27/06/2012 am.pm

Good morning, welcome to the programme. It is a mournful until

the Olympics. We have a Westminster Golden hour and the latest news

from Cardiff Bay. Feel free to get Before we head off, time for a

quick chat with Mike Hedges and Janet Finch Saunders. Let's talk

about the wells Government drawing up plans for fines for the parents

of children who don't go to school. I fully supported. It is another

tool to get local people - my children to school. The more

qualification to get, the better it improves your life chances. The

more attend -- the more you attend school the better of qualification

to will get. I wonder the 20 pets find -- a fine of �120, parents

from less than affluent backgrounds may not be able to afford to pay

the fine? I do not think parents who take their children to school

will be fined. Really what we have got To do Is educate the parents

and depth the children into school so they can get education and have

better job prospects in the future. Educating the Parents is different

to find in them? I agree. A but I agree with the proposals of having

a look at the problem of truancy. 800,000 lost schooldays is a huge

issue. These youngsters are losing out on a valuable help in schools.

You learn at school the skills and benefits that will stay with them

for a lifetime. As with the education minister, some of the

policies he brings forward, the devil is in the detail. I would

rather actually see the entirety of what he brings forward and then I

think it is up for discussion. What about the headline, one other than

�20 fine? Again, we need to look at the detail as to where that figure

has originated from. What the you think about the idea of fining

parents? We need to look at the proposals. I think there is merit

in making parents responsible for ensuring their children go to

school. Clearly the Education Minister feels that we can put this

penalty on parents. I would let cars mack I would say, let's look

at the report in detail and I will take part in the debate. This is

another Tooley and the Army of local authorities. -- another tool.

Educational welfare officers would call round and tell them if the

children are not attending, they can be fined �120. The situation at

the moment his parents can go before the court and get find. It

is about getting parents to send their children to school. Everybody

is in favour of parents sending their children to school. It is

another tool for educational welfare officers to remind parents

of their responsibilities. We will Including five from the Royal roach

-- y what. They made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of our

nation and we will always remember them. The Army is conducting a

study into its future course structure. The outcome of the study

will be announced once decisions are made. Until then, it is not

possible to comment on which specific units will be affected. I

am grateful to her for her answer. Can I urge or on behalf of the

number of constituents who have written to me about the Queen's

Dragoon Guards, to work very closely with our Right Honourable

Friend, the Defence Secretary, to try to ensure this superb regiment

is kept. The continuation of a strong military presence in Wales

is important to the local community and the country. I proudly

displayed the emblem of the Queen's Dragoon Guards. I will continue to

give every support to the Welsh regiments. The feet dragging by the

Ministry of Defence over the wells cavalry is extremely frustrating. -

- Welsh. I have fully supported the Wells Cavalry and the Queen's

Dragoon Guards. I will not take any lessons from the party who, when

they restructured the Army, consigned more than six wondered

years of the military history to the history books when they

abolished the Royal Welch Fusiliers. I certainly will always press there

case at a highest level on a continuous basis. He should take

comfort from that. A policy in the Queen's Dragoon Guards would be

almost as bad as abolishing the Welsh Guards. -- abolishing.

distinguished member has served himself in the armed forces. I

agree entirely with him. On June 2nd I attended the homecoming

parade and the reception in Cardiff for the Queen's Dragoon Guards. The

morale and the continuation of these units that are so closely

associated with Wales, needs to continue. Now first associate

myself with the remarks made by the Secretary of State that the

sacrifice of Welsh men and women were this country. I wonder if the

Secretary of State could bring herself to comment on the very

worrying news that the Welsh cavalry may well be saved after a

campaign in this house, but we may pay the price of the loss of one of

the battalions of the boil Welsh with 700 jobs in Wales? -- Royal

Welch. This Government has brought the defence budget by Act into

balance for the first time in a generation. -- back into balance.

Let me assure him that I will continue to give my undiluted

support to Welsh regiments. As I have said before, no decisions have

been taken. There is a great deal of speculation. I do not think the

Honourable Gentleman should make people feel so insecure. Despite

the bluster, the silence will have been helped -- heard in Wales.

Would she not agree it would be at Trudy pyrrhic victory for the

Queen's Dragoon Guard if the cap badge is saved in Wales but we lose

a battalion? I hear what the honourable gentleman say is. I will

take no lessons from a party that got rid of the Royal Welch

Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales. I can take advice from a

much better people than him. would urge the Secretary of State

to make any representations necessary to keep the Royal Welch.

There are all very well recruited in their traditional recruitment

areas. Any loss of a battalion would limit the opportunities for

young Welsh people to join the regiment. He knows them is your age

affection for these regiments. have made it my business is to

visit as many parts of the armed services as I can in Wales and

continue to support them. What I think is important is that we are

seeking to recruit people into the reserves and the Territorial Army.

The brigades are great recruiting sergeant. Long may they continue. I

will always make the case. If you could look in the direction of the

has come a we may all here and we would be obliged. The Government

has recognises the value of supply chains. Does the minister agreed

that a small and medium-size enterprises are a key part of the

economy in Wales and in England, and the Government is absolutely

right to focus on making sure they can further develop their products

and services? My Honourable Friend is entirely right to highlight the

mutual dependence of supply chains that emanate in England to watch

manufacturing industry and vice versa. In fact, Airbus accounts in

directly for 135,000 jobs. The Welsh Government, to whom the

economic development is devolve, should be keen to foster those

supply chains and working closely with the Department of business.

World-class electrical Steel is now being produced in Newport. What

more is the Government doing to help steelmaking in Wales? The

Government is closely engaged with the steel and making industry.

