:00:00. > :00:09.so let's cross over for today's questions to the First Minister.
:00:10. > :00:17.I call on the National Assembly to order. Before starting on this
:00:18. > :00:22.afternoon's agenda I would like to welcome the Parliamentary delegation
:00:23. > :00:25.from Basra, Iraq. While visiting the National Assembly today. And who are
:00:26. > :00:30.in the public gallery this afternoon. Welcome. The first item
:00:31. > :00:36.on our agenda are questions to the First Minister. The first question
:00:37. > :00:40.is issued. How is the worst government assisting disabled people
:00:41. > :00:44.in Wales? Framework for action, our Independent living sets out our plan
:00:45. > :00:47.to assist disabled people in Wales. We will work together with the
:00:48. > :00:55.public sector bodies across Wales to refresh the frame of this year.
:00:56. > :00:59.Thank you. Well before the Welsh and announcement transferring the Welsh
:01:00. > :01:05.Independent living grants to local authorities, campaigners in Wrexham,
:01:06. > :01:08.Nathan Davies, who presented the goods to enabling Wales North Wales
:01:09. > :01:13.graduation last month, expressed concerns that they felt that
:01:14. > :01:18.disabled people had been sold down the river, or they could see was yet
:01:19. > :01:21.more fighting. Disability Wales expressed disappointment that the
:01:22. > :01:26.Welsh government didn't follow Scotland in setting up an
:01:27. > :01:30.independent living fund. Ministered by inclusion in Scotland, Northern
:01:31. > :01:35.Ireland has also commissioned its ILS from. How, therefore, would you
:01:36. > :01:39.engage with such concerns to ensure that not only the local authorities
:01:40. > :01:42.and health boards, but the Welsh government itself is complying with
:01:43. > :01:46.the intention of the social services and well-being act placing a duty on
:01:47. > :01:49.public authorities to promote the involvement of people in the
:01:50. > :01:55.designed and delivery of care and support services? The decision was
:01:56. > :02:00.taken to enable payments to be made and interrupted to former recipients
:02:01. > :02:03.in Wales. It was an interim decision designed to last until the 31st of
:02:04. > :02:07.March this year. Why we considered the arrangements
:02:08. > :02:10.that were appropriate to provide support the longer term. Following
:02:11. > :02:13.advice from the stakeholders adviser group which includes organisations
:02:14. > :02:17.that represent the same people in Wales we are producing a promise in
:02:18. > :02:19.April, a two-year transitional arrangement whereby support will be
:02:20. > :02:24.through normal social care provision.
:02:25. > :02:27.Presiding Officer, I want to highlight the importance of sign
:02:28. > :02:33.language to the deaf community. For many deaf people it is a major
:02:34. > :02:37.method of communication. My sister is profoundly deaf. Will he first Mr
:02:38. > :02:41.join me in supporting the creation of GCSE first language sign language
:02:42. > :02:44.to be treated as the equivalent of first language Welsh and English at
:02:45. > :02:47.GCSE? It's a matter, ultimately, for the
:02:48. > :02:51.qualifications Wales, they are responsible for the development and
:02:52. > :02:57.out of patience in Wales. That said, I think it is important, and they're
:02:58. > :03:01.taking what the member has said, to promote sign language and to promote
:03:02. > :03:05.the availability of qualifications in British sign language. It is a
:03:06. > :03:12.matter I will take on his behalf with corporations Wales.
:03:13. > :03:16.There's been a great deal of talk that there is a possibility that the
:03:17. > :03:21.attendance allowance is to be devolved to Wales from Westminster.
:03:22. > :03:26.Some 100,000 people in Wales received this benefit at a cost of
:03:27. > :03:30.some ?400 million per annum. Now, if these benefits are devolved to
:03:31. > :03:35.Wales, we will then have to decide what the role of local authorities
:03:36. > :03:38.would be. And Plaid Cymru, of course, always welcomes additional
:03:39. > :03:43.power was residing here in Wales for the benefit of the people of Wales,
:03:44. > :03:47.but there are concerns that this move is a money saving mechanism,
:03:48. > :03:54.ultimately. How can you ensure that older disabled people in Wales won't
:03:55. > :03:57.lose out if they did this were to occur?
:03:58. > :04:02.Well, there is an unfortunate history in this place where benefits
:04:03. > :04:07.have been devolved but without all the funding to follow. And that
:04:08. > :04:13.happened with the council tax benefit. I'm not in favour of
:04:14. > :04:19.receiving any powers without funding, and also, am not in favour
:04:20. > :04:24.of getting the full funding in following on that. If that was
:04:25. > :04:32.offered to us we would never wish to take any new powers without the
:04:33. > :04:34.funding to follow and without the insurance in the long term about the
:04:35. > :04:41.source of that funding. Thank you. In March last year as
:04:42. > :04:44.part of the getting ahead to programme a learning disability
:04:45. > :04:48.Wales were given 10 million over five years to transform the lives of
:04:49. > :04:55.over 1000 young people aged 16 to 25. Who have a learning disability
:04:56. > :04:59.or difficulty. That is through undertaking a paid work placement
:05:00. > :05:02.between six and 12 months. What does this commitment to demonstrate about
:05:03. > :05:06.the Welsh government's determination to assist people with disabilities
:05:07. > :05:11.in Wales and how is this actively helping to change people's lives?
:05:12. > :05:15.We can see the results for ourselves. We are working with the
:05:16. > :05:19.advisory group to develop a strategic action plan. That will go
:05:20. > :05:21.to White consultation later this year in order to build on the good
:05:22. > :05:26.work that's already been put in place.
:05:27. > :05:29.Question two, Paul Davies. Will he First Minister outline what the
:05:30. > :05:33.Welsh government is doing to support farmers in Pembrokeshire?
:05:34. > :05:36.The Welsh government is working to support the farming industry in
:05:37. > :05:39.Pembrokeshire as in all parts of Wales.
