:00:19. > :00:21.Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to a new programme
:00:22. > :00:23.covering questions to the First Minister.
:00:24. > :00:26.AMs are back in Cardiff Bay after their Christmas break
:00:27. > :00:30.Today we can expect questions on economic growth, energy
:00:31. > :00:33.and the interests of children and young people.
:00:34. > :00:36.We're also on Twitter - @walespolitics,
:00:37. > :00:40.where you can follow the latest developments as they happen.
:00:41. > :00:43.Well, business in the Siambr is already underway
:00:44. > :00:52.so let's see today's questions to the First Minister.
:00:53. > :00:59.I call the National Assembly to order and may I begin by wishing you
:01:00. > :01:05.all a very happy New Year and we will move onto our first item,
:01:06. > :01:08.questions to First Minister. Will the First Minister outline his
:01:09. > :01:13.proposals for supporting economic growth during 2017 in South Wales
:01:14. > :01:16.West? The priorities include supporting businesses to grow,
:01:17. > :01:20.investing in high quality infrastructure and improving
:01:21. > :01:23.conditions for business. Steel-making is a critical element
:01:24. > :01:28.of the economy in South Wales West and is the heart of the economy in
:01:29. > :01:32.Aberavon. As the challenges have eased, they have not gone away. I
:01:33. > :01:37.applaud the Welsh government in honouring its commitment in
:01:38. > :01:40.supporting the industry with the financial support announced in
:01:41. > :01:46.December. I am dismayed that the UK Government has done nothing. Before
:01:47. > :01:51.Christmas, I met with the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Steel UK
:01:52. > :01:55.and he made it quite clear that the joint venture was still on the
:01:56. > :02:01.agenda even if the deal is accepted by the trade unions at the end of
:02:02. > :02:04.this month. With consolidation of the industry and the pension
:02:05. > :02:09.problems as well, what discussions will you be having with Tata to
:02:10. > :02:13.ensure that Welsh steelworkers have a more secure future? Any support we
:02:14. > :02:21.provide will be conditional on economic activity in Wales. Our
:02:22. > :02:26.financial support will be subject to Tata agreeing to legally binding
:02:27. > :02:32.conditions and no funding will be drawn down by Tata unless those
:02:33. > :02:35.conditions are agreed. It is important that workers understand
:02:36. > :02:39.that the money that has been made available or will be made available
:02:40. > :02:45.to Tata is conditional. We want to ensure that the money ensures that
:02:46. > :02:52.we keep those jobs in Wales. Importantly, we have two blast
:02:53. > :02:56.furnaces. Suzy Davies. Assembly Members finally managed to get a
:02:57. > :03:00.formal meeting with chief executives and council leaders to discuss the
:03:01. > :03:05.Swansea Bay city region and it is clear that they see the investment
:03:06. > :03:10.in transport as a key driver for the economic prospects of the region. Do
:03:11. > :03:13.you think that Wales' second city, at the heart of this regional
:03:14. > :03:19.expansion, is ambitious enough to look simply beyond buses, which was
:03:20. > :03:23.recently suggested by Stuart Cole? I think that transport solutions can
:03:24. > :03:27.work in any number of different forms of transport. What is
:03:28. > :03:33.important is that the city deal is approved and receives funding from
:03:34. > :03:37.the UK Government. Bethan Jenkins. First Minister, in the past you have
:03:38. > :03:42.recognised the importance of pensions in the economy when I have
:03:43. > :03:47.raised issues with regards to Christian and the campaign that many
:03:48. > :03:51.of us were involved in in relation to the South Wales West economy and
:03:52. > :03:55.if those pensions were threatened in some way, how that would affect the
:03:56. > :03:59.economy. I am wondering if we could have a discussion on the Tata
:04:00. > :04:04.pension situation because far be it from us to be criticised for butting
:04:05. > :04:07.out of this debate, I think it is integral that politicians are part
:04:08. > :04:11.of this debate so that we can lead on this agenda and I think it is
:04:12. > :04:14.important therefore for us to have a debate on this that we can
:04:15. > :04:19.understand what contingency plans your government will put in place on
:04:20. > :04:23.a number of outcomes that are possible, for example if the deal is
:04:24. > :04:30.accepted or if it is rejected, the Welsh government will have do have a
:04:31. > :04:35.view on that, will it not? I think it's unfortunate you use that as an
:04:36. > :04:41.example because it closed. Unions are looking to represent their
:04:42. > :04:44.members' best interests. That is a matter for them. What is hugely
:04:45. > :04:47.important is that there is an understanding that at this moment in
:04:48. > :04:52.time there is nothing else on the table. If they were genuine
:04:53. > :04:56.alternatives, that is something we would consider further, but that is
:04:57. > :04:59.not the case at the moment so we have do consider that fact, that the
:05:00. > :05:06.UK Government are not prepared to nationalise the industry. Therefore,
:05:07. > :05:10.the only package that is on the table at this moment in time is the
:05:11. > :05:16.package that Tata have placed their for the workers and it is up to the
:05:17. > :05:22.workers and the trade unions to come to their own conclusions regarding
:05:23. > :05:27.the future. First Minister, one of the biggest challenges facing the
:05:28. > :05:30.economy in my region during 2017 continues to be poor infrastructure.
