:00:31. > :00:34.Good afternoon, welcome to the programme. We're on a bit later
:00:34. > :00:37.today because of coverage of the Autumn Statement in the Commons,
:00:37. > :00:39.but it's proceedings from the Senedd we will concentrate on this
:00:39. > :00:41.afternoon, and First Minister's Questions from earlier, where
:00:41. > :00:48.politicians began their business by observing a minute's silence for
:00:48. > :00:54.the Wales manager, Gary Speed, who died on Sunday. I ask you to stand
:00:54. > :01:04.and observe a minute's's silence for Gary Speed, who had great
:01:04. > :01:04.
:01:04. > :02:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds
:02:06. > :02:14.success and popularity as an We moved to the questions for the
:02:14. > :02:18.First Minister. Will the First Minister make a statement on what
:02:18. > :02:26.the Welsh government is doing to support people with autism in
:02:26. > :02:35.Wales? Wales leads the way in improving the lives of people with
:02:35. > :02:43.autism. We have allocated over �2 autism. We have allocated over �2
:02:43. > :02:47.million this here -- this year. I've visited the Pembrokeshire
:02:47. > :02:50.autism Society recently to meet those people who are doing
:02:50. > :02:56.excellent work in raising awareness of the problems that impact on
:02:56. > :03:01.people with autism, and it is obvious that there is a problem
:03:01. > :03:07.with diagnostics. In some cases, it has taken up to seven years to
:03:07. > :03:12.carry out a diagnosis. Can the First Minister tell us what support
:03:12. > :03:22.the Welsh government is giving to local authorities and health boards
:03:22. > :03:24.
:03:24. > :03:34.in dealing with problems, such as autism diagnosis? That chaired of
:03:34. > :03:36.
:03:36. > :03:42.autism is in Cardiff. -- the chair. She has actually assessed autism
:03:42. > :03:47.services for children, and diagnostic services in Wales, and
:03:47. > :03:51.that report is being considered by Ministers, and once we have
:03:51. > :04:01.considered that report, it will be possible to insure that if there
:04:01. > :04:02.
:04:02. > :04:07.are problems, those problems are resolved. Last year, a group was
:04:07. > :04:12.set up to make recommendations on things such as the criminal justice
:04:12. > :04:18.system, education, and the impact of welfare support on the people
:04:18. > :04:25.with autism. The report is due to be submitted in March of this year.
:04:25. > :04:35.Can you advise on the status of that report? We are awaiting the
:04:35. > :04:36.
:04:36. > :04:40.final report. That report is due to be finalised next year. Will the
:04:40. > :04:50.First Minister update us on his plans for supporting businesses in
:04:50. > :05:06.
:05:06. > :05:13.a Wales? We will continue to listen to this business. The Chancellor's
:05:13. > :05:18.statement mentioned that there will be consequences for Wales, and he
:05:18. > :05:22.mentioned the M4, a vital artery for businesses in Wales. Has the
:05:22. > :05:25.First Minister had any discussions surrounding improvements to the M4,
:05:25. > :05:29.and how does your government propose to make the most of this
:05:29. > :05:38.valuable opportunity for Wales, given to us by the coalition
:05:38. > :05:42.government? We are pleased to the M4 was mentioned. I had raised at
:05:42. > :05:47.the issues are several times with the Prime Minister before. We await
:05:47. > :05:57.to see the scale of the consequences, but we expected to be
:05:57. > :06:03.around three under million pounds. -- �300 million. It is vital we
:06:04. > :06:07.continue to support businesses in Wales. However, can you confirm
:06:07. > :06:10.whether the Government is looking at simplified the sources of
:06:10. > :06:14.business support and advice to make business support and advice to make
:06:14. > :06:24.them easier to understand and access? It is important that
:06:24. > :06:30.
:06:30. > :06:37.businesses are able to access advice as seamlessly as possible.
:06:37. > :06:41.Thank you very much. Business rates relief is one way of giving
:06:41. > :06:47.assistance to small businesses, and the Government has established an
:06:47. > :06:55.inquiry into the chairmanship of Professor Brian Morgan. If he comes
:06:55. > :07:03.out in favour of the current scheme, and believes it should be enhanced
:07:03. > :07:10.and expanded, will the Government respond positively? In terms of the
:07:11. > :07:20.Chancellor's comments early on business rates, we are looking to
:07:20. > :07:30.the insured that business rates are available in Wales. -- looking to
:07:30. > :07:35.
