:00:19. > :00:26.Hello and welcome to our weekly coverage of questions to the First
:00:27. > :00:30.Minister. A little later this week because of the snooker but Carwyn
:00:31. > :00:36.Jones has been asked about economic development, train services and the
:00:37. > :00:44.role of the third sector in Wales. We are an Twitter and look at the
:00:45. > :00:50.website for all the latest on Welsh politics. Let's head over to the
:00:51. > :01:01.Senedd for the questions. TRANSLATION: The first item is
:01:02. > :01:15.questions for the First Minister. Will the First Minister make a
:01:16. > :01:19.statement on the scams. I do not believe that we can overestimate the
:01:20. > :01:25.problem with scams both by phone and in person. This can have a serious
:01:26. > :01:32.effect on people's lives and can lead to a shortening of their life.
:01:33. > :01:39.There are devices which monitor and block phone calls, there is a firm
:01:40. > :01:42.in my constituency that makes them. Will the Welsh government convened a
:01:43. > :01:47.conference of all interested parties to see what can be done to address
:01:48. > :01:53.this problem. I don't believe it can be solved but we can try to reduce
:01:54. > :01:56.it. Scams are increasingly sophisticated, particularly online
:01:57. > :02:01.and we are working closely with trading standards on a variety of
:02:02. > :02:06.scams, dealing with a variety of scams relating to counterfeit goods
:02:07. > :02:10.and illicit and illegal tobacco. There is a growing focus on
:02:11. > :02:18.cybercrime. We're working with crime commission is on this issue. This
:02:19. > :02:23.would be a productive use of this time and we will look to do so. One
:02:24. > :02:31.of the other things that can be done to combat scams is the establishment
:02:32. > :02:37.of no cold calling zones. This has been extremely successful in my own
:02:38. > :02:44.constituency where we have imposed a townwide one. What work can we do
:02:45. > :02:50.here to make Wales the first no cold calling nation in Britain? An
:02:51. > :02:56.interesting idea. We have provided funding to increase the number of no
:02:57. > :03:07.cold calling zones in Wales to protect vulnerable people from
:03:08. > :03:13.scams. As the member has commented, we have looked to reduce the number
:03:14. > :03:22.of cold calling and then we can declare ourselves a note cold
:03:23. > :03:32.calling nation. Question two, Julie Morgan. We plan to invest in
:03:33. > :03:38.high-quality infrastructure and improve economic conditions. There
:03:39. > :03:45.has been good news on jobs recently. I welcome the fact that the EBI is
:03:46. > :03:53.staying in Wales with an increase of numbers. That means that jobs are
:03:54. > :03:58.leaving at the same time as there are plans for S4 seek to move to
:03:59. > :04:02.Central Square Cardiff and to Carmarthen, at the same time there
:04:03. > :04:10.is the tax office is planning to move to Central Square so there a
:04:11. > :04:14.huge exodus of jobs into a very small area of the constituency. I
:04:15. > :04:18.wonder if you have any suggestions as to what strategies can be
:04:19. > :04:22.undertaken to make sure that area continues to be a mixed area with a
:04:23. > :04:29.possibility of getting local jobs because this is a big change to the
:04:30. > :04:37.job scene there. I am aware that Cardiff seeks to deliver 40,000 jobs
:04:38. > :04:48.in the period to 2026 providing a choice of jobs, homes and supporting
:04:49. > :04:52.infrastructure. It's today the UK cyber Security Centre is being
:04:53. > :04:58.opened in London and the Minister will be aware of the excellent cyber
:04:59. > :05:02.Security Academy. It's disappointing that the UK centre is going to be
:05:03. > :05:07.located in London as if London hasn't got enough support from the
:05:08. > :05:11.UK Government in that respect. What representations did the First
:05:12. > :05:15.Minister make to try and get the UK centre to locate alongside the cyber
:05:16. > :05:19.Academy in Newport so that our country could have benefited from
:05:20. > :05:23.the jobs that will come? Looking to the future, will the First Minister
:05:24. > :05:28.commit to designating you bought the cyber security capital of Wales so
:05:29. > :05:32.that we can in future leveraged great opportunities to that
:05:33. > :05:38.community. An interesting idea that I will look into. I will write to
:05:39. > :05:42.the member regarding representations about the cyber security academy. It
:05:43. > :05:47.is an issue in principle that we have supported. I will write with
:05:48. > :05:53.further details as to how the Academy was established and why it
:05:54. > :05:57.was in London. Cardiff continues to create jobs and attract many
:05:58. > :06:02.visitors, we see more congestion on the roads. I notice that there is a
:06:03. > :06:09.proposal to examine the feasibility of looking in the Taff and the Bay
:06:10. > :06:13.as arterial routes around the city. Already popular for tourists, it
:06:14. > :06:18.might have a commercial application in moving commuters. Is the
:06:19. > :06:21.government prepared to look at it? I did see that. It's a matter for
:06:22. > :06:26.Cardiff Council in terms of their management of the waterways. In the
:06:27. > :06:31.summer, the service is very successful, in the winter, less so.
