:00:20. > :00:25.Good afternoon. Welcome to the programme, and our weekly coverage
:00:26. > :00:29.of questions to the First Minister. The final question session ahead of
:00:30. > :00:33.Thursday's general election. Assembly Members have just returned
:00:34. > :00:37.from a half term break. No doubt many of them were out working the
:00:38. > :00:41.campaign trail. I do expect Thursday's vote to pop up. We will
:00:42. > :00:45.also have a statement from the First Minister on recent terror attacks.
:00:46. > :00:52.You can follow all the latest on Welsh politics on the Twitter feed.
:00:53. > :00:58.Business in the chamber is already under way. Let's look at the
:00:59. > :01:02.session. TRANSLATION: I called the National Assembly to order. Firstly,
:01:03. > :01:07.it is my sad duty to date, as it was this time a fortnight ago, to extend
:01:08. > :01:13.my condolences on the half of all Assembly Members to those affected
:01:14. > :01:23.by another terrorist attack. This time, in London. Once again, this
:01:24. > :01:27.was a cowardly and brutal attack. I invite the First Minister to make a
:01:28. > :01:31.statement. It is with the greatest sadness that we find ourselves again
:01:32. > :01:36.pausing our proceedings to pay tribute to our fellow citizens and,
:01:37. > :01:42.of course, visitors from abroad, who were caught up in the atrocities in
:01:43. > :01:46.London on Saturday night. The great cruelty of this terrorism is its
:01:47. > :01:52.random nature. People of malign intent can strike anywhere and they
:01:53. > :01:57.do not need sophisticated weapons to inflict their cruelty. The area
:01:58. > :02:02.around London Bridge and Borough Market will be familiar to many of
:02:03. > :02:06.us, just as in Manchester, the week before, the terrorists chose to
:02:07. > :02:14.strike mostly young people going about their weekend leisure
:02:15. > :02:18.activities. The terrorists can never win. This is a free country and
:02:19. > :02:21.people live how they choose to live, in peace, and according to law.
:02:22. > :02:28.Nobody has the right to tell anyone else how to live. No one has,
:02:29. > :02:35.either, the right, of course, to threaten or to intimidate. An attack
:02:36. > :02:43.on any of us is an attack on all of us. We stand together and we will
:02:44. > :02:47.continue to live in freedom. I have written to the Mayor of London,
:02:48. > :02:52.Sadiq Khan, to express condolences and solidarity of the Welsh people.
:02:53. > :02:57.I know that I speak for this chamber and the people of Wales as a whole
:02:58. > :03:06.when I say that we stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with London.
:03:07. > :03:12.TRANSLATION: Thank you, First Minister, for speaking on behalf of
:03:13. > :03:16.us all. The first item of business, therefore, is questions to the First
:03:17. > :03:21.Minister. The first question is from Jenni Russell one. What is the First
:03:22. > :03:25.Minister's assessment for the invocations for Wales of no trade
:03:26. > :03:33.deal with the EU? Well, no deal is the worst deal. We know that no deal
:03:34. > :03:36.would mean trading under World Trade Organisation rules. Nobody wants
:03:37. > :03:39.that on either side of the debate. We know that would put in place
:03:40. > :03:46.significant barriers to Welsh exports into our biggest and most
:03:47. > :03:50.important market. Thank you, First Minister. I find it difficult to
:03:51. > :03:56.understand how Theresa May continues to say that no deal would be better
:03:57. > :04:00.than a bad deal. I struggle to understand what the difference is.
:04:01. > :04:03.This is something that journalists don't seem to have asked her, or
:04:04. > :04:10.don't have the opportunity to ask her. I have read that some experts
:04:11. > :04:14.say it could cost as much as ?45 billion if we crash out of the EU,
:04:15. > :04:20.compared with half of that if we come out with a negotiated deal.
:04:21. > :04:26.What is the First Minister's assessment of what would happen to
:04:27. > :04:32.Wales and Welsh trade with Europe if there is no deal? Well, 67% of
:04:33. > :04:40.exports go to the European market. Any obstacle that would be faced by
:04:41. > :04:45.exporters is bound to be bad for them. The extra costs are bound to
:04:46. > :04:48.be bad for them. That is why it is hugely important that Brexit is
:04:49. > :04:54.handled in a realistic way, not the naivete that we have seen from some
:04:55. > :04:57.saying, well, the Germans will never allow WTO rules to operate. I think
:04:58. > :05:03.there has to be realism. Above all else, we have to secure a Brexit
:05:04. > :05:06.that is a sensible Brexit and, above all else, one that does not affect
:05:07. > :05:13.in a negative way the economy of Wales. I am sure you agree that we
:05:14. > :05:18.should be aiming for a good deal, a good deal for the United Kingdom, a
:05:19. > :05:21.good deal for Wales and a good deal for the European Union. I am very
:05:22. > :05:28.confident that is what will happen. Can I just refer you to the UK
:05:29. > :05:33.economic outlook published in November 2016, which did identify,
:05:34. > :05:41.and this was on the trends before Brexit, that exports to EU markets
:05:42. > :05:47.were likely to go down to about 37% by 2030. That's the UK figure, not
:05:48. > :05:50.just Wales. It's very important we develop markets outside Europe that
:05:51. > :05:54.are closest to us, particularly North America, Africa and the Middle
:05:55. > :05:59.East. I hope that your trade policy will focus on these markets, as well
:06:00. > :06:04.as, of course, taking advantage of whatever the relationships we now
:06:05. > :06:09.secure with the EU. Very much so. We work with markets anywhere and
:06:10. > :06:14.everywhere for Welsh produce. When I was Rural Affairs Minister, I spent
:06:15. > :06:16.much of my time getting Welsh lamb export it to the United Arab
:06:17. > :06:21.Emirates, and we know that Welsh lamb is exported around the world.