:05:40. > :05:44.As I am sure you are aware the number of farmers in my constituency
:05:45. > :05:47.are hugely concerned about the possibility of the introduction of
:05:48. > :05:51.nitrate vulnerable zones which would have huge impact on the businesses
:05:52. > :05:55.and on the rural economy more generally. Your government's
:05:56. > :05:59.consultation has been concluded, can you tell us when you will take a
:06:00. > :06:05.decision on this issue, in the meantime, can I urge you to look at
:06:06. > :06:09.this issue again and to consider introducing a voluntary approach to
:06:10. > :06:15.improve water quality, because that is the way to support our farmers,
:06:16. > :06:18.by working with them, rather than introducing burdensome regulations.
:06:19. > :06:22.Well, their response to because attention will be considered in
:06:23. > :06:26.detail over being suing weeks, and, of course, they will be discussion
:06:27. > :06:31.with the agricultural industry over those weeks. As part of the review
:06:32. > :06:35.taking place. Thank you, Minister, what will you
:06:36. > :06:39.do now to protect farmers in Pembroke show the length and breadth
:06:40. > :06:43.of Wales now that the Prime Minister in Westminster, Theresa May, has
:06:44. > :06:48.decided that we will be out of the single market, with tariffs on Welsh
:06:49. > :06:52.produce, there is to be a free trade market with New Zealand, where lamb
:06:53. > :06:55.can come in, and this could undermine the quality produce of
:06:56. > :06:59.Wales. What will the Government is doing out to protect the interests
:07:00. > :07:02.of Wales in the face of the decision taken by the Conservatives in
:07:03. > :07:07.Westminster to make farmers in Wales poorer and less able to compete?
:07:08. > :07:13.May I say am completely against tariffs on Welsh produce. In any
:07:14. > :07:19.market. And I am against any free-market agreement that would
:07:20. > :07:24.weaken the culture of Wales, be it New Zealand, or Brazil on beef. We
:07:25. > :07:30.have to be make a full as regards which countries agreements are made
:07:31. > :07:33.with. May I also say that there is a major problem with regards to the
:07:34. > :07:37.fact there is no assurance whatsoever that anything would be
:07:38. > :07:45.available for farmers of Wales post 2020. Because of the fact that there
:07:46. > :07:48.has been no assurance given as regards to subsidies themselves.
:07:49. > :07:53.Some people in deaf rest say that they won't be any payments at all
:07:54. > :07:56.for farming throughout the UK. And so farmers will have to deal with
:07:57. > :08:01.the situation without any payments at all in a very short time. I am
:08:02. > :08:08.completely against any route that would mean that farmers would lose
:08:09. > :08:12.their money and their markets. I call upon the party leaders to
:08:13. > :08:16.question me First Minister. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives,
:08:17. > :08:20.Andrew RT Davies. First Minister, last October, one of
:08:21. > :08:26.the most passionate debates was held within this Chamber and the Chamber
:08:27. > :08:29.upstairs was for a lot of people who are interested in the autism
:08:30. > :08:31.community and wanted legislation brought forward from your
:08:32. > :08:36.government. We were led to believe, there was a consensus, that all a
:08:37. > :08:40.critical of the parties believe that they should be an autism Bill
:08:41. > :08:44.brought before the Assembly to improve rights for people who suffer
:08:45. > :08:48.with autism. Yesterday, you brought forward your
:08:49. > :08:52.trade union Bill. Many people will find it difficult to comprehend why
:08:53. > :08:57.you are standing in the way of bringing forward an autism Bill that
:08:58. > :09:02.could greatly improve access to services and give a legal right for
:09:03. > :09:06.people who have a diagnosis of autism over the trade union Bill
:09:07. > :09:09.that you decided to bring forward. Why have you prioritise the trade
:09:10. > :09:13.union Bill against people with autism?
:09:14. > :09:19.There are two reasons. Post what you need to protect worker's writes. His
:09:20. > :09:24.party won to remove confidence from this Assembly over employment rights
:09:25. > :09:27.and regulations. It's his party's fault. We wouldn't have to bring
:09:28. > :09:30.this forward at the speed of it wasn't for the Wales Bill. He can't
:09:31. > :09:34.sit there and claim it's nothing to do with him. We will claim up for
:09:35. > :09:39.work's writes as his party presses down on them. That is why we will
:09:40. > :09:43.introduce a trade union Bill to this Chamber. We look for support from
:09:44. > :09:46.this Assembly to protect the rights of workers and let's see what
:09:47. > :09:50.happens within the competence changes. We will stand up for Welsh
:09:51. > :09:55.workers, scene of his party champ will follow them.
:09:56. > :09:59.It is the Conservative Party delivering for Welsh workers as they
:10:00. > :10:03.are for UK workers. By delivering an economy that has delivered record
:10:04. > :10:07.rates of employment and opportunity and prosperity. I notice you did not
:10:08. > :10:11.dwell on the reasoning why your government stood in the way of
:10:12. > :10:16.delivering an autism Bill. As opposed to the trade union Bill when
:10:17. > :10:19.people upstairs after this debate will genuinely in tears and
:10:20. > :10:22.disgusted with the outcome from this Labour government over the betrayal,
:10:23. > :10:26.as they thought, of your government's commitment in the
:10:27. > :10:30.Assembly election, the words spoken in that Chamber in this debate.
:10:31. > :10:35.What is an reasonable? What is annually reasonable about this bill
:10:36. > :10:40.about informing employees when strike action would be taken. What
:10:41. > :10:45.is unreasonable about seeking this threshold? There is nothing
:10:46. > :10:49.unreasonable about that. It is your party that has taken us back to the
:10:50. > :10:53.70s. Moving away from empowering workers to get on in this country.
:10:54. > :10:57.So what is unreasonable and that trade union Bill that demands your
:10:58. > :11:00.government bring forward a separate piece of legislation?