:05:31. > :05:38.A thriving economy is dependent upon good transport links. With the rail
:05:39. > :05:41.network and electrification, businesses in South Wales West are
:05:42. > :05:46.at the mercy of the traffic flows on the M4. What plans does your
:05:47. > :05:52.government have to reduce congestion on the M4 over the coming months? We
:05:53. > :05:56.want to see the UK Government making good on its commitment to Elektra
:05:57. > :06:01.fibre line between Cardiff Central and West Wales. They have not given
:06:02. > :06:07.a date on that. The original plan was to Elektra five from Cardiff to
:06:08. > :06:12.Bridgend and then to Swansea. But at the moment there is no date for the
:06:13. > :06:15.electrification of the line. We need to have that date so we can proceed
:06:16. > :06:21.with the modernisation of the rail networks we know will take more cars
:06:22. > :06:24.off the road. Question two. Will the First Minister made a statement on
:06:25. > :06:30.the Welsh government's priorities for children and young people in
:06:31. > :06:34.Torfaen? I have set up my priorities in the new programme for government,
:06:35. > :06:40.Taking Wales Forward. I want every child to have the best start in life
:06:41. > :06:45.and to recognise that focus. I'm sure that you will be aware of my
:06:46. > :06:51.concern that the decision was taken to end schools challenge country in
:06:52. > :06:54.the draft budget and that this decision was taken before the Welsh
:06:55. > :06:58.government received the evaluation of this scheme and it is clear that
:06:59. > :07:01.lots of areas have seen very significant benefits through the
:07:02. > :07:05.programme but it is also clear that there is more work to be done in
:07:06. > :07:10.areas like my own where we have a number of challenge schools. Can I
:07:11. > :07:12.ask whether you have any plans to make continued additional funding
:07:13. > :07:16.available to schools which were benefiting under the programme but
:07:17. > :07:20.have yet to make further progress? And how will we make sure that the
:07:21. > :07:24.good practice that has happened in the other parts of Wales can be
:07:25. > :07:28.ruled out everywhere? It is certainly the case that most schools
:07:29. > :07:31.have benefited from the scheme. They no longer need that support, they
:07:32. > :07:36.are able to stand on their own two feet. There are some schools not in
:07:37. > :07:41.that position and we are looking at how we can help those schools that
:07:42. > :07:44.have not done as well to make sure they are not left behind and to make
:07:45. > :07:49.sure that best practice found in other schools is passport did to
:07:50. > :07:52.those schools that haven't done as well as we would want in order for
:07:53. > :08:00.them to be able to succeed in future. Mohammad Asghar. Happy New
:08:01. > :08:03.Year to everybody here. The Welsh government is committed to created
:08:04. > :08:09.conditions to give every child the best chance in life in Wales. Will
:08:10. > :08:14.the First Minister advise how cancelling the scheme offering 16-18
:08:15. > :08:25.years old a third of their bus pass travel will help young people in
:08:26. > :08:30.Wales to access jobs or training? The current scheme is coming to a
:08:31. > :08:35.natural end. It's right to say the uptake of the scheme has not been as
:08:36. > :08:39.substantial as was originally intended. Nevertheless, the Minister
:08:40. > :08:44.has been in discussions with the bus and coach companies in order for
:08:45. > :08:48.them to come forward with a suitable alternative school -- scheme by
:08:49. > :08:51.April this year. It is not a case of the scheme coming to an end with
:08:52. > :08:57.nothing to replace it, we are looking at making it more effective.
:08:58. > :09:03.Questions from the party leaders. Leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.
:09:04. > :09:07.As we start the New Year, the familiar waiting time problems in
:09:08. > :09:10.Accident and Emergency and ambulances showed no sign of
:09:11. > :09:13.dissipating but there is an urgent question on that so I want to ask
:09:14. > :09:18.you about a crisis in waiting times that doesn't often get the attention
:09:19. > :09:21.it deserves. At the start of last term, I asked you about waiting
:09:22. > :09:27.times for children and adolescent mental health services. You said at
:09:28. > :09:32.that time the resources have been put in and I fully expect the
:09:33. > :09:36.waiting times and the numbers to go down as those resources work through
:09:37. > :09:42.the system. First Minister, have the waiting times gone down? If we look
:09:43. > :09:47.at waiting times in terms of mental health admissions, we know they were
:09:48. > :09:53.9570 admissions in the year ending 21st of March 20 16. 1400 resident
:09:54. > :09:58.patients in hospital and units across Wales. So we know that the
:09:59. > :10:03.number of admissions has stayed steady and we now expect to see the
:10:04. > :10:07.money, ?8 million extra that has been put into children's mental
:10:08. > :10:12.health services, help to cut waiting lists, waiting times, I beg your
:10:13. > :10:17.pardon. The answer to the question I asked you is that waiting times have
:10:18. > :10:22.not improved. The numbers of people waiting for over 16 weeks got
:10:23. > :10:26.slightly worse, over the course of the year, and as well as stagnating
:10:27. > :10:30.over the past year, the waiting times remain substantially worse
:10:31. > :10:35.than they were three years ago. One explanation that you have given for
:10:36. > :10:40.this is that there are too many children being referred. For
:10:41. > :10:45.example, in November 2015, you said, evidence suggests that around a
:10:46. > :10:48.third of young people referred to specialists have no mental illness
:10:49. > :10:54.and you said a further third have low-level difficulties that wouldn't
:10:55. > :10:58.reach the threshold for treatment by a specialist service. These
:10:59. > :11:05.sentiments were echoed by your previous Health Minister. Do you
:11:06. > :11:07.stand by that do? Yes. There is no evidence whatsoever that children
:11:08. > :11:14.are being added to waiting lists without reason. The children and
:11:15. > :11:18.young People's committee report of 2014 highlighted that many children
:11:19. > :11:25.have to wait until their condition worsens to access support and the
:11:26. > :11:29.charity Young Mines have said many children and young people tell us
:11:30. > :11:32.they have been frequently turned away from accessing services because
:11:33. > :11:35.the threshold for treatment is too high for them. The evidence is
:11:36. > :11:40.growing that there aren't enough services for young people with
:11:41. > :11:45.mental health problems. I will ask you the same question as I asked you
:11:46. > :11:51.in September last year, when can people expect to see improvements in
:11:52. > :11:56.the waiting lists which you have promised to this Assembly time and
:11:57. > :12:01.time again? Cambs is an acute service. I would not expect them to
:12:02. > :12:06.be referred to them automatically. I would expect young people to see
:12:07. > :12:08.their GP and the GP to refer if necessary. Every secondary school
:12:09. > :12:18.has a counsellor and those services are available for those who require
:12:19. > :12:23.it. I wouldn't expect everyone to be referred. We have made significant
:12:24. > :12:28.investments, there is no dispute about that. We expect to see further
:12:29. > :12:32.significant progress over the course of this year. I will have two right
:12:33. > :12:38.to the Leader of the Opposition in terms of the evidence that we have
:12:39. > :12:44.of the nature of referrals to Cambs and I will provide that information
:12:45. > :12:48.to her. Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies.