:06:32. > :06:34.People see the service as a tourism service rather ban a commuting
:06:35. > :06:39.service but there are examples elsewhere, around the world, where
:06:40. > :06:46.water bus services have been successful. Certainly, I would look
:06:47. > :06:51.to work with the operators and the City Council and others to see
:06:52. > :06:57.whether the service could be future -- feature will in the future.
:06:58. > :07:02.Although the Welsh revenue authority is being created, nearly all the
:07:03. > :07:07.staff are being recruited in London because we don't have skilled people
:07:08. > :07:10.here in Wales and this is a persistent problem. It begs the
:07:11. > :07:18.question about what your government has been doing about skills and
:07:19. > :07:22.training over the last 17 years. The Welsh revenue authority was not even
:07:23. > :07:27.a twinkle in the eye 17 years ago. This has never been performed in
:07:28. > :07:31.Wales before. We should not be afraid of bringing in skills from
:07:32. > :07:35.elsewhere to set up the authority and train our own people in order
:07:36. > :07:40.that they are able to provide those skills in the future. To criticise
:07:41. > :07:43.others for not having the foresight 17 years ago, in terms of
:07:44. > :07:46.establishing an authority that no one ever thought would be
:07:47. > :07:56.established I think it is stretching things too far. Questions now from
:07:57. > :08:03.the party leaders. Do you support the aspiration to achieve a million
:08:04. > :08:09.Welsh speakers by 2050 and how would you intend to meet that aspiration?
:08:10. > :08:16.She knows I do. It is a manifesto commitment on the part of my party.
:08:17. > :08:18.One of the ways is making sure that the Welsh education strategic plans
:08:19. > :08:24.across authorities deliver what they should be doing. I agree that the
:08:25. > :08:30.aspiration is a good one. I'm glad that you have mentioned education.
:08:31. > :08:34.In your consultation on creating a million Welsh speakers you explain
:08:35. > :08:38.how education must play a central role, your main objective and what
:08:39. > :08:44.you are asking local authorities to achieve is" a significant increase
:08:45. > :08:47.in the number of children and young people educated through the medium
:08:48. > :08:54.of Welsh or bilingually in order to create more Welsh speakers" and that
:08:55. > :08:59.they should "Move schools along with the language to increase the
:09:00. > :09:04.availability of Welsh medium school places". Do you accept it is
:09:05. > :09:09.government policy and that means local authorities have to increase
:09:10. > :09:13.the number of Welsh medium schools and Welsh medium school places in
:09:14. > :09:19.their area? They are expected to show how they will do that by their
:09:20. > :09:22.strategic plans. Those plans are subject to approval by ours. We
:09:23. > :09:28.intend to make sure that those plans are robust and will deliver. You
:09:29. > :09:36.will know that national policy has informed the position in Ysgol
:09:37. > :09:42.Llangennech to convert a school from dual stream into Welsh medium. That
:09:43. > :09:48.decision needs a decision from you and calm explanation to residents. I
:09:49. > :09:57.have serious concerns that the frankly toxic atmosphere that has
:09:58. > :10:01.emerged on this question and am aware that a group of residents
:10:02. > :10:15.campaigning against the decision, there are some people standing for
:10:16. > :10:22.the Labour Party in Llangennech and claim to be working with Ukip
:10:23. > :10:29.checking... Can we hear the question please? Is it acts double --
:10:30. > :10:34.acceptable to you that Labour Party candidates are working closely with
:10:35. > :10:39.Ukip on the question of Welsh medium education and do you agree with me
:10:40. > :10:43.that the campaign against Carmarthenshire County Council
:10:44. > :10:47.decision has become toxic and unacceptable and will you outline
:10:48. > :10:50.what action you will take regarding Labour Party members working with
:10:51. > :10:59.Ukip to undermine your own Welsh language policies? I agree that the
:11:00. > :11:04.situation in Llangennech has become toxic. I do not think that the words
:11:05. > :11:09.used by the leader of Plaid Cymru have helped the situation in terms
:11:10. > :11:14.of turning this into a party political issue. Some comments have
:11:15. > :11:21.been made that I do not agree with. I think it is hugely important now
:11:22. > :11:28.that calm prevails that the toxicity and some of that which we last saw
:11:29. > :11:36.some years ago is now reduced and that the council is able to explain
:11:37. > :11:44.to people in Llangennech... It is your policy. It was implemented by
:11:45. > :11:48.the council. She may want to listen to the answer to the question. She
:11:49. > :11:55.has rightly said that the toxicity needs to be reduced. The council has
:11:56. > :11:59.been trying to explain what its policy is with regard to Llangennech
:12:00. > :12:06.but it is not for us to explain, it is for the Council to explain and it
:12:07. > :12:10.is for us, of course, as a government to enable local
:12:11. > :12:16.authorities to produce Welsh in strategic plans to continue to
:12:17. > :12:20.support the language, as we do, and we continue on our quests to make
:12:21. > :12:28.sure we have a million Welsh speakers by 2020. The leader of the
:12:29. > :12:37.Welsh Conservatives. There is an urgent question coming on the
:12:38. > :12:41.finding of the Kancoat report. I want to ask something else on this
:12:42. > :12:45.particular issue given that you were the First Minister when these
:12:46. > :12:52.decisions were taken, as that is an important consideration. Even the
:12:53. > :12:57.warnings that were given, that there was a week business plan, that due