:11:01. > :11:04.It is odious that the leader of the Welsh Conservatives uses people who
:11:05. > :11:12.are dealing with autism as a way to attack workers. The reality is that
:11:13. > :11:15.unemployment is lower in Wales than it is in England, Scotland and
:11:16. > :11:19.Northern Ireland because of the actions of the Welsh government. He
:11:20. > :11:23.talks about a threshold. I don't remember talk of thresholds in the
:11:24. > :11:27.Brexit referendum? Thresholds weren't important. I don't believe
:11:28. > :11:32.in thresholds. I don't believe any threshold as far strike action,
:11:33. > :11:35.balloting, is concerned. I believe in we stand up for the rights of
:11:36. > :11:40.workers in Wales despite what is being imposed on them by a hostile
:11:41. > :11:45.Tory government. 50 of his own MPs, 50 of his own MPs were calling for
:11:46. > :11:49.strike to be banned in the public sector. We are going to arrest
:11:50. > :11:55.strikers now, are you? Going back to the 70s? He'd taken back to the 30s.
:11:56. > :12:07.The people you repay our union general secretary is. I challenge
:12:08. > :12:11.you to bring forward the autism bill that people were asking for. I have
:12:12. > :12:15.not heard people calling for a trade union bill in Wales because they
:12:16. > :12:22.feel discriminated against. The real danger is that you will be
:12:23. > :12:26.trailblazing regional pay by bringing the Bill forward because
:12:27. > :12:31.you will lower the threshold for strike action in Wales, vis-a-vis
:12:32. > :12:36.other parts of the United Kingdom and most parts when strike action is
:12:37. > :12:40.taken is around terms and conditions and pay and you will be a
:12:41. > :12:44.trailblazer for regional pay if you continue to push this Bill through
:12:45. > :12:48.the Assembly but you should apologise to people in the autism
:12:49. > :12:56.community who feel let down by you and your legislative programme. It
:12:57. > :13:02.is odious, I used the word again, to suggest that those people who are
:13:03. > :13:07.dealing with autism, who are caring for those people with autism, should
:13:08. > :13:15.be set against people who want to have their rights as workers. It is
:13:16. > :13:20.typical that the Tories' attitude is set people each other, divide and
:13:21. > :13:25.rule, we will do all we can to help those people with autism and people
:13:26. > :13:30.caring for people with autism, which we have done through legislation and
:13:31. > :13:36.funding. We have not cut social services spending by 6% as he has
:13:37. > :13:41.and his in London. The disaster of the NHS in England at the moment
:13:42. > :13:47.caused by a lack of spending on social services. I make no apology
:13:48. > :13:51.for standing up for the rights of workers in Wales and representatives
:13:52. > :13:55.and if he does not like that he can explain to voters in Wales is why he
:13:56. > :13:58.wants people to be in a position where they no longer have the
:13:59. > :14:08.ability to exercise their right to strike. He yaps away, doesn't he?
:14:09. > :14:12.There has been a lot of yapping. We will stand up for the rights of
:14:13. > :14:26.workers even as he is indifferent to them.
:14:27. > :14:31.On December the 15th last year, figures on the performance and value
:14:32. > :14:34.of the Welsh economy were published. They have not received huge
:14:35. > :14:42.attention but showed the Welsh economy stands at 71% of UK index,
:14:43. > :14:49.down from 71.4% in 2014. We need to close the wealth gap and not
:14:50. > :14:54.presiding over it whitening. Aside from the risk we face from losing
:14:55. > :14:58.funds currently received by deprived communities, there is a risk to
:14:59. > :15:08.businesses and jobs from the decision to leave the European
:15:09. > :15:13.Union. From a safeguarding jobs perspective Wales continues to
:15:14. > :15:18.participate in the single market, do you agree with Plaid Cymru it is in
:15:19. > :15:21.the Welsh national interest to continue to participate fully in the
:15:22. > :15:28.single market without tariffs or barriers? It is a position we have
:15:29. > :15:39.howled. We save full and unfettered access. What we have to work is
:15:40. > :15:43.anything that impairs ability of businesses to export from Wales and
:15:44. > :15:49.makes it more difficult for them to employ people. GDP needs to increase
:15:50. > :15:53.and we need to invest in skills. As people have more skills they can
:15:54. > :16:02.better attract investment that leads to better paid job. I have listened
:16:03. > :16:06.to the Prime Minister's speech. Some of it was welcome. The tone was
:16:07. > :16:13.better, not as aggressive as the nationalist wing of Theresa May's
:16:14. > :16:17.party. There were issues about recognising rights of devolved
:16:18. > :16:20.nations although there is a country diction in saying the British
:16:21. > :16:24.Parliament decides the final deal without devolved parliament is
:16:25. > :16:30.having their own view as well. Leaving the single market I do not
:16:31. > :16:33.agree with. Half in half out of the customs union needs explanation and
:16:34. > :16:39.how you control immigration with an open border has not been explained.