Given the news we heard yesterday, it is extremely important the Welsh

Assembly should be working closely to foster that relationship. Would

he not agree that one of the major challenges facing the Welsh economy

is a deluge of exports? What discussions is the having with

Cabinet colleagues and the Welsh Government to expand and diversify

the Welsh export base, in particular in relation to

manufacturing? What we have in the course of the next few weeks is an

enormous opportunity for Welsh industry in the shape of the

British business embassy, to which exporters from all over the world

and importers, will be attending. I do understand that the Welsh

Assembly Government is now engaging with that embassy. I would urge

them to do more. I have regular discussions with the Welsh

Government ministers about the prospects for the Welsh economy and

the need for closer working to create the right environment for

jobs, growth and prosperity. Youth unemployment in my constituency has

gone up by 16% and the last year, not how it by the Government

scrapping of the future jobs Bond. Isn't it time lessons were taken

from the Welsh Government by implementing the jobs growth

scheme? I absolutely agree with the honourable the ad that if there are

lessons to be learned from the wells come and, we learnt them.

Unemployment is a matter for bought the UK Government and the Welsh

Government. Under the last Government, unemployment in Wales

was 73% less than the last Parliament. Is my Honourable Friend

aware of figures from the ONS showing that �60 million could be

injected back into the world economy this year along following

the dropping of fuel duty? Government has shown it has

listened and is willing to help motorists further with their cost

of living, a buyer acting at a time when the pump prices are still at

an historic high, and to disturb that -- did a further increase

until January. The Honourable Gentleman has played a great part

in this campaign and brought about being part this change of the

Government which will be welcomed throughout Wales by businesses and

families. I agree with her about creating the right environment. She

will also recognise that in North West Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral,

there is a common travel to work area. Was she put her support

behind the campaign to improve and of great the Wrexham line which

will help service that travel-to- work area, and thus help create the

We used to sit on the same select committee together. I understand he

is a constant champion for improving travel arrangements in

and around his career. I have always supported this line but I

have prioritised the electrification of the Valley's

line and that unfinished business down in Swansea. I think the

Wrexham line electrification will be close behind that. Tourism is a

critical section of the Welsh economy, not least in Caribbean. --

in Mid West Wales. I appreciate her visit to the constituency last week.

Will she reiterated the message of the council that it is very much

open for business? First, I was delighted to accept the invitation

of the honourable gentleman and look at the aftermath of the

flooding. I think it is honestly the time when the media has left

that it gets most difficult for the people affected. But I was

impressed by how the community got back on its feet. They really are

open for business. If anybody is listening, they should understand

that his constituency is one of the best places to take a holiday and

really is open for business. How is the mobility of Welsh Labour

improving if young people leave the family home, getting on their bank

-- bikes and taking low-paid work elsewhere? We do share the same

concern about the level of youth unemployment and certainly, the

unemployment rate in Wales remains unacceptably high. But I would have

thought he would welcome for the 4th month consecutively the fall of

unemployment in Wales. That means we are moving in the right

direction and we do have many members still looking for work.

have talked about different corporation tax regimes across the

border. We have heard about the single economic policies in Wales.

I think we have got concerns among the visitors I have talked about

about any prospect of there being any changes in corporation tax

across the border between England and Wales. But that is the purpose

of the commission which I established, looking at areas of

taxation and accountability. I hope they will report later this year

and we can see their recommendations. Hard-pressed

households across Wales will certainly welcome the Chancellor's

latest U-turn on the increase in fuel duty. But with borrowing

rocketing, because this government has created a double-dip recession,

will she speak up for struggling businesses in Wales and the 130,000

people looking for work and ask the Chancellor to change his economic

plans? I would just like to welcome the new front bench team for Wales

to the opposition benches. I would also just like to pay a tribute to

the Member for meat, who stepped down from the front bench and will

be greatly missed. I did meet the Zamalek at the Wells Committee but

I would like to welcome him. -- honourable gentleman at the Welsh

committee. I think the decision that has been made on top of

decisions announced about cutting fuel duty and scrapping the

previous government's fuel duty escalator, ensuring that it will be

frozen for 21 months, will help businesses and families and I am

surprised she did not acknowledge No. 6, Mr Speaker. I published the

green paper on future electoral arrangements on may 21st. I have

spoken to all party leaders in the Assembly, including the First

Minister, about the paper. First Minister of Wales says that

the Prime Minister said to him that he would not take forward changing

the Assembly voting system without the consent of the Assembly. Will

she confirmed that is the position of the UK government?

honourable gentleman had the opportunity to discuss this. If he

had been at the committee, he could have done that but I understand it

that Labour objected because they have problems getting up in the

morning and getting to work by 11:30am on a Monday. I have

therefore decided to cancel the Welsh committee and Labour have the

opportunity to call a debate in their own time. Can I just say that

the Prime Minister has met the First Minister on a number of

occasions and I believe many things were discussed. I am not aware of

any firm commitments made by the Prime Minister. My Right Honourable

Friend and I have frequent discussions with ministerial

colleagues about promoting and capitalising the Welsh identity as

a constituent nation of the United Kingdom. I thank him for that

answer. Nothing promotes the Welsh identity better than the rousing

national anthem. But at the same time it is an affront to people in

Wales when England wrongly used the United Kingdom national anthem, and

does he agree with me that we should be clear on the differences

between England and the United Kingdom? As a Welshman, I feel

rather worried about intruding on English matters such as an English

national anthem. I sing God Save the Queen as enthusiastically and

as badly as the Welsh national anthem. We are also British Members

of Parliament. Therefore as Welsh Members of Parliament we should be

able to speak and vote on matters of the British Parliament. Even, it

matters across the border. appears to be referring to the West

Lothian question. We currently have a Commission about that. Perhaps it

would be a refreshing thing it members wished to debate these

issues in committee instead of Mr Speaker, my Right Honourable

Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues and

others on a range of issues including the construction industry

in Wales. I have written to the Wells government offering

discussions with the minister of state of housing and local

government to explore extensions of the new scheme to Wales. Does he

share my concern that the approach to planning and building

regulations by the Labour Welsh government has had an adverse

effect on the construction industry in Wales? What I would say is that

in Wales we have had an increasingly a rigorous planning

and building regulations system developing. Planning and building

regulations are important to the development of housing and at a

time when England is relaxing that regime, the Assembly Government is

making it more repressive. I am disappointed about the situation on

Monday. I do not know about alarm clocks or whatever but I would say

that they will be opportunities for debate on the floor of the house in

due course and this could have been a good first debate. But turning to

housing, with regard to the construction industry, this

industry employs 100,000 people in Wales. Please, make representations

said that renovations are not subject to VAT. New buildings are

not and renovations are. Many renovations are carried out by

small and medium-sized companies. hear what he has said about the

committee and I agree with him. I would say also that what my

information tells me is that the owner has building regulations

regime is the biggest deterrent to house building in Wales. -- odorous.

