07/02/2017 First Minister's Questions

Good afternoon, welcome once again to the programme and our coverage

According to the Order Paper we can expect questions on health policy,

economic development and access for disabled people

We're on Twitter of course - @walespolitics where you can see

the latest developments in the Welsh political world.

Well, business in the Siambr is underway - so let's cross

to today's questions to the First Minister.

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

on our agenda of this afternoon is questions to the First Minister.

The first question. When does the First Minister intend to discuss

health considerations with the Prime Minister. I thank the First Minister

for that response, two weeks ago there was cross-party support in the

Assembly for a motion calling on the UK Government to initiate the

statutory public enquiry into the scandal of people with haemophilia

who were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and the 1980s, which

resulted in the death of 70 people from Wales and many more people are

still living with HIV, hepatitis C and liver disease. Will the First

Minister raised this directly with the Prime Minister when he meets her

next so that the families of the 70 people who did die in Wales and all

those who were affected can beat some closure? I can say that the

Cabinet Secretary is leading the discussions on this he wrote the

secretary of the health supporting the call for UK wide enquiry on

behalf of all those who received contaminated blood. He is also heard

it first hand the views of affected individuals and their family and is

now considering the issues and concerns before making a decision.

Good afternoon, may I first of all reinforce the calls for that

national public enquiry, I think that is very important. The L EDC

reported recently on the quality of the UK health services which

recommended the need to establish a set of key health data and quality

indicators for all of the UK health systems so we can benchmark

ourselves effectively using agreed common definitions, facilitate

quality and I wondered what discussions you or your colleagues

had had with dual counterpart in the other devolved nations and

Westminster to facilitate this so that we can judge ourselves in a

peer-to-peer basis? There are active discussions with officials about

this, the indicators the health very widely, but this is something that

is in the early stages of exploration. -- vary widely will

stop TRANSLATION: I also associate myself...

It might be useful for the First Minister to put health on the agenda

in relations to a exit from the EU, would the First Minister be prepared

to raise the issue for Wales to be able to determine the level of fees

is to be issued to NHS staff from aboard given greater dependence on

NHS staff from abroad. Also, will he seek an assurance that following the

UK leaving the Yukon and the requirements get a medicine licence.

-- leaving the European Union. I think it he seek important that

drugs are tested before they arrive on the market properly. There has

been several instances over the years of course not going through

proper appraisal. It is important that the current regulations stay in

place. With regards to regional work visas it is an issue that the UK

Government has not shut the door and, therefore it is interesting.

There are practical issues that need to be involved in something we are

keen to investigate. First Minister, one of the biggest challenges facing

health care in the 21st-century is a dramatic rise in anti-mac mobile

resistance, there have been few cases in China where resistance to

antibiotics has been seen, unless dramatic action is taken we will be

living in the world that existed before penicillin was discovered.

The only review of this recommends an overall of the antibiotic and an

intervention from the G20, what discussion has your government had

with the Prime Minister about this issue and will you join me in

calling on the UK Government to lead the way in tackling this resistance?

Disease control and defence is an international matter, this

resistance has been an issue the cell for years we have seen TB

resistance to drugs, and some conditions that even some --

so-called last resort antibiotics have not been able to resolve. Yes,

there is a constant battle between humanity and microbes to ensure that

we do not start to move backwards and find that there are not affected

drugs to treat particular conditions. So, international

cooperation is important. Will the First Minister make a statement on

the performance of the PepsiCo fire -- Betsy had University health

board. Performance in some of the areas is not what we would expect

and the Cabinet Secretary has made his expectation clear. He needs to

do more than this, this is a health board in special measures, and yet

at other hospitals, the routine waiting time for orthopaedic surgery

is a weeks, more than four times the government's target. What specific

action is your government taking to address this particular problem

across North Wales and in particular at this hospital. An additional hand

surgeon has been appointed, some activity will be outsourced, we will

continue to enhance the muscular clinical teams, with a focus on

busier Gerard Pique. -- with a focus on physiotherapy. We expect that the

waiting lists will now come down. TRANSLATION: There is a concern in

the Colwyn Bay area that a surgery is closing, there are three

surgeries and only one GP. It is an area where the mIU has been closed

the several years there is an older population than the average and

there are hundreds of homes now being built as a result of the local

development plan. Would you agree that this is unsustainable and Tammy

what you are doing? -- tell me what you didn't help this situation?