:07:35. > :07:40.ensure. Wales spends more per head on the NHS than England, but we put
:07:40. > :07:42.up longer waiting times and lower standards of screenings. Do you
:07:42. > :07:48.standards of screenings. Do you agree it is time we made allow
:07:48. > :07:53.money work harder? Last week, I asked you to take action about
:07:53. > :07:58.vacant posts among doctors. We will bring forward the recruitment
:07:58. > :08:04.campaign in the early part of next year. We are not having the doctors
:08:04. > :08:07.arriving in Wales because immigration policy is too strict.
:08:07. > :08:11.The UK Immigration Minister suggested it was a good thing that
:08:11. > :08:16.fewer students and work visas were being issued. I cannot understand
:08:16. > :08:24.how that can be seen as anything other than a drain on away economy.
:08:24. > :08:29.Those vacancies mean a repeat -- a reduced service to patients. We
:08:30. > :08:39.need some urgency in bringing plans forwards. The Welsh manager has
:08:40. > :08:41.
:08:41. > :08:51.spent �12 million a year on doctors. -- the Welsh NHS. In that spirit,
:08:51. > :08:57.can I suggest another idea? Isn't it time to set up a local bank for
:08:57. > :09:06.doctors, to save money being spent on hiring locals? They have been
:09:06. > :09:10.any increase in staff working in the NHS. But there is a UK-wide
:09:10. > :09:14.shortage of doctors in some specialities. We want to ensure
:09:14. > :09:21.that Wales have the appropriate skill mix of staff to meet the
:09:21. > :09:29.fluctuating demand, and we are working with the BMA. I hope that
:09:29. > :09:37.you will look at the idea. It costs the NHS �35 for every GP
:09:37. > :09:41.appointment, but half of that cost for every community pharmacy
:09:41. > :09:51.appointment. If patients were to be seen by the pharmacist rather than
:09:51. > :09:51.
:09:51. > :09:55.their GP, �30 million will be saved every year. I have seen many
:09:55. > :10:04.community pharmacies who offer appointments and consulting rooms
:10:04. > :10:10.in a way that wasn't there two or three years ago. But one of the
:10:10. > :10:20.areas we continue to be vigilant about is the area about not turning
:10:20. > :10:26.up a GP appointments. -- up fought GP appointments. Last week, I
:10:26. > :10:31.raised the issue of accident and emergency wait times. You said that
:10:31. > :10:34.you didn't recognise the figures are put to you, but in fact, those
:10:34. > :10:42.are the figures that have taken over your government website. We
:10:42. > :10:51.have also had the most updated figures on weight times. Those
:10:52. > :10:55.figures now show only 89% of people are against the 95% target of your
:10:55. > :10:59.government. Can you answer the question as to what action your
:10:59. > :11:06.government is taking to improve the experience, both for clinicians and
:11:06. > :11:14.patience? We will continue to encourage people to go to out of
:11:14. > :11:19.hours GPs. And we will continue to be vigilant to ensure the spike in
:11:19. > :11:23.accident and emergency there occurs at this time is reduced. We are
:11:23. > :11:28.looking back to September and October, so the winter pressures
:11:28. > :11:32.haven't actually come into play yet. If I could take you back to
:11:32. > :11:39.procurement costs, another question I asked you two weeks ago, I
:11:39. > :11:43.highlighted the cost of business of bidding for contracts in the region
:11:43. > :11:52.of �20 million. A government figure that was put forward by the
:11:52. > :12:00.innovation board task force in February of this -- year. -- this
:12:00. > :12:08.year. What action is a government undertaking to make it an easier
:12:08. > :12:15.process to be put contracts? This was raised. It is a matter we are
:12:15. > :12:23.taking into consideration towed improve the procurement process. --
:12:23. > :12:28.to improve. I have given you two examples, where in the last couple
:12:28. > :12:38.of weeks, you have taken over the view that you do not recognise the
:12:38. > :12:38.