I had to stand we are discussing the issue of the housing revenue

subsidy scheme. That has been done away with in England. It does not

exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It cost Wales �73 million

last year and that money could have been put to better use. Will he

further these discussions? Welsh Assembly Government is doing

considerably better in financial terms than this government than

many other spending departments and he should take that into account

The poorest regions and nations of Wales have been affected by this

problem. Does he agree that construction companies in north-

west Wales should be the same as in Torbay and Buckinghamshire, has

should teachers in those areas? What I would say is that

increasingly Welsh house builders are leaving Wales in order to build

in England. It is good that some companies are at least keeping

local employees. We have got too many noisy private conversations

taking place in the Chamber. Let's have a bit of order for David

Ratcliffe. My Honourable Friend has regular discussions with Welsh

government ministers and interested parties on improving broadband

infrastructure in Wales. This is an important priority in rural

communities just as it is in towns and villages in Wales. Is he

disappointed that the Labour Welsh government still does not have a

preferred bidder for the next generation broadband project

despite having promised to do so last year? Yes, the Welsh Assembly

Government has in fact been given double the expected consultation

period to develop broadband infrastructure in Wales. I am

informed that an announcement will How will he ensure that BT is not

the monopoly supplier of broadband in North Wales? I think he had

better speak to his colleagues in the Welsh Assembly, who will

Combating human trafficking is a key priority for the government and

we recognise the importance of the issue in Wales. The Secretary of

State has not discussed this issue with the First Minister but has met

the anti- human traffic co- ordinator for Wales. Order, these

are extremely serious matter is being considered. People should be

treating them with some seriousness and listen. I would thank the

Minister for his response. The Prime Minister is leading Europe in

the fight against human trafficking. But could we not do something in

England by adopting the Welsh idea for having an English Commissioner

against human trafficking? principal reason that Wales does

have a co-ordinator is that while policing and justice are not

devolved, issues like child care are devolved. It would make sense

to have a co-ordinated in Wales. In England, the question does not

The commission expects to report during the current parliamentary

session. With the Secretary of State like to tell the House what

evidence she has given to the commission? So far I have not been

asked to give any evidence to the commission. But I understand that

there is going to be a long discussion on this issue. I know

that she is particularly keen on giving evidence herself. She would

like to provide information to the commission. I am sure she will have

the opportunity. On devolution, would she agree that any

fundamental changes to the voting system for the Assembly must have

inter-party consensus and the agreement of the Welsh government

to avoid another referendum which was endorsed by the 1997

I do not know is the right honourable gentleman was in the

chamber when I paid tribute to him earlier. The legislation which

govern the changes to the voting system of the Assembly was put in

by his Government. The power for that remains quite clearly here.

Had it been different, he might have changed it himself. Order,

questions to the Prime Minister. This morning I had meetings with

ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this

house I shall have further such meetings later today. Isn't it

stupid to voter for a House of Lords reform but against the

programme motion? I think my Honourable Friend makes a very,

very important point. We have been discussing this issue for 100 years.

It really is time to make progress. The truth of the matter his there

are opponents of Lords reform in every party. Bodde there is a

majority in this House for an elected House of Lords. If those

who support Lords reform do not Hackett, it will not happen. That

is the crucial point. It is absolutely hopeless in life and in

politics to do what the right honourable gentleman he is doing,

which is to say he is in favour of it and he is against it. Mr Speaker,

the Prime Minister said on the 11th April, I will defend every part of

that budget. I worked on it very closely with the Chancellor of the

Exchequer, line by line. Mr Speaker, of what went wrong? The fuel duty

increase was a Labour tax rise. It cannot be a U-turn to get rid of a

Labour tax increase. They put in place 12 increases on fuel duty in

Government. They left behind six increases in fuel duty. I am proud

of the fact we are dealing with them. Mr Speaker, it was all part

of a seamless political strategy. Unfortunately, they forgot to tell

the Transport Secretary, who defended the increase. They forgot

to tell the Cabinet in the morning. And they forgot to tell their own

backbenchers. And send them out to defend the old policy. Lex us call

it what it is, another case of panic at the Poms. Month after

month, every time this side of the House has proposed putting more

money in people's pockets to get the economy moving, he has

denounced the policy as irresponsible. Yesterday the

Chancellor said it was about precisely doing that. Why doesn't

he admitted that plan a has failed? Disease support stopping the fuel

increased? Yes. Why not get up and congratulate the Government for

being on the side of the motorist and people will work hard and do

the right thing. I have to say to the Right Honourable Gentleman,

ever since we came to whoppers we have been diffusing Labour's tax

bombshell. We have diffused their jobs tax, there increases in

Council tax and their increases in fuel tax. They should be

congratulating us for being on the side of those who work hard and do

the right thing. I'm afraid it is back to the bunker after that

answer. Even on this Government's all measure of success, borrowing

increased yesterday. No wonder they want to change the exams system.

The Chancellor cannot get the maths are right. Can he confirm that the

reason this Government has had to borrow 3 million more than that

this time last year, is because the tax revenues are down and the cost

of economic failure is gone up? It is all the result of double dip

recession -- recess in made in Downing Street. -- recession. On

fuel tax, he is against it but in favour of it. On borrowing, he

thinks it is too high but he wants to put it up. I think it is back to

school. I know he finds the shadow chancellor irritating, but it was

the shadow chancellor who called for the fuel duty cut before he did.