Translate Shia, we have seen examples whether surgery say they do

not wish to remain open. -- TRANSLATION: We have seen examples

whether surgery say they do not wish to remain open.

And so, there is a responsibility on health boards to ensure that the

service continues and that it is broader and better. First Minister,

I read an article about the state of the North Wells health board, in

particular about hip operations, it claimed that some patients in the

wells are waiting to need years. --- North Wales health board. Compared

to England it is quite disgraceful, we wait a year and a half longer

than is recommended. I have been waiting... Sorry... Can remember the

head please. This is a very serious matter. -- Panther member be hard

please. I am an painkillers which might doctor, when he handed them to

me, it said on the box if you take these for more than three days you

will become addicted. I guess my doctor and he said your choice is,

you suffer the pain we don't take them. Now, people waiting the hip

operations can get very depressed from the constant pain, I know this

for myself, they can take painkillers that leads to side

effects, why is it in Wales, it North Wells specifically, we have to

wait up to two years with these operations? This is really not good

enough. What are you going to do about that? I am surprised that that

is the advice that the GP has giving you if it is correct, then I am

surprised. Dealing with the issue that he has raised, it is right to

say that waiting times are to log in some parts of the North of Wales. As

the Cabinet Secretary have outlined the steps being taken to address the

situation, including having an extra hand surgeon at hospitals.

Questions now from the party leaders of the Welsh Conservatives... First

Minister, you identified education as a priority of your stewardship is

first Minster, last week evidence was given that showed that the

number of teachers in our schools has declined by over a thousand

since 2000 pence. --- First Minister. Dashed 2010. Why have you

allowed the number of teachers teaching in schools to decline over

a thousand? Never mind that teaches pain conditions have not been

devolved, so his party is in charge of funding. There will be some

schools when numbers have dropped and staff has blocked. We look

forward to working to provide a package to show that teaching

remains attractive. It is always somebody else's' fault to you. We

have seen a thousand pages disappear from the classrooms. ---1000

teachers. The funding gap that is between what is bonded in England

has stretched from ?31 per pupil in 2001, two ?607 in 2015, so, not only

are we getting less teaches your government is getting less money

available. What are you going to do about closing that gap? He is surely

having a laugh. He is a member of a party that wanted to cut spending on

schools. If he had been in my job now schools would have been starved

of funding, with fewer teachers and few achievements in our schools. We

have kept our promises on school funding. We have seen an improvement

in GCSE results, A-level results, we saw the categorisation results from

last week where schools have improved, we provided money to help

those from deprived backgrounds and helped those schools financially

better not improving as they should. We have a good record on education.

Obviously you must have been living in a different universe because we

had no courts from education... What we have had since Christmas are

report and results that have shown on your watch education has either

gone backwards or stood still. That is a fact. The evidence given to the

ever patient Dee education commission pointed to less teaches

and less money available in schools here in Wales. The issue you have,

is the news today of the introduction of the new curriculum

is hitting problems when it comes to leadership as well as the Pioneer

schools not knowing where they are going with the introduction of the

new curriculum. How can you give any certainty that you will right the

wrongs of your first term in office that pupils, teachers and parents

can seek genuine improvement in school and are we going to be on the

mystery tour that the Scottish education minister said they are

going and? I have no idea what he means by

that. I'm not letting him off the ski were on this one. He's fought

elections on the basis of a 12% cut in education. That is fact. He stood

as a Conservative candidate in the election in 2011, in 2011 when his

leader went on live TV, live TV, and said we need to cut education by

20%. The evidence is there. Not the alternative facts he wants to

present. We see a school buildings programme, new schools across Wales,

members can see where they are. With him in charge nothing would have

been built. His party kept at the school building programme in

England. You want to see the improvement in schools in terms of

capitalisation, you wouldn't have seen the grant, you wouldn't have

seen the money we have put into schools, we wouldn't have seen

improvements in GCSEs or A-levels. It's right to say and the Welsh

Conservatives Welsh education would be consigned to the dustbin.

