28/06/2016 am.pm

Hello again. Welcome to the programme and our weekly coverage of

questions to the First Minister. We are in the middle of a tumultuous

period for British and Welsh politics, dominated by fallout from

the EU referendum. Now AMs have returned to Cardiff Bay to discuss

all that as well as other topics, ranging from assistance to Syrian

refugees to cancer treatment. Don't forget, you can follow all the

latest on Welsh politics on our Twitter feed: Let's cross to the

chamber for questions to the First Minister.

TRANSLATION: I call the National Assembly to order and the first item

on the agenda is questions to the First Minister and the first

question now. Will the First Minister make a statement on basic

payment scheme payments to farmers? Over 99% of eligible farm businesses

have been paid. Thank you. I'm obliged to raise this question

actually as a result of my own intense concerns at the handling of

basic payments for the still outstanding to our farmers and your

own Government department's process. 17,063 farmers submitted their

applications in June 2015. Yet 12 months later, there are

approximately 171 yet to receive any payment. Indeed I have represented

farmers who have waited several months for payment without any

acknowledgement of their application and many promised that they've been

paid when they have not. One was for ?60,000. First Minister, the delay

of such magnitude is now putting farmers' livelihoods at risk.

Outstanding payments are causing immense stress and frustration.

First Minister, will you look into - your own Government department's

workings, to ensure our hard working farmers and the custodians of our

countryside are not facing potential financial ruin because of your own

Government department delays? I repeat again the answer I gave to

the original question, over 99% of eligible farm businesses have been

paid. They've had a basic payment scheme payment. If there are

individual farms with difficulties, the correct thing to do is raise the

difficulties with the minister to be looked at for those individuals. We

consistently out perform England and Scotland year upon year upon year

when it comes to paying our farmers. TRANSLATION: First Minister, I'm

sure that you like I regret the fact that so many farmers have voted to

vote the, voted to leave the European Union. There's no taut that

did happen. One of the reasons they gave me for considering that was not

that the payments were late, but that penalties and fines would

follow minor disagreements or minor errors, as were identified by Civil

Service in the claims for these payments. Now you've lost a great

deal of confidence among the farming community because of those

penalties, when Phil Hogan and the European Commission said it was

possible to be flexible, though that's water under the bridge now,

can you revive the reputation of the Welsh Government among farmers by

looking at the situation where penalties follow what should be a

discussion between yourselves, as the Government, and farmers about

their payments? I ask the member to write to me with more details. We

have been following the regulations that exist at present. Of course, we

have been paying farmers much more quickly than the case in Scotland or

England. As regards the details of the individual farmers, I'd be

pleased to receive a letter to consider what's happened. Will the

First Minister provide an update on the Syrian refugees being resettled

in Wales? 78 refugees were resettled in Wales as of the end of May. We

expect more to arrive over the coming months. I thank the First

Minister for that response. It's been disturbing to hear the racist

comments since the results of the EU referendum. We hope that won't

affect the really good welcome given in Wales to the Syrian refugees. But

what more does the First Minister think can be done to help refugee

children, in particular, and unaccompanied asylum seeking

children to get the maximum support from the local authorities and

communities where they're placed? I can inform the member that the

taskforce was established in November 2015. That is supported by

an operations board. There is a children's subgroup of that

operations board. That will ensure coordination of schemes to take

refugee children from the Middle East and north Africa, unaccompanied

asylum seeking children from camps and those arriving in Kent. A

conference is hosted by the Home Office with the local authorities to

launch the national transfer scheme in Wales.

First Minister, I echo the concerns raised in relation to racist

comments that have happened since the European vote last week. I would

condemn those, that approach to the reaction to the European referendum.

I wonder, have you considered how moving forward with the Communities

Minister potentially, how we can bring communities together? Quite

often a lot of people have voted in this referendum, be it for reasons

that they were voting against the establishment, voting against

poverty in their local areas - how can we try now, regardless of the

vote, to bring people together to move forward as a nation, so that we

do not see future situation where's people are divided and turning

against each other in their own communities? There is no doubt that

our nation is divided. It's important that cohesion is

re-established. I don't believe that division has sudden lay peered. I

don't think suddenly people have changed their minds in the way they

perceive others. There will be a small nigh for the who feel that

way. That's true of almost every country in the world, unfortunately.