The reality is that they're not just economically incompetent, they

were one fare as well. He has made six EU turns but not on to

particular issues. The tax cut for millionaires paid for by the tax

rise on pensioners. He says he has been listening to the electorate.

What feedback as he had on those proposals? On the Chancellor --

shadow chancellor, the shadow chancellor is the man who put the

fuel tax increase into the budget in the first place. We have been

getting rid of Labour's tax increases. I think it is wrong to

have a top rate of tax than a -- that is higher than France, Germany

and Italy. Beath 13 years of a Labour Government in which he

served, the top rate of tax was 40p. -- The 13 years. I think a thank

you should be in order. He claims to be proud of the way the decision

on the fuel tax was made. But the Chancellor refused to defend the

decision yesterday. And no wonder... The Chancellor set out the economic

Secretary to do all the interviews on this issue. The Member for Mid

Bedfordshire said, I did not see Newsnight, however, it was born a

cent closely on, he is a coward. There is no change on the tax cut

for millionaires. Doesn't the Prime Minister realise that what people

hate about this Government is the double standards of them saying,

tax avoidance is immoral but it is OK when there so many people are

struggling to get by, to give a tax cut to millionaires, including the

millionaires in the Cabinet? leader of the opposition says the

Chancellor was hiding away. The Chancellor was announcing this tax

reduction from the dispatch box. I know, Mr Speaker, the House of

Commons does not always get reported, but he was actually here

making the announcement. He completely wrong-footed the Serup

Chancellor. What we have heard today from the leader of the

opposition is a series of arguments about process, process of out of

the House of Lords, process about the economy, process of I'd the

deficit -- about the deficit. Absolutely hopeless. This is about

an economic plan that is failing and it is about the unfairness of

this Government. He talks about the tax affairs of Jimmy Carter but he

is giving a tax cut to millionaires of �40,000 per year across his

country. Including his own Cabinet. When it comes to tax, it is

obviously one rule for the comedians on the stage and another

rule for the comedians in the Cabinet. The Prime Minister has

spent the last week blundering into the tax affairs of Jimmy Carter.

His budget unravelling, his economic plan a shambles. It is

just another week in the Office. am not surprised, Mr Speaker...

Order, order. The Prime Minister will be heard. I am not at all

surprised the honourable gentleman is touchy about tax avoidance. Will

have they just voted to the top of the list of the National Executive

Committee? Ken Livingstone. It is this Government that is cracking

down on aggressive and illegal tax avoidance and tax evasion, and it

is that party that is voting for them. The International Development

Committee spent last week in Afghanistan and would pay tribute

to the dedication of the armed forces and civil service working

under very difficult conditions. Will the Prime Minister reassure

the people of Afghanistan that all the old trouper Jordanne will end

in 2014, advice, support, Development and Assistance will

continue after that? -- although all troop drawn down. He talks

about our armed services and today is the day we encourage people who

served to wear their uniform to work, not something that members of

this house can do. Nonetheless, we should remember all of those who

serve our country. On the issue of support for Afghanistan, we

announced we will continue with the generous level of aid and

development support we are giving to Afghanistan after 2015. As well

as helping to fund the build-up of the Afghan national security forces

between now and 2015. Can I ask the Prime Minister, what is the moral

difference between celebrities avoiding tax and the Cabinet of

millionaires cutting tax to benefit themselves? Perhaps the best way to

answer that question is to called her a leader who said at the launch

of his local election campaign, tax avoidance is a terrible thing, it

must be cracked down on. That, I thought, was the official position

of the Labour Party. He should be thanking us for getting on and

doing that. In welcoming the decision not to increase in fuel

duty, does the Prime Minister think this shows hard-pressed families

and businesses that we mean business about refuelling growth?

think the Honourable Lady is absolutely right. We have taken 2

million of the lowest paid people at of the income tax. We have

frozen the Council tax. It got rid of the jobs tax and has repeatedly

dealt with fuel duties so it is 10p less than it would be under the

plans left to us by the last Government. Can we return to this

theme of practicalities and tax avoidance? One way the Prime

Minister could put an end to aggressive tax avoidance schemes is

to legislate for a general anti- avoidance scheme. Willie make one

more U-turn and initiate an antique avoidance legislation? That is

exactly what we're doing, exactly what Labour did not do for 13 years.

Unemployment in my constituency has reduced by 5.7 per cent in the last

year. This Government is focusing on the right things, like the party

opposite who have no innovative solution to the economic issue.