:06:22. > :06:24.We should not think it is a choice between accessing the European
:06:25. > :06:28.market or accessing other markets. The European market is much bigger
:06:29. > :06:33.than the US market and the US is further away. The EU, it will share
:06:34. > :06:37.a land border with us. The European market will continue to be our most
:06:38. > :06:40.important market for many years to come, which is why it is important
:06:41. > :06:50.to get a good deal that benefits all and, above all else, allows us to
:06:51. > :06:54.sell without obstacle. TRANSLATION: Thank you, according to the leaflet
:06:55. > :06:57.I received from the Liberal Democrats on Monday in Aberystwyth,
:06:58. > :07:04.we Plaid Cymru, and Labour are in bed with the Tories and Ukip on the
:07:05. > :07:07.hard Brexit deal. I would be interested to know what kind of
:07:08. > :07:11.Cabinet discussions you have had with the Liberal Democrats on
:07:12. > :07:16.achieving this extreme Brexit. In the hope that you are not going to
:07:17. > :07:22.deliver that, can I ask you how we can get to a position where tariff
:07:23. > :07:25.free access to single markets, from agriculture to manufacturing in
:07:26. > :07:29.Wales, with our partners in Europe, can be achieved without maintaining
:07:30. > :07:35.some sort of membership of the single market? TRANSLATION: I don't
:07:36. > :07:41.want to fear in the politics of Ceredigion. I did see what Mark
:07:42. > :07:48.Williams had said. I don't accuse Plaid Cymru of being in favour of an
:07:49. > :07:54.extreme Brexit at all. But how can we ensure that an extreme Brexit
:07:55. > :07:59.doesn't happen when the white paper shows away, and it has been agreed
:08:00. > :08:05.between three parties in this place. To me, that demonstrates, or shows
:08:06. > :08:11.the way forward. As regards how Brexit should be implemented over
:08:12. > :08:14.the ensuing years. TRANSLATION: Question to Adam Price. Does the
:08:15. > :08:22.Welsh government have all the information it needs an how to make
:08:23. > :08:26.a decision to provide the financial support required? We are awaiting
:08:27. > :08:29.reports from advisers to complete the due diligence process. We will
:08:30. > :08:35.be in the position to take a decision before the end of the
:08:36. > :08:39.month. I think people will draw their own conclusion on why this
:08:40. > :08:44.decision has been pushed beyond the general election. On the wider
:08:45. > :08:51.theme... On the wider theme of openness, I have been told in
:08:52. > :08:55.written answers by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Structure And
:08:56. > :09:00.Skills, that the idea of an 85% government guarantee, the heart of
:09:01. > :09:05.the proposal that was rejected last year, was first suggested by the
:09:06. > :09:09.company in mid-April 20 16. That is not accurate, First Minister. It was
:09:10. > :09:15.your government, with the direct knowledge of your own private
:09:16. > :09:18.office, that suggested this as an alternative to a 100% guarantee in
:09:19. > :09:23.the first week of April. Will you now take the opportunity to correct
:09:24. > :09:27.the record? I can say that the model that is being examined now is not
:09:28. > :09:30.that the model, it is a wholly different model. He makes the
:09:31. > :09:38.insinuation that somehow this has been pushed back, for some insidious
:09:39. > :09:42.reason. I can tell him, unlike him, we carry out due diligence. People
:09:43. > :09:46.expect that. They want to be sure. We want to see it delivered, but it
:09:47. > :09:49.has to be delivered on a sustainable basis. They would expect us to look
:09:50. > :09:54.at this very carefully to make sure the project stands upon its own for
:09:55. > :09:57.years to come. We have received the majority of reports already. The
:09:58. > :10:01.remaining reports, we expect to see in the course of this week. There is
:10:02. > :10:05.no strange thing going on there. That is because we awaited further
:10:06. > :10:14.information from the Heads Of The Valleys Information Commission
:10:15. > :10:17.beforehand. Officials are preparing a conference of report. There will
:10:18. > :10:22.be a Cabinet paper drafted and the decision will be taken before the
:10:23. > :10:25.end of the month. Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, I
:10:26. > :10:29.very much welcome your positive statement about wanting the circuit
:10:30. > :10:33.to succeed. As you are aware, some of the biggest names in automotive
:10:34. > :10:39.engineering and research have written to you. Aston Martin, TVR,
:10:40. > :10:42.demonstrating confidence in the project and urging a swift and
:10:43. > :10:47.positive decision. Are you able to confirm what date the Cabinet is
:10:48. > :10:50.likely to meet to make a decision on this? I would expect the Cabinet to
:10:51. > :10:53.meet in the course of the next fortnight, with the decision taken
:10:54. > :10:57.at a Cabinet meeting. That is the plan at this moment in time. We want
:10:58. > :11:02.to get this dealt with, obviously. The people of Gwent want to as well.
:11:03. > :11:07.I understand the great enthusiasm of the project. We have to make sure
:11:08. > :11:12.that the project stacks up on its own, that the level of risk is
:11:13. > :11:16.acceptable, that there is input from the private sector. That is what we
:11:17. > :11:20.have been working with, with the Circuit of Wales team. We want to be
:11:21. > :11:24.in a position where we can look at a sustainable model in a fortnight's
:11:25. > :11:29.time. What I would like to do is deliver the circuit of Wales but we
:11:30. > :11:41.have to make sure the model is robust. That is the point we are at
:11:42. > :11:46.now. On the 17th of May, he stated that due diligence is an important
:11:47. > :11:51.part of concentration in financing every project and he would not short
:11:52. > :11:56.cut that process. Recently it was claimed that the Service of Wales
:11:57. > :12:00.project could be lost to Scotland if the Welsh government did not make a
:12:01. > :12:05.decision soon. Will you confirm the scaremongering such as this will not
:12:06. > :12:10.result in decision-making taking place until the most rigorous
:12:11. > :12:14.assessment of the viability and economic benefit of this project has
:12:15. > :12:21.been made or completed by your government? People would expect us
:12:22. > :12:28.as a government to examine any project, particularly one with this
:12:29. > :12:32.importance and size, very, very much in great detail, to make sure we are
:12:33. > :12:35.satisfied, if we are being asked to deliver support. Private sector
:12:36. > :12:41.investors would do exactly the same thing. On these benches, we want to
:12:42. > :12:44.see the project move forward. It is important for all concerned,
:12:45. > :12:47.including people of Blaenau Gwent, that the fullest examination of the
:12:48. > :12:52.proposal is done, in order to provide reassurance for the future.
