10/01/2017 First Minister's Questions

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to a new programme

covering questions to the First Minister.

AMs are back in Cardiff Bay after their Christmas break

Today we can expect questions on economic growth, energy

and the interests of children and young people.

We're also on Twitter - @walespolitics,

where you can follow the latest developments as they happen.

Well, business in the Siambr is already underway

so let's see today's questions to the First Minister.

I call the National Assembly to order and may I begin by wishing you

all a very happy New Year and we will move onto our first item,

questions to First Minister. Will the First Minister outline his

proposals for supporting economic growth during 2017 in South Wales

West? The priorities include supporting businesses to grow,

investing in high quality infrastructure and improving

conditions for business. Steel-making is a critical element

of the economy in South Wales West and is the heart of the economy in

Aberavon. As the challenges have eased, they have not gone away. I

applaud the Welsh government in honouring its commitment in

supporting the industry with the financial support announced in

December. I am dismayed that the UK Government has done nothing. Before

Christmas, I met with the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Steel UK

and he made it quite clear that the joint venture was still on the

agenda even if the deal is accepted by the trade unions at the end of

this month. With consolidation of the industry and the pension

problems as well, what discussions will you be having with Tata to

ensure that Welsh steelworkers have a more secure future? Any support we

provide will be conditional on economic activity in Wales. Our

financial support will be subject to Tata agreeing to legally binding

conditions and no funding will be drawn down by Tata unless those

conditions are agreed. It is important that workers understand

that the money that has been made available or will be made available

to Tata is conditional. We want to ensure that the money ensures that

we keep those jobs in Wales. Importantly, we have two blast

furnaces. Suzy Davies. Assembly Members finally managed to get a

formal meeting with chief executives and council leaders to discuss the

Swansea Bay city region and it is clear that they see the investment

in transport as a key driver for the economic prospects of the region. Do

you think that Wales' second city, at the heart of this regional

expansion, is ambitious enough to look simply beyond buses, which was

recently suggested by Stuart Cole? I think that transport solutions can

work in any number of different forms of transport. What is

important is that the city deal is approved and receives funding from

the UK Government. Bethan Jenkins. First Minister, in the past you have

recognised the importance of pensions in the economy when I have

raised issues with regards to Christian and the campaign that many

of us were involved in in relation to the South Wales West economy and

if those pensions were threatened in some way, how that would affect the

economy. I am wondering if we could have a discussion on the Tata

pension situation because far be it from us to be criticised for butting

out of this debate, I think it is integral that politicians are part

of this debate so that we can lead on this agenda and I think it is

important therefore for us to have a debate on this that we can

understand what contingency plans your government will put in place on

a number of outcomes that are possible, for example if the deal is

accepted or if it is rejected, the Welsh government will have do have a

view on that, will it not? I think it's unfortunate you use that as an

example because it closed. Unions are looking to represent their

members' best interests. That is a matter for them. What is hugely

important is that there is an understanding that at this moment in

time there is nothing else on the table. If they were genuine

alternatives, that is something we would consider further, but that is

not the case at the moment so we have do consider that fact, that the

UK Government are not prepared to nationalise the industry. Therefore,

the only package that is on the table at this moment in time is the

package that Tata have placed their for the workers and it is up to the

workers and the trade unions to come to their own conclusions regarding

the future. First Minister, one of the biggest challenges facing the

economy in my region during 2017 continues to be poor infrastructure.