The leader of the Ukip group, Neil Hamilton.

The First Minister will know I'm a strong supporter of the Welsh

government policy of achieving 1 million Welsh speakers by 2015, and

I'm a great admirer of the Minister for lifelong learning who brings his

legendary -- 2050. Who brings his skills to the achievement of that

objective. In particular I approve of the basic principle of tolerance

and respect those for English speakers and Welsh speakers that he

has brought to the development of this policy. It's made it marketable

beyond areas where it might otherwise have been. Does the First

Minister think that the success of this policy in the Welsh government

is being put at risk by Plaid Cymru control of Carmarthenshire County

Council which is forcing a Welsh language school upon people in an

area near Llanelli against the overwhelming wishes of the majority

of parents in that village? These are matters for

Carmarthenshire Council, they must make an assessment in terms of what

they see is the right solution for any particular area within their

county boundary. The Welsh medium education strategy

says that it's for Wales should be a country where people choose to live

their medium for either or both Welsh or English. Here we've had a

consultation process, 18 months after the decision was made, in

which five people proposed for everyone in favour, and 757, which

is an enormous number for a small village responded against this

proposal by Carmarthenshire County Council. That's not a consultation,

does he agree with me that the leader of the people who are against

this proposal when she says that Welsh by compulsion breeds

resentment. These are matters for

Carmarthenshire Council as a government we are supportive of the

Welsh language. We want to see an extension of Welsh medium education

and more children involved in it. It is for Carmarthenshire Council to

justify the decisions they take in view of elections in May.

That is the constitutional position but the Welsh government, because

this is a Welsh government policy on improving the condition of the Welsh

language and maximising its appeal and reach, must have a persuasive

influence here. There is a practical solution to this problem, at the

moment there are three Welsh medium schools in Llanelli. With 170

surplus places than 120 out of area Welsh speaking pupils currently

being brought into the school whilst 81 English medium pupils are being

taken out of the school. What we needed to have a practical solution

on the ground which that defies both parties. That can be done without

putting at risk the acceptability of what, otherwise, I think is an

exceptional policy which paves the way for the Welsh language.

These are matters I would have expected Carmarthenshire County

Council to consider. It's not for the Welsh government to intervene.

It is important, of course, that any local authority takes into account

the views of those who live locally whilst considering, of course, the

encouragement we give the to supporting the Welsh language.

It is a matter for the council to decide and explain.

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood. I'm sure Carmarthenshire council would

have expected more support from you, First Minister. But I want to return

to a matter of income differences. First Minister, when it comes to

differences in income between... Can we hear the leader of Plaid Cymru,

please? When it comes to differences in income between regions and

nations the UK is one of the most unequal states in Europe. Wales

suffers from this imbalance as well. To address this imbalance on market

towns and post-industrial towns need good quality public sector jobs.

Now, hijab musty, DWP, the job centre are moving jobs from towns

which suffer from low wages like Porth and Llanelli. Jobs are being

moved to more centralised sites. -- H M R C. There is a consultation on

moving Ambulance Service jobs from Carmarthenshire to Bridgend. Do you

recognise this centralisation agenda, and are you concerned about

jobs and services being moved out of communities through a smaller number

of locations? I deplore the decision taken by huge

MRC in Porthmadog and those including my own time some years

ago. Certainly I am concerned about the withdrawal of commercial banks

from many of our communities and we need to ensure that the Post Office

is then able to offer up the same kind of services the bank does. That

depends on post offices being there as well which is is why we need the

post office to grab and fund to keep that service.