What part additional growth will come from new businesses? What is

this Government doing to encourage enterprise in schools to nurture

the next generation of entrepreneurs? It is quite clear

the party opposite just want to shout down anyone who wants to talk

up what is happening in our macro- economy. In the last quarter we saw

Mark Rutte 200,000 new private sector jobs. -- we saw 200,000 new

private sector jobs. We are seeing a rebalancing of the economy. 2011

was a record year for the creation of Brett -- small businesses. We're

in favour of encouraging that. coalition agreement stated the

Government would introduce an house business committee by the third

year of this Parliament. Will the Prime Minister therefore confirm

that he will introduce it within the next 12 months? We are looking

carefully at this issue. Let me say to the honourable gentleman that

already this Government, by introducing the backbench days of

backbench business, has made one of the most fundamental reforms of

this place. Backbench members can determine the time and subject of

debate. Something that never happened under Labour. No. 6,

Gift Aid is an important way to support charitable giving. We

understand it is difficult to collect Declarations, when

collecting donations in the street. We are introducing a small donation

scheme to enable charities to claim a payment on donations when it has

not been possible to collect a gift Aid declaration. That will help

charities in the country and I am sure it will be welcomed by the

house. Hospitals across Britain benefit greatly from gift Aid

donations. Can he reassure all the people that give generously, the

equipment that they have funded will be guaranteed to remain for

the benefit of local health communities? Would he visit a

hospital in my constituency to see gift Aid in action? I have visited

a community hospital in her constituency while on holiday and I

have experience of the excellent service provided. I can absolutely

say that they do a brilliant job across the country. The money they

provide should remain local but I think what we have announced will

be able to work help hospitals like the ones she refers to. -- help

hospitals. After passing judgment on the tax affairs of Gary Barlow,

he has had years to consider the donations of Lord Ashcroft. Are

they morally wrong like Jimmy Carr? Like all members, all members of

the House of Lords have to be UK taxpayers. But while on the subject,

he might want to look at labour's chief fund raiser. A man called

Andrew Rosenfeld. Between 2006 and last year, he lived in which key

Would he take this opportunity... Order. The gentleman deserves to be

had. We have had far too much noise when members are asking their

questions and it is discourteous. Would he take this opportunity to

remind the House that debt is a crucial EU summit at the end of

this week? Which is more important for growth and jobs? The

implication of changes being proposed in the EU, or House of

Lords reform? In terms of growth in the UK economy, what is happening

in the Eurozone and Europe, it is extremely important and a vital

summit that is taking place. The government has a clear view which

is the Eurozone countries must do more in the short term to settle

the financial instability but they must also take medium and long-term

steps to make sense of the Eurozone. That will involve sharing greater

powers. That is something we should not be involved in. We have a clear

view. We have pushed our arguments with bigger and we will protect the

UK economy and political system. Every hour of every day, somebody

gets killed by a weapon that has been irresponsibly traded from one

country to another. Next week, the arms trade treaty negotiations

start in New York. Will he guarantee that the British

delegation will fight to include in the treaty, not just police and

security apparatus to be used for repression but also ammunition

which is vital? It is bullets that killed. We have at the Arms Trade

treaty and have done for some time. We will lobby vigorously on that

issue. I will look at his point and write to him. Places have been

subjected to unprecedented flooding after the river Dart when burst its

banks. Will he join me in congratulating the emergency

services? Particularly the residents that came out in the

morning to clean up their village in order to welcome the Olympic

torch less than 12 hours later. joined him in praising the

emergency services. These were very dangerous and damaging floods

caused by a huge rainfall. The emergency services have performed

well and I have seen that myself. But we are in the recovery phase

and people are looking at going back to their houses. They will be

questions about insurance and how we can help and he will make these

arguments in the house and we will do all we can to help. Will he

finally answer the question why this year this government has

actually borrowed �3.9 billion more than it did this time last year?

The deficit that his party left is down by one quarter. The policy

that he supports is to spend more, borrow more and put debt up further.

17 a year old God when it Lawson from Enfield was so tragically

stabbed to death in 2010. Since then, his mother has become a

powerful force to challenge the culture of knife crime, by sharing

her experiences of her son's death with young people. She and many

groups can make an extraordinary contribution to challenging this

culture. But some authorities are not getting behind and supporting

and offering some funding to achieve this. Will he lent his

support and encouragement to those people to get behind them? I will

certainly get my support to power and to all others that are playing

a heroic part in trying to change the culture of knife crime. It is

worth remembering that this year, he would have been aged 21. I pay

tribute to all these families and it would be easy for them to turn

away from the tragedy that rocked them from their children and

brothers and sisters but instead, they are brave and have raised the

profile of this issue. The government must make sure that we

have got mandatory sentences and we have done that. But a cultural

change needs to take place and the bravery of people that have lost

loved ones talking about it and the dangers of carrying weapons can

play a big part in changing the culture. He may be aware of the

horrific explosion that occurred in my constituency yesterday. I am

sure the house will want to pay tribute and mourn the deaths of

people involved. Will he join me in paying tribute to the work of the

emergency services yesterday? As well as the contingency services in

Brent Cross? And will he agree we should not take the servicemen and

women's bravery for granted? I am sure the house will want to send a

message of condolences to the family's involved and our best

wishes to victims in hospitals being treated at the moment. The

scenes were quite appalling and I joined her in paying tribute to the

emergency services and we should speak to the police to get to the

bottom of anything that might have happened. We will require answers

to what has been an absolute tragedy. The flood victims Facebook

page and the charitable giving page shows great community spirit. All

of these local events are going ahead this weekend and that shows

resilience. It shows that it is open for business. Can he assured

me -- tell me about how the negotiations are going so they can

get insurance in the teacher at a reasonable price? -- future. I

believe that 550 properties in his constituency alone were affected by

these damaging floods. On the issue of insurance, we are working hard

to deliver widely available household insurance for flood risk

areas. I joined him in praising the resilience of people. Having

suffered as my constituency did in 27, -- 2007, the resilience of the

communities and the amount of community service that comes out of

our communities is remarkable and deserves praise. 20 years ago this

week, the steel works in my constituency was forced to shut

down. Thousands of jobs were lost. Many people are still without jobs

and never found work again. 20 years later, will he apologise for

his part in the shameful role of the demise of his factory? I am

sorry for every job that has been lost but what I would say is that

while manufacturing is a share of the economy almost halved under the

last government, that is increasing and in terms of the steel industry

it is worth recognising that under this government it has started to

get on Teesside and that is Hereford is the home of the SAS and

we will have the 40th anniversary of a battle in which nine SAS

soldiers fought off more than 300 heavily armed guerrillas. During

the battle, a man was shot while operating a field gun weapon

designed for a six man team. Successive governments have not

recognise the extraordinary nature of this sacrifice. They have many

heroes but will he put this matter to rest and give his support to the

campaign towards the man and his award of a posthumous Victoria

Cross? He is right to speak up for the S A S. They are based in his

constituency and had an extraordinary fight all those years

ago. We are not allowed to speak about what they do on record but it

is worth talking about the gratitude of all governments and

the British people for the risks they take on our behalf. Thinking

of hostage rescues, I would like to do that personally. In terms of

what he asks, I did not think these decisions are for politicians to

make but I once again paid tribute to the actions of Batman and

everybody else involved. Is he bringing back A-levels and CSC

style exams? -- O levels. We want to have an absolute gold standard

of exams in this country that are about rigour and high standards.

