14/03/2017 First Minister's Questions

Good afternoon, welcome to the programme and our weekly

coverage of questions to the First Minister.

Carwyn Jones' place will be taken by Jane Hutt today

and she can expect questions on a range of subjects

including business rates, energy efficiency and how Government

Don't forget we're on Twitter @walespolitics, where you can see

For now, business in the Chamber is already well underway -

so let's take a look now at today's First Minister's Questions.

Call the National Assembly to order in the first item on agenda this

afternoon is questions to the First Minister and I have received

notification understanding order that the leader of the house will

answer questions today on behalf of the First Minister. Question one,

Nick Ramsay. Will be leader of the house provide an update on support

available to businesses affected by the business rate re-evaluation. The

Welsh Government has announced an extra ?20 million to support

businesses affected by this. ?10 million through transitional relief

scheme and ?20 million through high-street rate. This is action to

provide certainty and security to ratepayers in Wales affected by

re-evaluation. Thank you for that answer. Business is in my

constituency continue to be deeply concerned by the business rate

re-evaluation. What any support is welcome, I hear about the relief

that your Government has announced the additional discount every drop

in the ocean for those businesses facing the busiest hikes. What about

the businesses who will not benefit from the scheme of support and will

be Government look again at raising the threshold at which businesses

are paying business rates in order to avert some of the large-scale

business closures which I fear are going to happen after April? Para

?10 million transitional rates relief scheme will assist businesses

his entitlement to small business rates relief would be adversely

affected by the evaluation. Her ?10 million high-street rates relief

specifically targets businesses in your constituency. We listened to

the concerned responding to be some businesses in Wales. These are

bespoke funded schemes and indeed they are in addition to a ?100

million small business rates relief. As a result, three quarters of

businesses will receive help in their bills and development 17 and

2018. Reader of the house, as a result of the evaluation, the

average rateable value has decreased by 6.1%. With this be a fairly

common pattern across the area, what impact could this have on the Welsh

Government's policy towards promoting economic prosperity across

the South Wales Valleys? The statistics published by the

evaluation are showing that total rateable value will fall in all of

the values. That does mean the majority of ratepayers in these

areas will benefit from reduction in their bills and of course, we have

acted to provide that additional support to businesses through an

extension of ?100 million small business rates relief scheme. Of

course, business Wales and all the other levers that will assist

businesses in your constituency will have a bearing on economic

opportunity. Including the city deal which is a key partner. Adam Price.

Notwithstanding that point, this is fundamentally an unfair tax. It is

wreaking economic carnage on our high-street. Isn't it time to scrap

this tax altogether and replace it with something like an Internet

sales tax? Clearly this is an issue where we have worked over a period

of time as a pro-business Government to take action to help new and

existing businesses and do indeed look at the impact, not just in

terms of re-evaluation, but our business support scheme. We are

looking at a new permanent scheme in terms of small business rates relief

from 2018. Supporting ways that reflect the needs of Wales. We have

engaged widely as possible about our scheme in a short time available

between the publication of its traffic waiting list and the date by

which these regulations had to be in place. It is their scheme, we have

to make sure that it redistributes the amount payable between

properties reflecting changes in the property market. That is their

responsibility. Leader of the house, the business rate re-evaluation is

spitting at our high-street at risk. Many small businesses are facing

huge hikes in the rates bills, yet their turnover is not increasing.

For many, the only alternative is to stick rental properties with smaller

rateable values of the high and this could be the final straw that broke

the camel's back for small independent high-street retailers.