:12:58. > :13:02.diligence was ignored, that the finance was an acceptably high risk,
:13:03. > :13:08.what an earth would you suspect possessed the then business and
:13:09. > :13:11.enterprise minister to agree to the release of this money, despite all
:13:12. > :13:17.the lights flashing on the dashboard showing that this was such a risky
:13:18. > :13:19.investment? It has to be remembered that the investment panel
:13:20. > :13:28.recommended approval of the investment. At the First Minister
:13:29. > :13:32.was guided by that information. This money was released over time. Time
:13:33. > :13:38.and time again, those lights were flashing on the dashboard, ?3.4
:13:39. > :13:42.million was released to this company and it has been lost, in effect. No
:13:43. > :13:48.jobs were safeguarded, that site is now empty, you as a government-held
:13:49. > :13:52.liability for that site because the lease was offered as security
:13:53. > :13:56.against the loan made available, the government is on the line to turn
:13:57. > :14:02.that site back, ready for the landlord to take possession, so
:14:03. > :14:07.there is ongoing liabilities, as I said, ?3.4 million were lost. Every
:14:08. > :14:11.indication shows that it was, in the first place, the decision might have
:14:12. > :14:14.been taken in the best interests of securing that business but as
:14:15. > :14:19.applications were made to release more money, more and more warning
:14:20. > :14:23.lights were coming on and yet the decision was taken to release more
:14:24. > :14:28.money into this company. Do not think taxpayers are owed an apology
:14:29. > :14:31.for the loss of money and in particular the inability to
:14:32. > :14:39.safeguard any jobs by the 3.4 million put into this company?
:14:40. > :14:48.Generally, we deal with heavy goods and businesses. Some of them fold.
:14:49. > :14:53.We cannot possibly say that every business we help can be successful.
:14:54. > :14:58.No banker could do that and it is the same for any government. Of the
:14:59. > :15:03.projects that we have supported, only 2.4% of them have failed to
:15:04. > :15:08.deliver on the objectives that were attached to their request for
:15:09. > :15:14.financial support. We have a success rate of well over 90% in supporting
:15:15. > :15:17.businesses. That means there are some businesses that are not
:15:18. > :15:27.exceptional but they are the exception. We should not continually
:15:28. > :15:33.review the way that we do due diligence. It needs to be put into
:15:34. > :15:37.context. The vast majority of businesses we have helped our
:15:38. > :15:43.successful which is why unemployment in Wales is so low. You will be
:15:44. > :15:46.First Minister at the time and I do accept these decisions are based on
:15:47. > :15:50.risk and some will go wrong. The point I had made with the two
:15:51. > :15:54.questions, there were numerous warnings highlighting the risk to
:15:55. > :15:59.the government and to the taxpayer by releasing the money into this
:16:00. > :16:04.company. Finance Wales which is a lender of last resort said it was
:16:05. > :16:08.too risky to release the money on a lonely business from themselves. The
:16:09. > :16:13.remit of operation is to be a lender of last resort after commercial
:16:14. > :16:17.banking has been exhausted. I do take that point that ultimately
:16:18. > :16:24.there is an element of risk in all decisions you take. It is a fact
:16:25. > :16:32.that ?3.4 million has been lost. Not one job guaranteed or protected. And
:16:33. > :16:34.the taxpayer is out of pocket and the Welsh Government have
:16:35. > :16:37.liabilities. Do you think there should be an apology on your behalf
:16:38. > :16:42.from the Welsh Government to the Welsh taxpayer. I offer that
:16:43. > :16:46.opportunity again. Will you apologise for this loss of the money
:16:47. > :16:50.that is taxpayers money in this instance when so many warnings were
:16:51. > :16:56.made and so many warnings were ignored by your then Minister and
:16:57. > :16:59.ultimately the taxpayers lost out? I accept what the leader of the Welsh
:17:00. > :17:03.Conservatives has said, he understood the situation in terms of
:17:04. > :17:09.the initial grant of support. This was a start-up business which is
:17:10. > :17:13.inherently risky. There must be risk by government or else we would not
:17:14. > :17:17.support anything. It is the same for commercial banks. They will find
:17:18. > :17:22.themselves in that situation from time to time. This organisation, the
:17:23. > :17:27.business was set up at the time when the economic security -- economic
:17:28. > :17:32.situation was precarious in the near aftermath of the financial crisis.
:17:33. > :17:38.The Cabinet Secretary will go into detail in terms of the timetable. I
:17:39. > :17:43.can say that we are proud to say that unemployment in Wales is so
:17:44. > :17:47.low. It is lower than Scotland and Northern Ireland. Historically that
:17:48. > :17:51.is a tremendous achievement. We have supported over 1000 businesses to
:17:52. > :17:56.bring jobs to Wales, to bring investment to Wales. The best
:17:57. > :18:00.figures for 30 years. It is correct to say that on occasion businesses
:18:01. > :18:08.will fail and the decision is then for the money to be returned to
:18:09. > :18:11.government. 97.6% of the businesses we support our successful in
:18:12. > :18:16.providing jobs for the people of Wales.
:18:17. > :18:22.It is quite clear that the policies of the American government is going
:18:23. > :18:26.to change in many respects as a result of the election of President
:18:27. > :18:40.Trump. Not least in respect of policies on climate change. The
:18:41. > :18:46.nominee has been removed from the climate change website for America.