A thriving economy is dependent upon good transport links. With the rail

network and electrification, businesses in South Wales West are

at the mercy of the traffic flows on the M4. What plans does your

government have to reduce congestion on the M4 over the coming months? We

want to see the UK Government making good on its commitment to Elektra

fibre line between Cardiff Central and West Wales. They have not given

a date on that. The original plan was to Elektra five from Cardiff to

Bridgend and then to Swansea. But at the moment there is no date for the

electrification of the line. We need to have that date so we can proceed

with the modernisation of the rail networks we know will take more cars

off the road. Question two. Will the First Minister made a statement on

the Welsh government's priorities for children and young people in

Torfaen? I have set up my priorities in the new programme for government,

Taking Wales Forward. I want every child to have the best start in life

and to recognise that focus. I'm sure that you will be aware of my

concern that the decision was taken to end schools challenge country in

the draft budget and that this decision was taken before the Welsh

government received the evaluation of this scheme and it is clear that

lots of areas have seen very significant benefits through the

programme but it is also clear that there is more work to be done in

areas like my own where we have a number of challenge schools. Can I

ask whether you have any plans to make continued additional funding

available to schools which were benefiting under the programme but

have yet to make further progress? And how will we make sure that the

good practice that has happened in the other parts of Wales can be

ruled out everywhere? It is certainly the case that most schools

have benefited from the scheme. They no longer need that support, they

are able to stand on their own two feet. There are some schools not in

that position and we are looking at how we can help those schools that

have not done as well to make sure they are not left behind and to make

sure that best practice found in other schools is passport did to

those schools that haven't done as well as we would want in order for

them to be able to succeed in future. Mohammad Asghar. Happy New

Year to everybody here. The Welsh government is committed to created

conditions to give every child the best chance in life in Wales. Will

the First Minister advise how cancelling the scheme offering 16-18

years old a third of their bus pass travel will help young people in

Wales to access jobs or training? The current scheme is coming to a

natural end. It's right to say the uptake of the scheme has not been as

substantial as was originally intended. Nevertheless, the Minister

has been in discussions with the bus and coach companies in order for

them to come forward with a suitable alternative school -- scheme by

April this year. It is not a case of the scheme coming to an end with

nothing to replace it, we are looking at making it more effective.

Questions from the party leaders. Leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.

As we start the New Year, the familiar waiting time problems in

Accident and Emergency and ambulances showed no sign of

dissipating but there is an urgent question on that so I want to ask

you about a crisis in waiting times that doesn't often get the attention

it deserves. At the start of last term, I asked you about waiting

times for children and adolescent mental health services. You said at

that time the resources have been put in and I fully expect the

waiting times and the numbers to go down as those resources work through

the system. First Minister, have the waiting times gone down? If we look

at waiting times in terms of mental health admissions, we know they were

9570 admissions in the year ending 21st of March 20 16. 1400 resident

patients in hospital and units across Wales. So we know that the

number of admissions has stayed steady and we now expect to see the

money, ?8 million extra that has been put into children's mental

health services, help to cut waiting lists, waiting times, I beg your

pardon. The answer to the question I asked you is that waiting times have

not improved. The numbers of people waiting for over 16 weeks got

slightly worse, over the course of the year, and as well as stagnating

over the past year, the waiting times remain substantially worse

than they were three years ago. One explanation that you have given for

this is that there are too many children being referred. For

example, in November 2015, you said, evidence suggests that around a

third of young people referred to specialists have no mental illness

and you said a further third have low-level difficulties that wouldn't

reach the threshold for treatment by a specialist service. These

sentiments were echoed by your previous Health Minister. Do you

stand by that do? Yes. There is no evidence whatsoever that children

are being added to waiting lists without reason. The children and

young People's committee report of 2014 highlighted that many children

have to wait until their condition worsens to access support and the

charity Young Mines have said many children and young people tell us

they have been frequently turned away from accessing services because

the threshold for treatment is too high for them. The evidence is

growing that there aren't enough services for young people with

mental health problems. I will ask you the same question as I asked you

in September last year, when can people expect to see improvements in

the waiting lists which you have promised to this Assembly time and

time again? Cambs is an acute service. I would not expect them to

be referred to them automatically. I would expect young people to see

their GP and the GP to refer if necessary. Every secondary school

has a counsellor and those services are available for those who require

it. I wouldn't expect everyone to be referred. We have made significant

investments, there is no dispute about that. We expect to see further

significant progress over the course of this year. I will have two right

to the Leader of the Opposition in terms of the evidence that we have

of the nature of referrals to Cambs and I will provide that information

to her. Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies.