:12:53. > :13:00.TRANSLATION: Questions from the party leaders. Thank you Presiding
:13:01. > :13:04.Officer. Could I identify myself with the comments you made about the
:13:05. > :13:07.tragedies in London earlier on in the week. Obviously we do stand
:13:08. > :13:11.shoulder to shoulder with the citizens of London and Manchester
:13:12. > :13:17.and ultimately, by getting about our normal way of life, we are defeating
:13:18. > :13:20.these terrorists, these thugs, who are inflicting such terrible,
:13:21. > :13:23.terrible tragedies on some of our communities and whilst we might live
:13:24. > :13:26.in Wales, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities in
:13:27. > :13:30.London and anywhere elsewhere people feel under threat. I would like to
:13:31. > :13:34.ask you, with that in mind, that the general election now on Thursday,
:13:35. > :13:39.obviously people will be voting on commitments made by the parties. You
:13:40. > :13:42.yesterday in your role as First Minister said Labour, if they were
:13:43. > :13:47.to win on Thursday, would get rid of the Barnett formula. Yet today,
:13:48. > :13:51.we've had Scottish Labour firmly coming out and saying that there are
:13:52. > :14:00.no plans to get rid of the Barnett formula. Who's right? I've spoke ton
:14:01. > :14:05.Kezia Dugdale. We know the Conservatives will take money away
:14:06. > :14:10.from both Wales and Scotland. The situation is simply this: That upon
:14:11. > :14:14.the election of a Labour Government, Barnett would remain in place in the
:14:15. > :14:17.short-term. There would then be a long-term funding formula put in
:14:18. > :14:21.place according to the needs of the nations and regions of the UK,
:14:22. > :14:25.ensuring that no part of the UK is unfairly disadvantaged. Barnett will
:14:26. > :14:29.come to an end at that time. I wonder where the commitment from the
:14:30. > :14:34.Conservatives is to ensure fair funding from Wales. As well you
:14:35. > :14:38.know, the agreement between the Welsh and Westminster Government put
:14:39. > :14:40.the funding floor in place warmly endorsed by your Finance Minister
:14:41. > :14:44.only in December last year. 13 years, due nothing. That's not quite
:14:45. > :14:46.what the Scottish Conservatives are saying. I offered you the
:14:47. > :14:52.opportunity to actually clarify your position. Because you were very
:14:53. > :14:56.robust last night saying that the Barnett formula would be scrapped.
:14:57. > :15:01.What the Scottish Labour Party are saying is that there will be no
:15:02. > :15:05.scrapping of the Barnett formula this is their words, not to scrap
:15:06. > :15:08.the Barnett formula and all that is merely proposed in the next
:15:09. > :15:13.Parliament, these are their words, a long-term scone saltation to --
:15:14. > :15:16.consultation to look at the public expenditure that comes from
:15:17. > :15:18.Westminster tone sure it reflects the nations and regions of the
:15:19. > :15:22.United Kingdom. That's their words, that is. That isn't getting rid of
:15:23. > :15:27.the Barnett formula at all. Aren't you misleading the people of Wales
:15:28. > :15:31.with your comments yesterday? That is exactly what it means. . If there
:15:32. > :15:35.is a new formula in place that is the end of Barnett. In the
:15:36. > :15:39.short-term it would remain because nothing else would be in place. We
:15:40. > :15:42.want to ensure Wales receives fair funding. The UK Government
:15:43. > :15:45.resolutely refused to look at funding as far as Wales is
:15:46. > :15:49.concerned. It was a compromise position. We have never changed our
:15:50. > :15:52.position as a Government that the Barnett formula has run towards the
:15:53. > :15:56.ends of its life and now is the time to start planning for a new formula
:15:57. > :15:59.that will reflect the proper needs of the nations and regions of the UK
:16:00. > :16:05.as they are now, not as they were in 1979. First Minister you were very
:16:06. > :16:07.clear last night saying thaw were scrapping the Barnett formula full
:16:08. > :16:11.stop. There was no equivocation around that. You were saying that
:16:12. > :16:14.last night on the television and through the news. Scottish Labour
:16:15. > :16:18.Party are saying clearly there will be no scrapping of the Barnett
:16:19. > :16:23.formula. How on earth can anyone take any of the pledges that you are
:16:24. > :16:31.making seriously, when you are being caught out in the last week of this
:16:32. > :16:39.campaign? And ultimately... The Labour Party... Let him continue his
:16:40. > :16:42.question. Ultimately the funding of public services is a vital
:16:43. > :16:47.consideration for the electorate on Thursday. We have put a funding
:16:48. > :16:52.floor in place. With agreement of the Welsh Government that guarantees
:16:53. > :16:56.that funding in Wales will not go under ?115 for every ?100 spent in
:16:57. > :17:00.England. You said yesterday that Labour Party policy was to get rid
:17:01. > :17:04.of the Barnett formula. Scottish Labour are saying that is not the
:17:05. > :17:10.case. Isn't it a fact that all Labour policies are just built on
:17:11. > :17:13.sand First Minister? Isn't it a shame that he will not support a
:17:14. > :17:18.situation where Wales gets the funding it deserves. Isn't it a
:17:19. > :17:22.shame. That tells you the way he thinks. Isn't it a shame he was not
:17:23. > :17:27.there to make these points in subsequent debates on television.
:17:28. > :17:33.I'm sure it was possible to see a live broadcast from grand anaira to
:17:34. > :17:37.ensure his view was put forward - Canaria. As he rightly said the
:17:38. > :17:40.Secretary of State was unwilling to take part in the third debate
:17:41. > :17:44.because he pulled out because I was in it. That's what we heard. He was
:17:45. > :17:48.not willing to come and debate and other leaders as well and to put
:17:49. > :17:53.forward the Conservative case. He has some brass neck to come before
:17:54. > :17:56.this chamber and say somehow these are a shambles on these benches,
:17:57. > :17:59.when on three different occasions the Tories couldn't even field the
:18:00. > :18:04.same person in three different debates. So lacking in confidence
:18:05. > :18:10.were they in their own case. We've seen over the past few days shambles
:18:11. > :18:14.after shambles after shambles in the Conservative Party. I invite him to
:18:15. > :18:19.read the UK Labour manifesto and it's absolutely clear what it says
:18:20. > :18:22.there will be a new funding formula that reflects the needs of different
:18:23. > :18:30.nations and regions of the UK, a commitment we have made, a
:18:31. > :18:34.commitment his party has run from. TRANSLATION: Plaid Cymru leader
:18:35. > :18:37.Leanne Wood. First Minister, on Thursday people will go to the polls
:18:38. > :18:43.in what is a very important election. It's been noted how you've
:18:44. > :18:51.air brushed your UK party leader out of your campaign. And how you have
:18:52. > :18:56.issued a separate manifesto there are two Labour manifestos, three if
:18:57. > :19:03.you count the Scottish manifesto that was referred to earlier. In the
:19:04. > :19:07.interests of openness, transparency and honesty, just before people cast
:19:08. > :19:14.their votes on Thursday, will you tell us are Labour MPs elected in
:19:15. > :19:19.Wales next Thursday bound by the commitments in your manifesto or by
:19:20. > :19:23.the commitments in your UK Labour leader's manifesto? By the Welsh
:19:24. > :19:27.Labour manifesto. Because there is no dichotomy between the two. The
:19:28. > :19:30.leader of Plaid Cymru might have noticed that devolution occurred in
:19:31. > :19:33.1999. On that basis it's not possible for political parties who
:19:34. > :19:37.have a presence in the different nations of the UK to produce a
:19:38. > :19:40.manifesto that's exactly the same. We reflect the reality of
:19:41. > :19:44.devolution. That's exactly what we've done in our manifesto. There
:19:45. > :19:48.is no contradiction in terms of the Welsh Labour manifesto and the UK
:19:49. > :19:51.Labour manifesto, save in areas that are devolved, where the decisions
:19:52. > :19:55.regarding those policies are made here. You say there are no
:19:56. > :20:00.differences. First Minister, there are differences - Name one. Ail'
:20:01. > :20:05.come back to one -- I'll come back to that. Your party leader has been
:20:06. > :20:09.described variously as the man who broke the Labour Party, that was
:20:10. > :20:15.Chris Bryant, a lunatic at the top of the Labour, that was Owen Smith.