:18:47. > :18:52.Given that the United States, China and India between them are
:18:53. > :18:55.responsible for more than half of the carbon dioxide emissions in the
:18:56. > :19:01.world and China have not signed up to any absolute reduction in levels
:19:02. > :19:06.of those omissions, regardless of the view of whether climate change
:19:07. > :19:12.is man-made or not, does it make sense for Britain and Wales in
:19:13. > :19:18.particular, which is responsible for only 0.05% of world carbon dioxide
:19:19. > :19:23.emissions, to be saddled with an energy policy that is a millstone
:19:24. > :19:29.around the neck of manufacturing industry, with the steel in
:19:30. > :19:36.particular? I look at the weight of evidence. It is overwhelmingly in
:19:37. > :19:40.favour of showing that the climate change is happening and that human
:19:41. > :19:46.activity is causing it to happen or to be ex-aspirate -- exacerbated.
:19:47. > :19:54.I look at the weight of evidence and it is clear to me... He was a lawyer
:19:55. > :19:58.once, he knows to look at the weight of evidence and not select what best
:19:59. > :20:04.support your argument when it flies in the face of scientific reality.
:20:05. > :20:08.It is right to say that China and India faced challenges. China is up
:20:09. > :20:13.to the challenge and is investing heavily in alternative fuel sources,
:20:14. > :20:17.it knows it has a problem. Anybody who has been to Chinese cities knows
:20:18. > :20:21.that is a problem with air pollution and the Chinese government recognise
:20:22. > :20:25.this. That is why they are looking for alternative fuel sources. They
:20:26. > :20:30.know they can not continue with the current situation. Whilst they are
:20:31. > :20:35.going in the right direction, my fear is the US will go in the
:20:36. > :20:39.opposite direction of flying in the face of scientific evidence. My
:20:40. > :20:43.question is not to do with the argument about whether man-made
:20:44. > :20:47.climate change is a reality are not. My question relates to what
:20:48. > :20:52.difference does it make if we sign up to targets that are going to
:20:53. > :20:58.impose enormous costs upon us, not just in costs for industry but also
:20:59. > :21:03.on ordinary people. Nearly one quarter of the households in Wales
:21:04. > :21:07.are in fuel poverty, spending 10% of the income is keeping themselves
:21:08. > :21:14.warm and the winter. This is a burden on poor and vulnerable
:21:15. > :21:19.people. It makes no difference to the terms of global emissions, by
:21:20. > :21:24.degrees saddled ourselves with these enormous bills? China and India are
:21:25. > :21:28.not signed up to reduce the absolute level of the omissions, they have
:21:29. > :21:32.signed up to the Jews energy intensity. That takes into account
:21:33. > :21:36.the rate at which they expect the economies to grow, and they will go
:21:37. > :21:42.to a greater extent than reducing the field intensity. Emissions will
:21:43. > :21:50.increase in China and India and the full stack are paying the bills.
:21:51. > :21:53.That view can only be accepted if you're happy to see environmental
:21:54. > :22:04.degradation and air quality reducing. I remember the era in
:22:05. > :22:07.Salford being flammable. And the river would have different colours
:22:08. > :22:14.in my hometown depending on what had been thrown into it. The journey
:22:15. > :22:17.away from seeing climate change is unimportant is seeing the
:22:18. > :22:21.environment is not important. People do not accept climate change is
:22:22. > :22:25.happening and do not accept there is the need for environmental
:22:26. > :22:28.regulation. This is not something we can dismiss. We cannot say it is
:22:29. > :22:36.something we can put to one side. Nor do I accept that it imposes
:22:37. > :22:41.costs. I had heard him argue for more coal-fired power stations. The
:22:42. > :22:46.call would have to be imported. There are issues of energy security.
:22:47. > :22:51.Should we not invest in wind power offshore or tidal energy? Rather
:22:52. > :22:56.than over relying on energy sources that have to be imported into
:22:57. > :22:58.Britain. Energy security and mitigating climate change, to be
:22:59. > :23:01.imported into Britain. Energy security and mitigating climate
:23:02. > :23:05.change, toonie, run hand-in-hand. The First Minister is refusing to
:23:06. > :23:11.address the issue behind my question. Wales is responsible for
:23:12. > :23:17.0.05% of global carbon dioxide emissions. It is not a flammable
:23:18. > :23:22.gas. What he said about the air quality in Peking is irrelevant.
:23:23. > :23:30.Salford omissions are completely different. The argument about
:23:31. > :23:37.particular it everybody accepts. -- Salford. Everybody is in favour of
:23:38. > :23:42.the clean air act. This is a different question. My point is that
:23:43. > :23:46.Wales is one of the poorest parts of Western Europe. We have nearly one
:23:47. > :23:50.quarter of households in full -- fuel poverty. They have to spend
:23:51. > :23:54.hundreds of pounds they can ill afford every year paying for our
:23:55. > :24:02.renewable obligations under EU directives. If the United States is
:24:03. > :24:06.now going to move away from commitments to reduce emissions. If
:24:07. > :24:11.China and India are not signed up to it anyway, what is the sense in us
:24:12. > :24:15.making a small difference to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in
:24:16. > :24:21.the world? It is an obligation which is causing real harm and a real
:24:22. > :24:26.poverty in the households in Wales. I do not think I said that the era
:24:27. > :24:31.in Beijing was flammable. I do not think the hydrogen or oxygen content
:24:32. > :24:35.is so high that the ear would catch fire or explored. I was referring to
:24:36. > :24:45.the river, the contacts of which is well known. I do not accept that
:24:46. > :24:51.regulations for the environment is a burden on industry. The wind is
:24:52. > :24:57.free. The tide will be there as long as there is the Britain in the sky.