I share your concern about the post offices and banks, there is a real

concern about the viability of some of our town centres if this agenda

continues. We know what the UK Government agenda is, but, First

Minister, you have levers to counter this on the Welsh revenue authority.

Plaid Cymru would agree that Treforest industrial estate is a

better location than Cardiff. But that decision means that Porthmadog

Andrex them feel very hard done by and they need an alternative offer

-- and racks. What plans do you have to support a Welsh public sector

presents in the North west of Wales and in the Wrexham. You said that

the WRAP and have a presence in Aberystwyth on Llandudno. How many

jobs as a presence represent? And when it comes to the targeting for

the distribution of Welsh government jobs across the country, are you on

course to reach those targets? In terms of the number of jobs the

total number would be 40 in the Welsh revenue authority. Some people

would be based home in order to work, and it looked very carefully

with the WRAP could be based. A report was commissioned and member

should know that that report was placed in the library on Friday. The

skills that are required for the Welsh revenue authority skills not

actually available on ways to any great extent. They aren't the same

skills as the people and Porthmadog have. We have to recruit from

outside Wales to make those skills available to us. The Welsh revenue

authority will begin in April and it was made clear to me that bringing

people to Cardiff in order to work was the option that was easiest in

terms of recruiting people. But that doesn't mean in the future that the

body can't reconsider where it might go. At the moment it's going to

Treforest. That was the strong advice, by far the location that was

favourable in terms of attracting people with specialist skills many

of whom are in London at the moment. If there is a skills shortage in

Wales that is down to your responsibility. You are responsible

for the skills of people in this country. I want to move on to

transport now. 12 months ago you unveiled a plan for the North Wales

Metro, that plan fails to include Gwyneth, Conwy or Anglesey. But it

did include Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester. The maps of the routes

are existing rail and bus lines, your economy secretary was quoted by

the BBC as saying that ?50 million would be available for this. Do you

really think ?50 million is enough to deliver an actual Metro? Where

you commit today that the Metro system is planned in Wales will

start with a points furthest away from the densely populated towns and

cities so that those people who feel distant from this institution and

from the centres and the arterial roads are able to see some early

benefit from this transport investment?

First of all the Welsh revenue authority will be up and running in

April next year. It needs people quickly. It's not possible to change

people and specialist skills in the time allowed.

You've had years! It's not possible suddenly to train a pool of skilled

people in a short space of time. Those people are in London at the

moment and we are looking to recruit them. The skill doesn't exist in the

main in Wales. The Metro is our idea, of course we want to promote

it. The South Wales Metro was mentioned by me in bed with Rugby

club in 2008 not as we are seeing improvement on that. Of course, we

continue to support transport in all parts of Wales.

We have called incessantly for the electrification of the North Wales

mainland as far as Holyhead and we want the UK Government to deliver

that the future. We want to make sure that as we look at the North

East Wales Metro, in time, it can expand west. These are not Metro

system is designed to be self-contained. The system is

designed to be extended in future. Question three.

Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh

government intends to distribute economic prosperity across Wales?

Well, taking Wales forward sets out our commitments to deliver resilient

communities and prosperity for all and economic prosperity will

underpin for cross cutting strategies published this spring.

As we have heard there was an announcement that the headquarters

of the Welsh revenue authority would go to Treforest. Now, having seen

the paper that you mentioned and the location selection, the criteria

make it entirely impossible for any thing to come to North Wales or

anywhere beyond easy reach of Cardiff. Related to skills, but too

related to being close to stakeholders and customers. Karen

Arfon, nor Porthmadog were on the list of six possible locations being

considered by the Government despite what you told this year on the 10th

of January. Will you give detailed consideration to the need for new

criteria when considering the location of posts, criteria that

will allow dispersal of growth across Wales, otherwise the recent

words by the Labour Party both here and in Westminster, by your Shadow

Chancellor, are empty words. Well, we must remember reality here.