:20:16. > :20:19.Hard left and out of touch with the electorate, that was Stephen
:20:20. > :20:23.Kinnock. Would you like to associate yourself with any of those
:20:24. > :20:27.statements about your leader or would you like to take this
:20:28. > :20:32.opportunity to distance yourself from the views of those Welsh Labour
:20:33. > :20:36.candidates. Let me make it very clear. Jeremy Corbyn will make an
:20:37. > :20:40.excellent Prime Minister. He will offer hope for Britain as opposed to
:20:41. > :20:44.the endless succession of Tory cuts that we have seen from the benches
:20:45. > :20:49.opposite. We would see a Government that would take Britain forward,
:20:50. > :20:52.would deliver a proper devolved settlement for Wales based on the
:20:53. > :20:56.legislation we have put forward, while at the same time we see Plaid
:20:57. > :21:03.Cymru looking at creating a coalition with the Tories in Conwy.
:21:04. > :21:07.LAUGHTER They always trot that one out don't
:21:08. > :21:15.they when they've got nothing left. We do. You must be very desperate -
:21:16. > :21:19.We do. OK, we do need to hear what's being asked and the answers, so
:21:20. > :21:25.let's all calm down and look forward to next week. I want to come back to
:21:26. > :21:31.this point about the differences in the manifestos between you and your
:21:32. > :21:34.UK Labour leader's. Zero hours contracts banned, tuition fees
:21:35. > :21:38.scrapped, the railways in public hands, that's what's in the UK
:21:39. > :21:44.manifesto. Labour is in power here and none of these policies have been
:21:45. > :21:51.implemented. Can we get a commitment from you now that you will give your
:21:52. > :21:56.unmitigated support to those policies now that it's official
:21:57. > :22:01.policy of your party or are you accepting that you are about to
:22:02. > :22:05.mislead the electorate on Thursday? There's nothing more misleading than
:22:06. > :22:08.a party that says we want more money from Westminster, at the same time
:22:09. > :22:13.says - we want independence from Westminster. There is a fundamental
:22:14. > :22:16.contradiction. She asks three questions. First, if the money is
:22:17. > :22:20.made available to us to look again at student finance, we will do so.
:22:21. > :22:26.Zero hours contracts are in the main not devolved. We do not support zero
:22:27. > :22:30.hours contracts. We as a party want to make sure that we see a society
:22:31. > :22:34.that is fair, that is just and where people have the opportunities they
:22:35. > :22:37.need to flourish in the future. You're being dishonest. Only a
:22:38. > :22:45.Labour Government in the UK can do that. Plaid Cymru can deliver
:22:46. > :22:50.nothing. This is dishonest. I'm sure I will carry the First
:22:51. > :22:57.Minister with me if nothing it has proved the time for political point
:22:58. > :23:01.scoring has long passed. We should concentrate on building a successful
:23:02. > :23:04.economic future for Wales collectively, supporting other
:23:05. > :23:09.parties where that's necessary. To that extent I'd like to refer back
:23:10. > :23:13.to the question which Adam Price asked immediately before party
:23:14. > :23:19.leaders questions. I take what the First Minister said in response to
:23:20. > :23:24.his supplementary about how the Government must conduct proper due
:23:25. > :23:28.diligence of the current proposal. But they ordered a general's report
:23:29. > :23:32.on the initial funding this project and it contains a catalogue of
:23:33. > :23:35.opportunities for due diligence to be conducted over the last five
:23:36. > :23:43.years, starting with the calling in of the planning application in 2012,
:23:44. > :23:48.which was approved by Karl Sergeant because of the economic benefits. In
:23:49. > :23:52.2014, we had the initial funding of ?16 million for the development of
:23:53. > :23:58.the project. Then we had a public inquiry on the deregistration of the
:23:59. > :24:03.common land. In April 2016, Edwina Heart rejected the first guarantee
:24:04. > :24:07.application. In July 2016, Ken Skates rejected the second guarantee
:24:08. > :24:10.proposal, which then led to intensive discussions with officials
:24:11. > :24:15.on a variety of important issues. Then this year, in January, we had
:24:16. > :24:21.the fully funded term sheets provided by the company. We were
:24:22. > :24:24.told due diligence were to last three to four weeks. It's been
:24:25. > :24:28.extended further and the First Minister today has given us I hope
:24:29. > :24:31.an end date for the consideration. We've endless due diligence and I
:24:32. > :24:34.know that the Auditor General has made a number of important
:24:35. > :24:38.criticisms of the process. I don't want to go into that now because I
:24:39. > :24:42.want to see this project succeed. I hope at the end of the day that the
:24:43. > :24:47.Welsh Government is going to give it the go ahead. Does he not think that
:24:48. > :24:53.this torturous process is far too long, even though this is a massive
:24:54. > :24:57.project for the future. Its transformative potential is so great
:24:58. > :25:04.we should have got on with this much more diligently as we have. Due
:25:05. > :25:07.diligence wouldn't have occurred during the planning application
:25:08. > :25:10.point. They are applications not to do with the robustness or not of a
:25:11. > :25:14.particular business. That comes later on. I make no apologies for
:25:15. > :25:18.the due diligence process. It is robust. It has taken longer than we
:25:19. > :25:22.would have wanted, because information has had to be sought at
:25:23. > :25:26.certain points. That information has been provided. I've given a date to
:25:27. > :25:30.members by which we want to take that decision now. I would like to
:25:31. > :25:33.see this project proceed, but it has to proceed on a basis that is
:25:34. > :25:38.sustainable and where the risk to the public purse is acceptable.