:24:58. > :25:02.Once the infrastructure to generate energy in place, the generating
:25:03. > :25:09.costs are very low. He talks about call. He did his best to wreck the
:25:10. > :25:14.coal industry. We will never produce enough coal in Britain now to suck
:25:15. > :25:19.ply our energy needs. We would have to imported from Australia. We would
:25:20. > :25:25.have to import natural gas from countries not looking to do us a
:25:26. > :25:32.favour. Whilst I know the energy mix in the UK is going to continue in
:25:33. > :25:37.the future. 25% of natural gas in the UK... That'll continue in the
:25:38. > :25:40.future. I do not see the wisdom in seeing what we need to do is go back
:25:41. > :25:48.to the technology of yesterday with the pollution of yesterday and look
:25:49. > :25:54.to ignore the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and put our
:25:55. > :25:58.heads in the sand. He is somebody who he says is proud to be British.
:25:59. > :26:02.Let him display his pride by saying he wants the UK to lead the way when
:26:03. > :26:08.it comes to dealing with climate change.
:26:09. > :26:13.Will the First Minister make a statement on what the Welsh
:26:14. > :26:18.Government is doing to help economic activity in south Wales Central? We
:26:19. > :26:24.are delivering a range of actions to help new and existing businesses to
:26:25. > :26:28.help to grow and support. Advice, support and investment in digital
:26:29. > :26:29.transport infrastructure. I am not sure why the backbenches are
:26:30. > :26:40.muttering. I have commended the Welsh
:26:41. > :26:43.Government previously for the money they have made available for
:26:44. > :26:50.transitional relief around the business rates scheme. They made an
:26:51. > :26:57.announcement on December the 17th of an additional ?10 million to assist
:26:58. > :27:01.in the revaluation exercise for businesses in South West Central and
:27:02. > :27:05.across Wales. No more information has came from the Welsh Government
:27:06. > :27:09.about how that money will be delivered despite us on these
:27:10. > :27:12.benches and others and the chamber pressing for more information. We
:27:13. > :27:16.were told that information would come out in early February. That
:27:17. > :27:19.information has not been forthcoming from the Welsh Government. When will
:27:20. > :27:24.the Welsh Government be coming forward as to how you will
:27:25. > :27:28.distribute that money so that businesses can make decisions ahead
:27:29. > :27:35.of the new financial year? By the end of this week. In the climate
:27:36. > :27:39.change committee we have evidence that businesses who have done the
:27:40. > :27:44.right thing and put solar panels on their roofs have been charged
:27:45. > :27:49.additional business rates. My question is, what levers does the
:27:50. > :27:53.Welsh Government have to support businesses that have a positive
:27:54. > :27:58.social and environmental impact? Such is healthy food establishments.
:27:59. > :28:04.And discourage businesses with the negative impacts such as betting
:28:05. > :28:10.shops, payday lenders and other organisations that were raised
:28:11. > :28:12.earlier by Mike Hedges. The procurement policy for Wales
:28:13. > :28:17.encourages the public sector to apply approaches for social
:28:18. > :28:24.benefits. Social clauses are important to criteria. The contract
:28:25. > :28:29.awards can be verbose suppliers were strong evidence of is the loving
:28:30. > :28:30.towards social requirements. It can be an effective tool in encouraging
:28:31. > :28:41.good business practice. First Minister, the real question
:28:42. > :28:46.you should be cancelling is what you are going to do to try to restore
:28:47. > :28:51.some credibility in the Welsh Government after getting the
:28:52. > :28:56.business community in Wales this reasons to lose faith in you. At
:28:57. > :29:02.least ?53 million is how much your your government has lost in gross
:29:03. > :29:07.incompetence with business support and land deals. ?53 million lost at
:29:08. > :29:17.least. When will a thorough investigation take place?
:29:18. > :29:25.97.6% of the businesses we support our successful and that is an
:29:26. > :29:30.excellent record. Will the First Minister make a statement on how the
:29:31. > :29:37.Welsh government is promoting job creation in Newport? We are
:29:38. > :29:45.safeguarding quality jobs in Newport and through the whole of Wales. A
:29:46. > :29:49.data science campus is being opened in March which will act as a hub for
:29:50. > :29:54.the analysis of big data allowing collaborative work between
:29:55. > :29:59.academics, government, the public sector and third sector partners who
:30:00. > :30:02.wish to push the boundaries of delivering services providing rich
:30:03. > :30:07.informed measurement and analysis on the economy, the global environment,
:30:08. > :30:11.wider society and the campus will become a world-class facility. The
:30:12. > :30:16.aspiration to create a Silicon Valley for Wales is the intention
:30:17. > :30:21.and it will be a hub for innovative data science research and create
:30:22. > :30:27.jobs and attract investment. Will the Welsh government work with
:30:28. > :30:35.partners and the ONS to create a Silicon Valley for Wales? Yes, we
:30:36. > :30:39.will. We know that where there is existing expertise, clustering new
:30:40. > :30:42.businesses and new innovations in that area helps everybody and
:30:43. > :30:49.Newport is acquiring very rapidly a good reputation for the software and
:30:50. > :30:57.more generally. It is something we aim to encourage in the future.
