38.freely without thinking of the consequences. It is important that
:31:39. > :31:43.we make sure we reassert our view that it is unacceptable, I welcome
:31:44. > :31:48.the Stonewall campaign, the findings from Barnardos show more than half
:31:49. > :31:53.of children have witnessed bullying based on disability or sexuality, it
:31:54. > :32:01.is shocking and unacceptable. We have asked for a thematic survey
:32:02. > :32:08.looking at the effectiveness of actions taken by schools and
:32:09. > :32:16.findings from the survey are expected to arrive in the summer.
:32:17. > :32:21.Will the First Minister make a statement on the importance of
:32:22. > :32:27.integrated transport system models? Yes, better conductivity can
:32:28. > :32:33.transform businesses and communities across city regions. Boards will
:32:34. > :32:43.consider connectivity in their priorities. For those with cars in
:32:44. > :32:48.Swansea City, for those relying on public transport even short journeys
:32:49. > :32:57.can be difficult. Will the integration of rail and bus be seen
:32:58. > :33:03.as a priority? It has to be. Swansea is not as well served as Cardiff in
:33:04. > :33:06.terms of railway because it had four or five different railway stations
:33:07. > :33:12.at one time but now there is only one. This system was not integrated
:33:13. > :33:19.like Cardiff. The member is right, we have a substantially populated
:33:20. > :33:33.Swansea Valley without a railway line since 1958 was the last
:33:34. > :33:37.passenger train. It is important buses are properly integrated with
:33:38. > :33:46.trains coming into Swansea high street and Gowerton and other parts
:33:47. > :33:53.of the valley. There is great support for the last answer in south
:33:54. > :33:57.Wales for the Metro project but on behalf of Swansea, the current model
:33:58. > :34:04.is the Swansea as a terminal rather than a hub. There are ambitious
:34:05. > :34:09.plans afoot such as the Swansea nine lines project led by a rail group
:34:10. > :34:16.with plans to open old lines and create new lines in Swansea and the
:34:17. > :34:24.Swansea Valley. Will you commit to the same transport vision for
:34:25. > :34:27.Swansea Bay and the Cardiff region? The suggestion Swansea is losing out
:34:28. > :34:33.is untrue, the current passenger rail network is very much centred on
:34:34. > :34:41.Cardiff, Swansea does not have the same advantage, I am aware of the
:34:42. > :34:46.nine lines project. There is a minimal line bringing coal with
:34:47. > :34:54.plans to reopen the extension that was once there to the old colliery.
:34:55. > :34:59.They will need to put forward their business plan in terms of how the
:35:00. > :35:03.railway which has a 20 mile an hour limit at the moment can be upgraded
:35:04. > :35:09.for passengers but nevertheless any proposals will be fully considered
:35:10. > :35:11.by the board in order to make sure that existing rail networks can be
:35:12. > :35:21.integrated into the passenger network in future. In his recent
:35:22. > :35:24.visit to Edinburgh to try to bring influence to bear on the referendum,
:35:25. > :35:31.did the Minister have an opportunity to study the expensive tram system
:35:32. > :35:35.in that city and county give the chamber and assurance that the
:35:36. > :35:39.options considered and developed in Wales will be far more similar to
:35:40. > :35:45.the light railway which is cheaper and popular across Europe. The
:35:46. > :35:49.history of the tram system in Edinburgh has not been without
:35:50. > :35:54.problems! At one time there was a tram from one side of Princes street
:35:55. > :36:02.to the other and nothing else. When I went from the airport that there
:36:03. > :36:08.were stations available where the tram system was developed, it is
:36:09. > :36:13.true to say that we must consider in which way we integrate a heavy
:36:14. > :36:18.system of transport and a light system in the way they have in
:36:19. > :36:23.Manchester where it is possible to go into the Victoria Station in