It's important to realise that we have two ensure that it's easy, easy

to achieve and secure the expertise that we need. That doesn't mean

there isn't a role for North Wales or mid Wales. We will ensure that

there are officers there in order to give customers the service that

we're talking about, jobs that are specialist jobs that aren't

available in Wales. More people will come from London and so we must

realise that they are different jobs to the winds we had in Porthmadog.

But we have to look for opportunities for people in towns

such as Porthmadog to become part of the authority.

First Minister, yesterday the economy secretary kicked off a week

of job announcements with the outstanding news that the BBI group

is consolidating and expanding its UK manufacturing operations onto a

single site in my constituency at the border technology Park. This is

in great part likes to Welsh government grant of 1.8 million.

This investment will see BBI employment in Wales increased almost

double by 2020 and provide excellent career opportunities in the South

Wales valleys, fostering closer links to the scientific and academic

community. It will provided significant boost to local economy.

Isn't there is further evidence that the Welsh government intends to

distribute economic prosperity across Wales, and when can the First

Minister next come to a slowing to celebrate this news?

I'm sure I will come to the constituency soon. BBI is an example

of the hard work done by the Welsh government help businesses expand. I

was pleased that sport has allowed the headcount in Wales to grow,

particularly as these will be high quality management, scientific and

technical roles. It was my pleasure the week before last to spend time

in North Wales to see some of the excellent projects taken forward

there as well in terms of job creation, tourism and education.

First Minister, the UK's industrial strategy AMs to close regional

productivity gaps. Here in Wales regional productivity regions

deliver varies widely from Anglesey with 53% of the UK's GDA appeared

with 19% in Cardiff. The Government has previously stated that

variations in levels of GDA per unaffected by commuting patterns.

Now while the Welsh government has put 80 million of European funding

into the heads of the valleys Road improvements, mid and North Wales

are traditionally suffering from poor transport connectivity. I know

the exception of the Newtown bypass which is making good progress. Can I

ask what your government is doing to close these regional gaps and

economic prosperity caused by inadequate transport infrastructure?

Well, he has slightly argued against himself thereby saying that there's

a lack of infrastructure when the Newtown bypass is being built. That

is hugely important. We've seen improvements on the 8470, the

stripping of the road. And over the years we've had developments further

south with bypasses and the Christmas pitch on the way to many,

many examples. And in terms of the rail network we see improvements on

the passenger services and do the constituency that he represents.

They are important opportunities in the future to improve the service

and potentially look up new stations. Bow Street is an example

of that. We demonstrated our commitment both public and private.

First government make a statement on the Welsh government's economic

plans. We are improving economic development conditions. The First

Minister will be aware that last week I bought a group of individuals

together who have a track record of delivery in global Wales to make the

case of developing a specific economic development strategy full

formal Wales will stop whilst that model may work for many parts of the

country, does the first Minster agreed that it might not be relevant

for global Wales? EU agreed that there is an urgency to develop a

plan in particular in the wake of the Brexit boat, as the impact of

with global might be greater than elsewhere in the country. -- in the

wake of the Brexit vote. And will you use the concerns of this group

as the basis of creating a strategy full formal Wales. Yes I will. It is

important that this is not seen as an urban and normal divide. I think

the Member for what she has done and have passion for rural Wales. It is

like to say that there are challenges beyond 2020 will stop we

will see millions of pounds disappeared as farming subsidies go.

There is no certain sees in that regard. -- there is no certainties.

Now is the time to plan for a rural economy in Wales.

TRANSLATION: First Minister one of the key elements of economic

development lands where the enterprise developments, including

creation of a waterway part in my constituency. Given that they are

crucial to your plans, can you give us the latest news on the

development of the enterprise zone, including the progress made towards

a centre of excellence in marine and engineering and also the development

opportunities for the enterprise part in contest is an energy and

tourism? -- concentrating on energy and tourism.