No, I think the emphasis now has to be, and I'll mention it later on in

the debate, that now is the time to rebuild and unite our nation of

Wales in order to make sure that what we've seen as a break down in

some communities in terms of cohesion is not something that we

should see in the long-term. First Minister, can I join with those

who've already expressed their condemnation of the racist attacks

and criticisms that have taken place on social immediate why and

elsewhere in recent days. But can you also join with me in praising

the work of faith communities across Wales who've done their utmost to

protect those Syrian refugees and others who have come to Wales to

flee persecution in their countries and in particular, the Syrian

Orthodox Church which has strong representation in Wales and has

engaged both with the faith communities forum, which you chair,

and the work of the Assembly, with the cross-party group on faith? Yes,

the community forum is hugely useful in terms of identifying problems and

for planning for the future. It's a true example of those from many

different faiths working together in the common interests of promoting

the welfare of humanity, if I can put it that way. It's a forum that

works very well. I look forward to it continuing in the future. I note

that Newport, Cardiff and Swansea are all in the top ten of UK cities

for receiving refugees. Do we have any idea what is the total cost to

local authorities in Wales of housing the recent wave of refugees?

There are 78 of them. It's not a substantial cost. We expect those

costs to be met in whole or part by the Home Office.

TRANSLATION: Now move to questions from the party leaders. The first

question to the First Minister this week from the leader of the Welsh

Conservatives. Thank you Presiding Officer. First

Minister, I'd like to identify with the sentiments expressed by other

members. There is no room for any intolerance and in particular racism

in any part of our country, here in Wales or any part of the United

Kingdom. I stand shoulder to shoulder with any member and any

institution who is standing to defend those liberties to make sure

that people can speak freely and openly in any part of this country.

We cannot allow any festering sentiment to actually contaminate

the democracy we hold so dear to ourselves and to this great country

of ours. First Minister, I'd like to ask you, last week we had the

referendum. The result is understood. The consequences are

unfolding before us and negotiations will start shortly. On the weekend,

you said that this wasn't your election, on the Sunday supplement

programme. It is a vital referendum that has just taken place, in fact,

in credit to you, you did say back at the start of the referendum

campaign, this was the most important vote for a generation and

a vote forever. Can you assure me that was merely a media slip on

Sunday supplement and you did engage fully and you didn't look at this

referendum as someone else's referendum to fight? It's not the

ground that I would have chosen. All the time I told the Prime Minister

that. It's important that we had the referendum and the result is now

known. It's hardly a ringing endorsement

then, is it? I do think it's important to understand how the

Welsh Government has been preparing for the outcome of the referendum.