:12:38. > :12:41.figures I put to you. Over the summer term, your members of
:12:41. > :12:45.government cost �40 billion of spending. Do you not think it is
:12:45. > :12:50.time that your government started acting like a government, and
:12:50. > :12:54.taking a lead so that business can engage with the Welsh government,
:12:54. > :13:03.and patience and clinicians can actually get the treatment set down
:13:03. > :13:07.by your government's own targets? The UK government has taken up our
:13:07. > :13:15.idea of eight jobs fund, I notice. We are happy for the UK government
:13:15. > :13:20.to take our ideas when they are good ideas. -- a job Fund. His
:13:20. > :13:29.previous partly -- his previous party leader wanted to cut spending
:13:29. > :13:34.by 20%, and that was like! He is a blatant denial! The reality is,...
:13:34. > :13:43.There is no point shouting. He just played up to his reputation when he
:13:43. > :13:48.shouts. The reality is, that was the figure that his leader
:13:48. > :13:55.announced in the run-up to the last election, a figure which he has
:13:55. > :14:05.refused to recognised. A figure he will not distance and sup from. We
:14:05. > :14:06.
:14:06. > :14:16.know, when it comes to student fees, if he was in government, there
:14:16. > :14:18.
:14:18. > :14:22.would be 20% cuts. -- distance himself from. The UK economy will
:14:22. > :14:29.be in recession in the first quarter of next year, that is a
:14:29. > :14:33.prediction. This Day the economy born not grow more than 0.5%. --
:14:33. > :14:43.they are predicting that the economy. The Welsh economy will
:14:43. > :14:47.also be in recession for a lengthy period. They also estimate that
:14:47. > :14:51.employment -- unemployment in Wales could rise. You are saying that the
:14:51. > :15:01.UK government needs to change course, and I agree with you, but
:15:01. > :15:04.
:15:04. > :15:08.are you willing to change course? Well, the only thing Plaid Cymru
:15:08. > :15:11.have brought forward to the people of Wales is business rates, that is
:15:11. > :15:16.all, nothing else has been discovered over the past weeks.
:15:16. > :15:26.That was the limited package put before the people of Wales by Plaid
:15:26. > :15:30.Cymru. The reality is that we made a statement yesterday about �38.9
:15:30. > :15:35.million extra, and we will be discussing, after we have discussed
:15:35. > :15:41.with the Liberals how we will spend the money as a result of the
:15:41. > :15:45.Chancellor's statement today. The if I may say, First Minister, you
:15:45. > :15:50.have to a answer the question in terms of what you government is
:15:50. > :15:54.doing. It is not accurate to say that all we requested is around the
:15:54. > :15:59.issue of business rates. We asked for capital funds to assist the
:15:59. > :16:06.economy, we asked for funds for Enterprise Zones in Wales, funds to
:16:06. > :16:11.assist industry, we would also wish to see funds available for skills.
:16:11. > :16:14.People are out of work. But the reality, First Minister, is that it
:16:14. > :16:18.is easy enough for you to ask the London government to change course
:16:18. > :16:23.but you're not willing to change course at all. Maya ask a specific
:16:23. > :16:26.question on George Osborne's statement today. He said, and I
:16:26. > :16:29.heard the reaction you go to Nick Ramsay earlier, that �5 billion has
:16:29. > :16:35.been made available for capital investment and you say your share
:16:35. > :16:43.of that will be �1 million. We know that if the plan is to be the M
:16:43. > :16:46.four, where is the rest of that �700 million coming for? I heard
:16:46. > :16:53.George Osborne saying he wants to work with us as a government in
:16:53. > :16:57.order to deliver on the M4. As I said, the leader of Plaid Cymru was
:16:57. > :17:00.not correct. The only thing the leader of Plaid Cymru brought to us
:17:00. > :17:05.with figures attached was assistance with business rates. I
:17:05. > :17:10.am quite happy to make the e-mails public. Will you do the same?
:17:10. > :17:17.course, I would be more than happy to make everything public. This is
:17:17. > :17:20.just child's play, First Minister. The Welsh economy is haemorrhaging.