Over the Christmas period and over the last couple of days, there has

been considerable speculation over the merits or not as the case may be

of the deal before the steelworkers at Port Talbot and the other plants

across Wales. Before we broke for the Christmas recess, you clearly

said to me in a line of questioning, this is a very good deal and it was

a deal we can endorse and it provides a future for the plan. Does

that still the thinking that the First Minister has around the deal

because I am unaware of any plan B. I am aware there are concerns around

the pension scheme but I have to say that I do not see there is any other

alternative on the table and so although it is a matter for workers

to make their own decisions, the proposal that is on the table is I

believe one that will preserve the steel industry in south Wales. There

is no plan B. Thank you for the charity because it is important to

understand the gravity of the decision that the steelworkers do

face. And it is their decision because they are being asked to give

up something in return for assurances around the long-term

future of the steel industry in Wales. We understand from Plaid

Cymru that it is there opinion that this deal should be rejected. What

do you think will be the consequences if this deal is

rejected for the long-term and medium-term future of those plans

that occupied so much of the political agenda as well as the

community agenda in those communities through the whole of

2016? I understand the concerns of members. But as I have said before,

there is no other alternative on the table. The other consortia who were

interested in taking over were all concerned about the pension scheme

as well so the issue is never going to go away. The alternative is the

UK Government could nationalise the industry. Your party made it very

clear you will not do that. So it seems to me that it is this plan at

the moment or no plan. That is what the workers have to consider. It is

a matter of regret that the UK Government, things were different

under the previous Prime Minister, have not taken an interest in the

steel industry in Wales. They have not addressed the issue of energy

prices properly. They have had no discussion with us on the future of

the steel industry since the new Prime Minister came into place. I

regret that. I noted carefully what Theresa May said yesterday about

intervening in the market but we see no evidence of that Indians of help

for the Welsh steel industry. I believe you have a very supportive

UK Government. An Stephen Kinnock. I can hear the

deputy minister champing from a different position but he might like

to listen to the question first to give an answer to inform his

constituents and the other people in Wales. Do you agree? Can we allow

the leader of the Conservative Party to be heard, please? Do you agree

that the proposals put forward on the table by Tata Steel are

impressive proposals and actually, these do unlock significant

investment for the steel plants across Wales and all for a secure

future, certainly in the short and medium term for the many thousands

of jobs that depend on this investment being unlocked? 7000

jobs... I did ask for the leader of the Conservative Party to be heard

and I intend to be listened to when I ask that. 7000 jobs depend upon

the steel, do you agree with that? In the absence from anything from

the UK Government and the lack of interest from the UK Government

since the last Prime Minister left his office, I believe this is the

only deal that is on the table, we provided a substantial amount of

money, the UK Government provided nothing and we believe it will

demand that that package secures the jobs in the steel industry in Wales.

Neil Hamilton. Can I welcome the First Minister back from his trip to

Norway and perhaps he could tell us what conclusions he arrived at as a

result of that. Is he aware that 70% of the Norwegian people are still

adamantly opposed to membership of the EU? Regarding membership of the

EEE, will begin from that Norway is a member of the Schengen Agreement

and so unfettered access to the single market, which the First

Minister has always advocated, that will require also unfettered access

to the UK for unlimited numbers of EU immigrants? People in Norway,

your rightly point out that they do not support EU membership, but they

strongly supported EEE membership and freedom of movement, but there

is a difference and I believe this is an issue which is a profitable

route for us to pursue in the UK. Freedom of movement in Norway allows

freedom of movement to work, it is not unlimited, there are some rules

surrounding how people can look for work if they lose their job but it

is not an unfettered right of freedom of movement. All the

actually do is follow the European rules to the letter, which the UK

did not do. UK was more liberal in its approach and went beyond what

was required by the rules. If that is what is required in order to

access single market, I would have thought people would have found that

perfectly reasonable. We discovered the answer to that question with the

result of the referendum itself because it was overwhelmingly, the

result of which, was motivated by fears about unfettered migration...

Yes, that is correct. All of the evidence shows... All of the

evidence shows that that was the clinching factor in the result.

Plaid Cymru, of course, are not only in favour of full membership of the

single market, they also favour full membership of the customs union

which would prevent us entering into deals with third-party countries as

well, at least the Labour Party has not gone that far in its arguments

to EU membership! The reality is, I did not, First Minister, that 508

million people currently have arrived being EU citizens in this

country to work and everyone members of the IEEE that led to all intents

and purposes be the same as it is at the moment? No, because if you

interpret the rules strictly, that is what you get, I believe people

will accept that. If people believe that someone was coming to a job

that they had, that would be reasonable, a reasonable position to

adopt. We must also remember that the UK will have an open border. It

will have an open border in Ireland which will not be in any way police

or monitored. Whenever this is mentioned in discussion by UK

ministers it is like an ostrich plunging its head into the sand,

they continue to tell us it will be fine, but the reality is that given

the fact it will be an open border with the EU, given the fact that the

UK Government will want to monitor what someone has the right to work

in the UK, how does an individual proof that right? Passports and

driving licences are optional, but you end up with a compulsory system,

there is no other way of doing it, it has the right to work in the UK,

how does an individual proof that right? Passports and driving

licences are optional, but you end up with a compulsory system, there

is no other way of doing it, it is not properly been thought through

and there are many question Jet2 be answered by the UK Government. In

the nicest possible way I would like to encourage the First Minister to

spend more time abroad and going to other countries where they can learn

something about how the world operates outside of the EU, and in

particular, I would like to encourage him to go to South Korea,

not just because it is about as far away... Via Los Angeles, possibly!