:16:40. > :16:43.There is some clarity, not all welcome, and some of it is better
:16:44. > :16:48.from the Prime Minister but there is a lot of work to be done to make
:16:49. > :16:53.sure we have the best outcome. Plaid Cymru would argue Wales is facing a
:16:54. > :16:57.made in London plan for withdrawing from the EU and I'm glad you
:16:58. > :17:05.mentioned the question of exports. On this map the risk to Wales from
:17:06. > :17:11.hard Brexit is illustrated strongly. The Welsh economy is the most
:17:12. > :17:15.dependent part of the UK on exports to the EU and manufacturing
:17:16. > :17:21.economies like ours relied the most upon that market and we are talking
:17:22. > :17:25.about industrial jobs, the food industry, in tourism, jobs that are
:17:26. > :17:31.vital to people in Wales which cannot be put at risk. We know that
:17:32. > :17:35.much of the non-European investment into Wales has been attracted here
:17:36. > :17:40.because of our position in the single market and another risk to
:17:41. > :17:46.this country, beyond losing our position in the single market is
:17:47. > :17:51.that we are heading for neoliberalism, based on deregulation
:17:52. > :17:56.and privatisation based on slashing workers' rights, based on watering
:17:57. > :18:01.down environmental regulations that keep our country clean. We face
:18:02. > :18:08.losing so many of the hard won gains and none of us should be prepared to
:18:09. > :18:13.put them at risk. Will you commit to exploring how we can avoid taking
:18:14. > :18:18.this path of economic and social vandalism and will you championed
:18:19. > :18:22.the need for continued participation in the single market and for the
:18:23. > :18:26.highest possible standards for workers, consumers and for
:18:27. > :18:33.businesses? I will as I have done since June. There will be nothing to
:18:34. > :18:39.stop the Assembly implementing EU directive if it wishes. There is no
:18:40. > :18:43.ban on doing that. It is a matter for the democratic process. One
:18:44. > :18:47.contradiction expressed by the Prime Minister what she said the British
:18:48. > :18:54.Parliament should have a vote on the final deal, but a lot of it will
:18:55. > :18:59.involve devolved areas. There are issues that will need to be resolved
:19:00. > :19:03.there. I was concerned at the Chancellor's remarks on Sunday when
:19:04. > :19:07.he said the British economic model would have to change if there was a
:19:08. > :19:11.hard Brexit and he mentioned lowering corporation tax, one of
:19:12. > :19:18.many things he would like to do not the taste of her or me. I do not
:19:19. > :19:21.believe as they would put it deregulating the employment market,
:19:22. > :19:25.which would mean slashing workers' rights and pay and I don't believe
:19:26. > :19:32.in destroying environmental protections that have not just helps
:19:33. > :19:36.the environment but tourism. I share with her a concerned there are some
:19:37. > :19:41.in the Conservative Party who see it as an opportunity to introduce
:19:42. > :19:49.radical right-wing thinking without any kind of restraint. Something I
:19:50. > :19:53.know I and she would resist. Plaid Cymru stated we are not prepared to
:19:54. > :20:00.sign up to a negotiation plan that has been hatched by Westminster a
:20:01. > :20:04.leakeds if there is no regard to the devolved administrations. We know it
:20:05. > :20:08.makes sense for Wales to work closely with other devolved
:20:09. > :20:13.governments. Scotland is prioritising single market
:20:14. > :20:17.membership ahead of any other constitutional aims but they are
:20:18. > :20:24.prepared to hold an independence referendum if they are compromised
:20:25. > :20:29.-- their options are not met by the UK Government. The situation in
:20:30. > :20:34.Northern Ireland is sensitive will stop will you confirm that you will
:20:35. > :20:38.work with the Scottish Government and the next Northern Ireland
:20:39. > :20:44.Executive to ensure that the Prime Minister of the UK is deterred from
:20:45. > :20:47.pushing through a plan for more deregulation and privatisation which
:20:48. > :20:52.would be harmful to people in this country? We do work with the
:20:53. > :20:56.Scottish Government. We do not have the same view on the final
:20:57. > :21:00.destination but we work with them and talk to them with a view to
:21:01. > :21:05.forming common ground, which is sensible diplomacy. Northern Ireland
:21:06. > :21:09.is difficult because the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
:21:10. > :21:12.have different views on Brexit and we see this situation in Northern
:21:13. > :21:19.Ireland and part of the dynamic of the problem in Ireland is Brexit. It
:21:20. > :21:23.sits there, because of the peace agreement put in place and the only
:21:24. > :21:27.identity the people of Northern Ireland share is a European one and
:21:28. > :21:30.that must be managed carefully. It is important whatever the outcome of
:21:31. > :21:36.the election in Northern Ireland that we work with them and with
:21:37. > :21:45.Scotland to remind Whitehall it is not just about the Whitehall bobbled
:21:46. > :21:49.about all nations of the UK. The First Minister is trying to compete
:21:50. > :21:53.with the leader of Plaid Cymru as a Jeremiah of Wales in relation to
:21:54. > :21:59.Wales's future outside the EU and I am sorry to hear him say he is
:22:00. > :22:01.against lower taxes on business because the Irish Republic has
:22:02. > :22:07.successfully used a lower rate of corporation tax to attract firms
:22:08. > :22:10.into Dublin, particularly financial services and it seems to me
:22:11. > :22:16.counter-productive to Wales' interest to rule it out. Last week
:22:17. > :22:20.the First Minister said about the single market, I don't believe you
:22:21. > :22:25.can have access to the single market and say you want full control over
:22:26. > :22:30.immigration. That is what we do have with the South Korea trade
:22:31. > :22:36.agreement, why is it not possible for us in Britain? How can you have
:22:37. > :22:41.control over immigration if you have an open border with the EU? Theresa
:22:42. > :22:48.May referred to this in her speech. We had a common travel area with the
:22:49. > :22:52.Irish Republic before either were members of the EU and this is a
:22:53. > :22:57.practical question that does need to be solved and there is no reason to
:22:58. > :23:05.think it cannot be solved. I am interested in... As a result...
:23:06. > :23:13.Let's allow the leader of the Ukip group to be heard, please. As a
:23:14. > :23:19.result of Theresa May's speech, she has clarified a number of issues.
:23:20. > :23:23.Not all, I accept. Customs union needs clarification but she
:23:24. > :23:27.clarified the government position. Can the First Minister clarify what
:23:28. > :23:32.is the Labour Party policy on managed migration from the EU? I
:23:33. > :23:36.have explained the policy, freedom of movement to work, something close
:23:37. > :23:41.to what the Norwegians have, and it takes away the fears of some people
:23:42. > :23:45.that people move to a country in order to claim benefits. Whether
:23:46. > :23:49.that is true or not, we know the perception was there. It is a
:23:50. > :23:54.reasonable position to take that most people in the UK would accept.