But the tragedy is that what we inherited from the last government

was a system that was progressively dumbed down, when we were falling

down league tables and a GCSE questions included things like, how

do you see the moon, through a telescope, or microscope? We want a

better system put in place. technology park in my constituency

deserves the conditional regional grid farmed approval which will

secure a vital jobs and investment into the UK and will harmonise with

the government's commitment to growth. Will he use his influence

to ensure that there is no further avoidable delay in the yard the

mentation of the grant and the launch of this critically important

enterprise? I will look carefully at what he says. Almost 60 % of

these projects have started. Money has been distributed in many cases

but I will look specifically at this project which does sound

worthwhile and involves satellite management. These are important

jobs for Cornwall which they want and need in Cornwall.

healthcare trust deficit is due to the private finance initiative. Is

he not wrong to suggest that the deficit is entirely due to bad?

Should we not deal with that situation instead of imposing an

outside administrator to cut local health services? First, it is this

government that is putting more money into the NHS this year, next

year and thereafter. Some trusts do have enormous deficits and a big

part of that is down to the failed private finance initiative system

the last government put in place. We have got hospitals up and down

the country where it costs �120 to set an alarm, more than �400 to

replace light fittings. These were not Conservative private finance

initiatives. They were all put in place under these Labour government.

Yet again, time for an apology. -- this Labour government. Does he

agree that the way to tackle aggressive tax avoidance is to

bring in a flatter and fairer tax system? I certainly support that

system and that is why we actually do have 2 million people taken out

of income tax, eight there were top rate of tax to make us competitive

and it is important to put this on the record. -- 8 lower rate of tax.

Some of the tax avoidance schemes that have been put in place in

recent years are in my opinion questionable and the government

should be clear at the Revenue's task is to close them down and make

This House passed a motion calling for a Bill to make urgent reforms

to the extradition treaty. There has been no action. What makes the

Prime Minister more uncomfortable, ignoring the House were the plight

of those facing extradition? held a review and it looked at the

extradition arrangements. I would emerge the Honourable Lady to look

at some of the cases that have caused concern, but also to look at

the overall figures were we are benefiting by able to extradite

people who have committed serious crimes, from the US back into the

UK. We will do the right thing for our country. It is not a simple

issue. Would the Prime Minister congratulate the excellent

Secretary of State for International Development for

producing Aflac that is going to replace the European Union flag on

all of our overseas aid? -- a flag. I'm sure that like myself, my

honourable friend and others got the letter from my honourable

friend with his excellent new logo, showing that the aid that we send

is not on behalf of the British Government, it is on behalf of all

the British people, who support the fact that Britain stands for

something in the world and stands for helping the poorest even as we

have a difficult time in our own country. Order. That is Prime

Minister's Questions over for another week. We had some lively

exchanges and Olly Smith and Cheryl Gillan went head to head for the

Janet, the spat between Cheryl Gillan and Owen Smith. Cheryl

Gillan has had to cancel the Wells Committee next week claiming that

Labour MPs do not want to get up up in the morning? That is an

appalling situation that a grand committee meeting has had to be

cancelled. Labour complained when the parliamentary boundaries did

not go to the Welsh Grand. They are not going to attend. Minutes ago we

were speaking to about truancy levels across Wales, and here we

are expecting pupils to be at school for 9 o'clock and Welsh

Labour MPs cannot attend for 11:30am. It does not set a good

example. I think the position is that this is a matter of such

importance it should be debated on the floor of the House of Commons.

Time should be made for that to happen. David Jones accused Labour

of running scared? Liam birds said consistently and when Smith said he

wanted debated on the floor of the House of Commons. It is a major

change. We have just decided on the format we have now. That was passed

by part of the referendum for the National Assembly for Wales. It is

the decision made by the people of Wales. Anything that happens it

needs to be debated on the floor of the House of Commons not shunted

off to a grand committee. It is a consultation document. There are

different options. Your party support first past the post, don't

they? My party support but the people of Wales have said. The

people of Wales voted for 40 constituency Assembly Members. That

went through a referendum. We do not believe it should be changed

anywhere. We believe it should be decided in Wales. We have heard

often from the Prime Minister. We talk about the Respect agenda, that

is just totally gone between the Assembly and Parliament? I will ask

you a question. Do you think if they had done that to Scotland or

Northern Ireland, do you think they would have changed the voting

system by producing a Green Paper? Are they changing at or having a

debate? Would they have a debate on it in Scotland and Northern Ireland

without the approval of members. The Secretary of State for Wales

has made it clear she wants as many people to contribute to that debate.

There are no firm proposals coming forward. You have obviously got

very clear ideas on it. I think we should wait until the consultation

process that Mrs. And then have a debate. It is a matter for the

Welsh Grand Committee. It really is disappointing that you're MPs are

failing to attend and it has to be cancelled. It may be a consultation

paper. What about the point Jarrett makes about MPs not been prepared

to turn up? Janet's. They want to discuss it on the floor of the

House of Commons. Some naysayer it is a bit churlish? Some might say

it is a matter of principle that this be debated on the floor of the

House of Commons. Let's move on to the debate involving Ed Miliband

and David Cameron. What did you make of their performance today?

thought Ed Miliband was very good. It is always very difficult being

be questioner. The other person always get the last word. Ed

Miliband did very well. David Cameron looked a bit tired. He has

had a difficult week. He was roundly attacked for his attack on

Jimmy Carter. Did he do enough to divert attention? Yes, I think he

has pointed out that the coalition Government have Pat to defuse a lot

of the tax bombshells left by Labour. -- have had to defuse. It

was interesting yesterday listening to Al macro people. I think there

are people all over Wales and the United Kingdom who will be very

grateful to the coalition for the U-turn on the 3p on fuel duty.