Because South Korea has actually managed to negotiate a free trade

agreement with the EU, it is not part of the single market, but it

has all of the trade benefits of the membership as part of a single

market without any of the problems with the freedom of movement of

people. As this has been lauded by the trade Commissioner of the EU, in

these terms, she says, the evidence of the agreement with South Korea

should help convince the unconvinced of Europe that there is great

benefits to be had by this way. It creates jobs. I am sure that the

First Minister and I are in agreement on that point and

therefore it would be very helpful for the UK in general if he were to

add his considerable weight to the argument for more free trade

agreements with the rest of the world, something we could negotiate

on outside the customs union and outside of the EU. I will try to be

optimistic by what he means! The reality is this, the free trade

agreements take many years to negotiate, the UK will not have such

agreements within two years. When I have spoken to officials involved in

such discussions they find it laughable that we would even suggest

that, it takes almost two years to send up a framework for discussions.

The concern I have is then that two years the UK will have fallen off

the edge of the cliff and we will have deals with no one because there

will be no transitional arrangements and they are absolutely crucial

beyond March 2019, otherwise they will be nothing. He mentioned South

Korea, I do not want the UK to become a European kind of North

Korea that is cut off from the rest of the world and has no trade deals

with anyone, that cannot be in the interest of anyone. We must be

realistic. It has been said that the world will follow the fate of the

UK, I do not believe that. The UK is small compared to other trading

blocs, we must be realistic and enter negotiations with an open

mind. We also have to understand that as far as market access is

concerned, there is a quid pro quo, we cannot demand from the European

Union everything they want and expect to get it, that is not going

to happen that way. For me, there is a choice. Either UCB will limit

immigration which is impossible because of the order -- open border,

UCB will have access to the single market, that is absolutely the most

important issue for us in Wales and therefore anything else can be

compromised on. If we say to the people of Wales that there is the

freedom of movement to work, that is something that most will accept as

perfectly sensible. Will you make a statement on the

importance of economic development to achieve the government's target

of a million Welsh speakers by 2050? Well, we have consultations in or

craft to achieve that figure by 2050. The finalised document will

discuss the relationship between the Welsh language and economic

government and we will publish the final strategy later this year. --

draft. Thank you, Plaid Cymru strongly

believe that they must have social activity and economic prosperity in

the Welsh speaking areas of Welsh language is to be strengthened. We

believe developing urban areas. Do you agree that we need to take all

possible opportunities to involve national institutions in areas with

the Welsh national out the strong as part of the strategy and do you

agree that creating the new financing body that will be required

to administer taxation in Wales will be an excellent opportunity to

create high-quality bilingual jobs in an area such as the Menai area of

north-west Wales and may I suggest some ideal locations because the

government has a half empty building they are already which is ready for

use and the establishment of the revenue authority there would be a

great boost to the Welsh language both locally and nationally. That is

a very important question, I understand why the member supports

the Carmarthen bed, but that is something I have asked officials to

consider. The point raised is whether it really possible to ensure

that there is prosperity to have skills in those less urban areas and

that is an open question at the moment but I do understand where

anybody is created, a new public body in that regard, we should look

beyond Cardiff and look beyond the south to see whether there is a way

to ensure that that can be located somewhere else in Wales. This is

something we are currently considering.

Evidence from the review suggested there were differences between how

SMEs and larger businesses use the Welsh language with many SMEs saying

that the Welsh language was a cost, rather than a benefit since the

review was published three years ago, can I ask what practical

support the Welsh Government has provided to specifically help SMEs

increase the commercial advantages of operating bilingually? Two

points, firstly, it is an opportunity for businesses, the

businesses seem to provide a service in Welsh, it will be receive more

favourably by the community, there is no question of that in my mind.