:23:55. > :24:04.He's right about the situation, it needs to be solved. For the first
:24:05. > :24:06.time ever in history there will be wholly different immigration
:24:07. > :24:11.policies on both sides of the border. Ireland is not part of
:24:12. > :24:15.Schengen at freedom of movement, if you go to Ireland you can get into
:24:16. > :24:22.the UK with no control and that is the reality. In terms of customs,
:24:23. > :24:26.are we to see the return customs posts on the border and on Welsh
:24:27. > :24:31.ports? That has not been resolved. The effect it would have on the
:24:32. > :24:36.throughput of vehicles and people through those ports. What I fear
:24:37. > :24:41.more than anything is somehow Northern Ireland gets a better deal
:24:42. > :24:44.in terms of customs than Wales, that will channel traffic through
:24:45. > :24:50.Cairnryan and possibly Stranraer at a cost of jobs in Welsh ports. The
:24:51. > :24:53.situation, the Welsh ports or Northern Ireland border, has to be
:24:54. > :25:01.the same to ensure fairness of treatment. He is talking about
:25:02. > :25:06.transitional points which have to be considered, and we had similar
:25:07. > :25:11.difficulties when we entered the EU. Problems of transition. These can be
:25:12. > :25:15.dealt with. What I am concerned with is that the First Minister is always
:25:16. > :25:22.looking on the black side of things and imagining the worst. He did this
:25:23. > :25:29.in relation to Donald Trump. I have raised this with him several times.
:25:30. > :25:34.He said that Donald Trump believes in America first and it would not be
:25:35. > :25:38.possible to agree a free trade agreement with the United States.
:25:39. > :25:43.What is clear is it is not going to be possible for the EU to agree a
:25:44. > :25:49.free trade agreement, but Donald Trump himself has said in the last
:25:50. > :25:55.24, 48 hours, he would move quickly to make a new trade deal with UK, he
:25:56. > :25:59.said I am a big fan of the UK, we are going to work hard to get it
:26:00. > :26:08.done and done properly. Good for both sides. Can I persuade the First
:26:09. > :26:12.Minister to have optimism? I do not believe that the American government
:26:13. > :26:17.will want a free trade agreement with anybody that is anything other
:26:18. > :26:23.than very positive for the US and negative for the other party. Donald
:26:24. > :26:27.Trump has said he wants to tear up the transpacific partnership and
:26:28. > :26:34.Nafta and have an agreement with the UK. Does it mean we will see be full
:26:35. > :26:41.of hormones coming into the market and undercutting beef farmers in
:26:42. > :26:45.Wales? Does it mean we will see, for example, in his party, T-Tip, he was
:26:46. > :26:48.campaigning saying it was a bad deal, does it mean that if it is
:26:49. > :26:53.back on the table he will support it? Does it mean the UK will
:26:54. > :26:57.collapse at the knees if the US government says, you must open up
:26:58. > :27:07.your public services to privatisation, because that is what
:27:08. > :27:10.they will press for? I am in favour of good relations with the US and
:27:11. > :27:12.with all countries, but I am sometimes touched by the sweet
:27:13. > :27:15.naivete of the leader of Ukip and his fellow traveller the leader of
:27:16. > :27:19.the Welsh Conservatives when they think the world will be an easy
:27:20. > :27:24.place and free trade agreements are easy to negotiate. They are not. The
:27:25. > :27:30.one with Greenland took three years, one with Canada, seven years. I have
:27:31. > :27:35.looked at tariffs involved. There are tariffs on hats and umbrellas.
:27:36. > :27:40.Agriculture is always excluded from free trade agreements. It is not
:27:41. > :27:44.there with Canada, Norway and the EU. The agricultural tariff is
:27:45. > :27:49.nearly 50%. Welsh farmers cannot live with a tariff on Welsh lamb and
:27:50. > :27:50.beef of 50% and anybody who thinks they can is letting Welsh farmers
:27:51. > :27:59.down. Question three. What is the Welsh
:28:00. > :28:05.women doing to reduce food waste in Welsh households. Food waste has
:28:06. > :28:12.decreased by 12% from 2009 to 2015 and we as a government find to
:28:13. > :28:24.refund a programme, Admiral of food, heat waste. You are right that food
:28:25. > :28:28.waste has reduced by 12%, and it has so deliberately saved tonnes of
:28:29. > :28:35.carbon over that period. But even with that 12% reduction there has
:28:36. > :28:42.been 188,000 tonnes of food worth ?70 million phone away by Welsh
:28:43. > :28:47.households in 2015. -- thrown away. Given that 50% of that waste comes
:28:48. > :28:52.from households, it is clear that reducing the amount of waste here
:28:53. > :29:00.would have a significant financial benefit for both individuals and for
:29:01. > :29:04.the environment. What is interesting, going alongside that,
:29:05. > :29:09.is that 16% of people who were questioned thought that they were
:29:10. > :29:13.not wasting any food whatsoever. So given those facts, First Minister,
:29:14. > :29:17.what do you think that the Welsh government could do in terms of at
:29:18. > :29:25.least educating people about the food that they are wasting, to the
:29:26. > :29:32.tune of 35mm pounds a year? I can say that the cascade training
:29:33. > :29:36.is available for businesses and communities. We have trained over
:29:37. > :29:42.4300 people in Wales. That helps consumers to make the most food they
:29:43. > :29:49.buy. Is still more to do. We have reduced the amount of food waste in
:29:50. > :29:55.Wales by 24,000 tonnes. We know there is further to go, but that
:29:56. > :29:59.work is now ongoing. Of course, it's not just households,
:30:00. > :30:05.its public services as well with this needs attention. The action
:30:06. > :30:10.programme, wrap, is working with the University has bored to identify how
:30:11. > :30:15.to reduce food waste in hospitals. That is one thing. Admissions to
:30:16. > :30:21.malnutrition were up highest for five years. So these agencies can
:30:22. > :30:27.work together to identify and share ideas, in fact, I am hosting a love
:30:28. > :30:32.food hate waste fashion in Bridgend this Thursday. But do you think food
:30:33. > :30:35.waste is just part of a bigger issue for government and society about
:30:36. > :30:47.nutrition and attitude to food which we need to take more seriously,
:30:48. > :30:51.rather than fragmented responses. Part of the problem is that cheap
:30:52. > :30:56.food is not healthy food, for so many people may have seen a squeeze
:30:57. > :31:00.on them in come since 2008. People often say I'd love to eat healthy
:31:01. > :31:04.food, but the reality is I can't afford to. It's not just about
:31:05. > :31:08.targeting health issues it's about ensuring people have the skills they
:31:09. > :31:13.need to get the jobs they need to increase their incomes and eat
:31:14. > :31:17.healthier. Bad is the way this government operates. Looking at
:31:18. > :31:25.holistic solutions rather than doing it by a compartmentalised formula.