TRANSLATION: Many companies have benefited and received ?2 million of

support. A group has been established in the enterprise zone

itself which has a programme of work to support businesses and secure new

contracts. We have seen investments as well, such as equipment projects,

which have invested millions of pounds... And now, I planning

application has been submitted to create a new energy generation site

in Pembrokeshire, so many things have happened in the enterprise zone

at a price full is not in 2014, 70.5%, the lowest ever recorded

since records began for Wales, indeed the lowest fare any UK nation

or region. It bounced back to 71% in 2015, but that was one of the lowest

figures as well. Is the First Minister prepared to commit, the

Welsh government, that we will not see this income per capita vigour or

even further, but if it does after eight years at First Minister GB

prepared to take personal responsibility? Bearing in mind that

his party was in charge of this years. Saw GDP go down then. It

shows... I know that is easily forgotten that... It does show the

challenges in raising GDP. The more skilled people have, the more they

can and and the higher they GDP goes. We have shown that we can

deliver, unemployment is lower than England, and Scotland. GDP is now

the challenge. Unemployment is not as much an issue as GDP. It is going

in the right direction and we continue to acquit of people with

the skills they need. -- to equip our people.

TRANSLATION: Will the First Minister make a statement on dental practices

in Wales? The health board is working to improve this and progress

has been made. Some 30,000 additional patients are accessing

NHS dentistry then a decade ago. You may be aware, First Minister, that

the main reason children visit emergency units today is because of

tooth decay and it is crucial that good dental care is provided for

them at an early age. But, schoolchildren from many areas have

lost access to a mobile dentist who visited schools because there was no

learning to buy a new vehicle. -- there was no funding to buy new

pillock or vehicle. -- there was no funding to buy a new vehicle. Do you

agree with me that losing that service is quite unacceptable and

what are you doing to ensure that it is reinstated in the future? Well,

this is a temporary measure and know the health board are looking at

fresh ways of ensuring that the service survives. They are looking

at mobile units from other areas in order to achieve that and they are

considering opportunities with regards to funding a new mobile unit

to ensure this happens and in the meantime there is care available in

other places. These are temporary measures and the hope is that the

service will ultimately restart. 40% of children still don't visit the

dentist regularly. A third of children start school and show signs

of tooth decay and it is the most common reason why children aged five

to 29 require admissions to hospital. Given that this North

Wales mobile dental unit was last September, and the health board is

only reporting now that they will get a replacement vehicle, and

looking at other mobile dentistry resources, isn't it a little late

six months later and should this not have been treated as a priority? If

you agree with that, will your colleagues get on the phone to the

health board and ensure that with your partnership it is treated as a

priority? There are alternative provisions in place, although the

intention is to restart the service. I can say that because of the design

to smile, the latest dental survey shows a 6% reduction of children

with dental problems. Over the last eight years, we've seen a 12%

reduction in the proportion of children with at least one tooth

affected by decay. That is an example of the success.