:25:39. > :25:43.I thank the First Minister for that reply. I see on the BBC website
:25:44. > :25:48.today that the Government has been in talks with a view to getting the
:25:49. > :25:52.golf Open championships to come to Wales and the Tour De France as
:25:53. > :25:55.well. Also a possibility if the Brussels state is not ready in time
:25:56. > :26:00.that euro 2020 could be held in Wales. I would support the
:26:01. > :26:05.Government's interest in that. Ken Skates has quite rightly said that
:26:06. > :26:08.Wales has greet potential to host major new events that haven't yet
:26:09. > :26:12.been to Wales. The circuit of Wales has already got the contract for the
:26:13. > :26:17.motor Grand Prix. That's yet another opportunity for us in Wales to show
:26:18. > :26:23.what we can do as a host for major world sports project. Therefore,
:26:24. > :26:26.this fits into the Government's overall objective for making Wales a
:26:27. > :26:31.major international sports venue. That's another reason for us to see
:26:32. > :26:35.the success of this project. I can only repeat what I've already said
:26:36. > :26:38.to him that of course, we recognise the potential of the circuit. I've
:26:39. > :26:43.said that it's something we would want to support. It has to be based
:26:44. > :26:46.on a model that works well for private and public investors. It's
:26:47. > :26:50.also important to note that there is no request for any public money to
:26:51. > :26:56.be invested in this project up front. All that is being sought is a
:26:57. > :27:00.guarantee, which say comer smal guarantee which the -- commercial
:27:01. > :27:05.guarantee, which will be called only as and when all the construction on
:27:06. > :27:12.the site is completed. So there will be physical assets against which the
:27:13. > :27:16.loan can be secured. And on an annual basis the maximum risk to the
:27:17. > :27:22.Welsh Government is said to be 8. 5 to ?9 million a year, for a limited
:27:23. > :27:26.period of time. The risk is secured on 100% of the assets but the
:27:27. > :27:30.guarantee is going to apply to less than half of the value of those
:27:31. > :27:35.assets. On the face of it, this looks a very good deal. Whilst I
:27:36. > :27:39.appreciate we have to go through to the due diligence process, it is, I
:27:40. > :27:42.think, of vital importance to the economic prosperity, not just of
:27:43. > :27:47.south-east Wales, but the whole of South Wales that this project gets
:27:48. > :27:51.the go ahead. This is all being considered as part of the due
:27:52. > :27:55.diligence process. There's no difference to my mind in being asked
:27:56. > :27:58.to provide money up front and being asked to provide the guarantee. The
:27:59. > :28:02.commitment is the same. Indeed with a guarantee, there is a need for
:28:03. > :28:09.more robustness in terms of making sure that guarantee is unlikely to
:28:10. > :28:15.be called on. It's important that as much is done to minimise any reck to
:28:16. > :28:20.the public purse. That's what -- risk to the public purse. That's
:28:21. > :28:26.part of this process. It's a project that has potential. This has helped
:28:27. > :28:30.the circuit themselves. A robust testing process of their model is
:28:31. > :28:32.good for them. They are able then to think carefully about what they
:28:33. > :28:35.think will be sustainable in the longer term. On that basis, we look
:28:36. > :28:38.forward now, when all the information is in, we trust this
:28:39. > :28:43.week, to be able to take a decision over the next two, three weeks.
:28:44. > :28:52.TRANSLATION: Question three. TRANSLATION: Will the First Minister
:28:53. > :28:56.make a statement on transport? Lie we are committed to investing in a
:28:57. > :29:09.modern and high quality integrated transport systems, to ensure it is a
:29:10. > :29:12.connected part of the economy. TRANSLATION: It is to map and a half
:29:13. > :29:19.years since it was confirmed to me that work was ongoing to improve
:29:20. > :29:22.links to the port of Holyhead, where there are major traffic jams,
:29:23. > :29:27.particularly where lorries tried to leave the port. People ask me often
:29:28. > :29:33.when they will see this road completed and I share their concerns
:29:34. > :29:42.about the delays. That connection was never truly completed. It was
:29:43. > :29:45.built to the surrounds of the port, but not in and out. I understand we
:29:46. > :29:52.need other investments in the port. I would appreciate a sign of
:29:53. > :30:02.commitment from the Government to proceed with renovation work on the
:30:03. > :30:04.barrage or the corporate, but can we have a short-term commitment that
:30:05. > :30:10.this crucial connection will see the light of day? In line with the
:30:11. > :30:15.aspirations of people living in that part of Holyhead, who are concerned
:30:16. > :30:20.that there is a risk in the current situation, as well as it being a
:30:21. > :30:23.useless. TRANSLATION: Discussions have taken place with Network Rail
:30:24. > :30:29.on this. The Minister has been involved in those. This is part of
:30:30. > :30:31.the considerations and the developments of the port itself,
:30:32. > :30:43.and, of course, as regards the island and we are looking at a third
:30:44. > :30:47.crossing on the Menai Strait. The next phase of development has begun
:30:48. > :30:55.and a route will be declared in May 20 18. That is progressing in the
:30:56. > :31:07.way we would expect. You referred to the third and a crossing -- third
:31:08. > :31:14.Menai crossing. Proposals including a new bridge did not go forward. You
:31:15. > :31:17.said last May that you promised to make the third crossing your
:31:18. > :31:20.priority for North Wales if you form a government. Of course, your
:31:21. > :31:25.government announced before Christmas last year that it had
:31:26. > :31:32.appointed consultants to look at routes for proposed new crossing to
:31:33. > :31:35.Anglesey, which could begin by 2021 if it gets the go-ahead. Can you
:31:36. > :31:41.provide an assurance that we're not going to get a rerun of 2007, when
:31:42. > :31:46.we had similar assurances after a commissioned report was produced for
:31:47. > :31:55.the Welsh government, and that you envisage that going ahead in
:31:56. > :32:00.relation to the way it currently does? We have the announcement of a
:32:01. > :32:08.preferred route in May 20 18. The aim is to see the third Menai
:32:09. > :32:11.crossing opened in 2022. Will the First Minister provide an update on
:32:12. > :32:17.discussions the Welsh government has had regarding the Ford plans. They
:32:18. > :32:21.are ongoing. I met with the CEO of Ford Europe before Christmas. We are
:32:22. > :32:25.aware of plans for the facility and are working closely with
:32:26. > :32:30.stakeholders to guarantee the future of the site. In March, your Cabinet
:32:31. > :32:32.Secretary told us that Ford management said that employment
:32:33. > :32:39.numbers would remain broadly the same until 2021. He also said he
:32:40. > :32:41.thought that Ford management could communicate better with members
:32:42. > :32:44.regarding long-term objectives for the plant. Can you tell us whether
:32:45. > :32:50.they have kept you informed whether there have been any falls in order
:32:51. > :32:56.numbers? If there have been, how has the guaranteed work it numbered been
:32:57. > :33:00.deployed, given that they will have individual expertise, and if they
:33:01. > :33:04.have been getting regular updates on the long-term objective and
:33:05. > :33:07.achievement against that? There are a number of possibilities being
:33:08. > :33:11.explored. We shouldn't forget that in September of last year, Ford
:33:12. > :33:18.announced it would invest 100 million in the plant until 2018. It
:33:19. > :33:21.is fair to say the biggest challenge that it faces is Brexit. Every
:33:22. > :33:25.single engine that leaves the plant is exported into the European
:33:26. > :33:29.market. The terms that surround the exporting of the engines will be
:33:30. > :33:36.important as far as the plant is concerned. We are working closely
:33:37. > :33:39.with the company. I have met, in my capacity as an assembly member,
:33:40. > :33:42.several times with them and the works council. As First Minister, I
:33:43. > :33:45.took an interest in ensuring that the plant continues to operate in
:33:46. > :33:55.the future and continues to employ similar numbers in the future.