:17:20. > :17:24.One in four young people are out of work, and you're only response is
:17:24. > :17:28.to release an e-mail from the leader of Plaid Cymru. Let's take a
:17:28. > :17:32.reality check here. The Welsh economy is on its knees, and to
:17:32. > :17:38.have said today that you will not do anything about that. What does
:17:38. > :17:42.that say about the priorities of Labour in Wales? Answer the
:17:42. > :17:47.question. This is child's play indeed. The reality is we made a
:17:47. > :17:51.statement yesterday and there was another statement about �300
:17:51. > :17:55.million, and there will be another about the capital funding, and what
:17:56. > :18:00.did Plaid Cymru do? Nothing at all. No ideas apart from one they
:18:00. > :18:04.filched from Scotland, which was not Plaid Cymru's idea. It is
:18:04. > :18:10.extremely important that we have an agreement on a budget of course,
:18:10. > :18:16.but also that parties have ideas in order to move Wales forward. Not
:18:16. > :18:20.admitting that the tank of ideas is empty. Elin Jones. What discussions
:18:20. > :18:24.has the First Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social
:18:24. > :18:31.Services on the future of the health service? I regularly discuss
:18:31. > :18:35.the future priorities of the health service for Wales. The whole of our
:18:35. > :18:40.Health Board has said recently that they are very eager to hold
:18:40. > :18:44.discussions with local people about their plans for reviewing clinical
:18:44. > :18:54.services. Last Thursday, they made another statement stating that they
:18:54. > :19:02.
:19:02. > :19:12.wish to consult with people... Do you agree with me that health
:19:12. > :19:18.
:19:18. > :19:28.I believe that is important. It is vitally important that people have
:19:28. > :19:34.
:19:34. > :19:41.It is important that the relevant officers and officials are present
:19:41. > :19:44.at those meetings. My constituents and I are concerned about potential
:19:44. > :19:49.downgrading and centralisation of services away from the hospital in
:19:49. > :19:54.Aberystwyth. Residents in Powys rely heavily on a hospital,
:19:54. > :19:58.especially in the west of the county. We could see the local
:19:58. > :20:02.health board completely remove emergency operations, forcing
:20:02. > :20:07.people to travel unreasonable amount of times for essential care.
:20:07. > :20:11.The health minister said on the first of the member, I don't want
:20:11. > :20:18.to hear anything about downgrading. We want to see improved services
:20:18. > :20:22.right across Wales. Nobody is suggesting downgrading any district
:20:22. > :20:26.general hospital. If you look at a hospital in Aberystwyth, it is
:20:26. > :20:35.almost surrounded by building, is that a sign of a hospital being
:20:35. > :20:41.downgraded? Given the proposed reconfiguration of the health
:20:41. > :20:44.service as being put forward by local health boards, it is more
:20:44. > :20:48.important to get the joint co- operation between health and social
:20:49. > :20:52.services, not just for efficiency but also to ensure that patients
:20:52. > :20:56.and people in their homes have the best possible care in the best
:20:56. > :21:02.possible environment. Can I ask for your specific plans to drive that
:21:02. > :21:06.agenda for what? We are taking a number of initiatives forward to
:21:06. > :21:11.see how transfers will work between hospitals and people as they go
:21:11. > :21:17.home, and there is scope in the social services bill to see that
:21:17. > :21:22.done. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote Wales in the World
:21:22. > :21:27.Travel Market? Visit Wales doesn't generally attend specific travel,
:21:27. > :21:33.tourism and trade events in East -- unless there are specific details
:21:33. > :21:39.for Wales. We have a focus on direct customer relations
:21:39. > :21:42.management. Thank you. As you indicate the World Travel Market is
:21:42. > :21:52.a five-day event held in London, the world's leading global event
:21:52. > :21:56.
:21:56. > :22:01.for the travel industry, providing exhibits. The industry provides
:22:01. > :22:04.some 72,000 jobs, so why was the Welsh Government's tourism are not
:22:04. > :22:11.present when exhibitors present included visit England, visit
:22:11. > :22:19.Scotland, Birmingham, Devon, East Yorkshire, Kent, Cornwall, Isle of
:22:19. > :22:23.Man, travel agent -- violence, various tourist attractions and
:22:23. > :22:27.other UK-based bodies. Many people contacted me to ask why their own
:22:27. > :22:32.visit body was not alongside these are the bodies promoting Wales.