TRANSLATION: What assessment has the First Minister made of disabled

access to train stations in Wales. Access ability to all is the

cornerstone of our transport. We measure passenger satisfaction with

research and following that we see what kind of barriers it should be

removed in order to ensure that no barriers exist in train stations for

those who wish to use them. Thank you for that response, further to

that over the past few months I received a number of complaints

about the ability of disabled people to use a number of train stations

including Pontypool, whilst recognising that train stations are

not devolved at the moment, what is your government doing to ensure that

stations across Wales reached the appropriate standards? Well, I

greeted Lee with that, 245 stations, under the franchise in England and

Wales and only a quarter of staff at present. Was macro I totally agree

with that. We expect total improvements made... A station which

had terrible disabled access, and after many years of campaigning, it

became upgraded and I'm sure you will welcome the changes we now see

all stop however, it is slightly tarnished by the conditions and diet

as a consequence of an indecision between Network Rail as to who runs

the station. -- the conditions and diet stop will you look at the

opportunities at other railway station so that disabled access is

not just at the station but getting to the station. Railway access is

hugely important and they have to be accessible. We are aware of hygiene

issues at stations. There is funding for a new cleaning regime and the

services will be provided by the rail operator in the future. There

was an opening question which mentioned the problems for people

with disabilities at stations, you may be aware of the work of one of

my constituents a disabled access rights campaigner who worked

tirelessly across Wales to try and improve disabled access. While you

are right to say that a large aspect of this isn't devolved, the

management of this station is within the remit of Riva trains and that

franchise. What are you doing to make sure that that franchise date

as it vastly approaches that the disabled issues are put at the heart

of all this. -- the remit of Arriva trains. So, that a new focus can be

put on that so that disabled people do have access to stations which

they deserved. We know we will be in full control of the franchise, and

the opportunity is there to make the stations accessible. It is important

that the issues are dealt with as part of the next franchise

arrangements to make sure that we can use trains in the future. We had

a visit to the Assembly last week from a group of wheelchair units who

had the carrying complaints that transport staff hadn't been trained

to deal with disabled people. This was unfortunately the case with rail

staff, bus drivers and taxi drivers, what can your government do to

ensure that transport staff are properly trained in this respect? It

is a matter for operators of course, I've seen staff in my own

constituency Terry station... With regard to the boss services it is

packed year to remember braised cards being installed only for the

bus country to introduce bosses that didn't lower. They were coaches with

a seat that could be lowered onto the ground, but quite often the seat

didn't work. That is a fine example of a transport company not thinking

of the needs of its customer. It is hugely important the transport

companies to comply with the law as it stands to make sure there is

access for all. Would you make a statement on funding for

postgraduate students? TRANSLATION: It will be confirmed

this week that loans will be made for students beginning a

postgraduate Masters course in the 2017 to 2018 year. LQ. Perhaps the

First Minister will be aware, following an item on the news about

the story of someone from my constituency who has tend to

crowdfunding to try and pay her way through a postgraduate course to

become a physician 's associate in Banga. She has a first-class degree

in medical sciences but is having difficulty in affording the course

because of her and similar students' inability to access postgraduate

loans in Wales. The health service needs Emma and therefore students

like Emma need that support now will stop as well as the pledge the

students in the next academic year, which we are grateful for, how can

we look at students who are at risk of dropping out of courses now in an

area where we truly need their expertise?

TRANSLATION: well, of course the course will start in autumn this

year and by then assistance and support will be available. Of

course, they will have had a much shorter wait than students from

England, but one of the things they had to resolve was that more funding

is available for postgraduates in order to ensure that will happen in

the autumn. Question eight, Jenny Rathbone. What assurances does the

First Minister have from the UK Government that the new rules would

water down... It will be for this Welsh Assembly

to decide what happens to food standards. I met with the chair of

the Food Standards Agency, we effectively buy into the services of

the Food Standards Agency and they are committed to ensuring that the

exit from the EU will not compromise the UK's first-class food safety

standards built up after many years of problems in the past.

Unfortunately, there are villains across the world is keen to

penetrate any weaknesses in our defences on this matter. We remember

the horse Berger scandal. And I am concerned that trees Theresa May

seems hell-bent on some sort of deal with United States who has much more

difficulties with problems than this country or any other country of the

European Union. What insurance did not assurances can we have from this

government to ensure that the labelling on the food is what it

says it is. And that we are absolutely up to the mark in terms

of identifying adulterated food that might otherwise come onto the

market. It is the case that during the

Second World War American forces wouldn't choose British food. In the

1990s I had a part in prosecuting abattoirs R standards were beyond

description. Now we have practice that is world leading. Now we have

practice is that mean now food is amongst the safest in the world and

we should not play around with that hard earned, hard-won status. We

will make sure in terms of devolved confidence that the food standards

are not lower during Wales. There we are, that was

First Minister's Questions. We're on a little later next

week at about 4:15pm. If you want more Welsh politics

this week, don't forget The Wales Report with Huw Edwards

after the Ten O'Clock News As for today though, from all of us

on the programme, goodbye. To be in the Lords,

you have to be punctual... Sometimes you really do literally

have to slam the door What right do they have to tell

me about my fashion sense? Can you now control

your bad language? Yes, I will. Otherwise you'll be,

you know, drummed out. To win on something

as important as this A unique opportunity

to meet the Lords...