Obviously the Chancellor has confirmed that the UK Government

irrespective of its position in that referendum was preparing for both

scenarios. Obviously, there are people in receipt of European monies

and grants and that will continue so long as we are part of and paying

into the European pot. What work was undertaken and commissioned by you

as First Minister, within Welsh Government, to make sure that both

outcomes were modelled and Welsh Government was in the best place

possible to assist with information and support whatever the outcome of

that referendum was? That will be part of debate later on. Like I say,

the outcome is impossible to model. We have no idea what the final deal

will look like. Until we have an understanding of that, do we know

whether there will be access to the single market? We know that the

people of Wales voted to leave the EU. Beyond that we don't know what

model we will get in two years. Until we see that, it will be

difficult to pass judgment upon it. I know he is in favour of free

movement of people. He's said that today. He's also in favour of Welsh

money being kept in London, in the Treasury, which is another thing he

said today. I have to say to him that many people said on the

doorstep, when they were asked about European money funding projects in

their communities, they said, it's our money any way. I have written to

the Prime Minister saying I expect every single penny, every single

penny that we will lose when we cease to be eligible for European

funding to be made up by the UK Government and that money to come to

Wales. He has said today that he does not mind if that money is

locked up in Treasury in Westminster. This money is the money

that is there for the people of Wales. It is not for the UK Treasury

or for him to interfere with their rights. First Minister, I did not

say locked up in the Treasury. I said there will be a new model of

the way Government undertakes itself in any part of the United Kingdom. I

have asked you two questions today: The first question was did you

commit yourself fully to the referendum? You didn't respond to

that question. I asked you: What modelling the Welsh Government had

undertaken to deal with the outcome of the referendum. Not the

negotiations, the outcome of the referendum. Because there is

interaction on a daily basis with organisations across Wales who have

been supported by the Welsh Government and in receipt of

European money. That is a perfectly reasonable question to ask, what

preparer to work was -- work was put in place by the Welsh Government to

deal with both evergeualities out of the referendum. You have not given

me an answer on that. On the third question then, if I'm not getting

answers from you today, will you reach out to all sections of

political opinion to make sure that their views are represented in the

negotiations going forward from Wales? Because clearly, from the

parties in front of me, those views were not represented in the outcome

of the referendum. It is important that all opinions are taken into

account so that Wales' voice can be heard clearly, loudly and above all,

making sure that the commitments we require are returned to Wales. That

does mean that every penny that Wales is due is received here in

Wales and spent here. I can quote his exact words. Why

should the Welsh government handled the money? That is what he said. Why

shouldn't the money comes straight from Westminster, bypassing the

elect to legislator and the people of Wales? He has gone on about the

need for Britain, as he put it, to enjoy is freedom and its

sovereignty. He thinks it is pathetic that the people of Wales

should not have access to the money they have access to now. He needs to

start thinking as if he was Welsh and start looking at things from the

Welsh perspective. He is in a different position from Ukip. You

could have been saying every single penny should come to Wales and be

spent in Wales. He isn't and it is about time we had some clever

thinking from the Conservatives. I know people go to to leave and

nothing will change that. He has no idea what happens next. We will be

explaining the way forward as far as we are concerned. Bearing in mind

what people have said, from our perspective, this is money that has

been coming to Wales and money there should still come to Wales. That is

the right of the Welsh people and are right that he does not respect.

It is with a heavy heart that I scrutinise you today First Minister.

I respond in full to the EU debate late on but it is important to focus

on what you are responsible for now and in particular the delivery of

public services despite the wider political turmoil. Can my first of

all put on record that we should all condemn the reported increase in

racist incidents since the referendum occurred. Racism has no

place in Welsh society and I know you agree with me on that. Moving to

the NHS. Our NHS benefits from a mixture of home-grown and

international staff. 500 doctors from the European Union work within

the Welsh NHS. Over coming weeks they will carry out operations,

saving lives, healing the sick as though the referendum never

happened. Kenny first of all tell us much extra money you will -- you

would expect the Welsh NHS as a result of the veil made by the Leave

campaign? Would you be prepared to communicate with all of our public

service staff from other EU countries and tell them loudly and

clearly that they are still welcome here in Wales? On the first

question, she knows the answer. It is already unravelled. Those who

professed it have said it is not what they meant. We will wait and

see what they do when they get into government. I agree with what she

says. Our NHS would not function without medical and nursing staff

from other countries. It is vital that they are still welcome in Wales

and I know she has said that strongly and I join her in that. So

many citizens of other countries have delivered so much care and

healing and treatment to so many of our people and they awoke in our.

Thank you for that answer. -- they are welcome in our country. For

Wales there is an additional risk to capital investment and to industry.