:30:58. > :31:02.Newport is one of the worst performing towns or cities in the
:31:03. > :31:07.United Kingdom when it comes to empty shops. More than a quarter of
:31:08. > :31:12.shops in the city were empty in the first half of 2016, according to a
:31:13. > :31:18.local data company. What scheme does the Welsh government offer to
:31:19. > :31:22.provide an incentive in terms of tax break to open new businesses in
:31:23. > :31:29.areas where there are large numbers of empty shops, such as Newport to
:31:30. > :31:32.create jobs and regenerate our city centres? Councils do a good job of
:31:33. > :31:38.encouraging businesses but landlords have to play their part. Landlords
:31:39. > :31:43.have to understand that the days of charging unrealistic rents for
:31:44. > :31:48.long-term leases are gone. It's important that landlords are
:31:49. > :31:51.flexible and look to encourage pop-ups, businesses that want to
:31:52. > :31:58.test the market for three months but don't want to get involved with long
:31:59. > :32:06.leases. Landlords will find that by doing that they will potentially
:32:07. > :32:11.fill their swaps. -- shops. It's also important that landlords work
:32:12. > :32:17.flexibly to provide opportunities for businesses for the 21st-century.
:32:18. > :32:23.Will the First Minister make a statement on the role of the third
:32:24. > :32:34.sector in Wales? The third sector plays an important roles in Wales,
:32:35. > :32:37.there are over 3000 organisations providing services. Are you aware
:32:38. > :32:56.that public affairs Cymru that lobbyists have been asked
:32:57. > :33:04.not to say certain things that the Welsh government does not agree
:33:05. > :33:08.with? I and fought lobbyists had no contact with the government. Your
:33:09. > :33:13.government is leaning on organisations and is undemocratic.
:33:14. > :33:17.In the light of these scandalous allegations, why won't you
:33:18. > :33:25.investigate this matter? I don't know if he is suggesting that the
:33:26. > :33:32.third sector is involved in this. The question was to do with the
:33:33. > :33:36.third sector. I think this is mainly in his own mind, what evidence is
:33:37. > :33:45.given to a committee is for them to consider. Not to say in the middle
:33:46. > :33:52.of an enquiry, it is not appropriate to comment on the process ongoing in
:33:53. > :33:56.the middle of an enquiry. As far as we are concerned, we don't tell
:33:57. > :33:59.organisations what they should or should not say, otherwise there
:34:00. > :34:03.would be little point having organisations whose job it is to
:34:04. > :34:10.hold governments to account, as well as this assembly. Will the First
:34:11. > :34:16.Minister join me in celebrating the recent anniversary of one of the
:34:17. > :34:25.leading third sectors organisations in my constituency, tiddlywinks,
:34:26. > :34:30.which is the first of its kind in Wales and is now a self-sustaining
:34:31. > :34:37.social enterprise. I was with the Minister for lifelong learning
:34:38. > :34:42.yesterday to see them providing key childcare services and a source of
:34:43. > :34:47.important. Willian knowledge the invaluable role of the third sector
:34:48. > :34:52.in providing childcare both in Neath and across Wales and does he agree
:34:53. > :34:58.that a vibrant third sector can shape policy and deliver services to
:34:59. > :35:01.our community is making them more resilient and as he agree with me
:35:02. > :35:08.that it is and should be a priority for the Welsh government to support
:35:09. > :35:12.the sector? I would like to congratulate the staff, trustees and
:35:13. > :35:20.volunteers who have been part of the journey of Tiddlywinks over the
:35:21. > :35:32.years. I hope they are able to continue in the future. First
:35:33. > :35:35.Minister, fair trade fortnight runs from 27th of February to the 12th of
:35:36. > :35:45.March. We should be proud that we are a fair trade than she. 93% of
:35:46. > :35:51.universities are fair trade status. 150 schools and 50% are registered
:35:52. > :35:55.on the fair trade school scheme. The Welsh government has fair trade
:35:56. > :36:00.status but concerns have been raised about ambiguity about how you are
:36:01. > :36:05.applying the fair trade model. Will you look into this to ensure that it
:36:06. > :36:08.isn't just a status, that there is a culture of fair trade
:36:09. > :36:10.acknowledgement, in terms of procurement within your own
:36:11. > :36:15.departments across the Welsh government. If the member could
:36:16. > :36:22.provide me with further information I would be pleased to look at this
:36:23. > :36:27.for her. The third sector and its army of volunteers save the public
:36:28. > :36:31.purse millions of pounds each year and provide valuable services which
:36:32. > :36:35.the public sector cannot. The third sector protectors when we go to the
:36:36. > :36:39.beach or the run in and provide valuable research into numerous
:36:40. > :36:44.diseases and conditions, campaign for better rights, housing and a
:36:45. > :36:48.whole host of other services. Without the third sector, our lives
:36:49. > :36:55.would be much poorer. What more can the Welsh government do to ensure
:36:56. > :36:57.the third sector can continue to thrive in Wales and provide
:36:58. > :37:03.recognition and thanks for the volunteers who drive this sector?