:33:56. > :34:01.TRANSLATION: Thank you very much. Further to that response, First
:34:02. > :34:04.Minister, last month the European chief of Ford warned that the future
:34:05. > :34:09.of the company in the UK depended on the ability of the government matter
:34:10. > :34:15.in London to ensure transitional agreements with the European Union
:34:16. > :34:17.if the UK leaves the block before an agreement is signed. Have you met
:34:18. > :34:23.with Ford and the government in London to discuss this issue further
:34:24. > :34:29.since that time? Alsatian actor I have met with the Ford CEO and Ford
:34:30. > :34:35.Europe,. -- cassation actor I have met with the Ford CEO and Ford
:34:36. > :34:43.Europe. There are concerns about what will happen following the
:34:44. > :34:50.departure from Europe. Nobody believes there will be any kind of
:34:51. > :34:55.complete agreement in March 20 19. So the transitional arrangements
:34:56. > :35:02.will be crucial for Ford, as with other manufacturers. This is
:35:03. > :35:07.something Ford is discussing. It is vital for Ford and a number of other
:35:08. > :35:15.companies in Wales that they have admission to the European Union
:35:16. > :35:27.market. Could you make a statement on the Health Service in Wales? My
:35:28. > :35:32.priorities to provide high-quality care to people in Wales. I have to
:35:33. > :35:38.be honest, I stand here today not very confident of that. I will tell
:35:39. > :35:43.you why. Since your own government's interventions were placed on the
:35:44. > :35:48.University health board two years ago, 227% more patients are waiting
:35:49. > :35:52.over 12 hours in A 194 complaints came in last year. This is 30% of
:35:53. > :36:00.the total of all complaints in Wales. We have a 7000 increase in
:36:01. > :36:05.patients now waiting for over 36 weeks for oral surgery. 5000%
:36:06. > :36:09.increase for orthopaedics and trauma. I have repeatedly asked
:36:10. > :36:14.questions of you here, and in writing, and your cabinet secretary,
:36:15. > :36:16.our behalf of many of my constituents who you are failing,
:36:17. > :36:25.and who are struggling as a result, many in pain, for these failings. I
:36:26. > :36:27.have asked you for details to how you are monitoring performance
:36:28. > :36:31.outcomes as part of your special measures. Will you tell me at what
:36:32. > :36:38.point you believe your government interventions, at a cost already of
:36:39. > :36:42.?10 million, have actually resulted in any material improvements? And at
:36:43. > :36:49.what stage do you intend to actually poll the process of special
:36:50. > :36:52.measures, believing that your interventions have worked, that they
:36:53. > :37:02.have been successful... This has gone way beyond. You will show some
:37:03. > :37:08.respect. Complete your question. At what point do you believe you will
:37:09. > :37:16.withdraw special measures, because my constituents... The question is
:37:17. > :37:21.over! Please reply, First Minister. The health board is not yet ready to
:37:22. > :37:31.be moved out of special measures. It has virtually eliminated diagnostic
:37:32. > :37:34.waits, the lowest health board has been since the standard was
:37:35. > :37:38.introduced. Campsa performance is consistently the best in Wales.
:37:39. > :37:45.March performance figures are 92.5% for the 62 date target. The best
:37:46. > :37:54.performance since January 20 16. I can say that PCU has significantly
:37:55. > :38:04.improved referrals up to 89% in March 20 17. There have been
:38:05. > :38:09.reductions in five of the six months since 2016. That figure is 41% lower
:38:10. > :38:13.in October and 40% better than the same period last year. That is a
:38:14. > :38:18.real achievement, to give you some examples, given winter pressures and
:38:19. > :38:20.a year-on-year increases in demand for health and social services. As I
:38:21. > :38:23.have spoken to people on the doorstep all across the North Wales,
:38:24. > :38:30.the last thing they want is the Tories in charge and Jeremy Hunt in
:38:31. > :38:33.charge. First Minister, a couple of months ago, Lee Naylor report was
:38:34. > :38:43.published. The report highlights the dire state of the NHS in England.
:38:44. > :38:46.Theresa May has indicated she will action the recommendations, which
:38:47. > :38:50.includes selling of many parts of the NHS in England as part of a
:38:51. > :38:54.process including a two for one, buy one get one free deal, to tempt
:38:55. > :38:58.private companies. Can you assure me, First Minister, that in Wales we
:38:59. > :39:03.will maintain the publicly owned status of our NHS estate, and not
:39:04. > :39:06.follow the proposed route of the Tories in selling it off to mask
:39:07. > :39:14.their gross underfunding of the NHS in England? We see waiting times
:39:15. > :39:18.going up in England, we see the great popularity of Jeremy Hunt, of
:39:19. > :39:21.course, as the Secretary of State, mobbed in the streets, we know that.