:22:32. > :22:36.Visit Wales attends a number of events to North Wales but they are
:22:36. > :22:41.examined according to what their return might be. Yes it might be
:22:41. > :22:45.true that there are stands there but what they get out of it? We
:22:45. > :22:51.want to ensure that when we spend money on promoting Wales as a
:22:51. > :22:55.tourist destination, that the money is spent most effectively. Minister,
:22:55. > :22:58.I recently met with South Wales Chamber of Commerce who said that
:22:58. > :23:01.air travel booking companies from England are being used to book
:23:01. > :23:07.business trips for Wells firms and higher-education institutions,
:23:07. > :23:11.which means that travel for those people from Bristol all-London
:23:11. > :23:15.comes before Cardiff. Is there anything you can do to stop this
:23:15. > :23:19.trend so Cardiff Airport is seen as central to the economic policy of
:23:19. > :23:23.Wales? I don't think I can do much to tell businesses have to book
:23:23. > :23:27.their trouble, no, but to raise an important point about Cardiff
:23:27. > :23:31.airport. I share the concern expressed in this chamber about the
:23:31. > :23:35.fortunes of Cardiff Airport, and much work is being done to ensure
:23:35. > :23:42.that the airport moves forward in the future and does gain more
:23:42. > :23:46.custom. The UK government recently announced �3 million of funding for
:23:46. > :23:50.a marketing campaign to boost tourism in relation to the Olympic
:23:50. > :23:55.and Paralympic Games next year, and obviously, as could Cardiff is an
:23:55. > :24:00.Olympic venue next year, -- as Cardiff is a venue next year, this
:24:00. > :24:03.could be a UK-wide marketing campaign. Can I ask you to confirm
:24:03. > :24:11.whether your officials have been involved in discussions on how to
:24:11. > :24:14.spend a plan for this funding question mark yes, they have.
:24:15. > :24:21.steps will the First Minister take to improve the health of the
:24:21. > :24:31.nation? Well, our five-year vision for the National Health Service in
:24:31. > :24:37.
:24:37. > :24:40.There is an increase in liver cancer of 70 per cent in Wales and
:24:40. > :24:46.the chief executive of the British liver Trust has described the
:24:46. > :24:52.current policy on alcohol as a joke. The previous government had a
:24:52. > :24:56.policy to devolve alcohol licensing and have a minimum price for
:24:56. > :25:01.alcohol in Wales. Is that your policy now, and when I you likely
:25:01. > :25:05.to implement such a policy? Yes, it is. As regards alcohol licensing, I
:25:05. > :25:10.think it is very relevant here in the Assembly, because historically,
:25:10. > :25:15.the reason it wasn't devolved was because it was part of the Home
:25:15. > :25:20.Office's remit, and no other reason. As regards alcohol pricing, the
:25:20. > :25:23.major problem, this will be a problem in Scotland, if you have
:25:23. > :25:27.different prices on each side of the border, people just cross the
:25:27. > :25:32.border and buy it on the other side of the border, and this will be a
:25:32. > :25:40.problem in Scotland if they proceed in Scotland with their policy on
:25:40. > :25:44.alcohol pricing, so it would be much more effective if the policy
:25:44. > :25:48.was the same in England, Scotland and Wales, in order to ensure there
:25:48. > :25:55.was no difference in alcohol prices between the three nations. Bearing
:25:55. > :25:59.in mind, of course, that we must ensure that that price goes up.
:25:59. > :26:04.am aware that E-coli related deaths of people in Singleton hospital
:26:04. > :26:11.recently were not related to poor hygiene but in the minds of
:26:11. > :26:15.ordinary people, it raises the issue of E coli poisoning. Could
:26:15. > :26:19.the First Minister tell us of his plans to bring forward the scores
:26:19. > :26:23.on the doors legislation which would reassure people. We intend to
:26:23. > :26:30.consult on the introduction of the Food Hygiene rating Bill next month,
:26:30. > :26:34.and on top of that, I have asked the FSA to review food law
:26:34. > :26:42.enforcement by local authorities in Wales, and I expect the addendum to
:26:42. > :26:47.the report to be published shortly. One third of Welsh children are now
:26:47. > :26:52.overweight or obese. That is dreadful news. The British Medical
:26:52. > :26:56.Journal has said that rising levels of obesity could bankrupt the NHS.