:31:26. > :31:29.Welsh government support for the valleys project based in my
:31:30. > :31:36.constituency could see food waste providing enough power for 100,
:31:37. > :31:40.sorry, 1500 homes, by generating one megawatt of clean out today. What
:31:41. > :31:45.evaluation has the Welsh government made of this project?
:31:46. > :31:50.Our priority is to reduce food waste by households. We are working with
:31:51. > :31:53.the local authorities involved in the tomorrow Valley helped to
:31:54. > :31:57.provide targeted campaign support and it decrease the amount of food
:31:58. > :32:11.waste captured by local authorities for recycling. -- increase. Question
:32:12. > :32:14.for, well the first list provide an update on plans for the procurement
:32:15. > :32:18.of new rolling stock at the commencement of the new wheels and
:32:19. > :32:22.Borders rail franchise? I can say the agreement of the
:32:23. > :32:28.contract has started. We expect to see how you quality rolling stock
:32:29. > :32:33.introduced as part of that process. Travelling on the Romney to Cardiff
:32:34. > :32:38.line in rush hour on the valleys lines, is a grim experience. I know
:32:39. > :32:43.that from journeys they take myself, and the valleys lines generally, I'm
:32:44. > :32:46.told, are the same. Riva have told me several times there is simply no
:32:47. > :32:51.rolling stock available to reduce the overcrowding. A new diesel train
:32:52. > :32:54.will take approximately three years to procure from the procurement to
:32:55. > :32:58.the receipt of the stock. That means, if new diesel stock is
:32:59. > :33:03.ordered as part of the new franchise agreement rail passengers may not
:33:04. > :33:05.see new carriages until 2021 at the earliest.
:33:06. > :33:09.What is the Welsh government is doing to ease the problem in the
:33:10. > :33:13.short term with regard to rolling stock? Moreover, is there any way
:33:14. > :33:17.the Welsh government can order a new rolling stock today, or in the
:33:18. > :33:22.coming months of the new operators when they take over the franchise
:33:23. > :33:28.and have rolling stock sufficient quality and number two ease the
:33:29. > :33:32.overcrowding problem? The problem, historically, is not
:33:33. > :33:36.having control of the franchise. We still won't be able to put into
:33:37. > :33:40.place the public sector industry to run the franchise. Unless there are
:33:41. > :33:43.changes at Westminster. We won't be able to do that. The difficulty is
:33:44. > :33:48.that the current model involves operators who lease the rolling
:33:49. > :33:54.stock, so when they do face capacity problems they've got no stock. When
:33:55. > :33:58.it was British rail, the stock was there. That is the problem at the
:33:59. > :34:03.moment and its weaknesses compared to British rail, the model before
:34:04. > :34:07.the early 90s. We are making it clear, as part of the crewmen expect
:34:08. > :34:10.to see higher quality rolling stock. It's not going to be good enough in
:34:11. > :34:14.the future simply to say there is a limit on what the company simply to
:34:15. > :34:21.say there is a limit on what we can kill stock. We want to make sure
:34:22. > :34:29.there to be the Metro Sons of the best in Europe. I have a similar
:34:30. > :34:35.concern about the heart of Wales line from Swansea to shrews brew.
:34:36. > :34:40.Travellers feel that it is a long way short of being fit for purpose.
:34:41. > :34:43.Can you are sure that we are looking to provide more, faster and better
:34:44. > :34:49.trains as part of the next franchise. We intend that no railway
:34:50. > :34:53.line in Wales is left behind. We want the travel experience to be as
:34:54. > :34:57.good on a heavily used line as the heart of Wales line which is an
:34:58. > :35:02.important artery for so many communities in Wales. It runs
:35:03. > :35:07.through six marginal constituencies, so the urban myth has it, so it is
:35:08. > :35:16.good to see it there. It is not just about passenger rail, but freight
:35:17. > :35:23.diversion as well. By January 2020 rolling stock in Wales will need to
:35:24. > :35:27.comply with the new UK wide rules on disability access. As it stands, the
:35:28. > :35:31.majority of the Wales and border rolling stock would not meet these
:35:32. > :35:36.new standards. We've got evidence to suggest that securing this stock
:35:37. > :35:44.could take up to four years. Are you confident that the fleet could be
:35:45. > :35:48.modernised in time for the deadline? There are expectations placed on
:35:49. > :35:53.those bidding to run the Wales franchise contract as part of the
:35:54. > :35:58.expectations that we will have we want to make sure they proved not
:35:59. > :36:02.just against laws that currently stand, but ensure they comply with
:36:03. > :36:09.laws the future. David Rowlands. Given that a new
:36:10. > :36:13.rolling stock is an essential demand within the franchise decision is the
:36:14. > :36:17.First Minister in a position to specify to any interested parties
:36:18. > :36:22.weather, and to what extent, light rail stop would be required as
:36:23. > :36:25.opposed to standard way. Given the implications of the proposed Metro
:36:26. > :36:29.system? These are issues being considered as
:36:30. > :36:34.part of the process. It's right to say that, certainly in the future,
:36:35. > :36:38.we will be looking at light rail in terms of new services. It's easy to
:36:39. > :36:42.do that through heavy rail. And we will examine the most effective way
:36:43. > :36:47.of providing rail services will be in the future. I emphasise that
:36:48. > :36:50.whatever model is chosen for any particular line the terms and
:36:51. > :36:58.conditions of those working in the really service will be protected.
:36:59. > :37:02.Question five, Dafydd Ellis Thomas. When did the First Minister last
:37:03. > :37:12.meet with the Prime Minister to discuss Wales's relationship with
:37:13. > :37:17.the European Union? I met with her in October, and I
:37:18. > :37:21.spoke to her this morning, prior to the speech she made this morning.