Secondly, only more practical point, there is a pilot project that has

been operating in Don Valley operating local businesses to help

them provide a service in the Welsh language and help them understand

the economic benefits to members of business by operating bilingually.

That project is important in terms of being able to gather the evidence

as to what might work in a future in terms of helping SMEs to develop

their language for a spot of the business.

What recent discussions has the First Minister had with Cabinet

Secretary is regarding the Environment and Sustainability

Committee of the fourth assembly report, a smarter energy future for

Wales? I know that the Cabinet Secretary has given great

consideration to this and has led on this and given her response on

energy matters and there were complaints of response to this

report was to work across government and is available on the web page.

Thank you for that answer. He will know that a new year is often a time

for New Year resolutions as well. Could I ask the First Minister

whether he and the very able Cabinet Secretary will undertake and resolve

to work with the assembly and across government to take forward as many

of possible as those 19 recommendations which included a

commitment to near zero carbon homes, which included a commitment

to driving forward a revolution towards community and localised

energy that would tackle the monopoly of the big energy

providers, using planning and other policy tools and horrible boost

immunity energy, and the drive that revolution as well within clean,

green energy jobs, right across Wales, urban and rural, likewise. A

hallmark of that government and its assembly in successive

administrations has been a commitment to champion the

environment and real sustainability. Will this be the parliament and will

this be the assembly that will be -- and will this be the government that

makes this a reality, a real green M Georgi -- a real, green energy

revolution and the jobs boost for the future of Wales? I believe so.

The 19 recommendations we are willing to accept 12 of in full in

principle. In terms of how this is being taken forward we have seen the

success of a locally owned wind farm that was featured on the Money Box

programme this weekend. There was an event on Friday is being posted.

Ofgem are making sure that Welsh voices will be heard on a smart

flexible energy system. I commend this excellence --

excellent report. It is important the drug worked hard on reflect on

the importance and success of previous reports. I know you will

return to this. But about ambition, we want that ambition reflected in

the government's programme and there is a real chance year, the Welsh

economy was built on more or less a single source of energy and we

suffered for that after the 1920s with the replacement of coal with

oil. New opportunities are before us and those opportunities could help

us to transform the Welsh economy and make it much more greener and

resultant and locally controlled. Wind is there, the tie will always

be there as long as the wind is a nice guy. These are truly renewable

resources if properly harness can drive our energy consumption and

energy exports infinitely, potentially, these are issues we

must move forward with. We will, of course, in the Wales Bill have more

powers over energy consenting but the financial aspect of energy

development remains with the UK Government. We of course look

forward to see what the Henry review will tell us in terms of the tidal

lagoons and bebop with the UK Government to ensure that we do have

renewable energy that is and has a very low energy and revenue cost in

terms of generation and is there for the foreseeable future.