:12:49. > :12:52.Over the Christmas period and over the last couple of days, there has
:12:53. > :12:58.been considerable speculation over the merits or not as the case may be
:12:59. > :13:03.of the deal before the steelworkers at Port Talbot and the other plants
:13:04. > :13:06.across Wales. Before we broke for the Christmas recess, you clearly
:13:07. > :13:10.said to me in a line of questioning, this is a very good deal and it was
:13:11. > :13:18.a deal we can endorse and it provides a future for the plan. Does
:13:19. > :13:23.that still the thinking that the First Minister has around the deal
:13:24. > :13:27.because I am unaware of any plan B. I am aware there are concerns around
:13:28. > :13:31.the pension scheme but I have to say that I do not see there is any other
:13:32. > :13:37.alternative on the table and so although it is a matter for workers
:13:38. > :13:41.to make their own decisions, the proposal that is on the table is I
:13:42. > :13:47.believe one that will preserve the steel industry in south Wales. There
:13:48. > :13:51.is no plan B. Thank you for the charity because it is important to
:13:52. > :13:54.understand the gravity of the decision that the steelworkers do
:13:55. > :13:58.face. And it is their decision because they are being asked to give
:13:59. > :14:02.up something in return for assurances around the long-term
:14:03. > :14:06.future of the steel industry in Wales. We understand from Plaid
:14:07. > :14:09.Cymru that it is there opinion that this deal should be rejected. What
:14:10. > :14:13.do you think will be the consequences if this deal is
:14:14. > :14:18.rejected for the long-term and medium-term future of those plans
:14:19. > :14:22.that occupied so much of the political agenda as well as the
:14:23. > :14:26.community agenda in those communities through the whole of
:14:27. > :14:32.2016? I understand the concerns of members. But as I have said before,
:14:33. > :14:38.there is no other alternative on the table. The other consortia who were
:14:39. > :14:41.interested in taking over were all concerned about the pension scheme
:14:42. > :14:47.as well so the issue is never going to go away. The alternative is the
:14:48. > :14:52.UK Government could nationalise the industry. Your party made it very
:14:53. > :14:56.clear you will not do that. So it seems to me that it is this plan at
:14:57. > :15:01.the moment or no plan. That is what the workers have to consider. It is
:15:02. > :15:05.a matter of regret that the UK Government, things were different
:15:06. > :15:10.under the previous Prime Minister, have not taken an interest in the
:15:11. > :15:14.steel industry in Wales. They have not addressed the issue of energy
:15:15. > :15:18.prices properly. They have had no discussion with us on the future of
:15:19. > :15:22.the steel industry since the new Prime Minister came into place. I
:15:23. > :15:25.regret that. I noted carefully what Theresa May said yesterday about
:15:26. > :15:30.intervening in the market but we see no evidence of that Indians of help
:15:31. > :15:32.for the Welsh steel industry. I believe you have a very supportive
:15:33. > :15:47.UK Government. An Stephen Kinnock. I can hear the
:15:48. > :15:51.deputy minister champing from a different position but he might like
:15:52. > :15:54.to listen to the question first to give an answer to inform his
:15:55. > :16:01.constituents and the other people in Wales. Do you agree? Can we allow
:16:02. > :16:06.the leader of the Conservative Party to be heard, please? Do you agree
:16:07. > :16:12.that the proposals put forward on the table by Tata Steel are
:16:13. > :16:15.impressive proposals and actually, these do unlock significant
:16:16. > :16:21.investment for the steel plants across Wales and all for a secure
:16:22. > :16:27.future, certainly in the short and medium term for the many thousands
:16:28. > :16:31.of jobs that depend on this investment being unlocked? 7000
:16:32. > :16:35.jobs... I did ask for the leader of the Conservative Party to be heard
:16:36. > :16:41.and I intend to be listened to when I ask that. 7000 jobs depend upon
:16:42. > :16:44.the steel, do you agree with that? In the absence from anything from
:16:45. > :16:47.the UK Government and the lack of interest from the UK Government
:16:48. > :16:53.since the last Prime Minister left his office, I believe this is the
:16:54. > :16:56.only deal that is on the table, we provided a substantial amount of
:16:57. > :17:00.money, the UK Government provided nothing and we believe it will
:17:01. > :17:10.demand that that package secures the jobs in the steel industry in Wales.
:17:11. > :17:13.Neil Hamilton. Can I welcome the First Minister back from his trip to
:17:14. > :17:19.Norway and perhaps he could tell us what conclusions he arrived at as a
:17:20. > :17:24.result of that. Is he aware that 70% of the Norwegian people are still
:17:25. > :17:28.adamantly opposed to membership of the EU? Regarding membership of the
:17:29. > :17:36.EEE, will begin from that Norway is a member of the Schengen Agreement
:17:37. > :17:38.and so unfettered access to the single market, which the First
:17:39. > :17:43.Minister has always advocated, that will require also unfettered access
:17:44. > :17:49.to the UK for unlimited numbers of EU immigrants? People in Norway,
:17:50. > :17:55.your rightly point out that they do not support EU membership, but they
:17:56. > :17:58.strongly supported EEE membership and freedom of movement, but there
:17:59. > :18:03.is a difference and I believe this is an issue which is a profitable
:18:04. > :18:08.route for us to pursue in the UK. Freedom of movement in Norway allows
:18:09. > :18:12.freedom of movement to work, it is not unlimited, there are some rules
:18:13. > :18:15.surrounding how people can look for work if they lose their job but it
:18:16. > :18:20.is not an unfettered right of freedom of movement. All the
:18:21. > :18:24.actually do is follow the European rules to the letter, which the UK
:18:25. > :18:28.did not do. UK was more liberal in its approach and went beyond what
:18:29. > :18:32.was required by the rules. If that is what is required in order to
:18:33. > :18:36.access single market, I would have thought people would have found that
:18:37. > :18:42.perfectly reasonable. We discovered the answer to that question with the
:18:43. > :18:47.result of the referendum itself because it was overwhelmingly, the
:18:48. > :18:54.result of which, was motivated by fears about unfettered migration...