The Southeast Metro is intended to be partly financed by European

structural funds which may only be guaranteed up to 2020 if they are

guaranteed at all. Can you tell us what will happen now to the south

Wales Metro and the transport projects you have promised for the

North of Wales as well and turning to industry, can you tell us what is

likely to happen to Tata Steel and the future of Port Talbot as well as

other Welsh steel-making plants? I wrote to the Prime Minister

yesterday and asked him to guarantee every penny that we would lose to

make sure that came to Wales. If that pledges on it, we can proceed

with the Metro and other projects. If it is not honoured, there are

substantial financial gaps in many projects that will benefit the

people of Wales. I expect that promised to be honoured. On the

issue of Tata Steel, it has created uncertainty, much more over the last

few days. The car industry is holding back until it sees what a

trade deal looks like. Tata Steel supplies many of the car

manufacturers and the steel industry is in situation where it doesn't

know what is happening. My view that Article 50 should be triggered

sooner rather than later. Waiting months for that adds to that

uncertainty. Better the people know where they stand rather than not

knowing what will happen for many months and years. Uncertainty is

never going to be helpful in terms of investment and that is why the

process has to begin sooner rather than later and conclude as quickly

as possible. Turning to the wider picture and the wider picture within

the UK and further afield, I want to see arrangements put in place to

protect Wales' constitutional status, legislation, funding,

trading relationship with the rest of Europe while withdrawal takes

place over the coming years. The UK Government is establishing a

dedicated civil service unit to preside over Brexit. The Prime

Minister has said that all devolved governments would be fully involved

in the decision-making process over EU negotiations. We need to be

clear. Last week's vote was not a vote to concentrate any additional

powers at Westminster and pledges were made during that campaign to

guarantee our funding. How will you move quickly now to secure the best

possible deal for Wales in all of this turmoil and how will you work

with others to salvage the situation for this country as best we can,

especially given the chaos within the UK Government and your own party

in Westminster? We have to have reassurance for business and I have

asked the secretary to draw up a number of points that we can put to

business to make sure we understand we see Wales is open for business.