Simon Thomas. May I recommend to Assembly Members that if they want a

vision of the future that is anticipated any committee report

that they visit the solar village in Pembrokeshire where new social

housing has been opened by the Cabinet Secretary and I was also in

attendance last Thursday and those are the kind of developments that

are possible now in Wales and we should see far more of that

developed here. But specifically the committee recommendation made on

energy suggests the creation of a not-for-profit energy company for

the whole of Wales to be an umbrella body for developments such as those

that you have just listed. Developments that bring people

together and get the best possible deal for the customer as well as the

environment and the government. What steps are you taking to undertake

that sort of development? Discussions have taken place between

officials and several bodies with regards to developing schemes to

establish a green energy company for Wales and we have to be clear about

what the purpose of such a company would be before we move forward. But

those discussions have taken place. Mike Hedges. Will the First Minister

make a statement on primary care provision? Health boards are

collaborating with partners to invest in primary care as the

mainstay of our health and care system, working in communities to

tackle poor health and to do what matters and to diagnose and treat

problems with a occur. I received a number of complaints since Christmas

regarding primary care provision basically in two practices within

Swansea East, one about not being able to make an appointment, being

told to phone back the next morning, difficulty getting vaccinations, and

unwillingness to make home visits. I also know that the other surgeries

cavilling my constituency. What can the government do to standardise the

care and bring all doctors surgeries up to the level of the best? It is a

point I hear from people on occasion. They ask why the services

are not consistent. Those services are provided by health boards and

are consistent but we know that most GPs are independent contractors and

that is what the situation will be for some years to come. It is

important for the public to be able to access services when they need

them. I expect local GP practices and health boards will be focusing

on them. There is money on the table. The primary care fund of ?43

million. That is there in order to improve ways of delivering services,

for example developing the role of nurses so people don't feel they

have to visit their GP or the time. And placing pharmacists,

physiotherapists and social workers alongside GP teams. Then they can

get the right professional that they need. Angela Burns. You make the

absolutely fundamentally correct point about needing more of the

Allied health care professionals in place in general practices in order

to help to maintain a good quality service. My question is, last year,

there was an absolutely right focus on getting more doctors into Wales,

whether it was secondary or primary care. This year will you be able to

look at how we may recruit more people into the allied health

professions, how we might have adequate training creations --

places for them, how we might encourage young people that this

might be a real career path for them and show them there is a real career

development because we are not going to solve our primary care issues

without having that broad structure of competent individuals offering

holistic services to people. We launched the first phase of the

national and international recruitment campaign last October,

attracting doctors, but Italy GPs, to live and train in Wales, and the

numbers of applications have increased, including in those areas

where we have introduced an incentive -based approach. I can say

that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed plans for phase two of the

recruitment campaign earlier this week aimed at other health care

professionals in primary care. Rhun ap Iorwerth. Thank you. With

emergency departments in our hospitals in crisis, the words of

the Royal College of medicine is -- the Royal College of Emergency

Medicine, would the First Minister agreed that the erosion there has

been in the percentage of NHS funding provided to primary care and

the stress that places on our GPs surgeries, then that causes problems

for our A departments. And there's the First Minister agreed,

therefore, that it is now time to look again at how health funding is

allocated in Wales in order to ensure fair funding for primary care

in order to maintain a sustainable NHS the future? Two things. I don't

think it is just about having more and more doctors. We need to make

sure that people do go to the relevant professional for them. That

could be a pharmacist or it could be a nurse or a physiotherapist. It is

right to say that we need to ensure that we do maintain the right number

of doctors but it is not just about having doctors. It is important that

people don't remain in hospital for too long. We have seen the problems

that have arisen in England because they have cut back on expenditure

for social services and social care in particular. In Wales, we

maintained the level of funding to ensure that didn't happen. It is

true to say that there are pressures in our health service, that happens

every year, especially in our emergency departments. They have

been plans put in place and those have worked, despite the pressure

that has been placed on doctors. May I pay tribute once again to all

those who work in our health service, especially those who work

in the emergency services, for the excellent they were -- work they do

at this time of year. Adam Price. What plans does the Welsh government

have two encourage Wells consumers to buy Welsh produced goods and

services? Direct support through business Wales and we are also

working alongside the national procurement service to increase the

amount of Welsh produce coming into the public sector. And the food and

drink industry, Welsh produce is far more, far better labelled now than

it was 15 years ago. He may have the experience that I have of going into

local shops and seemed that Welsh produce is first off the shelves.

Norway, which he visited recently, the Republic of Ireland, the German

region of Hesse, and others, all have an visual and widely recognised

country of origin brand which is largely aimed at domestic consumers.