:37:04. > :37:12.Research suggests that the value of the third sector employs 79,000
:37:13. > :37:17.peoples and works with a startling number of volunteers. Nearly one in
:37:18. > :37:23.three people in Wales volunteering in some capacity. We provided 4.4
:37:24. > :37:31.million pounds in 2017 as core funding to voluntary councils across
:37:32. > :37:36.Wales. We are in a good position to assist voluntary organisations in
:37:37. > :37:39.understanding where they should go to seek financial help and that
:37:40. > :37:43.money goes a long way in terms providing support to so many
:37:44. > :37:50.organisations who provide so many services so many people. Will the
:37:51. > :37:56.First Minister make a statement on rail services in south-east Wales?
:37:57. > :38:02.We are procuring an operating and development partner for Wales and
:38:03. > :38:06.border services in 2018. That process is includes discussions with
:38:07. > :38:09.bidders on how services in the south-east Wales may best be
:38:10. > :38:20.delivered as part of the Wales metro. As you are well aware, the
:38:21. > :38:24.Newport- Ebbw Vale rail link remains a top priority for many people.
:38:25. > :38:29.There is impatience that it is not yet established. Are you able to
:38:30. > :38:34.provide further reassurance today that that rail link between Newport
:38:35. > :38:38.and Ebbw Vale remains a priority for worse government and are you able to
:38:39. > :38:44.provide any timings as to when it will be in operation? It's not
:38:45. > :38:49.possible to give a time as to when the service might be in operation I
:38:50. > :38:53.give the member and operation assurance that the service is being
:38:54. > :38:58.examined as part of our project. He has emphasised over the years the
:38:59. > :39:03.importance of the service going to Newport and that is very much part
:39:04. > :39:10.of the developing thinking over how the Metro will operate in the
:39:11. > :39:13.future. The renewal of the Wales and West border franchise is fast
:39:14. > :39:18.approaching. Has the Welsh government at least begun the
:39:19. > :39:22.process of ordering or considering ordering new rolling stock for that
:39:23. > :39:33.franchise? I asked the question because although given it takes up
:39:34. > :39:38.to four years to share my concern is that the new rail operator will have
:39:39. > :39:42.two rely on existing stock at the start of the franchise and will end
:39:43. > :39:45.up refurbishing it which would hardly be the fresh start for the
:39:46. > :39:49.new franchise that the public would hope to see.
:39:50. > :39:56.It would be cleared as part of the proposals that rolling stock should
:39:57. > :40:02.be modern, not 40 years old as some stock is. That stock should provide
:40:03. > :40:06.facilities to passengers such as Wi-Fi that is not provided at the
:40:07. > :40:09.moment. I can give the member Anna Sheridan is that this is very much
:40:10. > :40:24.part of the proposals for the new franchise. -- I can give the member
:40:25. > :40:31.and assurance. Following on from the question from John Griffis, the Ebbw
:40:32. > :40:38.Vale line is at full capacity with those wanting to travel to Cardiff.
:40:39. > :40:44.Only a twin track through to Ebbw Vale would relieve this problem, are
:40:45. > :40:48.there any problems to implement this option? It can be double track or
:40:49. > :40:52.partial double track and it can be signalling which makes the
:40:53. > :40:56.difference. The good news is that the service is so well used that
:40:57. > :41:01.vacancy needs to be increased and these things are amongst things we
:41:02. > :41:05.have looked at working with organisations such as network rail.