In terms of what the future holds, I welcome what the Prime Minister said

in terms of Wales being involved but I know he can't speak for the next

Prime Minister who might take a different view. Bearing that in

mind, we will be establishing a specialist team in our Brussels

office whose job it would be to talk and negotiate directly with the

European Commission. That doesn't mean instead of working with the UK

Government but we need to make sure Wales has a voice and a strong

voice. We can't get away from the fact that Wales wanted to leave and

there is no question we go behind the verdict of the electors but that

doesn't mean we have to work hard to make sure Wales gets the best deal

possible. We have to make sure we do that. I would not trust some of the

people I have seen if they are in government to get the best deal for

Wales and that is crucial we intend to do that. I don't expect you

greeted the result with as much enthusiasm as I did but Wales did

vote to leave the EU and a majority both in Bridgend and others voted to

leave. The Welsh political establishment with uniformly in

favour of remaining and all the AMs were in favour of remaining. What I

am concerned to do is to look forward to the future and I

reiterate what you said a minute ago that Ukip believes every single

pound that the EU spends our British taxpayer's money in Wales at the

minute should come to the Welsh government to be spent here. We will

give you every support we can in this endeavour. Would it not be

better therefore, in the spirit of co-operation which you started your

Administration in this Assembly, to involve the leader of the

Conservatives and myself in making the case for Wales with the UK

Government because it will be strengthened with the added voices

of those who actually were in favour of the result which the Welsh people

voted for? My response is he is right. We saw the result and my

response was the same as his party in 2011. To have a referendum in

Wales when it was lost by your party. We have to accept it and we

move on with the new political landscape. I have written to the

Prime Minister and expect to get a response. The people of Wales have

voted for a Welsh government to take forward that response. It is

important that parties understand their positions as the negotiations

proceed because what we cannot do is be in a position where a trade deal

is on the table. It would be dangerous in the way people perceive

the UK. I am happy to work on the way forward and the team we

establishing Brussels will help us to do that. The First Minister will

agree that this offers great opportunities for Wales. I

appreciate he concentrated on the risks and uncertainties before the

referendum campaign but now that we have the great opportunities which

freedom of action gives us, we must capitalise on them and sell things

in the wider world on that basis. I associate with what we have heard

from the lead of Plaid Cymru with the devolution of power. We will now

have the opportunity to take control of our policy on agriculture which

means we can tailor to our own needs a policy to suit farmers in Wales

rather than have to compromise their interests on account of the

interests of farmers in 27 other countries in the EU. I'm grittier

eight -- I reiterate my request to involve the other parties other than

those in the compacts that have been agreed in these very important

discussions which will take place in the course of the next two years, to

make sure we get the best deal for Wales and the Welsh people out of

this process. There will be involvement with all parties as

those discussions continue. It is a sign of this strange alignment of

politics and I am listening to the lead of Ukip being more

devolutionary than the leader of the Conservatives. That is the irony of

the situation. British agriculture won't exist. There is no British

agricultural policy. It is the same with fisheries. After the

negotiations are concluded, Welsh bowlers will only have access to

Welsh Waters and there will be discussion between the different

administrations on access which shouldn't be problematic. It is

important and this is why I want to meet with representatives of the

fishing and farming industry so we can start work on what Welsh

agricultural policy looks like. That means it will be a policy designed

to look after those hill farmers who struggle on the hills with difficult

soil, difficult weather rather than those who do very well in areas of

Wales that are easy to farm. It is hugely important that we design and

agricultural policy that is specific to the needs of Wales and is

tailored to the needs of Welsh farmers. That is something I will be

working with in the farming unions in Wales. Will the First Minister

condemn George Osborne it seems not to have realised that the referendum

is over and he is still carrying on with project fear. It was announced

they will be spending cuts in the automatic tax increases in the

autumn because we have got to live within our means. This comes ill

from the mouth of Britain's worst Chancellor in living memory who has

doubled the national debt in five years and is still running a budget

deficit of 60 or ?70 billion a year. There is no reason whatever arising

out of the referendum to force the increases in taxes or spending cuts

purely on account of the short-term volatility and financial markets

which will shortly be resolved. The lead of Ukip is an optimist. He says

there are advantages here. They are not immediately obvious. We are in a

period of uncertainty and uncertainty is bad. 50% of what we

export from Wales goes into the European Union and so the nature of

the deal that we have with our market will be crucial to our future

well-being. Until we know what that looks like, it is difficult to

understand what the challenge is and that possibilities would be for

Welsh business. Businesses are holding back on investment until

they get that certainty. One way or another there must be certainty. I

do not think that within many months, to begin the formal

negotiation process, our four years before there is a final decision is

in the interest of businesses. It must be taken forward now as quickly

as is reasonably practicable and there has to be a deal on the table

that should be ratified with the national parliaments at least. There

will be a difficult process but bluntly, the need for certainty for

our businesses is absolutely paramount. They will not invest

until they have an idea of what the endgame looks like and we are a long

way from that. What action will the Welsh

Government take to improve treatment of cancer in Wales in the next 12

months, please? We will continue to progress the ?200 million programme

for transforming cancer treatment in the south-east of Wales. Develop the

plans for a new treatment fund and develop an all Wales cancer delivery

plan. Cancer Research UK has said there has a been a dramatic rise

with the number of people diagnosed with the most serious form of skin

cancer in the last 40 years. The National Institute of health and

cancer excellence has approved a pair of cancer drugs for use in

England, which when used in combination shrank the most

aggressive of deadly type of skin cancer by 69%. Could the First

Minister advise the Assembly if this therapy and drug will be made

available in Wales as soon as possible? Malignant melanoma is a

disease I know well. It took my mother's life. It is a hugely

invasive cancer. If it spreads, there is no way, hitherto, there is

no way to stop. It as soon as a drug is approved, the money will be

available to roll out that drug across the whole of Wales.

First Minister, we know the importance of healthy lifestyle

choices in reducing the risks of cancer. It's good to see from the

results of the Welsh health survey 2015 that the number of smokers in

Wales has decreased from 26% to 19% of the population. Also meaning that

the Welsh Government has exceeded its target for reducing smoking

rates. The revisited public Health Bill offers another opportunity to

promote healthy life styles and raise awareness of screening in

tackling cancer. Will the Welsh Government consider this when it

brings forward its fresh legislation? The public Health Bill

is designed to tackle the the underlying causes of ill health.

Smoking still persists as one of the major causes of death and ill health

in Wales. That's why we want to proceed as quickly as possible with

a public Health Bill and I will give more details in the legislative

statement later this afternoon. First Minister, the most exciting

development in the treatment of cancer in recent times has been the

development of VATified medicines, where treatment is personalised to

the patient based upon the genetic make up of their particular cancer.