The UK Government's latest budget proposes a cap on the business rate

increases for those small firms set to lose their rate relief. Will the

Government consider doing something similar for small high-street

retailers here in Wales? Can I does make it clear that we are doing it

more than the UK Government and if you look at the funding for the

rates relief measures that the Chancellor announced last week, it

will amount to just over ?12 million and if we had relied on that, it

would have meant ?8 million less support for small businesses in

Wales. We have got to fully funded this book schemes. I'm sure many of

your businesses in your constituency will particularly benefit from

those, not just the transitional scheme, but also the new scheme,

which specifically targets the high-street ratepayers. What

consideration how the First Minister given to prioritising energy

efficiency and homes as part of National infrastructure policy in

Wales? Investing in housing including energy efficiency is

already a priority in the plan, a long-term vision and the actions we

are taking in this important area are set out in the energy efficiency

strategy published last year. There's a lot of excellent work

already being done in Wales, but putting domestic energy efficiency

alongside other nationally important infrastructure programmes could have

multiple benefits, including massively boosting efforts to tackle

fuel poverty, including the health and well-being of older citizens,

reducing energy constructing, reducing the number of power plants,

creating new jobs in streets entreaties to throughout the land.

Far from being a win-win, it would be a win win, win win. As we await

the results of the recent consultation on the National

Infrastructure Commission, could I ask the leader of the house and the

First Minister and his cabinet to consider seriously the huge

potential for Wales bidding energy efficiency for wealth of National

infrastructure and the transformative effect it could have

on future perspire tea and well-being. I am completely with the

member. If you look at the opportunities we have in terms of

interceptor, not only delivering on carbon reduction commitment,

multiplier benefit effects on some the outcomes, better inflated homes,

tackling fuel poverty, creating jobs and economic activity. I will say

that it is important. We have been refining the remit in terms of

reference for the proposed National Infrastructure Commission for Wells

following a response to feedback from consultation and will include

economic and environmental infrastructure, including energy and

it will be looking at the interactions with social

infrastructure on housing and across cutting delivery issues. Our housing

stock is among the oldest in Europe and we really need to focus on

schemes of retrofitting, because a lot of that housing stock is

occupied by people who have low incomes or are otherwise vulnerable.

If we improve the skills and develop retrofitting projects, we would then

find a other parts of the UK for those goals and products and indeed

other parts of Europe. Indeed, and I think this is where it is important

that we are working with industry in terms of the opportunities for

skills base. We're looking at in which we can develop the skills and

experience, not only of our workforce, our young people, but

also clearly through the apprenticeship schemes that we are

supporting. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I agree with the original

question. There is no better example of what we debated last week than

investing in this area where you link in the skills that are local

and ensure that Welsh Government capital spend a spread across Wales

as well, because the Society regional problem, it is spread

across Wales in terms of the houses that we have. We are looking for a

clearer cited purpose around investment in energy efficiency and

something that fits into the National Infrastructure Commission

and the task and aim of that commission. I have already said that

we are going to change the remit as a result of consultation. It is

important that we recognise we are continuing to invest 100 into ?8

million annually to ensure over 222,000 social homes meet and

maintain a Welsh Housing quality standards that David Melding

referred to, the older housing stock in Wales. The sender does require

all existing social housing homes to be brought up to an energy rating of

Dior above. This is an all Wales programme with the budget of ?20

million to be made available to support this programme. Questions

now from the party leader, leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood. Although

our economic potential is yet to be fulfilled, we can already see that

Wales is a strong exporting nation. Last year, we headed ?2.2 billion

surplus with the EU, Harris Fire plus was higher than 2015 when it

was ?1.5 billion. With non-EU countries we had a trade deficit of

?2.3 billion, well the UK as a whole hand trade deficits with both the EU

and is non-EU markets. What future do you see for our EU trade surplus

if we are taken out of the single market? It is important that we

recognise the value of exports for Wales for the year up to and

including 2016, ?12.3 billion, an increase of ?725 million on the

previous year. As the leader of Plaid Cymru, Wales benefit hugely

from the EU 's and got market with access to over 500 million

customers. That is clearly going to be a huge impact in terms of the

prospects in terms of how we exit and how we make sure Wales'

interests are safeguarded. Plaid Cymru predicts a difficult future to

those exporters who rely upon the single market. We now have some in

the UK Government talking about leaving the EU without any deal at

all, which would effectively mean WTO own rules and that would be the

hardest possible tech of Brexit. It could lead to future targets and

other barriers. On the social and our mental side, it could lead to

deregulation and of lowering standards. The UK Government has now

indicated that Article 50 will be sent later this month. That means it

is a winter of opportunity. The window where there can be some

influence. The Welsh Government has said that it wants to be consulted.