:37:22. > :37:28.She didn't tell me much about what she was going to say. Apart from
:37:29. > :37:33.saying that United Kingdom would be looking outwards to the rest of the
:37:34. > :37:36.country of the world and would maintain a relationship with the
:37:37. > :37:40.countries of Europe. I'm pleased to hear that the First
:37:41. > :37:44.Minister has spoken to the UK Prime Minister this morning, I'm not
:37:45. > :37:47.surprised that he didn't get much light on the matter, but having
:37:48. > :37:52.understood what she said in that speech does she understand it
:37:53. > :37:55.wouldn't be appropriate for her, as the UK Prime Minister, to try and
:37:56. > :38:01.the cruciate along with the rest of the European Union on devolved
:38:02. > :38:06.issues? -- negotiate along with the rest.
:38:07. > :38:15.She said they would be no change as regards dissolved powers did not
:38:16. > :38:19.devolved powers. She also said she wanted to strengthen the union
:38:20. > :38:24.between the United Kingdom. I don't know what that means. If that means
:38:25. > :38:30.we will have a system where there is a mechanism of securing agreement
:38:31. > :38:33.between Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland about some of the
:38:34. > :38:39.common issues between us, then I welcome that. If that is some kind
:38:40. > :38:42.of message to say that some things would be determined by the United
:38:43. > :38:48.Kingdom government on the half of all of the other home nations, then
:38:49. > :38:53.I would not welcome mat. First Minister, no doubt you will as
:38:54. > :39:00.appalled as I was last week when Tory MPs in Westminster talked for
:39:01. > :39:05.four hours to talk out the bill from the Private Members Bill which would
:39:06. > :39:08.have safeguarded every aspect of employment legislation currently
:39:09. > :39:13.protected under EU law once we leave the union. I know, that in stark
:39:14. > :39:19.contrast to the actions of MPs last week, the Prime Minister, in her
:39:20. > :39:22.statement gave certain assurances on worker's writes. But as the first Mr
:39:23. > :39:28.agree with me that this indicates there is a clear split in the Tory
:39:29. > :39:31.party. Meaning that it is going to be more difficult than ever to
:39:32. > :39:35.ensure workers are protected post Brexit and does he further agreed
:39:36. > :39:41.with the TUC that we need to know exactly what the framework for
:39:42. > :39:46.worker rights and jobs will be? I welcome what she said. Not only
:39:47. > :39:50.would rights be protected but extended. I didn't expect that, but
:39:51. > :39:54.it's something I welcome. It's undermined by the Conservatives this
:39:55. > :39:58.afternoon tried to make a bullet to that argument. I hope this is a sign
:39:59. > :40:03.she is prepared to face down the right in her own party and to fulfil
:40:04. > :40:05.the promise she made. We know that there are some in the Conservative
:40:06. > :40:11.Party will take the view that the best way forward is to make the UK a
:40:12. > :40:15.model of deregulation, along the lines of some countries in the world
:40:16. > :40:19.where there are no worker's writes with people live in fear of their
:40:20. > :40:26.job security and whose quality of life is far lower the matter the UK.
:40:27. > :40:29.I was interested in the First Minister's earlier comments about
:40:30. > :40:37.Irish but the EU, particularly the occasion is for Welsh ports. --
:40:38. > :40:41.Welsh implications within the EU. In that context, in that scenario,
:40:42. > :40:46.would it be going against such terms for Northern Ireland, would he seek
:40:47. > :40:50.a similar approach for Wales to defend our Portland economy?
:40:51. > :40:56.I don't see customers at all between any point in the UK or Republic of
:40:57. > :41:02.Ireland. -- Customs. I fear a deal would be done whereby they would be
:41:03. > :41:04.no customs at all on the border between Northern Ireland and the
:41:05. > :41:10.Republic, but they will be in Welsh ports. As an operator the last thing
:41:11. > :41:13.you would want is to go through customs, physically, so instead of
:41:14. > :41:18.going through Holyhead you'd go into Northern Ireland which gives them a
:41:19. > :41:21.significant competitive advantage over the Welsh coast. That
:41:22. > :41:25.represents, for me, Alan Ferro block.
:41:26. > :41:33.A clear Brexit was always the most likely outcome, but now what happens
:41:34. > :41:38.afterwards has to be our focus. Do you agree we should seek
:41:39. > :41:42.arrangements based on respect for our EU neighbours, there should be
:41:43. > :41:47.no part of wishing the EU to fail, which would cause huge problems for
:41:48. > :41:52.us directly. A strengthening of the role of the world for the
:41:53. > :41:58.Organisation. -- World Trade Organisation. Many of what people
:41:59. > :42:03.arguing for Brexit predicated their view on that we should move to World
:42:04. > :42:07.Trade Organisation rules if that was what required. Finally the role of
:42:08. > :42:10.Nato, we remember the successful summit in Newport, is a way of
:42:11. > :42:15.projecting to the world Britain still seeks to fulfil its
:42:16. > :42:23.international obligations and to be a good neighbour. Absolutely true.
:42:24. > :42:26.Brexit is like standing in a restaurant and somebody saying what
:42:27. > :42:32.they don't want from the menu and trying to guess what they want.