:18:55. > :18:59.Yes, that is correct. All of the evidence shows... All of the
:19:00. > :19:06.evidence shows that that was the clinching factor in the result.
:19:07. > :19:12.Plaid Cymru, of course, are not only in favour of full membership of the
:19:13. > :19:16.single market, they also favour full membership of the customs union
:19:17. > :19:19.which would prevent us entering into deals with third-party countries as
:19:20. > :19:27.well, at least the Labour Party has not gone that far in its arguments
:19:28. > :19:33.to EU membership! The reality is, I did not, First Minister, that 508
:19:34. > :19:38.million people currently have arrived being EU citizens in this
:19:39. > :19:42.country to work and everyone members of the IEEE that led to all intents
:19:43. > :19:46.and purposes be the same as it is at the moment? No, because if you
:19:47. > :19:49.interpret the rules strictly, that is what you get, I believe people
:19:50. > :19:53.will accept that. If people believe that someone was coming to a job
:19:54. > :19:58.that they had, that would be reasonable, a reasonable position to
:19:59. > :20:01.adopt. We must also remember that the UK will have an open border. It
:20:02. > :20:07.will have an open border in Ireland which will not be in any way police
:20:08. > :20:11.or monitored. Whenever this is mentioned in discussion by UK
:20:12. > :20:14.ministers it is like an ostrich plunging its head into the sand,
:20:15. > :20:18.they continue to tell us it will be fine, but the reality is that given
:20:19. > :20:21.the fact it will be an open border with the EU, given the fact that the
:20:22. > :20:26.UK Government will want to monitor what someone has the right to work
:20:27. > :20:30.in the UK, how does an individual proof that right? Passports and
:20:31. > :20:41.driving licences are optional, but you end up with a compulsory system,
:20:42. > :20:44.there is no other way of doing it, it has the right to work in the UK,
:20:45. > :20:46.how does an individual proof that right? Passports and driving
:20:47. > :20:49.licences are optional, but you end up with a compulsory system, there
:20:50. > :20:52.is no other way of doing it, it is not properly been thought through
:20:53. > :20:54.and there are many question Jet2 be answered by the UK Government. In
:20:55. > :20:57.the nicest possible way I would like to encourage the First Minister to
:20:58. > :20:59.spend more time abroad and going to other countries where they can learn
:21:00. > :21:01.something about how the world operates outside of the EU, and in
:21:02. > :21:04.particular, I would like to encourage him to go to South Korea,
:21:05. > :21:09.not just because it is about as far away... Via Los Angeles, possibly!
:21:10. > :21:12.Because South Korea has actually managed to negotiate a free trade
:21:13. > :21:16.agreement with the EU, it is not part of the single market, but it
:21:17. > :21:21.has all of the trade benefits of the membership as part of a single
:21:22. > :21:24.market without any of the problems with the freedom of movement of
:21:25. > :21:31.people. As this has been lauded by the trade Commissioner of the EU, in
:21:32. > :21:34.these terms, she says, the evidence of the agreement with South Korea
:21:35. > :21:38.should help convince the unconvinced of Europe that there is great
:21:39. > :21:43.benefits to be had by this way. It creates jobs. I am sure that the
:21:44. > :21:47.First Minister and I are in agreement on that point and
:21:48. > :21:51.therefore it would be very helpful for the UK in general if he were to
:21:52. > :21:54.add his considerable weight to the argument for more free trade
:21:55. > :21:58.agreements with the rest of the world, something we could negotiate
:21:59. > :22:04.on outside the customs union and outside of the EU. I will try to be
:22:05. > :22:08.optimistic by what he means! The reality is this, the free trade
:22:09. > :22:12.agreements take many years to negotiate, the UK will not have such
:22:13. > :22:15.agreements within two years. When I have spoken to officials involved in
:22:16. > :22:19.such discussions they find it laughable that we would even suggest
:22:20. > :22:23.that, it takes almost two years to send up a framework for discussions.