Government can get attacked for not backing down, and where does back

down it gets accused of I U-turn? - - when it does. That is one of the

big problems in being in Government. Their tax strategy is unravelling.

The pasty tax, the petrol fuel duty, which they could have dealt with at

the time of the Budget. My memory is that fuel duty started to

escalate a long time ago. David Cameron is taking people out of

their comfort zones. He is starting to want to debate those difficult

issues and topics. When the consultation process comes in, when

people are making it clear there are not happy and he is listing and

deciding which way to change direction, that is good. --

listening. That is strong leadership and I am proud of it.

will leave it there now. Comment up, we have just had Prime Minister's

Questions. -- coming up. We will look at First Minister's Questions

in the Senate from yesterday. What is happening there today?

Good afternoon. First of all, we have got ministerial questions.

Today those are to the health minister, Leslie Griffiths, and the

environment minister, John Griffiths. We then have questions

to the Assembly commission, the corporate body responsible for the

buildings, the staff, the services of the National Assembly. After

that, the first substantive debate of the afternoon. That arises out

of work done by the legislative committee. They have been looking

at the way in which West -- Welsh ministers are empowered to take

forward UK law. Laws that have a particular element that is specific

to the way in which they will operate in Wales. The committee

have looked at this and considered that there needs to be greater

scrutiny of the way in which ministers here in Wales exercise

those powers. It is an arcane debate. I would try to get a more

light shed on it later. -- I will try. Following that debate we have

got one also provoked from work from a committee. The children's

committee has been looking at the way in which a particular law was

implemented. The Learning and Skills measure. That was about

broadening the opportunities in terms of a range of courses

available to young people studying at schools and colleges. The

emphasis behind the law was to facilitate greater cross working

between different organisations, different schools and colleges, to

facilitate that wider range of courses. The committee have been

looking at the extent to which that has worked. The debate comes out of

the work they have done. It is the first time a committee has

undertaken this kind of work in relation to a Welsh law. The first

of many such debates in future. Following that, a debate nominated

by the Welsh Conservatives. Today they are talking about health. They

have got all manner of aspects of help they want to cover. First of

all, they want to look at the plans as they see it to downgrade a

hospital in Pembrokeshire and the opposition to bat. They're

expecting a good deal of people to come from Pembrokeshire for that

debate. That is quite contentious. Downgrading is their word, not the

word of the Welsh Government. They also want to look at the training

and the retention of junior doctors, the funding of local health boards.

A whole range of things they want to cover. The Djiby Fall and quite

interesting. At the end of the afternoon we would normally have a

short debate. That will not be the case today. Today's was to have

been nominated by Leanne Wood who wanted to look at safety outside

schools. Unfortunately, she is not available for that debate this

afternoon. She has got other commitments. That will happen at a

later date. No short debate this afternoon. Sorry to disappoint you.

I think we can be sure Leanne Wood is not a way meeting the Queen. You

can find out even more about what was happening and the National

As it is Wimbledon fortnight, there was no AM:PM yesterday. We did not

bring you First Minister's Questions. Here is a flavour of the

three opposition leader's questions to Carwyn Jones.

Thank you. First Minister, the UK has been proven to be the most

attractive place for inward investment in the European Union.

The European Commission confirmed that. Yet Wales regrettably is no

at the bottom of the league table. Why is that? Well, we reformed our

overseas operation. I spoke personally to all of those staff

working overseas. We are beginning to see the fruit of that with the

announcement by Tata of investment in Port Talbot. We will be taking

advantage of the Olympics. We will be using our new Office in London

to attract investment. It is a little concerning when you say you

have spoken to everyone around the world. When I have asked questions

of the business minister, all well scum and staff are located on the

east coast. -- Welsh Government staff. We have no presence. Yet in

your area and so you indicated you were happy with the configuration

we have. Is it not a consideration for the Welsh Government to be at

promoting in the High intensity research industry? I agree. I am

looking at placing somebody in California to represent Wales in

the western parts of the state. The leader of the opposition is quite

right. We do need to ensure we have proper coverage in the US. This

will be dealt with pretty quickly. First Minister, at one stage in the

last 10 years Wales attracted the highest amount of foreign direct

investment of any Regent or nation in the UK. We are now at the bottom

of that league table. What has happened to see us go from the best

We need to make sure that we have proper representation overseas. It

was known what the message was. We needed to work closely with the

organisation involved and it is a good relationship. Particularly

with the minister but also with the organisation as a whole. In your

economic renewal programme due said that securing foreign direct

investment and stimulating trade will be integrated into our

approach. You have outlined some of the steps that you have taken. But

it is clearly not working. Wales has shown the largest UK decline in

foreign investment projects, with its share falling to a paltry 1.3 %

last year. In 2003, we were punching above our weight at 9%.

What has gone wrong with your fridge? Well, we are certainly

approve -- what has gone wrong with your approach. In my aim

constituency we have attracted more Japanese investment and I think the

structure is right for us to be able to compete with other

countries worldwide and also to attract investment and we have seen

the beginnings of that policy bearing fruit. She questioned the

First Minister over his comments from last week with regard to the

trial of some greens -- submarines. What effect would it have on

attracting other jobs to be area and is it true that your

discredited plan would cost Wales more jobs than it would actually

create? It is clear from the UK government that it will remain in

the fast lane and the issue is entirely academic. I think the

issue is to clarify to the people of Wales, does she agree that

Martin McGuinness the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland is

naive in shaky the Queen's and? Secondly, she knows what is

happening with the Argentinian diplomat. Does she supports the

role of the people in the Falkland Islands for self- determination?