:26:56. > :27:00.Will your government pledged to introduce annual public health
:27:00. > :27:04.campaigns specifically to tackle the serious issues? Are you
:27:04. > :27:10.confident that levels of child to do the city in Wales will fall
:27:10. > :27:13.under your administration? -- levels of child obesity. When it
:27:13. > :27:18.comes to children, we have healthy food records in schools, of course,
:27:18. > :27:21.and we have seen the expansion of Committee food couple of Dutch co-
:27:21. > :27:26.operative encouraging people to eat healthily and get their fight the
:27:26. > :27:29.day of fruit and vegetables. We have brought in three swimming at
:27:29. > :27:33.local-authority pause during weekends and in school holidays,
:27:33. > :27:43.and we continue to ensure that while children are in school they
:27:43. > :27:43.
:27:43. > :27:46.can eat healthily to ensure... Despite the level of building
:27:46. > :27:50.activity currently at the hospital in Aberystwyth, there has been a
:27:50. > :27:55.number of -- over last number of years been services withdrawn, most
:27:55. > :27:59.recently, which caused considerable concern, in September, the
:27:59. > :28:03.withdrawal of the maxillofacial clinic which had operated there
:28:03. > :28:09.since the 1980s and have been routinely recognising early signs
:28:09. > :28:13.of oral cancer. Would you agree with me at that it is very
:28:13. > :28:18.important that the health board when considering its formal -- Ford
:28:18. > :28:22.plan, should take into account patience in the South whenever and
:28:22. > :28:27.Western Powys area as well as Ceredigion, to be listening to
:28:27. > :28:32.local residents within the Ceredigion area? A hospital covers
:28:32. > :28:36.a large area and I'm sure the alleged be will consider the
:28:36. > :28:41.services provided there. Of course, we have an issue in many hospitals
:28:41. > :28:44.further west where consultants may retire and it becomes exceptionally
:28:44. > :28:49.difficult to find somebody to replace them, which is why we are
:28:49. > :28:52.launching the campaign to attract more doctors in to Wales to
:28:52. > :29:01.overcome this historic problem that has been their of medical
:29:01. > :29:04.practitioners reluctant to cross the border. We need to address that.
:29:04. > :29:09.Will you outline the assistance available from the Welsh Government
:29:09. > :29:13.to help Welsh Remploy factories secure future contracts? Our aim is
:29:13. > :29:19.to increase interaction between the public sector and business is based
:29:19. > :29:22.in Wales, and a broader strategy is being developed for the whole of
:29:22. > :29:27.the support of the business sector in Wales, including Remploy, to
:29:27. > :29:30.help them run the business. recently had the pleasure of
:29:30. > :29:35.visiting the Porth Remploy factory, which although not in my
:29:35. > :29:39.constituency has a number of my constituents working there. It is a
:29:39. > :29:43.specialist factory recycling computers, electronic waste and
:29:43. > :29:47.climbs in data and so on. I am very pleased that Rhondda Cynon Taf
:29:47. > :29:52.Council has recently looked to procuring those local services from
:29:52. > :29:55.the local council. Unfortunately they don't seem to be any meetings
:29:55. > :29:59.between these services with other local authorities. Would you
:29:59. > :30:09.encourage other local authorities to follow the example of Rhondda
:30:09. > :30:22.
:30:22. > :30:28.What action can be Welsh government take to meet the suggestion in the
:30:28. > :30:34.review into employment services for disabled people that employees in
:30:34. > :30:44.Remploy should be offered business support to develop their businesses
:30:44. > :30:47.
:30:47. > :30:52.where possible? Offering business support means week will have to
:30:52. > :30:57.sack you! We would rather see Remploy factory stay open!
:30:57. > :31:03.recently attended the Remploy factory in Porth as well and was
:31:03. > :31:09.told that if that factory secured the public procurement contract,
:31:10. > :31:15.then the business would be viable. In reality, public sector services
:31:15. > :31:19.have reduced by two-thirds in the last three years. Can you update us
:31:19. > :31:26.about what discussions you have undertaken to secured the future of
:31:26. > :31:36.Remploy, and specifically, what you can do to ensure that Remploy have
:31:36. > :31:40.access to public contracts to ensure their long-term viability?
:31:40. > :31:50.have raised this issue with the Secretary of State in a meeting
:31:50. > :31:51.
:31:51. > :31:54.with her, and asked her to consider the mechanics of the financing of
:31:54. > :31:59.Remploy. Will the First Minister outline what actions the Government
:31:59. > :32:09.is taking to introduce a living wage in Wales? We have commissioned
:32:09. > :32:11.