:22:24. > :22:26.The concern I have is then that two years the UK will have fallen off
:22:27. > :22:32.the edge of the cliff and we will have deals with no one because there
:22:33. > :22:36.will be no transitional arrangements and they are absolutely crucial
:22:37. > :22:41.beyond March 2019, otherwise they will be nothing. He mentioned South
:22:42. > :22:44.Korea, I do not want the UK to become a European kind of North
:22:45. > :22:47.Korea that is cut off from the rest of the world and has no trade deals
:22:48. > :22:51.with anyone, that cannot be in the interest of anyone. We must be
:22:52. > :22:54.realistic. It has been said that the world will follow the fate of the
:22:55. > :23:00.UK, I do not believe that. The UK is small compared to other trading
:23:01. > :23:03.blocs, we must be realistic and enter negotiations with an open
:23:04. > :23:08.mind. We also have to understand that as far as market access is
:23:09. > :23:11.concerned, there is a quid pro quo, we cannot demand from the European
:23:12. > :23:15.Union everything they want and expect to get it, that is not going
:23:16. > :23:18.to happen that way. For me, there is a choice. Either UCB will limit
:23:19. > :23:24.immigration which is impossible because of the order -- open border,
:23:25. > :23:27.UCB will have access to the single market, that is absolutely the most
:23:28. > :23:33.important issue for us in Wales and therefore anything else can be
:23:34. > :23:37.compromised on. If we say to the people of Wales that there is the
:23:38. > :23:43.freedom of movement to work, that is something that most will accept as
:23:44. > :23:46.perfectly sensible. Will you make a statement on the
:23:47. > :23:53.importance of economic development to achieve the government's target
:23:54. > :23:56.of a million Welsh speakers by 2050? Well, we have consultations in or
:23:57. > :24:02.craft to achieve that figure by 2050. The finalised document will
:24:03. > :24:04.discuss the relationship between the Welsh language and economic
:24:05. > :24:08.government and we will publish the final strategy later this year. --
:24:09. > :24:12.draft. Thank you, Plaid Cymru strongly
:24:13. > :24:16.believe that they must have social activity and economic prosperity in
:24:17. > :24:23.the Welsh speaking areas of Welsh language is to be strengthened. We
:24:24. > :24:31.believe developing urban areas. Do you agree that we need to take all
:24:32. > :24:33.possible opportunities to involve national institutions in areas with
:24:34. > :24:39.the Welsh national out the strong as part of the strategy and do you
:24:40. > :24:44.agree that creating the new financing body that will be required
:24:45. > :24:47.to administer taxation in Wales will be an excellent opportunity to
:24:48. > :24:53.create high-quality bilingual jobs in an area such as the Menai area of
:24:54. > :25:00.north-west Wales and may I suggest some ideal locations because the
:25:01. > :25:04.government has a half empty building they are already which is ready for
:25:05. > :25:07.use and the establishment of the revenue authority there would be a
:25:08. > :25:14.great boost to the Welsh language both locally and nationally. That is
:25:15. > :25:18.a very important question, I understand why the member supports
:25:19. > :25:24.the Carmarthen bed, but that is something I have asked officials to
:25:25. > :25:27.consider. The point raised is whether it really possible to ensure
:25:28. > :25:31.that there is prosperity to have skills in those less urban areas and
:25:32. > :25:36.that is an open question at the moment but I do understand where
:25:37. > :25:40.anybody is created, a new public body in that regard, we should look
:25:41. > :25:45.beyond Cardiff and look beyond the south to see whether there is a way
:25:46. > :25:48.to ensure that that can be located somewhere else in Wales. This is
:25:49. > :26:00.something we are currently considering.
:26:01. > :26:07.Evidence from the review suggested there were differences between how
:26:08. > :26:12.SMEs and larger businesses use the Welsh language with many SMEs saying
:26:13. > :26:16.that the Welsh language was a cost, rather than a benefit since the
:26:17. > :26:19.review was published three years ago, can I ask what practical
:26:20. > :26:26.support the Welsh Government has provided to specifically help SMEs
:26:27. > :26:31.increase the commercial advantages of operating bilingually? Two
:26:32. > :26:35.points, firstly, it is an opportunity for businesses, the
:26:36. > :26:38.businesses seem to provide a service in Welsh, it will be receive more
:26:39. > :26:42.favourably by the community, there is no question of that in my mind.
:26:43. > :26:47.Secondly, only more practical point, there is a pilot project that has
:26:48. > :26:50.been operating in Don Valley operating local businesses to help
:26:51. > :26:54.them provide a service in the Welsh language and help them understand
:26:55. > :26:58.the economic benefits to members of business by operating bilingually.
:26:59. > :27:02.That project is important in terms of being able to gather the evidence
:27:03. > :27:06.as to what might work in a future in terms of helping SMEs to develop
:27:07. > :27:13.their language for a spot of the business.
:27:14. > :27:16.What recent discussions has the First Minister had with Cabinet
:27:17. > :27:21.Secretary is regarding the Environment and Sustainability
:27:22. > :27:25.Committee of the fourth assembly report, a smarter energy future for
:27:26. > :27:28.Wales? I know that the Cabinet Secretary has given great
:27:29. > :27:32.consideration to this and has led on this and given her response on
:27:33. > :27:35.energy matters and there were complaints of response to this
:27:36. > :27:40.report was to work across government and is available on the web page.
:27:41. > :27:45.Thank you for that answer. He will know that a new year is often a time
:27:46. > :27:49.for New Year resolutions as well. Could I ask the First Minister
:27:50. > :27:51.whether he and the very able Cabinet Secretary will undertake and resolve
:27:52. > :27:56.to work with the assembly and across government to take forward as many
:27:57. > :28:00.of possible as those 19 recommendations which included a
:28:01. > :28:06.commitment to near zero carbon homes, which included a commitment
:28:07. > :28:09.to driving forward a revolution towards community and localised
:28:10. > :28:12.energy that would tackle the monopoly of the big energy
:28:13. > :28:17.providers, using planning and other policy tools and horrible boost
:28:18. > :28:21.immunity energy, and the drive that revolution as well within clean,
:28:22. > :28:28.green energy jobs, right across Wales, urban and rural, likewise. A
:28:29. > :28:31.hallmark of that government and its assembly in successive
:28:32. > :28:35.administrations has been a commitment to champion the
:28:36. > :28:38.environment and real sustainability. Will this be the parliament and will
:28:39. > :28:44.this be the assembly that will be -- and will this be the government that
:28:45. > :28:49.makes this a reality, a real green M Georgi -- a real, green energy
:28:50. > :28:55.revolution and the jobs boost for the future of Wales? I believe so.
:28:56. > :28:59.The 19 recommendations we are willing to accept 12 of in full in
:29:00. > :29:07.principle. In terms of how this is being taken forward we have seen the
:29:08. > :29:12.success of a locally owned wind farm that was featured on the Money Box
:29:13. > :29:19.programme this weekend. There was an event on Friday is being posted.