She raises issues of defence. I am sure that there are issues which

will be interesting for the people to have clarification with regard

to Plaid Cymru. If this is an welcome Trident jobs to Wales last

week? The big concern is about your values. It has been 31 years since

Wales declared itself a nuclear weapons free country. 31 years

since women from this country including your Minister, who began

the march. The Welsh bishops of the Catholic and Anglican churches, the

leaders of the Free churches, the unite and Unison unions and the

majority of people in Wales do not agree with you. They say weapons of

mass destruction have no place on Welsh soil and waters. You were

meant to speak for Wales. Is it not true on this occasion that you are

facing us out? We have seen this time and time again. She has had

the chance to clarify how a party's position. She has been offered the

chance to clarify her party's position with the Falkland Islands

and she has failed to do that. Either, we have got issues which

need to be clarified in Wales or not and we need them to gain

credibility. We will have a chat about that in a moment. Here is our

correspondent. I am joined by the Deputy Presiding Officer, David

Melding. We are talking about something that some people might

think is quite archaic. The committee report and the debate

following that on the powers exercised by Welsh ministers in

looking at UK laws. What is that about? It does sound complicated!

But it can have a practical effect. Westminster laws that get past in

London can have an effect on some devolved functions. When that

happens, you can have a big area of public policy coming to ministers

here, and they will put a line into that before anybody has really

scrutinised how that power might be used. Just to give an example, this

can happen a dozen times a year, these powers coming in. It is

something that we need to look carefully at. That could be

anything, I suppose? Energy? could be something as important as

welfare reform. Certain aspects of welfare reform and even council tax.

These come to ministers directly from UK legislation sometimes. They

might establish a policy and do certain things which that power and

Assembly members are able to scrutinise ministers on their

attentions. -- intentions. Is that something you need to look at

because it was the right thing to do? Or are you aware that things

were being passed without scrutiny and people are saying they should

have been scrutinised? We have got an issue when ministers are quite

about this and that should be scrutinised. If Westminster affects

the legislative powers here, we do need to involve Assembly members

but we have got an anomaly in Wales that powers coming to ministers did

not necessary require Assembly members having an input. --

necessarily. Some ministers seem to have a smoother system which allows

for a good level of scrutiny and which is not rushed but here, when

you do scrutinise some policies, we have got a channel from Westminster

and it has to be done very quickly and very last minute and we are not

happy about that. Presumably you are learning from the Scottish

experience? We do not want to copy them completely. We can adapt

things for Welsh services. But in the Scottish parliament they have

got an early warning system about what Westminster does having a

knock-on effect and stage it in there and influence the debate

early and do not get forced into action quickly and that is what we

want in Wales. Take me through some of the key recommendations.

would like the government, after each Queen's speech to send a

letter to the Presiding Officer, saying which laws have been forced

by the UK government in Westminster and are likely to have an effect on

the Wales, how big that might be and then we can start scrutinising

these powers. That is the first part. Secondly, we feel the

government has to be a UK government and work more closely

together to have warning systems in place. It is clear that in Scotland

and in Westminster, they have got a lot of conversations about these

laws before they are actually announced in the Queen's Speech. We

are not convinced that happens in Wales. Just one more quick question.

Clearly a lot more work getting used to having laws to make but is

this going to provoke a debate about whether we need more Assembly

members? I think the existing structures can cope with demand as

long as these reforms deliver the timeliness we need in terms of not

having to rush scrutiny. As long as we get robust systems in place, we

can plan and effect scrutiny properly. We do not want anything

done last minute and that has affected what we have, this system.

We want careful deliberation. On the general question about Assembly

members, what it is about is the amount of work we do here. We can

work with 60, we can work with 80 but it does affect the body in and

that is forecast to decide. Thank you for shedding light on an

important but difficult project. will take some of that light and

share it around the studio. What is your reaction? David is right. We

should have scrutiny at the earliest possible opportunity to

influence decisions before they are made. We have seen that on things

such as communities and local government and housing. We can look

at recommendations in the housing white paper and it is important to

be involved before something happens instead of later. In terms

of scrutiny, members like yourselves are going to have to get

the work done at committee level, when you are scrutinising all these

new laws the government say that they are going to put before the

Assembly. You are going to have to pick through it and see if it is

good. Yes, of course. We have been talking up the legislation coming

through but we have not had aspirations and ambitions. We have

had a lot of apathy. Like waiting for a bus. But when we talk about

legislation, we need to talk about full scrutiny. And when the

minister for local government... Tell us about that. That was

brought crew today and it was basically flawed because of the

memorandum which did not contain much explanation. That was lack of

scrutiny? It does not actually allow for appropriate and could

scrutiny and as I said, we have got 60 Assembly members and we do want

to be involved in legislation and bringing forward ideas for Wales

but it has got to be under a good process. I think yesterday the

Minister for Local Government, he was on the ropes, because other

members across the Chamber pointed out that this is not the way to

bring forward laws, or anything for Wales. You mentioned other Assembly

members. We discussed at length, the Lords on the programme said

that there should be more members. What do you think? I think 60 is

the number that people voted for. When we have an opportunity to

increase it, the Welsh people should decide to increase it. I

think 60 is about right. I am not convinced a bigger number will do

anything more in the Chamber. We have seen the House of Commons and

600 makes a lot of noise. We will not get that many! When you have

got all the scrutiny to do, you might be grateful for more Assembly

members. People of Wales are waiting for more effective

devolution. If we look at health and education and the economy, all

aspects are devolved to Wales, we are pretty low in the stakes.

Before we start talking about Assembly members and talking about

the legislation, we have got to see some effective devolution. That is

a reflection on all you, isn't it? Not just the government. Nobody has

ever come up to me and said that there is not enough of you. I think

Janet is being very unfair on the government. That is her job. She is

in the opposition. I think the government has done a very good job

in Wales and I think Wales is doing well. Tell that to be people on

hospital waiting lists, to children being veiled in schools. The people

in hospital waiting lists and the people in schools would prefer to