I wonder if you can tell us, had he been consulted yet? What are the

implications of the UK Government issuing that Article 50 letter

without a fully consulting Wales as to its content?

Clearly we want a process that is sensitive to the interests of world

map. We with Plaid Cymru the position. This included continued

preserve put Britain's vision of the single market. Certainly, we want

and expect to be consulted on any Article 50 letter before it issues.

The First Minister made it clear to the UK Government that anything less

would be incompatible with the approach that they agreed to the

joint ministerial committee after the referendum results. We have, of

course, sent a copy of the White Paper to the European Commission. It

clear what your Government wants. It's not clear what you will do if

you don't get it. Yesterday, we saw how the mishandling of Brexit will

leads to a new referendum on Scottish independence. That

referendum could end the United Kingdom, the state as we know it

could cease to exist. That would be a radical change for Wales. It would

also greatly opportunity to be bolder and more ambitious ads were

confident about our own future. I suspect that there may be people in

this chamber who supported the Scottish no campaign last time that

would now feel less comfortable doing so. Leader of the house, the

First Minister's statement yesterday on a Scottish independence

referendum lacks detail. It says almost nothing on the future of

world map. Can you add more detail on reducing the Government taking

will snag over the next two years? What plans does your Government have

to put in place for the constitutional and economic future

of this country? I do go back to your second question about

engagement and instruments. -- and influence in terms of Article 50.