:29:20. > :29:24.Ofgem are making sure that Welsh voices will be heard on a smart
:29:25. > :29:33.flexible energy system. I commend this excellence --
:29:34. > :29:36.excellent report. It is important the drug worked hard on reflect on
:29:37. > :29:39.the importance and success of previous reports. I know you will
:29:40. > :29:43.return to this. But about ambition, we want that ambition reflected in
:29:44. > :29:47.the government's programme and there is a real chance year, the Welsh
:29:48. > :29:54.economy was built on more or less a single source of energy and we
:29:55. > :29:57.suffered for that after the 1920s with the replacement of coal with
:29:58. > :29:59.oil. New opportunities are before us and those opportunities could help
:30:00. > :30:04.us to transform the Welsh economy and make it much more greener and
:30:05. > :30:07.resultant and locally controlled. Wind is there, the tie will always
:30:08. > :30:12.be there as long as the wind is a nice guy. These are truly renewable
:30:13. > :30:17.resources if properly harness can drive our energy consumption and
:30:18. > :30:22.energy exports infinitely, potentially, these are issues we
:30:23. > :30:28.must move forward with. We will, of course, in the Wales Bill have more
:30:29. > :30:31.powers over energy consenting but the financial aspect of energy
:30:32. > :30:34.development remains with the UK Government. We of course look
:30:35. > :30:39.forward to see what the Henry review will tell us in terms of the tidal
:30:40. > :30:44.lagoons and bebop with the UK Government to ensure that we do have
:30:45. > :30:49.renewable energy that is and has a very low energy and revenue cost in
:30:50. > :30:53.terms of generation and is there for the foreseeable future.
:30:54. > :31:02.Simon Thomas. May I recommend to Assembly Members that if they want a
:31:03. > :31:07.vision of the future that is anticipated any committee report
:31:08. > :31:11.that they visit the solar village in Pembrokeshire where new social
:31:12. > :31:15.housing has been opened by the Cabinet Secretary and I was also in
:31:16. > :31:18.attendance last Thursday and those are the kind of developments that
:31:19. > :31:22.are possible now in Wales and we should see far more of that
:31:23. > :31:28.developed here. But specifically the committee recommendation made on
:31:29. > :31:32.energy suggests the creation of a not-for-profit energy company for
:31:33. > :31:38.the whole of Wales to be an umbrella body for developments such as those
:31:39. > :31:43.that you have just listed. Developments that bring people
:31:44. > :31:48.together and get the best possible deal for the customer as well as the
:31:49. > :31:52.environment and the government. What steps are you taking to undertake
:31:53. > :31:55.that sort of development? Discussions have taken place between
:31:56. > :32:00.officials and several bodies with regards to developing schemes to
:32:01. > :32:03.establish a green energy company for Wales and we have to be clear about
:32:04. > :32:07.what the purpose of such a company would be before we move forward. But
:32:08. > :32:15.those discussions have taken place. Mike Hedges. Will the First Minister
:32:16. > :32:18.make a statement on primary care provision? Health boards are
:32:19. > :32:22.collaborating with partners to invest in primary care as the
:32:23. > :32:26.mainstay of our health and care system, working in communities to
:32:27. > :32:34.tackle poor health and to do what matters and to diagnose and treat
:32:35. > :32:38.problems with a occur. I received a number of complaints since Christmas
:32:39. > :32:42.regarding primary care provision basically in two practices within
:32:43. > :32:48.Swansea East, one about not being able to make an appointment, being
:32:49. > :32:51.told to phone back the next morning, difficulty getting vaccinations, and
:32:52. > :32:56.unwillingness to make home visits. I also know that the other surgeries
:32:57. > :33:01.cavilling my constituency. What can the government do to standardise the
:33:02. > :33:08.care and bring all doctors surgeries up to the level of the best? It is a
:33:09. > :33:13.point I hear from people on occasion. They ask why the services
:33:14. > :33:17.are not consistent. Those services are provided by health boards and
:33:18. > :33:20.are consistent but we know that most GPs are independent contractors and
:33:21. > :33:24.that is what the situation will be for some years to come. It is
:33:25. > :33:28.important for the public to be able to access services when they need
:33:29. > :33:35.them. I expect local GP practices and health boards will be focusing
:33:36. > :33:42.on them. There is money on the table. The primary care fund of ?43
:33:43. > :33:46.million. That is there in order to improve ways of delivering services,
:33:47. > :33:52.for example developing the role of nurses so people don't feel they
:33:53. > :33:54.have to visit their GP or the time. And placing pharmacists,
:33:55. > :33:59.physiotherapists and social workers alongside GP teams. Then they can
:34:00. > :34:09.get the right professional that they need. Angela Burns. You make the
:34:10. > :34:14.absolutely fundamentally correct point about needing more of the
:34:15. > :34:18.Allied health care professionals in place in general practices in order
:34:19. > :34:25.to help to maintain a good quality service. My question is, last year,
:34:26. > :34:28.there was an absolutely right focus on getting more doctors into Wales,
:34:29. > :34:31.whether it was secondary or primary care. This year will you be able to
:34:32. > :34:35.look at how we may recruit more people into the allied health
:34:36. > :34:40.professions, how we might have adequate training creations --
:34:41. > :34:44.places for them, how we might encourage young people that this
:34:45. > :34:47.might be a real career path for them and show them there is a real career
:34:48. > :34:52.development because we are not going to solve our primary care issues
:34:53. > :34:56.without having that broad structure of competent individuals offering
:34:57. > :34:59.holistic services to people. We launched the first phase of the
:35:00. > :35:04.national and international recruitment campaign last October,
:35:05. > :35:09.attracting doctors, but Italy GPs, to live and train in Wales, and the
:35:10. > :35:13.numbers of applications have increased, including in those areas
:35:14. > :35:16.where we have introduced an incentive -based approach. I can say
:35:17. > :35:20.that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed plans for phase two of the
:35:21. > :35:23.recruitment campaign earlier this week aimed at other health care
:35:24. > :35:30.professionals in primary care. Rhun ap Iorwerth. Thank you. With
:35:31. > :35:38.emergency departments in our hospitals in crisis, the words of
:35:39. > :35:40.the Royal College of medicine is -- the Royal College of Emergency
:35:41. > :35:45.Medicine, would the First Minister agreed that the erosion there has
:35:46. > :35:51.been in the percentage of NHS funding provided to primary care and