I was deeply concerned to learn that in Wales we test for just two

genetic markers. Will your Government develop a ratified

medicine strategy and ensure that the all Wales genetic service is

equipped to test for all genetic markers in cancer patients? It's

true that the big change in cancer treatment over the next decade will

be specific treatment for those with particular DNA. We hugely fortunate

in the sense that we have the Wales cancer genetic centre, Nobel Prize

winning knowledge. I've certainly been there. They are developing more

tests as they come along. At the moment, there are particular tests

that are used. There are other that's will develop over the course

of time, make it far easier for treatment to be tailored to the

individual. For example, there are some drugs known to be damaging to

some people on a chance of 500-1. Until now there have been no tests

to make sure that a particular person is not one of those people

who could be particularly badly affected by that drug. As these

tests develop more and more people will have athe chance of a better

outcome. Could I add my agreement to comments made by members in the

chamber about condemning racism. Sorry, but could I say, we need to

send a message strongly regardless of the vote last week... You need to

ask a question. My apologies. Will the First Minister make a statement

on the potential impact of the Cardiff capital region on the

Bridgend travel to work area? I can say in the Cardiff capital region

that collaboration is driving forward our priorities in transport

that. Means driving forward improvements for Bridgend as well. I

know the member will have a particular interest in ensuring that

the three valleys he represents are regularly connected to the rail and

bus network for the south. Thank you First Minister. My apologies, I have

obviously a lot to learn in this chamber. Could I briefly add my

comments to those who have condemned racism. We need to mean, it the

utterances by politicians are important and so are the actions of

the tabloid media at the UK level as well. We should be welcoming of

those who are currently working in the public services and private

sector who are today somewhat a little bit more fearful. In terms of

the Cardiff capital region, together with the South Wales mept row,

potential future improvements to rail and major highways improvements

in my constituency and throughout Wales, together with apprenticeships

and training in my local area, all of them were predicated to some

extent large or small on EU funding. Would he agree with me that it is

now incumbent on political and party leaders, including the leader of the

Conservative Party here today, who made clear pledges that this money

would be returning to the people of Wales to make good that short fall

that we'll now face, not a penny piece should be taken from my

constituents or from the people of Wales, we expect it to be here. Does

he agree that it is slightly odd and disconcerting that we do not have

unanimity in this chamber amongst the party lowereds that all that

money should be coming back to the people of Wales to decide what

happens with it? I heard people on the doorstep. I heard members in the

chamber say whenever we talked about European projects that they said

it's our money. People said it on the doorstep to me. It is our money.

It's the money that people -- of the people of Wales. It's not the money

to be decided to be given to Wales on a bhim by the Treasury, as the

leader of the Welsh Conservatives has said today. He has said why

should the Welsh - I'll quote him, why should the Welsh Government

handle the money. It's the lead story on the BBC website. You can

see his comments on the BBC Wales website. It is absolutely crucial

that money comes to the people of Wales and to their elected

Government and legislature to decide how to spend. It is not for the UK

Treasury to take that decision on behalf of the elected Parliament of

Wales. South Wales west members will be aware of the need for an eastern

bypass for the communities of Llanharan. I hope that will be part

of the plans for Cardiff capital region and the infrastructure

project. It's the heads of the eastern valleys in my region which

are more difficult for the population to get the opportunities

from potential city region plans and the measurements of distance on the

map are meaningful if you don't have the transport infrastructure to

reach those communities. What are you doing tone sure that the city

board region speaks to businesses and the local authority about

ensuring that the travel to work area includes the heads of those

valleys in my region? Absolutely it's crucial. The point about the

Metro is that yes, it will make it easier for people to travel to

cities like Cardiff to work, but also, easier for investment to

travel up valleys as well. One of the issues that we face investors

say, it's far away, this community. I don't want that to be the case in

the future. That's why the Metro is proposed. I know a lot of members

have concentrated on the rail map, but the bus map is hugely important

as well. If we look at the three valleys, west has a railway line.