:41:06. > :41:13.That is very much part of the thinking on the Metro and the new
:41:14. > :41:17.franchise. We'll be First Minister make a statement on support for the
:41:18. > :41:23.shellfish industry following the decision to leave the European
:41:24. > :41:27.Union? We are working with the industry and Kyleakin to the UK
:41:28. > :41:36.Government the fundamental need to secure unfettered access for Welsh
:41:37. > :41:47.shellfish after the exit from the EU. In 2015, Emma Green agriculture
:41:48. > :41:53.was worth ?10 million to the Welsh economy. -- Marine agriculture. It
:41:54. > :41:59.is a big employer in my constituency and the ability to sell in a single
:42:00. > :42:04.market without controls is and important contribution to the future
:42:05. > :42:16.of the industry. 98% of the banger muscles produced are exported to the
:42:17. > :42:20.Netherlands. -- 19%. Leaders who have praised the negotiations
:42:21. > :42:26.internally in Wales since the vote but he has said that he fears the
:42:27. > :42:30.worst for Wales because of the fact that Wales, Scotland or Northern
:42:31. > :42:34.Ireland will not have a direct voice in the negotiations on exiting the
:42:35. > :42:37.European Union. Can the First Minister tell us what the Welsh
:42:38. > :42:46.Government's strategy will be to try to safeguard the future of this
:42:47. > :42:54.industry? 90% of the fish caught in Wales are exported. Any tariff or
:42:55. > :42:58.obstacle will be bad for the export market. We know the United Kingdom
:42:59. > :43:03.market is too small to secure a future for them. That is why it is
:43:04. > :43:07.so important to ensure that the United Kingdom government sticks to
:43:08. > :43:14.its word to ensure that there is a strong voice for Wales, Scotland and
:43:15. > :43:21.Northern Ireland over the ensuing discussions. I hope that the Cabinet
:43:22. > :43:24.secretaries meeting in April will be fruitful in promoting shellfish to
:43:25. > :43:31.the rest of the world, not just the European Union. The levels of
:43:32. > :43:36.parasites in cockles are higher than expected. If we are to meet the
:43:37. > :43:39.global demand we need our cockles to survive. The European Court of
:43:40. > :43:43.Justice took action to limit the amount of spells in the area to
:43:44. > :43:47.limit the rise of certain bacteria but because of the disease affects
:43:48. > :43:53.cockles reaching maturity is still unclear. I hope the environmental
:43:54. > :43:58.laws will go some way to protect the health of cockles after the great
:43:59. > :44:04.repeal bill but we need some further study on the causes and prevention
:44:05. > :44:11.of early cockle death. I can say about investigations into cockle
:44:12. > :44:14.mortality will continue. The information will be released by
:44:15. > :44:21.natural resources Wales. We are working with the industry to develop
:44:22. > :44:25.the management and sustainability of the government managed cockle
:44:26. > :44:30.fisheries as well. It is a complex issue. I remember direct shellfish
:44:31. > :44:39.poisoning affecting the cockle beds but there was never a clear reason
:44:40. > :44:42.for what happened. The affliction was in the cockle beds. It is
:44:43. > :44:46.important that a thorough investigation is finished in good
:44:47. > :44:50.time so we have an answer. Once we have answers we can provide the most
:44:51. > :45:01.effective legislative response possible. The First Minister is a
:45:02. > :45:05.way as Minister for fisheries and agriculture how crucial the
:45:06. > :45:15.shellfish industry is to the Welsh coastline. The shellfish industry
:45:16. > :45:21.was never part of the core moral fisheries policy or the common
:45:22. > :45:26.agricultural policy. Is it reasonable to expect that this
:45:27. > :45:30.industry could continue to sell into the European continent as it has
:45:31. > :45:33.done for years. It is important because we know that shellfish is
:45:34. > :45:44.important to the fisheries industry in Wales. The majority of votes that
:45:45. > :45:50.we have are relatively small. -- boarding vessels. They do not go far
:45:51. > :45:55.from the coast and there is a strong market in Europe. If anything was to
:45:56. > :46:00.happen to weaken their position in that market, they do not have any
:46:01. > :46:05.alternative means of making the same profit. That is why it is important
:46:06. > :46:11.to ensure that the European market is open on the same terms in the
:46:12. > :46:20.future as it is now. The 21st-century schools programme. The
:46:21. > :46:23.local authority has over ?86 million earmarked for the 21st century
:46:24. > :46:30.schools education programme that extends until 2019. Over ?66 million
:46:31. > :46:36.have been approved with six projects either under construction or getting
:46:37. > :46:39.under way. I was delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for
:46:40. > :46:48.education to officially open two new primary schools. These have been
:46:49. > :46:59.constructed as part of the 21st-century schools programme. The
:47:00. > :47:04.investment combined will be ?20.5 million. Will you join me in
:47:05. > :47:08.welcoming the commitment and investment by the council and by
:47:09. > :47:11.Welsh Government who are working in partnership to deliver first-class
:47:12. > :47:18.education facilities for our children? Indeed. More than ?20
:47:19. > :47:21.million invested in schools is a good example of the local authority
:47:22. > :47:27.working with the Welsh Government to deliver the best for our children.
:47:28. > :47:29.Another example of the Welsh Government and the Labour-controlled
:47:30. > :47:37.local authority delivered in schools that are fit for the 21st century
:47:38. > :47:50.and good for the children. Existing sixth forms in St Albans will be
:47:51. > :47:54.phased out soon. Six from staff from the schools will have to compete for
:47:55. > :47:59.jobs that the new centre. Though the First Minister advise how many
:48:00. > :48:03.redundancies are expected as a result of this reorganisation and
:48:04. > :48:08.what discussion his government has had with the Council in this regard?
:48:09. > :48:13.Local authorities are responsible for the organisation of education in
:48:14. > :48:19.the areas. They are looking to provide the best and most modern
:48:20. > :48:23.provision possible. That was First Minister's Questions. If you want
:48:24. > :48:30.more coverage of the National Assembly you can go online to our
:48:31. > :48:35.Senedd live page. Let me remind you that The Wales Report will be on
:48:36. > :48:41.tomorrow night after the Ten O'Clock News on BBC One Wales. We will not
:48:42. > :48:46.be here next week for First Minister's Questions as the Assembly
:48:47. > :48:58.is in recess. We will see you in two weeks' time at 1:45pm.
:48:59. > :49:13.Make your own bottle rocket. Search BBC Terrific Scientific.
:49:14. > :49:16.# I knew you were trouble when you walked in
:49:17. > :49:20.# Now I'm lying on the cold, hard ground