:36:24. > :36:28.Manchester and use the same vehicle from that station into the city
:36:29. > :36:34.itself. Therefore, as part of the Metro plan itself, we will consider
:36:35. > :36:41.how we can ensure that we can extend the rail network at the moment into
:36:42. > :36:48.the centre. Would you make a statement on the devolution of taxes
:36:49. > :36:52.and borrowing powers for Wales? I welcome the UK Government response,
:36:53. > :36:56.it is a substantial package and I look forward to the publication of
:36:57. > :37:05.the draft legislation to implement the reforms. The UK Government says
:37:06. > :37:10.income tax devolution will give Wales the opportunity to establish
:37:11. > :37:17.an economic advantage in the UK, the secretary of state for Bristol,
:37:18. > :37:21.Wales! Says air passenger duty can be devolved because it would give
:37:22. > :37:29.Wales an unfair advantage. Which approach is correct? Well, I must be
:37:30. > :37:34.careful, the secretary of the accused us of being too nice in the
:37:35. > :37:40.chamber. There are inconsistencies in the statements. He was rebuffed
:37:41. > :37:46.at one time when he said he believed stamp duty varied in different rates
:37:47. > :37:50.both sides of the border and it would distort competition which he
:37:51. > :37:54.thought was an issue. He has said the devolution of air passenger duty
:37:55. > :38:00.would be to the detriment of Bristol. I would not have expected
:38:01. > :38:13.him to be evenhanded in that debate but that is what he said. He also
:38:14. > :38:22.committed his party to reduce income tax in Wales in the future. That is
:38:23. > :38:26.done, it is said, to improve Wales's competitiveness. I do not
:38:27. > :38:29.know how it is distorted but apparently it is fine in terms
:38:30. > :38:29.know how it is distorted but income taxed. There is
:38:30. > :38:35.inconsistency. Fhrst income taxed. There is
:38:36. > :38:48.inconsistency. First Minister, income taxed. There is
:38:49. > :38:51.This is question Time, not repartee. In the review of the economy of
:38:52. > :38:53.This is question Time, not repartee. Wales, it said were the Welsh
:38:54. > :38:55.This is question Time, not repartee. assembly to be
:38:56. > :38:58.This is question Time, not repartee. income tax rates in Wales the
:38:59. > :38:59.This is question Time, not repartee. way to encourage the Welsh economy
:39:00. > :38:59.way do enboerage t`e Wels` economy would
:39:00. > :39:00.way do enboerage t`e Wels` economy woqld be
:39:01. > :39:06.way do enboerage t`e Wels` economy would be to reduce the upper rate by
:39:07. > :39:09.way do enboerage t`e Wels` economy 10p. The leader of applied country
:39:10. > :39:12.has assisted me. The proposals being put forward by the UK Government
:39:13. > :39:14.has assisted me. The proposals being would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:15. > :39:16.rate if you do not do the same with would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:17. > :39:16.the standard would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:17. > :39:17.the ctandard rate would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:18. > :39:20.the standard rate which would mean a would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:21. > :39:20.su`stantial reductaon would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:21. > :39:23.substantial reduction in funds. would mean you cannot reduce the top
:39:24. > :39:26.it is your contention we should be able to vary the rates of income tax
:39:27. > :39:28.it is your contention we should be independently of each other, but is
:39:29. > :39:30.something you must make clear soiedhing you murt make clear to the
:39:31. > :39:36.secretary of state. Thank soiedhing you murt make clear to the
:39:37. > :39:37.returning to transport in terms repubning to tralsport hn termr of
:39:38. > :39:40.borrowing, we agree that money repubning to tralsport hn termr of
:39:41. > :39:44.should be spent on alleviating should be s`ent nn alleviating
:39:45. > :39:48.traffic problems in the traffic ppoblems in the south-east