:32:11. > :32:15.research into this. That research is due to be made available next
:32:15. > :32:19.year. The living wage does not only help the people receiving it, it
:32:19. > :32:25.helps the economy by having more money into the economy, and it also
:32:25. > :32:31.helps companies having a better workforce. What can the Government
:32:31. > :32:41.do to enthuse employers to move towards a living wage? This seeks
:32:41. > :32:50.
:32:50. > :32:56.debt encourage employers. -- this seeks to encourage. Camber First
:32:57. > :33:06.Minister confirm what discussions he has had with representatives of
:33:06. > :33:16.the Low Pay Commission? -- cannot the First Minister. The youth raids
:33:16. > :33:16.
:33:16. > :33:22.in particular. -- the youth rates in particular. Can he confirm what
:33:22. > :33:32.calculations are modelling the Government of introducing a minimum
:33:32. > :33:33.
:33:33. > :33:37.wage, or minimum wage, on 16 to 17- year-old. I know the party opposite
:33:37. > :33:47.are opposed to the minimum wage. Among the things they want to do,
:33:47. > :33:53.
:33:53. > :33:57.they want to get rid of two-a-penny regulations. -- 2p a few pence. I
:33:57. > :34:05.take third lessons of the party opposite. If they had their way,
:34:05. > :34:11.they would squeeze the poorest people as hard as possible. May I
:34:11. > :34:16.endorse what you say about regional pay, and George Osborne's statement
:34:16. > :34:22.on this matter? This will lead to lower wages in the public sector in
:34:22. > :34:27.Wales, and that means that the impact of the increase in living
:34:27. > :34:36.costs it is going to be either a worse in Wales. What would you do
:34:36. > :34:40.about it as a government? -- are going to be worse in Wales. What we
:34:40. > :34:49.do to ensure that those people affected by a regional pay will not
:34:49. > :34:54.suffer more in Wales than in other parts of the UK? It is true to say
:34:54. > :34:59.that we have had more money for capital. But if there is that
:34:59. > :35:04.people will have to pay for it one way or another. Whether that big
:35:04. > :35:12.cuts in nurses or social workers, it is them at that will see cuts in
:35:12. > :35:15.their income to pay for what we have seen today. The Government is
:35:15. > :35:19.fighting these changes, and considering whether it will be
:35:20. > :35:24.possible to ensure that we as a government in Wales to control pay
:35:24. > :35:34.in Wales. We will have to consider that if UK government progresses
:35:34. > :35:41.
:35:42. > :35:50.with the plans they set out to be able stop --. We are keen to ensure
:35:50. > :35:55.that all employers adopt the living wage and voluntarily. -- living
:35:55. > :35:58.wage of voluntarily. Will the First Minister make a statement on how
:35:58. > :36:04.the Welsh government is ensuring that health boards and local
:36:04. > :36:06.authorities are working closer together? There are many good
:36:06. > :36:10.examples of collaborative initiatives between local
:36:10. > :36:20.authorities and health boards across Wales. That is something we
:36:20. > :36:23.
:36:23. > :36:30.want to progress. Recently, there were various services are used, but
:36:30. > :36:34.not the actual building. There were fewer visits to hospitals as a
:36:34. > :36:39.result. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming this?
:36:39. > :36:44.course, these wards have demonstrated that they can provide
:36:44. > :36:50.benefits for people with long-term health problems, and we have seen
:36:50. > :36:59.this developing in other parts of the UK. A very good example of the
:36:59. > :37:05.corporation is the project. Best practice becomes common practice.
:37:05. > :37:12.With the care -- would the First Minister suggest how this is shown
:37:12. > :37:19.across Wales? This is an excellent example of what is being done to
:37:19. > :37:28.the local health board. It is a model we believe can be adopted by
:37:28. > :37:33.local authorities, and local bodies across the rest of the UK. Tomorrow,
:37:33. > :37:42.nurses and Kent workers will be among those striking to protect
:37:42. > :37:48.their penchant. -- care workers. What discussions have you had to
:37:48. > :37:52.ensure these people are protected? -- at their pensions. There is
:37:52. > :38:01.agreement to ensure that those people who need emergency treatment
:38:01. > :38:11.will receive it. Will the First Minister make a statement outlining
:38:11. > :38:13.