The point I would make is that we need to work together understood

sure that securing Wilson 's future -- will ... We should use our cloud

as co-signatories of the paper. In terms of your third question, it's

right that the constitutional future of Scotland is decided by the people

of Scotland. We believe that the UK remains better together. Last year,

Welsh Labour was elected on a message of togetherness. The

important thing for us today is that as the party and Government we

remain committed both to the union and the ongoing GMC process relating

to exiting the EU. The Scots say that they have no intention of

walking away from the GMC where we have common cause on many issues in

terms of our negotiations of exiting the EU. Leader of the Welsh

Conservatives. Many have seen in the last week, the shocking images of

drug abuse, people, toes in public areas. We can only feel sorry for

the full that have fallen so low. We would like to see as many safeguards

as possible put in place to rectify the people's proper. -- the people's

problem. Many of us will recognise the image of a town in Wales from

these images. Today, we have the north police and firemen

Commissioner. On this side of the house, we don't believe that is the

case. I would be grateful if you could give us a Government response

as to what actually you are taking as the Welsh Government given that

you held a meeting with the Police Commissioner last week to address

the shortcomings in this particular area. It's important to be looked at

north Wales particularly. The most of my prize of ?4.9 million of

substance misuse action fund to this area. -- the Government provides

?4.9 million. The issue in terms of paraphernalia and the visibility of

individuals with issues with substance misuse in the town centre,

that clearly as to result in a cross, multi-agency approach. That

includes not Wales police and also the local authority and voluntary

sector organisations. I had hoped that since the time has lapped we

might have had a fuller answer. The Welsh Government in 2000 and 84 for

a strategy to reduce harm. These images make it seem that this

strategy is not working. What a valuation has the Welsh Government

is taken of this strategy and the support that is in place for the

local authorities and the police forces and support agencies in

Health and Social Care to add to the address these issues that are

happening day in and day out, week in and week out, on the streets

across Wales, that are crying out for a solution and support from

central Government, in particular as you have had this 10-year strategy

in place that is coming towards the end. We are still seeing these

horrific images portrayed in the media as happening in public spaces

as we seek. I have identified investment in the substance misuse

action fund. That is available to those that are delivering on the

ground not well. -- underground for thrills. They have developed an

action plan, a comprehensive town centre action plan. It's got a

number of actions. It has to be about the constantly changing needs

and circumstances in terms of substance misuse. There are a number

of planned project coordinated by people. This is identifying hotspot

service and clean-up is taking place. It's also important to

recognise that this is about the substance misuse that we need to

look at in terms of best practice. That is where the new substance

misuse delivery plan is so Bertrand. -- is so Bertrand. Everyone seems to

blaming everyone else rather than actually getting to grips with the

problem. The Welsh Nationalists believe that legalising drugs is the

sensible alternative. From this side of the house, we do not believe this

is the solution. In particular, the deaths from drugs have doubled since

2012. That is clearly not a road to solving this problem. Well, there's

lots of mumbling coming from the other side of the house. From the

Government, there needs to be a working group set up by the Welsh

Government to pull together the charities and health bodies and

policing crime commission not Wales. To make sure that we can get a court

may could approach to dealing with this issue, there seems to be a

plain culture developing rather than -- be a blame culture developing

rather than getting to grips with the serious issue that many of these

people face and the tragedy that their lives have spirals out of

control and ultimately they need the support of Government, working with

sponsor bodies, to put the measures in place. Can you confirm that you

will do that? I have identified not only the strategy and investment but

I would hope that Andrew RT Davies is also speaking to the Conservative

councillors in Wrexham and the independent counsel those that are

at the sharp end of being responsible. With our support and

the multi-agency panel. These of you can. The leader of the house will

have seen that last year's budget was not an unqualified success for

the Chancellor. Does she and most governments for any lessons from

that experience with a view to how they are going to exercise the tax

varying powers we are to obtain under the Wales act? I do think that

in terms of last week, I think it has been described as a shambles.