One might have a railway line, still, if the future. And one lost

its railway line in 1984. For those communities, obviously a bus option

will be what we're looking at. It will be an option that connects

properly not just with the long distance coaches, but also with

Bridgend railway station to make sure that people are connected as

much as possible to where the jobs are and for investment to come up,

to follow those routes up to those communities. Will the First Minister

make a statement on GP recruitment in Wales. GP recruitment is a

priority for us. We are talking to GP representatives across Wales and

are developing new models of care that will be attractive for GPs to

work in. Thank you, First Minister. The Royal College of General GPs

tell us that we need 400 fulltime equivalent GPs by 2020. If we are to

provide good access for all primary care. It is concerning therefore

that we're training just over 100 GPs a year in Wales and just 13% of

trainee doctors spend any time in general practice. What will your

Government do during the fifth Assembly to train more GPs in Wales?

We have 2,887 GPs, which is 8% up since 2005. That shows that we've

been investing in GPs. It's not just about GPs. It's the whole primary

care workforce that's important. Yes, we're training GPs but we have

to - we will never train enough GPs purely to work in Wales. It's been

many decades since we recruited GPs entirely from within Wales. We have

recruited from other countries. That will continue to be the case.

Because medicine is an international, portable

qualification. It's a question of training GPs, yes, that's true. I

understand the importance of that. But also continuing to ensure that

qualified medical staff see Wales as an attractive place to live and work

in. TRANSLATION: Would the First

Minister agree with me that at present there is a lack of status in

being a GP and that includes the external image of the nature of the

job and also, within the profession, would the First Minister agree with

me that as part of the contribution to tackling the recruitment issue

that we could look at issues such as ensuring that students at 16 and 17

years old are appealed directly to go into general practice

specifically rather than just into medicine more generally and that

there is pressure to ensure there is a higher status and more prestige to

training to be a GP within wider medical training.

TRANSLATION: Well, surgeons with have a very different view on that.

But I understand the point. It's extremely important that we also

realise that the nature of the workforce is changing. There are

fewer and fewer people want to buy into a practice. They want more

freedom to move across Wales. They don't want to commit funding into a

practice. Some still do. Others don't. So what's important is that

we have sufficient number of models available in Wales that will appeal

to the greatest number of general practitioners in order to ensure

that there are ways of working that suit them, rather than thinking

there's just one way of working, which has been the same one for many

years. We must ensure there's a structure that's broad in order to

recruit more people. ( recruit more people.

TRANSLATION: What assessment has the First Minister made of the European

Union referendum result? TRANSLATION: A number, well of

course, the decision has been taken and that decision must be respected.

Our priority as a Government now will be to secure the future of the

people of Wales in order to ensure that future is a prosperous one.

TRANSLATION: Would you agree with me that the only way forward that would

respect the decision made by the people of Wales in last week's

referendum and also, gives the Welsh economy and Welsh businesses and

communities a decent chance is that we remain members of the single

market, that we remain members of the European Economic Area and that

we then proceed along those lines. Because last week's vote didn't

outline or didn't make any decision as to what sort of exit was being

considered. If you agree with me, what steps are you taking and you

have outlined the work in Brussels. You have told us what you can do

jointly with the Westminster Government. Will you be pressing for

that in Wales and will you, in so doing, you will have my support and

Plaid Cymru's support. TRANSLATION: As I said earlier, a

specialist team is going to be located in the Brussels office in

order to ensure that they're able to negotiate with the European

institutions in order to ensure that the voice of Wales is listened to.

We are part of the British system, but it's extremely important that we

have our own reach into the European institutions in order to ensure that

Wales doesn't lose out and that is what we intend doing. I cannot say,

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have access to

the single market because so many businesses in Wales are dependent on

that. The worst case scenario would be for us to return to the system

where the WTO system, 10% on cars, 15% on food stuffs that. Would be

the worst case scenario for Wales. We hope there'll be something better

on the table. But there's a great deal of work to be done before that.