If, as it seems, we are going to be rejected out of the single market by

that regressive alliance of Corbin and made. --, import substitution

will be even more important to us in the future so can we have a made in

Wales brand as the first line of defence from the economic lunacy

emanating from Westminster? This has been looked at in the past as to

whether there is a need for brand for Welsh produce or whether it is

better approached through having strong brand recognition for

individual products. These days, most food producers to label their

products as Welsh. That is seen as a great advantage to them. For some,

less so, but it is certainly more prevalent than it was 15 years ago,

and people are far more likely now to buy Welsh produce. I remember at

the time of the foot and mouth crisis, one of the big supermarkets

didn't label anything as Welsh. That has long changed and things are

better for it. The domestic market in Wales is important but it is a

small market. That is why we continue to make sure we have an

emphasis on exports and having Welsh branded

products going to export. When we look at Welsh food, the one thing we

must avoid is the Norwegian situation where there is a tariff on

food. They were saying to me that the tariffs are so detailed, there

is one tariff for smoked salmon and one for fresh salmon, which gives

you an idea how difficult trading negotiations are. But for Norway,

they do have tariffs imposed on the agricultural produce going into the

European market. The very last thing we need is to see the same thing

happened to us. Jeremy Miles. I was pleased to hear the First Minister

referred to the role of Welsh public bodies in supporting not just Welsh

producers and suppliers but also in proactively supporting their local

economies. What a difference it would make if all Welsh public

bodies or all bodies in Wales in receipt of Welsh public funds acted

deliberately proactively and collaboratively with one another to

support their local economies and including fostering the development

of local suppliers and local supply chains. What steps can you take to

bring that about? We continue to work on marrying the risk-based

approach, simplifying the process for suppliers in bidding for the

public sector work and helping to ensure that all suppliers have a

fair chance of winning that work? One of the issues in the food and

drink sector which was a problem was that they were too small. Companies

were too small to supply big organisations like the NHS is in,

week out. That was overcome through the pretty woman initiatives that

were put in place and we have seen far more produce now taking place

locally than was the case 15 years ago. Moving local authorities away

from compulsory competitive tendering, we talk about best value

for local authorities, it is about making sure that as much money as

possible is retained in the local economy. Nick Ramsay. I am pleased

that Adam Price has raised this question. Only you could make Jeremy

Corbyn and Theresa May sound like a 1960s folk group. I would rather

focus on the food and drink issue that the First Minister mentioned in

answering. I agree, Wales does have a great story to tell in terms of

our home-grown food and drink and you are right to point out labelling

as an important tool. Would you agree with me that food festivals

and models such as that are very important way for us to sell Welsh

produce not just a Welsh consumers, as Adam Price's question originally

said, but also to English consumers coming across the border?

Abergavenny I'm sure is well respected as a food festival as you

will know, but he is right because the events showcase Welsh bodies.

The fool hall at the Royal Welsh Show at one time was too small, it

was too small, and now it is too small again. That shows the success

of the Welsh food and drink industry in its diversification and the fact

that so many businesses that were set up over the last decade are

still there and are still able to go to the supermarket. There has been a

change of heart in terms of the number of supermarkets as well,

whereas in the past they prefer to purchase from larger suppliers, they

have become more interested in small suppliers and local produce, which I

very much welcome. But what we have to avoid more than anyone else is

our biggest market, which is Europe, being either closed to us or the

terms of trade with that market being less advantageous to us. The

US will never replace the European market. The US is very protectionist

when it comes to agriculture. Welsh farmers being able to sell on the

current terms to the European market is absolutely vital to the future of

Welsh farming. Joyce Watson. Will the First Minister made a statement

on the outbreak of avian flu in Wales? It is a matter of serious

concern. We have a strong track record of controlling animal disease

outbreaks and the Cabinet Secretary will be providing an update in her

oral statement this afternoon. I look forward to that statement later

today. It was the case that during the Christmas break there was a type

of duck that landed on Llanelli wetlands Centre and I want to praise

the actions that were immediately taken by that wetland Centre to

closing their doors to the public for nine days because as a

consequence of that, I'm sure that they helped reduce the spread of

that avian flu within that area. We do know however that it did spread

and it has been an infection in that area. What we also know is that

birds don't understand boundaries and I think we would be well advised

to take note of the very cold and sharp spell of weather that is now

happening in Eastern Europe which might, and in my opinion probably

will, create further migration from birds looking for food further

south. To us, that is West, of course. My question will be, and I

will address it to the minister later, the Cabinet Secretary, how

are we going to deal with that and how are we going to inform the

public to be aware of those newly migrated birds that could possibly

be a source of further infection here.

Is it we of course work with the other Great Britain governments to

take appropriate action. I would not encourage -- I would

encourage other members to report problems to the helpline. It is

updated continually, the website, with advice. I would urge all

poultry keepers and those involved working with the wild of wetlands

trust to check the website frequently. I know that the Cabinet

Secretary will provide more information this afternoon.

First Minister, in light of these cases of avian flu, what additional

work are you as a government doing to assess the impact that this

disease could have on the poultry sector?

Well, there is of course an effect because there is a period of time.

After that period it is not possible to see if poultry are free range

because the fact that they have had to be kept him. We know that and we

know the effect of those who do keep poultry will be. Presently what is

vitally important is to ensure that there are people to deal with the

issues and we must understand what the situation is in terms of poultry

farmers. As the situation should continue like this.

Thank you, First Minister,. There we are, that was

First Minister's Questions. If you want more coverage

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