:35:52. > :35:57.the stress that places on our GPs surgeries, then that causes problems
:35:58. > :35:59.for our A departments. And there's the First Minister agreed,
:36:00. > :36:04.therefore, that it is now time to look again at how health funding is
:36:05. > :36:09.allocated in Wales in order to ensure fair funding for primary care
:36:10. > :36:15.in order to maintain a sustainable NHS the future? Two things. I don't
:36:16. > :36:19.think it is just about having more and more doctors. We need to make
:36:20. > :36:24.sure that people do go to the relevant professional for them. That
:36:25. > :36:28.could be a pharmacist or it could be a nurse or a physiotherapist. It is
:36:29. > :36:32.right to say that we need to ensure that we do maintain the right number
:36:33. > :36:38.of doctors but it is not just about having doctors. It is important that
:36:39. > :36:42.people don't remain in hospital for too long. We have seen the problems
:36:43. > :36:45.that have arisen in England because they have cut back on expenditure
:36:46. > :36:51.for social services and social care in particular. In Wales, we
:36:52. > :36:55.maintained the level of funding to ensure that didn't happen. It is
:36:56. > :37:00.true to say that there are pressures in our health service, that happens
:37:01. > :37:04.every year, especially in our emergency departments. They have
:37:05. > :37:08.been plans put in place and those have worked, despite the pressure
:37:09. > :37:12.that has been placed on doctors. May I pay tribute once again to all
:37:13. > :37:15.those who work in our health service, especially those who work
:37:16. > :37:22.in the emergency services, for the excellent they were -- work they do
:37:23. > :37:26.at this time of year. Adam Price. What plans does the Welsh government
:37:27. > :37:31.have two encourage Wells consumers to buy Welsh produced goods and
:37:32. > :37:34.services? Direct support through business Wales and we are also
:37:35. > :37:36.working alongside the national procurement service to increase the
:37:37. > :37:44.amount of Welsh produce coming into the public sector. And the food and
:37:45. > :37:49.drink industry, Welsh produce is far more, far better labelled now than
:37:50. > :37:53.it was 15 years ago. He may have the experience that I have of going into
:37:54. > :37:59.local shops and seemed that Welsh produce is first off the shelves.
:38:00. > :38:05.Norway, which he visited recently, the Republic of Ireland, the German
:38:06. > :38:09.region of Hesse, and others, all have an visual and widely recognised
:38:10. > :38:15.country of origin brand which is largely aimed at domestic consumers.
:38:16. > :38:18.If, as it seems, we are going to be rejected out of the single market by
:38:19. > :38:25.that regressive alliance of Corbin and made. --, import substitution
:38:26. > :38:31.will be even more important to us in the future so can we have a made in
:38:32. > :38:36.Wales brand as the first line of defence from the economic lunacy
:38:37. > :38:40.emanating from Westminster? This has been looked at in the past as to
:38:41. > :38:44.whether there is a need for brand for Welsh produce or whether it is
:38:45. > :38:48.better approached through having strong brand recognition for
:38:49. > :38:53.individual products. These days, most food producers to label their
:38:54. > :38:59.products as Welsh. That is seen as a great advantage to them. For some,
:39:00. > :39:04.less so, but it is certainly more prevalent than it was 15 years ago,
:39:05. > :39:08.and people are far more likely now to buy Welsh produce. I remember at
:39:09. > :39:12.the time of the foot and mouth crisis, one of the big supermarkets
:39:13. > :39:16.didn't label anything as Welsh. That has long changed and things are
:39:17. > :39:19.better for it. The domestic market in Wales is important but it is a
:39:20. > :39:24.small market. That is why we continue to make sure we have an
:39:25. > :39:37.emphasis on exports and having Welsh branded
:39:38. > :39:41.products going to export. When we look at Welsh food, the one thing we
:39:42. > :39:43.must avoid is the Norwegian situation where there is a tariff on
:39:44. > :39:46.food. They were saying to me that the tariffs are so detailed, there
:39:47. > :39:48.is one tariff for smoked salmon and one for fresh salmon, which gives
:39:49. > :39:51.you an idea how difficult trading negotiations are. But for Norway,
:39:52. > :39:53.they do have tariffs imposed on the agricultural produce going into the
:39:54. > :39:58.European market. The very last thing we need is to see the same thing
:39:59. > :40:02.happened to us. Jeremy Miles. I was pleased to hear the First Minister
:40:03. > :40:07.referred to the role of Welsh public bodies in supporting not just Welsh
:40:08. > :40:10.producers and suppliers but also in proactively supporting their local
:40:11. > :40:14.economies. What a difference it would make if all Welsh public
:40:15. > :40:19.bodies or all bodies in Wales in receipt of Welsh public funds acted
:40:20. > :40:22.deliberately proactively and collaboratively with one another to
:40:23. > :40:28.support their local economies and including fostering the development
:40:29. > :40:33.of local suppliers and local supply chains. What steps can you take to
:40:34. > :40:38.bring that about? We continue to work on marrying the risk-based
:40:39. > :40:41.approach, simplifying the process for suppliers in bidding for the
:40:42. > :40:45.public sector work and helping to ensure that all suppliers have a
:40:46. > :40:48.fair chance of winning that work? One of the issues in the food and
:40:49. > :40:53.drink sector which was a problem was that they were too small. Companies
:40:54. > :40:58.were too small to supply big organisations like the NHS is in,
:40:59. > :41:01.week out. That was overcome through the pretty woman initiatives that
:41:02. > :41:04.were put in place and we have seen far more produce now taking place
:41:05. > :41:13.locally than was the case 15 years ago. Moving local authorities away
:41:14. > :41:18.from compulsory competitive tendering, we talk about best value
:41:19. > :41:21.for local authorities, it is about making sure that as much money as
:41:22. > :41:28.possible is retained in the local economy. Nick Ramsay. I am pleased
:41:29. > :41:33.that Adam Price has raised this question. Only you could make Jeremy
:41:34. > :41:36.Corbyn and Theresa May sound like a 1960s folk group. I would rather
:41:37. > :41:42.focus on the food and drink issue that the First Minister mentioned in
:41:43. > :41:46.answering. I agree, Wales does have a great story to tell in terms of
:41:47. > :41:50.our home-grown food and drink and you are right to point out labelling
:41:51. > :41:54.as an important tool. Would you agree with me that food festivals
:41:55. > :41:58.and models such as that are very important way for us to sell Welsh
:41:59. > :42:03.produce not just a Welsh consumers, as Adam Price's question originally
:42:04. > :42:07.said, but also to English consumers coming across the border?