:42:33. > :42:39.Politicians have all been trying to guess what they want. There are many
:42:40. > :42:44.different models. For me it is about making sure we preserve and protect
:42:45. > :42:49.and enhance the Welsh economy, which is fundamental, and it is about
:42:50. > :42:53.being a good neighbour. Europe does not do disputes well, history tells
:42:54. > :42:58.us. We are always stronger when we work together and the EU was a
:42:59. > :43:01.framework for peace and for peace in Northern Ireland, and it is
:43:02. > :43:05.important the goodwill and cooperation that has built up since
:43:06. > :43:12.the end of the war is not lost as we seek a new relationship with the EU
:43:13. > :43:17.in the future. Will the First Minister state what plans he has two
:43:18. > :43:21.discuss the package of proposals Tata Steel has presented to the
:43:22. > :43:26.workforce with its interim chair Ratan Tata are? I have discussed the
:43:27. > :43:34.issue with the CEO yesterday in a meeting I had with him and I have
:43:35. > :43:39.written to the CEO Finance of Tata, who is influential on these matters
:43:40. > :43:42.and I have made it clear it is important Tata should explain
:43:43. > :43:49.clearly to the workforce the implications of the changes. In his
:43:50. > :43:54.meeting, was he able to outline the nature of the concerns that we have
:43:55. > :43:59.expressed in my party but also widely shared among the workforce
:44:00. > :44:06.about the highly uncertain nature of the commitments on investment and
:44:07. > :44:13.employment and also the potential consequences of the proposal to D
:44:14. > :44:22.link the Rishi steel pension scheme and Tata effectively creating a fund
:44:23. > :44:27.and was he able to seek assurances or concessions from Tata Steel in
:44:28. > :44:31.relation to these concerns? What we know is they are committed to at
:44:32. > :44:35.least the next five years at Port Talbot, if there is an agreement on
:44:36. > :44:41.the pension scheme we know they will be committed to two blast furnaces.
:44:42. > :44:44.The money we made available is conditional and we want guarantees
:44:45. > :44:52.put in place if the money is released. It is also fair to say
:44:53. > :44:55.difficult the decision is for the workers, there is nothing else on
:44:56. > :45:02.the table. The choices are accepting what is there, or we are back to
:45:03. > :45:07.square one. It is a difficult choice, but that is the choice
:45:08. > :45:11.workers face. We have come a long way from March when the situation
:45:12. > :45:17.was grim. If you asked me then whether Port Talbot would remain I
:45:18. > :45:23.would say it was unlikely and because of the hard work put in by
:45:24. > :45:27.Welsh Government officials and by representatives such as David Rees,
:45:28. > :45:34.because of the hard work put in by our officials and the money put on
:45:35. > :45:37.the table, we are in a position to offer, Tata can offer an opportunity
:45:38. > :45:47.to Welsh workers that workers must now consider. It is clear, meeting
:45:48. > :45:53.with the trade unions again to discuss the issues and the proposal
:45:54. > :45:59.came on. What was clear was the lack of confidence. In tartar in itself
:46:00. > :46:04.will stop I have passed that of myself, but will you raise it with
:46:05. > :46:10.the new chair because it is important that a voice from the top
:46:11. > :46:15.of Tata is there to say we support the deal, it will be on the table
:46:16. > :46:20.and we will deliver? That voice from the top is important to workers to
:46:21. > :46:24.gain the confidence they have lost. It is an interesting suggestion. I
:46:25. > :46:29.have made it clear to Tata it is important they communicate
:46:30. > :46:34.effectively to the workforce what is on the table and their own
:46:35. > :46:38.commitment. I have no reason to doubt the commitment Tata has made
:46:39. > :46:43.that it is important to repeat in order for people to understand
:46:44. > :46:49.commitments are being made. You said there is no other offer on the
:46:50. > :46:55.table. Can I ask what initial discussions you had as a government
:46:56. > :46:59.with the UK Government, unions and other parties, in developing an
:47:00. > :47:03.alternative strategy in the event the current proposal is rejected?
:47:04. > :47:08.The UK Government is not interested and has not been since the change of
:47:09. > :47:13.Prime Minister. We are in a situation where the issue of energy
:47:14. > :47:18.intensive industries and the price of electricity in the UK is an
:47:19. > :47:22.issue. Tata said the UK is an expensive place to do business
:47:23. > :47:25.because of energy prices and we have yet to see action from the UK
:47:26. > :47:35.Government to support the good work put in by the Welsh Government. Will
:47:36. > :47:40.you please make a statement to provide an update on the boat.
:47:41. > :47:45.TRANSLATION: We are reviewing the responses received to draft orders.
:47:46. > :47:50.We will make an announcement on the next stage shortly --
:47:51. > :47:56.Caernarfon-Bontnewydd. I met yesterday with the contractors for
:47:57. > :48:01.this programme and they were hugely concerned that no date has been
:48:02. > :48:07.announced for a public enquiry. That in turn will lead to delay unless
:48:08. > :48:14.moves are made shortly in that regard. The proposal has been
:48:15. > :48:21.delayed already by 12 months. Because of arguments about issues.
:48:22. > :48:26.We do not want any further delay, so can you give an assurance the
:48:27. > :48:32.contractors can proceed with this proposal early in 2018, which is
:48:33. > :48:39.according to the timetable? We did go through... We are going through
:48:40. > :48:44.the issues raised in the statement to ensure they are resolved as
:48:45. > :48:49.regards the Welsh Government commitment. The commitment to build
:48:50. > :48:54.the bypass still exists, although there has been delayed, it was not
:48:55. > :49:02.possible to avoid that delay, but no, it is important the road is
:49:03. > :49:06.built as soon as possible. Will the First Minister make a statement of
:49:07. > :49:09.financial support for new business in Wales. Support is available to
:49:10. > :49:14.all businesses including new through a variety of funds. Including the
:49:15. > :49:20.growth and prosperity fund. We know the problems businesses in some
:49:21. > :49:27.areas are facing with a huge hike in business rates. This is particularly
:49:28. > :49:31.difficult for new businesses. While I welcome the commitment of extra
:49:32. > :49:34.support in the budget there is a lack of clarity about how the money
:49:35. > :49:40.will be distributed and some businesses have said they are in
:49:41. > :49:44.limbo, particularly those who need to to longer term leases. Will the
:49:45. > :49:49.Welsh Government publish full details and how businesses will be
:49:50. > :49:54.able to apply? That will be published soon. It is important to
:49:55. > :50:00.get the budget through in order not to prejudge the outcome and also I
:50:01. > :50:01.reiterate a new permanent rate relief scheme will be available next
:50:02. > :50:03.year onwards.