Certainly, a budget that has hit self-employed people very hard. A ?2

million hike in national insurance contributions. That is affecting

many of the people we talk about in the FSB talks about in terms of

self-employed people. These ID risk-takers spearheading both. --

these are the risk-takers. Filming to learn lessons from us. The

additional funding... Can I say, you've asked me the question... The

additional funding doesn't alter the magnitude of spending reductions be

faced for future years, despite the small additions. The capital budget

will still be less than in real terms to certain of 11. With

respect, you didn't answer my question. What I was keen to elicit

was whether it makes it more or less likely that the Welsh Government

will use its powers to Vivienne, green -- vary its income tax. Lower

tax rates can produce higher tax revenues. In the 1980s, Nigel Lawson

reduced taxes and that was the effect. In 1979, the top 1% of

earners paid 11% of all tax revenues. By 1997, they paid 21%, in

spite of the fact that the club band of income tax had been reduced. --

of the fact that the top band. Let's not make Wales into a kind of tax

haven. I don't think we'd expect anything different from the reader

of Ukip. I would have hoped that you would be considering the impact of

the Chancellor's budget last week. The impact on the people that we

represent. The impact of the fact that the sting in the tail of that

budget and forecast is that there is a 3.5 billion cut plans by the

Government for 1920. -- February 20 20. That is what I'm concerned. Of

course, we have to look at that in terms of the implications of this

budget. For self-employed and also the progress people and will. With

respect, I'll try again. I still haven't had an answer. Does the

reader of the house except that lower tax rates can produce higher

tax revenues? In which case, everybody wins. As far as the UK

Government is concerned, we take responsibility and have a

responsibility that we are not taking through registration in terms

of evolved and coming our way. We look forward to debating this in the

next couple of weeks. In -- we need to recognise the adverse impact of

the divisions made by Phil. He fumbled his budget angrily to

recognise that that is bad, the fact that it is undermining the ICO to

promote the UK as a place to start a business. Will Leader of the

House... The investment dealers Government is making to benefit all

parts of Wales and all aspects of society. The Government's own

figures show that the level of Welsh Government capital expenditure on

infrastructure in south-east Wales is twice that per head in north

Wales and three times the figure for mid and west Wales. Its concern over

huge investment cap led us to vote against the supplementary budget

last week. What assurance... Lets you the question. What assurance can

she give my party and members on all sides who represents those regions

that we will have equal investment for all parts of Wales so that we

can see Chris Berry T-shirt? I think the member has seen the

combined Welsh Government allocations for local authorities,

the Health Board, police authorities for 2017, 2018. And has seen that

there is only one area where there is a slightly different powerhead

allocation and I would want to share this again with the member. In terms

of capital expenditure on an all Wales basis, that is crucially

important in terms of investment in social housing, in best win in 20%

through schools, investment in transport. I can again give you the

investments in floods and coastal risk management, supporting the Hall

of Wales, ?144 million, to improve our road network. In terms of North

Wales, ?50 million to advance the north-east Wales Metro with

potential to expand west in the future. In terms of the

supplementary budget, we were... What was in that supplementary

budget is very important to be people of Wales. It is ?170 billion

to support the Welsh NHS. Just to give one example, and ?16 million

for a treatment fund and an additional ?20 million funding for

higher education and an additional ?85.5 billion to support

construction and maintenance to be tried and road network in Wales.

Let's say... Let's recognise the importance of our considerations.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, there is a

Cardiff capital region city deal as a proposed Swansea be city deal,

what consideration has been given to a mid Wales deal on the same skill

to ensure there is a similar level of investment in the fourth

remaining economic region of Wales? There has been work done, as you

know, in terms of how we can respond to opportunities in mid Wales. It is

also relevant to say and very pertinent to your patch is that

these are about budget choices in terms of those cuts to the capital

programme that I have already spoken about. Five new primary schools we

are building had been recently announced as part of the 21st

century schools programme. That is so important. The prospects of

children and young people in terms of growth opportunities in mid

Wales. Although he would not believe it, there was quite a degree of

consensus last week during the debate on the foundational economy,

which has already been mentioned by Simon Thomas. It was agreed

unanimously in the Chamber that small businesses connected with each

other in a way that doesn't happen in large firms. Networks of social

capital need to be extended beyond local social context. It was agreed.

It was further agreed that the geography of the South Wales Valleys

has been a barrier to death in the past. With the reader of the house

therefore accept that the Government investment focused in this area to

be successful, the Northern Valleys need to be seen as interdependent

communities looking east and west and not simply spokes linking into a

city hub. It is always good when we get back to consensus in this

Chamber as we did very much a that debate on economy. The Cabinet

sector of the economy and transport responded to very positively. I was

also interested to see the very strong arguments for the points you

are making on the northern Valleys interdependency with Vicky Howells

in an article in the Westerman mail. It is a very personal point in terms

of the city region deal, because we have to make sure that this is

recognised, the northern Valleys recognise. It is not just been put

down it is going up on it is that mutual interdependency. Will the

reader has 87 on the provision for people on the otters spectrum in

Wales. -- otters. We have had extensive consultation.

Thank you for that response. The National Society for Wales has asked

for a record of the number of people on the spectrum in order to assist

local authorities to plan the services more effectively and in a

war competence of manner. One would expect a record of people who have a

care plan for next April onwards, but there are a number of people who

do not have a care plan and there are others who go in and out of the

system. When will your Government insist that a full record is kept in

order to ensure that the proper resources and facilities are

provided were needed in all parts of Wales? I thank the member for that

question. It is their relevant to the work that has been taken forward

by an implementation advisory group for the autistic spectrum disorder

strategic action plan for Wales. The National Autistic Society is sitting

on that import meditation group and as it is a world autism awareness

Day later this month, the group is going to be meeting for the written

at the end of the month. Wooding at that time, it is... It needs data.

It is also about the new 26 waiting time targets from a referral for

first appointment for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental

diseases to speed up the reports. Leader of the house, I understand

there are a strategic action plans in place only for five or six months

now, but what we really need to see is how the gaps in provision of

services, particularly services going to be fulfilled within

Pembrokeshire, there is a massive gap in the provision of services for

adults with autism and neither Pembrokeshire County Council nor the

local Health Board appear to have vacancies of enough method of being

able to plug those gaps. What can you the wealth Government do to

encourage that happen, because I can tell you know, you are strategic

action plan isn't even touching the sides on that? Look like the ?6

million we put into developing our new integrated autism service will

start at the Cannes impact that the member would want to see. It is an

investment over three years which will be rolled out over a Wales by

2019. It's going to see new specialist teams in every region

providing adult diagnosis, supporting in the community and

helping their parents and carers. Will be leader of the house provide

an update on the work problem of the Welsh European funding office

between now and the exit from the European Union? The European funding

office for Wales is continuing to implement the EU funding programmes

as agreed with the European Commission to deliver jobs and

growth. Newly to those of the fund had been committed to date and our

aim is to invest all of the funds available to Wales by early 2019.