:39:22. > :39:26.We saw the doctors strike that took place in England. We have no plans
:39:27. > :39:29.to follow what is suggested in England, to sell off large chunks of
:39:30. > :39:41.the NHS to plug a gap in funding that the Tories themselves have
:39:42. > :39:44.created. How does the Welsh government plan to raise awareness
:39:45. > :39:49.of dementia in Wales? We are running campaigns on how individuals can
:39:50. > :39:52.reduce their risk. The action plan due to be published in the autumn
:39:53. > :39:59.was set out further plans to raise awareness of dementia in Wales.
:40:00. > :40:02.There are an estimated 45,000 people in Wales living with dementia. If
:40:03. > :40:06.the current trend continues, the number of people living with the
:40:07. > :40:11.disease will increase by over 40% over the next 12 years, raising
:40:12. > :40:18.awareness and understanding the disease is crucial. I was proud to
:40:19. > :40:22.present South Wales fire and rescue Newport stations with their Dementia
:40:23. > :40:28.Friends logo. I am particularly pleased that Saint Joseph high
:40:29. > :40:32.school has become the most dementia friendly school in Wales. Will you
:40:33. > :40:37.join me in congratulating them, and look at how the Welsh government can
:40:38. > :40:42.work closely with others to promote free training, particularly among
:40:43. > :40:46.young people? I very much welcome the example that has been given. We
:40:47. > :40:51.do work with other organisations such as the Alzheimer's Society and
:40:52. > :40:55.others, to maintain the momentum of the Dementia Friends and community
:40:56. > :41:02.campaigns, so that more and more people understand what it is like to
:41:03. > :41:06.work with dementia. That means making sure we do look at how we can
:41:07. > :41:09.make more buildings and environments dementia friendly, to enable people
:41:10. > :41:16.to live as normal a life as they can, for as long as they can.
:41:17. > :41:23.TRANSLATION: First Minister, a year-long study by the educational
:41:24. > :41:27.trust on the farm network has noted a number of concerns about the
:41:28. > :41:31.impact of dementia in rural areas that we need to tackle, including
:41:32. > :41:35.lack of awareness and support available in rural areas, as well as
:41:36. > :41:38.the difficulty in accessing support services. In light of those
:41:39. > :41:40.concerns, what additional work is the Welsh government doing to raise
:41:41. > :41:47.awareness of the support available for those living in more rural and
:41:48. > :41:51.isolated communities? Can you also tell us one specific measure your
:41:52. > :41:55.government has put in place over the last 12 months to assist people in
:41:56. > :42:02.rural communities which have dementia? TRANSLATION: Well, we of
:42:03. > :42:08.course consider any new report that shows how we can improve the
:42:09. > :42:11.services in rural areas. Across Wales we have funded an information
:42:12. > :42:14.pack, as regards living with dementia. That has been welcomed by
:42:15. > :42:21.the professionals working in the field. People suffering with
:42:22. > :42:28.dementia, their families and their carers. And, of course, there is a
:42:29. > :42:35.helpline available on a daily basis. It is available 24/7, throughout the
:42:36. > :42:38.year, and it can give people emotional support, those that have
:42:39. > :42:42.been diagnosed with dementia, and those that care for them. Those are
:42:43. > :42:46.some of the ways in which we have ensured there is support available,
:42:47. > :42:53.not only for sufferers, but for carers as well. What is the
:42:54. > :43:01.government doing to increase affordable housing in North Wales?
:43:02. > :43:05.We support a number of housing ten years in north-east Wales. We are
:43:06. > :43:12.bringing forward new programmes aimed at making buying a home more
:43:13. > :43:16.accessible. Thank you, I welcome the commitment to create new and
:43:17. > :43:19.affordable homes. We have seen it put into action in Flintshire. We
:43:20. > :43:22.have seen the partnership of a Labour council and a Welsh Labour
:43:23. > :43:27.Government working together to seek the first new council house in a
:43:28. > :43:33.generation. 82 new council houses, and we have the pleasure of going to
:43:34. > :43:35.visit the first few with my colleague, David Hanson, and the
:43:36. > :43:39.Cabinet Secretary of local government. These are amazing,
:43:40. > :43:45.brilliant new homes for people in the heart of Flint and the
:43:46. > :43:56.community. Would you give a further commitment to build on this and
:43:57. > :44:00.create more affordable homes? I very much welcome building new homes,
:44:01. > :44:02.particularly by an innovative council like Flintshire. I have seen
:44:03. > :44:09.the homes twice in the last fortnight. It is an innovative
:44:10. > :44:13.approach that has been taken. We want to see more of that approach
:44:14. > :44:17.across the whole of Wales. Flintshire are ahead in their
:44:18. > :44:24.approach. I want others to follow the example of a good, Labour led
:44:25. > :44:30.authority. What discussions has the First Minister had with the UK
:44:31. > :44:35.Government with regards the steel industry in Wales? The UK Government
:44:36. > :44:39.has lost interest in it, I'm afraid, is my understanding. We will work
:44:40. > :44:44.with them to try to aid the steel industry in Wales. I think it is
:44:45. > :44:47.telling, the answer you have given. Last week, I met with senior
:44:48. > :44:50.managers at the works and we are discussing the progress that has
:44:51. > :44:54.been made in the sector and the plant. I think we all came to the
:44:55. > :44:59.conclusion that, unfortunately, there are still serious challengers
:45:00. > :45:01.for the sector in the UK, in the light of Brexit and tariffs that may
:45:02. > :45:07.be imposed if we leave without any deal. The benefit costs we are still
:45:08. > :45:14.facing, and the markets, which might be shrinking, because of the rules
:45:15. > :45:19.which may go ahead on steel imports in the US. The plans are breaking
:45:20. > :45:23.records in production. They are showing the future for steel.