I'm sure the First Minister will appreciate that members will want to

ensure the best outcomes for their constituencies. It's what we're

elected to do. I'm no different to that. I'm going to be taking this

opportunity to join the call for assurances for my own constituency,

which is Merthyr Tydfil, a constituency which has been a major

beneficiary of EU funding. It's helped a number of projects of

significant benefit to the local economy and communities. However,

it's not just the funding for the existing projects that are important

to my constituency. It's the proposed developments such as the

next stage of the dualing of the heads of the valley, which will be

crucial to the economic, the economy of the constituency. Whilst I've

noted that you have confirmed and I welcome that, that in any discussion

was Brexit negotiators you'll seek absolute assurance that's Wales will

receive no less funding from Brexit than we received prior to. Can I

seek further assurances that the financial support that you will be

seeking, the financial support necessary for the dualing of the A

465 and you will hold them to account if this is not delivered.

Absolutely. If the money is not made up by the UK Government, then it

follows logically that we won't be able to fund many of the projects

that are currently planned to be funded by European money. Because we

don't have that money. Without that money, many projects beyond the

period when the UK's left the European Union will not be able to

be funded unless that guarantee is forth coming. That is crucial for

our future. It's why I wrote to the Prime Minister yesterday in order to

get the guarantee that was put on the table. That means making sure

that Wales loses out not a penny. Not a penny, as a result of the

referendum last Thursday, regardless of how people voted, I do not

believe anybody voted for Wales to have less money.

The Welsh economy is the most exposed in the UK to any possible

downturn in trade in the EU or declining investment seeking access

to the single market. This has to be made known to those responsible for

the Brexit negotiations. It is true because we know there are many

companies in Wales who are here solely because of the access they

get on the single market. If they lose access, free access, they still

will be able to sell, but it is the terms of trade that are important.

If you are a company that has bases in the UK and other European

countries, if you find one manufacturing plant in the UK is to

have a five to 10% tariff and others are not, it is not going to take a

genius to work out where the investment will come from. We have

to have no tariff barriers and our biggest export market which is the

EU. The Welsh government have to tackle gambling addiction Wales. We

can seek powers to regulate fixed odds betting machines and we support

moves to increase the powers. People suffering with gambling addiction

can get advice and support through their GPs or gamblers anonymous.

Gambling addiction can lead to tough emotional, financial and side conch

-- psychological problems which are not of a visible until it has

reached crisis point. Early intervention and support is crucial.

The pioneering gambling risk and harm pilots carried out by Newport

Citizens Advice Bureau has highlighted the education of young

people is key to reducing the impact of gambling related harm. What plans

has the Welsh government got to make sure it has the same attention as

other addictions? It is hugely important that people see gambling

as an addiction, which it is. In the same way that people see alcoholism

as an addiction, drugs as an addiction. We are looking at ways in

which we can ensure fire our education system, that people

understand the dangers of gambling. It will be helpful from our

perspective or if we saw the devolution of powers in order that

they might be better regulated. I am pleased to hear you want to use the

regulatory powers which are available to curb problem gambling

in society. Around one in 50 men now are deemed to be gambling addicts

and that is very concerning and can have damaging effects on society. Do

you share the concern that has been expressed by those present at the

Cardiff conference, Beat The Odds, that there was insufficient work

being done to help gambling adducts in Wales. We have support here in

Cardiff and another charity which is Wales wide. Those are not available

in all parts of Wales as yet and there is an opportunity to develop

them. What work with your government do to ensure there is equal access

to such services in the future? The financial inclusion strategy will

look at how we can overlook further ways of helping people to deal with

gambling. Not long ago betting shops were behind closed doors and opaque

windows. Now it is everywhere. For those of us with the continuing

interest in the European Championship, we see every advert

where people are encouraged to cash in before it is finished. There are

fantastic opportunities for the gambling industry and for people to

become more addicted to gambling. That was First Minister's Questions.

If you want more coverage you can go online to our Senedd life page. That

is it for First Minister's Questions. We will be back next

week. Goodbye. I've brought you all here

to lay out a vision - a team of radio presenters

without equal. Actually, we're already...

Wynne Evans - singer, raconteur. I'm betting you'd also

be funny on radio. But what about your

own weekend show? Funnily enough...

Jason Mohammad, you've nailed TV think of the guests you could chat

with if only you were on radio. Owen Money, no-one works

an audience like you. Together, you'll create

the greatest radio team of all.