:38:13. > :38:21.the policies for the South East Wales region? Also, the toll, which
:38:21. > :38:25.will increase by �6, why did the Welsh government say that an
:38:25. > :38:31.independent study into the impact of toll would be commissioned in
:38:31. > :38:38.spring, 2011? 16 months on, no report has been published, and the
:38:39. > :38:43.Welsh government has only recently appointed a consortium to undertake
:38:43. > :38:53.the study. Can you explain why there has been such a long delay in
:38:53. > :38:58.
:38:58. > :39:05.this matter? Did he say toll? That President -- that is a matter for
:39:06. > :39:11.the Department of Transport. Even the Humber Bridge has had its toll
:39:11. > :39:21.1/2 to. No such courtesy was extended to the Severn Bridge. --
:39:21. > :39:21.
:39:21. > :39:29.halved. In my 12 years as an am, I have worked closely with women's
:39:29. > :39:33.aid. Last week, one of Clyde's most senior politicians accused Welsh
:39:33. > :39:38.women's aid of supporting groups took a motion the abused children.
:39:39. > :39:44.Like many others, I found this very offensive, especially as these
:39:44. > :39:51.remarks were made on a white ribbon that day. I want to assure all
:39:51. > :39:57.parties that we would distance ourselves from these remarks. When
:39:57. > :40:06.you join me today in commending the fantastic work Welsh women's 82,
:40:06. > :40:13.day-in day out, it would abused women across Wales? Yes I would.
:40:13. > :40:20.Twitter is a dangerous thing. You are right. The words you used by a
:40:20. > :40:26.direct quote from the words the council-owned used. He goes on to
:40:26. > :40:36.say that the organisation helps to abuse children. I hope the party
:40:36. > :40:44.condemns those remarks. They are wholly inappropriate. No problem,
:40:44. > :40:47.First Minister. I it agree with you 100%. Well, that's it for First
:40:47. > :40:57.Minister's Questions this week. You can see more proceedings from the
:40:57. > :40:57.
:40:57. > :41:07.National Assembly on BBC Wales' Our Welsh Affairs editor, Vaughan
:41:07. > :41:10.
:41:10. > :41:15.Roderick, joins me now. The Chancellor's party colleague didn't
:41:15. > :41:21.mention a during his questions. That was very odd. You would have
:41:21. > :41:26.thought that anyone would note the Autumn Statement was coming today,
:41:26. > :41:32.they would know it would be dominating the news agenda. He knew
:41:32. > :41:37.what was in it. It was a bit of a surprise that he went off on a
:41:37. > :41:45.subject that would receive little attention from the Welsh and media.
:41:45. > :41:50.-- press and media. I had the feeling he might fill a jilted?
:41:50. > :42:00.They were a bit like an estranged couple, weren't they? Both accusing
:42:00. > :42:05.each other of child's playful stop -- chart's play. It wasn't a very
:42:05. > :42:11.edifying. On the other hand, thanks to the Autumn Statement, we know
:42:12. > :42:18.that there is around �300 million over three years as Carwyn Jones
:42:18. > :42:26.told us. Maybe there are things the Government will do anything --
:42:26. > :42:34.anyway. We know that a deal was done over the budget, some �20
:42:34. > :42:38.million was given away, if you like, to the Lib Dems. Them we see
:42:38. > :42:45.figures of �300 million, it makes up budget negotiations to be quite
:42:45. > :42:49.small. It depends which way you look at it. �20 million, in terms
:42:49. > :42:59.of the Assembly budget is more, but look at the politics of it. Lib
:42:59. > :43:01.
:43:01. > :43:07.Dems are facing difficult local elections. The knock-on effect is
:43:07. > :43:13.that, in some council areas, Labour and Lib Dems go head-to-head, for
:43:13. > :43:19.example Swansea, Bridgend and even Cardiff. What will be the effect on
:43:19. > :43:29.council elections? It will give the Lib Dems a little bit of hope in
:43:29. > :43:31.
:43:31. > :43:34.Labour-held wards. It will be a defensive battle for them. We have
:43:34. > :43:41.got the budget negotiations next week, and that will go through, it
:43:41. > :43:47.won't it? Yes, it will. There are still discussions to be held on
:43:47. > :43:50.that �300 million. That's it for today. I'll be back