:45:24. > :45:26.Unfortunately, the UK Government so far has failed these workers. They
:45:27. > :45:30.failed the steel industry. They have shown scant regard in the industrial
:45:31. > :45:35.strategy and there is no mention of steel in their manifesto for this
:45:36. > :45:39.election. Do you agree with me that, just like the Welsh government has
:45:40. > :45:43.shown, the steel industry is safer in the hands of a UK Labour
:45:44. > :45:50.Government June the 8th? Absolutely. We have worked hard, with Tata,, to
:45:51. > :45:56.ensure a sustainable industry for the steel industry in Wales. There
:45:57. > :46:01.is a threat of Brexit, a hard Brexit would mean that the only free market
:46:02. > :46:05.the UK steel would be able to access is the UK itself, and it is too
:46:06. > :46:09.small to provide a robust market. I hope that is not the case. We would
:46:10. > :46:18.like to see them exporting to as many markets as possible. I pay
:46:19. > :46:23.tribute to the workers in Tata. They have shown when the going gets
:46:24. > :46:26.tough, the tough get going. They are amongst the hardest workers we have
:46:27. > :46:29.in Britain. They have a long and proud history and they know, when it
:46:30. > :46:36.comes to the support they can expect, Welsh Labour will deliver
:46:37. > :46:41.that. Will the First Minister make a statement on what they are doing to
:46:42. > :46:50.improve primary care services? We continue to work with other partners
:46:51. > :46:52.to create a range of actions to improve primary care services. The
:46:53. > :46:57.British Medical Association was warning many years ago, in fact as
:46:58. > :47:02.far back as 2013, that we needed to be treading more doctors in Wales
:47:03. > :47:08.and they were warning of a crisis in GP recruitment. You dismissed those
:47:09. > :47:12.assertions at that time. Yet, since then, we have seen over a dozen
:47:13. > :47:16.surgeries across Wales handing in their contracts, saying that they
:47:17. > :47:20.want to terminate contracts. Usually it is because of recruitment
:47:21. > :47:27.problems. The most recent of which is: Bay, my own constituency. The
:47:28. > :47:31.second in Colwyn Bay, in six months. This is a big concern to the
:47:32. > :47:39.thousands of people registered with the surgery in my constituency. At
:47:40. > :47:42.the moment, it is in a purpose-built primary care centre, which it shares
:47:43. > :47:48.with another local surgery. There are concerns that the withdrawal of
:47:49. > :47:53.the Russell Dean contract may put the viability of that new facility
:47:54. > :47:57.at risk. Can I ask, why didn't you listen to the BMA when they raised
:47:58. > :48:01.their concerns? Why didn't you increase sufficiently the number of
:48:02. > :48:06.GP training posts in Wales? You have been responsible for the lack of GP
:48:07. > :48:11.training over the years in Wales. You have been at the helm, nobody
:48:12. > :48:14.else, you can't blame the UK Government. What action are you
:48:15. > :48:18.taking to rescue the situation in my own constituency of Colwyn Bay?
:48:19. > :48:22.Furthermore, what action are you taking to make sure Wales has
:48:23. > :48:26.sufficient numbers of GPs going forward? On the first point, what is
:48:27. > :48:29.important is the service that is provided to those who need it. It
:48:30. > :48:52.does not have to be provided with the same model across the
:48:53. > :48:56.whole of Wales. He will be aware that in Prestatyn, two surgeries did
:48:57. > :48:59.the same thing. They handed in their contracts. What was put in place was
:49:00. > :49:02.better than what was there before, a service run directly by the health
:49:03. > :49:04.board. I know the health board is looking to provide a similar service
:49:05. > :49:06.to the people Colwyn Bay, understandably. They want to know
:49:07. > :49:09.what the future of the services, but it does not have to be on the
:49:10. > :49:12.contractor model. Incr easingly, we know of them, are not interested in
:49:13. > :49:15.buying into a practice and they want to be salaried. Some will want to be
:49:16. > :49:17.brought into a practice. It is an issue though, in terms of what the
:49:18. > :49:20.model should be in future. It could still be an important part of GP
:49:21. > :49:23.services in the future. But younger ones increasingly want to become
:49:24. > :49:27.salaried and are happy to work for a health board director. In terms of
:49:28. > :49:30.recruitment, in October 2016 we launched a new international
:49:31. > :49:35.campaign to promote Wales as a place for doctors to work and train. The
:49:36. > :49:38.National campaign resulted in a 16% increase in the number of GP
:49:39. > :49:44.training places filled so far, compared to last year. As part of
:49:45. > :49:48.that campaign, an incentive scheme is in place to recruit people to
:49:49. > :49:54.some areas. Trainees who take up a training place will receive some
:49:55. > :49:58.financial support. That is an example of us delivering to make
:49:59. > :50:06.sure the supply of GPs is at least sufficient in years to come.
:50:07. > :50:10.TRANSLATION: Will the First Minister make a statement on waiting times
:50:11. > :50:16.for outpatient eye care services in Welsh hospitals? TRANSLATION: We
:50:17. > :50:22.expect all patients to be seen in order of clinical priority within
:50:23. > :50:25.waiting times targets. Of course, the Welsh government, the NHS and
:50:26. > :50:30.the third sector partners are working together to improve the
:50:31. > :50:36.delivery of ophthalmology services, both new and follow patients.
:50:37. > :50:41.TRANSLATION: Thank you for that response. In the cross-party group
:50:42. > :50:45.meeting, we discussed data which shows that health boards the length
:50:46. > :50:48.and breadth of Wales had 37,000 patients that were suffering delays
:50:49. > :50:57.in terms of follow-up appointments in ophthalmology. Some 90% of these
:50:58. > :51:04.patients are at risk of permanent damage to their site. That is 33,331
:51:05. > :51:08.individuals that are at risk of losing their sight. Do you agree
:51:09. > :51:11.this is a disgrace, and would you agree to publish the number of
:51:12. > :51:21.patients who are suffering delays to their full of treatment? --
:51:22. > :51:27.follow-up treatment. We have seen an increase in the number of people
:51:28. > :51:31.that want such treatment. The scheme has been established, led by the
:51:32. > :51:34.clinicians themselves, in order to transform the way in which the
:51:35. > :51:41.services are delivered. Health boards have stated that arrangements
:51:42. > :51:45.are in place to ensure that more clinics are available, and to ensure
:51:46. > :51:48.that people can receive the treatment and, of course, that is
:51:49. > :51:54.very effective in getting rid of the backlog for the patients that
:51:55. > :51:59.neither treatment now, rather than having to wait. That means the
:52:00. > :52:12.waiting time is now under a fortnight for wet Ebbw Vale. -- NMD.
:52:13. > :52:23.That was first ministers questions. If you want more coverage, you can
:52:24. > :52:26.go online to the news page. That is it for First Minister's questions
:52:27. > :52:36.today. Don't forget, the latest election news is on Wales Today from
:52:37. > :52:40.6:30pm. Thursday night, 9.55, a full results programme. Thanks for
:52:41. > :52:43.watching. Goodbye.