Thank you for that, but as you may already know, as well as indicating

that equivalent money should come to Wales after exit, with this giving

evidence to the external affairs committee have said this is an

opportunity to do things differently in terms of regional funding. Can

you tell me how many of the applications are currently

predicated on the private sector kicking the delivery lead and what

advice regarding bidders for that remaining money to make sure that

long-term projects are structurally flexible enough to make sure that

they can last ones the days of the commission directing regional

funding have gone? Clearly multi-million projects in crude

business Wales, apprenticeships, they are directly relevant for the

private sector. You will be aware that in your region, they are making

an impact by boosting business, helping them to increase work

prospects and skills of our people. Also ensuring that through programme

monitoring committee we are engaging fully with Welsh stakeholders,

including the private sector in terms of the Commonwealth position

on future arrangements for regional funding in Wales. That is critically

important. The PMC is shared by Julie Morgan. Critically important

of safeguarding those investments. It operates under EU regional

policy, they are not going to be there in two years. What I'm asking

is, what discussions have you had with the UK Government about a

future in regional policy and how have you taken the opportunity to be

created on the agenda to ensure that what happens in Wales can be unique

to the country goes back I think our white paper at securing Wales'

future is vitally important, because it does lay out what we made clear

as far as regional economic next development. It is a clear that that

is a devolved competence and it must remain so. We would resist firmly

any attempt by the UK Government to reverse any form of devolution and

take control of regional policy, so I'm glad of having the opportunity

to put that on record today. It is important that we have got

engagement through the joint administer real committee on

negotiations which the Cabinet sector of finance of local

Government represents us and he presented our White Paper in their

meeting on the aid of debris. -- on the 8th of February.

Will the leader of the house make a comment on post 16 education Wales?

It insures our young people can excessive skills that they need to

develop their careers and that adults can develop their careers and

support our growing economy. Thank you. There is been a a lot of talk

about the need for something between. But they have failed to

deliver on that talk. A recent report showed that there was an

oversight of finances for colleges. ?22 million to our colleges over the

past five years. That has stifled them been able to make progress. In

fact, nearly half of our Welsh colleges carry large deficits and

are closed to eat into their savings. What action might the Welsh

Government be able to take as a result of the savings which will be

secured through changes to higher education student support, in terms

of some of that cash being be invested in order to rebalance the

situation in terms of parity between both forms of education? He may

talk, we deliver. I have to say... Haven't delivered anything. Our

approach, we have established an approach to vocational and technical

qualifications that we've actually developed in consultation with

employees. We've benefited from collaboration, engaging with

Northern Ireland and Scotland, internationally recognised approach

to apprenticeships, vocational and technical qualifications. As we can

see by the investment and commitments to 100,000

apprenticeships. And we have the original shirt skills partnerships.

That is to determine the need for skills. I don't recognise the points

you make at all. Those employers that I met last week, who are

concerned to get young people into science and technology, engineering

and maths. They say that actually parity with vocational opportunities

are vital for young people. Apprenticeships is something that

young aspire to. Along the same lines, there is UK research that

showed that only 17% of kids -- of was the... More thought higher

education as the best option for them. The perception still exists

that there isn't parity of esteem between vocational and academic

courses. Can I ask what he Welsh Government is doing, for example, to

promote perceptions of the research that shows that the probable

earnings of the best apprenticeships, many thousands of

pounds more over the course of their careers by students that have been

in higher education outside the main group of universities? Without the

debts that results from that codification. -- from that

education. 100,000 apprenticeships speaks for itself in terms of our

apprenticeship. The fact that it enables young people to reach their

potential. As you say, the Sutton trust research is very valuable and

pertinent. Clearly in terms of our statutory duty to provide education

for an owners up to the age of 18, we have protected and mitigated the

brand of reductions from the UK Government. As a result of the

budget agreement, we have put an additional ?30 million in to support

further and higher education. That is having a huge impact in terms of

targeting investment. As making the opportunities for young people real.