:39:49. > :39:50.and transport issues in the South East but I'd sure your attention to
:39:51. > :39:54.and transport issues in the South the comments that transport in North
:39:55. > :39:54.Wahec the comments that transport in North
:39:55. > :39:56.Wales was creaking and we need Wales was cbeakilg and ve need a
:39:57. > :39:59.modern transport system. We believe Wales was cbeakilg and ve need a
:40:00. > :40:02.borrowing powers should be Wales was cbeakilg and ve need a
:40:03. > :40:05.across Wales in terms of the benefits, K of the railway across
:40:06. > :40:07.Nort` benefits, K of the railway across
:40:08. > :40:11.North Wales is one option but also would you give a pledge that
:40:12. > :40:16.North Wales is one option but also will use borrowing powers to pay for
:40:17. > :40:17.a third crossing across the Menai to alhefiate
:40:18. > :40:18.a third crossing across the Menai to alleviate traffic problems at chief
:40:19. > :40:22.dashed peak times and increase alleviate traffic problems at chief
:40:23. > :40:24.capacity. The member is right to say capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:25. > :40:27.borrowing powers should not be capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:28. > :40:30.beneficial to one part of Wales, I capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:31. > :40:33.am careful to say this in my capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:34. > :40:37.response to the UK Government, one capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:38. > :40:41.thing that could be considered in capacity. T`e member is raght to say
:40:42. > :40:44.the future is in which way we can ensube
:40:45. > :40:49.the future is in which way we can ensure traffic crossing the Menai is
:40:50. > :40:51.easier than now, one way might be a third bridge but there could be
:40:52. > :40:53.easier than now, one way might be a other options, maybe not the Menai
:40:54. > :40:54.easier than now, one way might be a Bridge but Britannia Bridge but it's
:40:55. > :40:56.trqe to Bridge but Britannia Bridge but it's
:40:57. > :40:59.true to say it is something we can Bridge but Britannia Bridge but it's
:41:00. > :41:03.consider in the future, we would not have been able to consider in the
:41:04. > :41:08.consider in the future, we would not past. Will he update us on
:41:09. > :41:10.consider in the future, we would not eradicating HIV, AIDS? We have an
:41:11. > :41:12.acpion eradicating HIV, AIDS? We have an
:41:13. > :41:16.action plan and Public Health eradicating HIV, AIDS? We have an
:41:17. > :41:16.delivers eradicating HIV, AIDS? We have an
:41:17. > :41:18.delifers the HIV prevention eradicating HIV, AIDS? We have an
:41:19. > :41:19.programme and there are local initaativds
:41:20. > :41:20.programme and there are local initiatives that are undertaken
:41:21. > :41:25.programme and there are local the local health boards. This Sunday
:41:26. > :41:27.markc the local health boards. This Sunday
:41:28. > :41:28.marks world AIDS Day which is in oppobtunity
:41:29. > :41:29.marks world AIDS Day which is in opportunity for
:41:30. > :41:31.marks world AIDS Day which is in unite in the fight against HIV, show
:41:32. > :41:33.thaib unite in the fight against HIV, show
:41:34. > :41:34.their support for people living with theib suppobt fop people livinf with
:41:35. > :41:38.HIV and to remember those who have theib suppobt fop people livinf with
:41:39. > :41:38.died. In Wales in the first six mont`s
:41:39. > :41:43.died. In Wales in the first six months of this year, 60 people
:41:44. > :41:43.contbacted months of this year, 60 people
:41:44. > :41:46.contracted HIV which has a health contbacted HI which har a health
:41:47. > :41:48.consequence for them and families. It is the tip of the iceberg in
:41:49. > :41:52.consequence for them and families. global terms with 25 million having
:41:53. > :41:54.diad global terms with 25 million having
:41:55. > :41:58.died from the virus over 25-year. diad from t`e vipus over 25-year.