:42:08. > :42:11.Abergavenny I'm sure is well respected as a food festival as you
:42:12. > :42:15.will know, but he is right because the events showcase Welsh bodies.
:42:16. > :42:20.The fool hall at the Royal Welsh Show at one time was too small, it
:42:21. > :42:25.was too small, and now it is too small again. That shows the success
:42:26. > :42:28.of the Welsh food and drink industry in its diversification and the fact
:42:29. > :42:32.that so many businesses that were set up over the last decade are
:42:33. > :42:36.still there and are still able to go to the supermarket. There has been a
:42:37. > :42:39.change of heart in terms of the number of supermarkets as well,
:42:40. > :42:44.whereas in the past they prefer to purchase from larger suppliers, they
:42:45. > :42:48.have become more interested in small suppliers and local produce, which I
:42:49. > :42:52.very much welcome. But what we have to avoid more than anyone else is
:42:53. > :42:56.our biggest market, which is Europe, being either closed to us or the
:42:57. > :43:01.terms of trade with that market being less advantageous to us. The
:43:02. > :43:06.US will never replace the European market. The US is very protectionist
:43:07. > :43:10.when it comes to agriculture. Welsh farmers being able to sell on the
:43:11. > :43:16.current terms to the European market is absolutely vital to the future of
:43:17. > :43:19.Welsh farming. Joyce Watson. Will the First Minister made a statement
:43:20. > :43:24.on the outbreak of avian flu in Wales? It is a matter of serious
:43:25. > :43:27.concern. We have a strong track record of controlling animal disease
:43:28. > :43:32.outbreaks and the Cabinet Secretary will be providing an update in her
:43:33. > :43:37.oral statement this afternoon. I look forward to that statement later
:43:38. > :43:47.today. It was the case that during the Christmas break there was a type
:43:48. > :43:51.of duck that landed on Llanelli wetlands Centre and I want to praise
:43:52. > :43:55.the actions that were immediately taken by that wetland Centre to
:43:56. > :44:01.closing their doors to the public for nine days because as a
:44:02. > :44:08.consequence of that, I'm sure that they helped reduce the spread of
:44:09. > :44:11.that avian flu within that area. We do know however that it did spread
:44:12. > :44:18.and it has been an infection in that area. What we also know is that
:44:19. > :44:25.birds don't understand boundaries and I think we would be well advised
:44:26. > :44:32.to take note of the very cold and sharp spell of weather that is now
:44:33. > :44:37.happening in Eastern Europe which might, and in my opinion probably
:44:38. > :44:41.will, create further migration from birds looking for food further
:44:42. > :44:49.south. To us, that is West, of course. My question will be, and I
:44:50. > :44:53.will address it to the minister later, the Cabinet Secretary, how
:44:54. > :44:57.are we going to deal with that and how are we going to inform the
:44:58. > :45:00.public to be aware of those newly migrated birds that could possibly
:45:01. > :45:05.be a source of further infection here.
:45:06. > :45:10.Is it we of course work with the other Great Britain governments to
:45:11. > :45:18.take appropriate action. I would not encourage -- I would
:45:19. > :45:21.encourage other members to report problems to the helpline. It is
:45:22. > :45:26.updated continually, the website, with advice. I would urge all
:45:27. > :45:30.poultry keepers and those involved working with the wild of wetlands
:45:31. > :45:33.trust to check the website frequently. I know that the Cabinet
:45:34. > :45:40.Secretary will provide more information this afternoon.
:45:41. > :45:44.First Minister, in light of these cases of avian flu, what additional
:45:45. > :45:48.work are you as a government doing to assess the impact that this
:45:49. > :45:52.disease could have on the poultry sector?
:45:53. > :46:00.Well, there is of course an effect because there is a period of time.
:46:01. > :46:04.After that period it is not possible to see if poultry are free range
:46:05. > :46:09.because the fact that they have had to be kept him. We know that and we
:46:10. > :46:14.know the effect of those who do keep poultry will be. Presently what is
:46:15. > :46:21.vitally important is to ensure that there are people to deal with the
:46:22. > :46:25.issues and we must understand what the situation is in terms of poultry
:46:26. > :46:27.farmers. As the situation should continue like this.
:46:28. > :46:34.Thank you, First Minister,. There we are, that was
:46:35. > :46:36.First Minister's Questions. If you want more coverage
:46:37. > :46:38.of the National Assembly, you can go online to BBC
:46:39. > :46:40.Wales's Senedd Live page at Don't forget, for all the latest
:46:41. > :46:44.political news, watch Wales Today later today at 6:30pm
:46:45. > :46:47.on BBC One Wales and As for First Minister's Questions
:46:48. > :46:51.though, from all of us