They can progress anyway from apprenticeships into higher

education and into very well paid and long-lasting jobs and careers.

Question seven. Our local energy service promotes services across

Wales back. It keeps the benefits of renewable energy projects within

Wales. We can look at how these projects will be a new continued to

develop. These mechanisms stand within the very proud cooperative

tradition of promoting local enterprise and social benefit.

Particularly for technical reasons they are easy-to-use and more

flexible than traditional charitable approaches. They are an excellent

way to Vermont communities schemes. -- to promote community schemes. I

do commend the efforts that have been going on in the not-for-profit

sector. I do think that the Government could do with Bush in

this area. I agree with all the points. The community shareholders

have raised over 5.5 million since 2010. You will be very aware of

these community projects. We related to commercial developers work more

closely with communities are shared ownership and investment. I think it

is important, you mentioned the cooperative Centre, we are proud of

that, that helps communities to share experience of how to develop

local energy services. Question eight. With the Leader of the House

make a statement on the duties of traffic officers? They are there to

serve up to the English border. Her, as the Leader of the House has

confirmed, traffic officers are not Wales patrol A55. It doesn't stop

at, plus. It continues to Anglesey. This, according to police officers,

is causing problems. It ties up resources in dealing with road

accidents and so on. These don't happen in other portables with my.

-- in other parts of north Wales. With the Government look again at

the cover and strategy. -- will be Government look again at this

strategy? The traffic officer service was originally devised to

cover business sections of the road network. We inherited this PFI

contract, as you will be aware. It has, in terms of responsibilities,

we need to look carefully at the impact of that. In terms of cough

and service. In the north, the server survey was A55. The two then

need to see that we extend this cover. We need to improve its

resilience. Finally, question nine. May I ask the leader of the house in

this budget on part of the First Minister what plans he has to meet

the Scottish First Minister to discuss the relationship with the

Rabin union? They spoke yesterday and continues to have regular

discussions with hard-boiled bilaterally and in meetings with the

joint receiver committee and British-Irish Council. And quicker

for the response and ensure that the First Minister wallop at an

interesting conversation with the Scottish First Minister. Because

there is so much in common between the Scottish Government White Paper

and the red White Paper of Plaid Cymru, Dusty Welsh Government sees

the importance, whatever the decision taken by Scotland on its

constitutional future, that's seem out of them, of course, that there

is a role for collaboration on the current negotiations between the UK

and the EU, particularly to safeguard unfettered access to the

single market for both nations? There is considerable common ground

between our white papers secure ring Wales future. In particular,

Scotland's place in Europe emphasises the economic importance

of the single market and the vital contribution of migrant workers to

businesses. The critical need to respect devolution settlement.

That's 21st Minister has taken the lead in calling for those

arrangements. -- that's where the First Minister has taken the lead.

He convened an extraordinary British Irish vessel summit last July to

other -- to allow to discuss the referendum.

There we are - that was First Minister's Questions.

If you want more more coverage of the National Assembly, you can go

online to BBC Wales's Senedd Live page at BBC.co.uk/Walespolitics.

If you want more Welsh politics this week, don't forget

the Wales Report with Huw Edwards after the Ten O'Clock News

As for today though, from all of us on the programme, goodbye.

It was the most beautiful view I've ever been through.

For one second, I was swimming on my back, and I was looking to the sky.

I was swimming across the Aegean Sea.

I was a refugee, going from Syria to Germany.

The very embodiment of the England that must emerge.

I have my own path to follow. Destiny.