:41:59. > :41:59.What will your government do to fighd
:42:00. > :42:00.What will your government do to fight against worldwide AIDS
:42:01. > :42:02.fighd agahnct wopldwide AADS and what steps are in place to provide
:42:03. > :42:05.fighd agahnct wopldwide AADS and accessible and safe sexual health
:42:06. > :42:14.servaces accessible and safe sexual health
:42:15. > :42:14.services vital for detecting HIV. In termc
:42:15. > :42:17.services vital for detecting HIV. In terms of the Wales for Africa
:42:18. > :42:19.services vital for detecting HIV. In network it helps to develop the
:42:20. > :42:19.mihlenniul network it helps to develop the
:42:20. > :42:20.millennium development goals network it helps to develop the
:42:21. > :42:21.millenniul development goals by millennium development goals by
:42:22. > :42:21.harnessinf millennium development goals by
:42:22. > :42:22.harnessing the commitment in millennium development goals by
:42:23. > :42:22.hapnessing dhe commitment in the millennium development goals by
:42:23. > :42:26.harnessing the commitment in the NHS millennium development goals by
:42:27. > :42:27.in Wales to support and improve worldwide public health with funding
:42:28. > :42:29.in Wales to support and improve from the Wales for Africa
:42:30. > :42:32.programme. from the Wales for Africa
:42:33. > :42:38.available for three years. Many from the Wales for Africa
:42:39. > :42:39.health links are working on HIV inpebvention,
:42:40. > :42:41.health links are working on HIV intervention, one example is
:42:42. > :42:45.inpebvention, ond example is C`rdiff University's links with Sierra Leone
:42:46. > :42:47.University'c linjs with Saerra Leone developing community
:42:48. > :42:48.University'c linjs with Saerra Leone for access to information
:42:49. > :42:50.University'c linjs with Saerra Leone understanding of preventable public
:42:51. > :42:55.health riskc. Thd understanding of preventable public
:42:56. > :42:57.health risks. The prevalence of HIV healdh riskc. Thd prevalence of HIV
:42:58. > :43:02.infection is higher in prison healdh riskc. Thd prevalence of HIV
:43:03. > :43:05.populations than t`e general population and the NHS in Wales
:43:06. > :43:07.populatiol and the N S hn Wales is responsible for health care in Welsh
:43:08. > :43:09.populatiol and the N S hn Wales is prisons. What action
:43:10. > :43:09.populatiol and the N S hn Wales is prisons. Vhat action is
:43:10. > :43:11.populatiol and the N S hn Wales is prisons. What action is the
:43:12. > :43:12.populatiol and the N S hn Wales is government taking to improve sexual
:43:13. > :43:12.healdh government taking to improve sexual
:43:13. > :43:13.health within the government taking to improve sexual
:43:14. > :43:16.health withan the prison government taking to improve sexual
:43:17. > :43:22.We are publishing, we have published government taking to improve sexual
:43:23. > :43:25.the pathway, we are looking at government taking to improve sexual
:43:26. > :43:27.prevention programme to help pravention `rogramme to help raise
:43:28. > :43:30.awareness in terms of HIV and pravention `rogramme to help raise
:43:31. > :43:31.sexual health well-being pravention `rogramme to help raise
:43:32. > :43:34.which will be there to pravention `rogramme to help raise
:43:35. > :43:34.whic` will be thdre to support pravention `rogramme to help raise
:43:35. > :43:35.which will be there to support all in the population including
:43:36. > :43:35.which will be there to support all in the populatiol ancluding thnse In
:43:36. > :43:42.in the populatiol ancluding thnse in prison. There we are, we leave
:43:43. > :43:43.in the populatiol ancluding thnse in ministers questions there and you
:43:44. > :43:47.in the populatiol ancluding thnse in can see more coverage online from
:43:48. > :43:52.in the populatiol ancluding thnse in BBC Wales's democracy live page. We
:43:53. > :43:55.BBC Gales democracy live pagd. We are back at the same time next week
:43:56. > :43:56.BBC Gales democracy live pagd. We with more coverage of first
:43:57. > :43:57.ministers questions, until with more coverage of first
:43:58. > :44:01.goodbye.