Browse content similar to 23/05/2017. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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Hello, welcome to the programme | 4:24:08 | 4:24:10 | |
and our weekly coverage of questions to the First Minister. | 4:24:10 | 4:24:13 | |
Assembly members gathered earlier than usual today to hear | 4:24:13 | 4:24:16 | |
a statement on the attack in Manchester last night | 4:24:16 | 4:24:19 | |
and to pay tribute to | 4:24:19 | 4:24:20 | |
the former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who died last week. | 4:24:20 | 4:24:23 | |
The Assembly then returned to its normal business with questions | 4:24:23 | 4:24:26 | |
on health, the economy and rail services amongst other topics. | 4:24:26 | 4:24:30 | |
Don't forget, we are @walespolitics on Twitter. | 4:24:30 | 4:24:33 | |
You can find out all you need to know about Welsh politics there, | 4:24:33 | 4:24:37 | |
but for now, let's cross to the Siambr for today's questions | 4:24:37 | 4:24:40 | |
to the First Minister. | 4:24:40 | 4:24:43 | |
Questions now to the First Minister, and the first question is | 4:24:43 | 4:24:47 | |
from Paul Davies. | 4:24:47 | 4:24:49 | |
-TRANSLATION FROM WELSH: -Thank you. | 4:24:49 | 4:24:51 | |
What is the Welsh government doing to improve health services | 4:24:51 | 4:24:54 | |
in Pembrokeshire over the next 12 months? | 4:24:54 | 4:24:57 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Well, our priority is to provide the people | 4:24:57 | 4:25:00 | |
of Pembrokeshire with health services | 4:25:00 | 4:25:02 | |
that deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. | 4:25:02 | 4:25:06 | |
First Minister, it's important that we do improve | 4:25:06 | 4:25:08 | |
health services in Pembrokeshire over the next 12 months to start | 4:25:08 | 4:25:11 | |
to tackle obesity because, unfortunately, obesity rates | 4:25:11 | 4:25:16 | |
in the Hywel Dda University Health Board | 4:25:16 | 4:25:19 | |
have increased as compared to other health boards. | 4:25:19 | 4:25:22 | |
Now, I accept that the Assembly passed | 4:25:22 | 4:25:25 | |
a Public Health Wales Bill recently | 4:25:25 | 4:25:27 | |
which will assist in tackling | 4:25:27 | 4:25:29 | |
the problems of obesity, but can you tell us what specific steps | 4:25:29 | 4:25:32 | |
the Welsh government intends to introduce in the next 12 months | 4:25:32 | 4:25:36 | |
in order to start to tackle obesity problems? | 4:25:36 | 4:25:40 | |
Well, of course, we have considered this previously and it's fair | 4:25:40 | 4:25:44 | |
to say that there is more yet to be done, | 4:25:44 | 4:25:47 | |
we want to build on that basis in order to ensure that | 4:25:47 | 4:25:50 | |
strategies are put in place to deal with this problem. | 4:25:50 | 4:25:53 | |
It's not just the problem in Wales but in | 4:25:53 | 4:25:58 | |
every wealthy country in Western Europe, | 4:25:58 | 4:26:00 | |
and of course, it's arising too in countries | 4:26:00 | 4:26:03 | |
where it hasn't been seen previously. | 4:26:03 | 4:26:05 | |
Thank you. | 4:26:05 | 4:26:07 | |
First Minister, you know that the people of Pembrokeshire are | 4:26:07 | 4:26:09 | |
very eager to return to a situation where paediatric services are | 4:26:09 | 4:26:13 | |
available in Withybush during the night-time hours and that | 4:26:13 | 4:26:17 | |
they are available 24/7. | 4:26:17 | 4:26:19 | |
There's a petition to be presented to the Assembly to that end. | 4:26:19 | 4:26:23 | |
Just for clarity, | 4:26:23 | 4:26:25 | |
do you agree that that is the ideal position we should aim towards | 4:26:25 | 4:26:29 | |
and do you, as a government, have a timetable for achieving that? | 4:26:29 | 4:26:33 | |
Well, what's important, of course, is that services are secure. | 4:26:33 | 4:26:37 | |
Where services have been amended, and the Royal colleges have said | 4:26:37 | 4:26:41 | |
that that is something that should have been done | 4:26:41 | 4:26:45 | |
then we support that as a government, but, having said that, | 4:26:45 | 4:26:48 | |
we must ensure that every service that can be delivered at Withybush | 4:26:48 | 4:26:52 | |
is available in the hospital, but it doesn't mean to say that | 4:26:52 | 4:26:57 | |
everything that people would wish to see | 4:26:57 | 4:27:00 | |
has to be there, but we must ensure that the whole services are secure. | 4:27:00 | 4:27:05 | |
What support is the Welsh government giving to the North Wales economy? | 4:27:07 | 4:27:10 | |
We continue to support economic development across | 4:27:10 | 4:27:13 | |
the whole of Wales by helping businesses to grow | 4:27:13 | 4:27:15 | |
and investing in high-quality infrastructure and improving | 4:27:15 | 4:27:19 | |
-economic development conditions. -Thank you. | 4:27:19 | 4:27:21 | |
At the CBI North Wales dinner a week ago last Thursday, | 4:27:21 | 4:27:25 | |
of course your colleague Ken Skates attended alongside some | 4:27:25 | 4:27:29 | |
other members, we heard that the North Wales growth deal bid was | 4:27:29 | 4:27:32 | |
nearing completion and then ready to go to UK government | 4:27:32 | 4:27:37 | |
and obviously Welsh government. | 4:27:37 | 4:27:39 | |
When the UK government first made the growth bid offer, | 4:27:39 | 4:27:42 | |
it said it would be looking to work with the Welsh government to | 4:27:42 | 4:27:45 | |
devolve powers down, and in his stakeholders' update in April, | 4:27:45 | 4:27:50 | |
the Chief Executive of Flintshire Council, who's leading the team | 4:27:50 | 4:27:54 | |
putting together the bid for the six North Wales councils, | 4:27:54 | 4:27:57 | |
said ambitions for devolved powers to be granted to | 4:27:57 | 4:27:59 | |
the region include transport function, | 4:27:59 | 4:28:02 | |
strategic land-use planning, | 4:28:02 | 4:28:04 | |
business innovation, advisory functions, | 4:28:04 | 4:28:06 | |
careers advice and taxation, | 4:28:06 | 4:28:08 | |
by which he means devolve taxation of powers, | 4:28:08 | 4:28:11 | |
all powers which were within the gift | 4:28:11 | 4:28:13 | |
or otherwise of Welsh government. | 4:28:13 | 4:28:15 | |
How will your government be responding to this call? | 4:28:15 | 4:28:19 | |
Well, "carefully," I think is the word that I would use. | 4:28:19 | 4:28:22 | |
Firstly, if we look at business rates, if they were to be devolved | 4:28:22 | 4:28:24 | |
to local authorities then 17 of the 22 local authorities would lose out. | 4:28:24 | 4:28:28 | |
So we must be careful that we don't see that situation arise. | 4:28:28 | 4:28:31 | |
We will look to devolve powers to appropriate bodies where we can, | 4:28:31 | 4:28:34 | |
it's fair to say that not all local authorities are able to | 4:28:34 | 4:28:37 | |
exercise those powers effectively. | 4:28:37 | 4:28:39 | |
We want local authorities to work in regional bodies, but we are | 4:28:39 | 4:28:42 | |
fully committed to the growth bid and of course we will work | 4:28:42 | 4:28:45 | |
with the UK government in order to take that bid forward. | 4:28:45 | 4:28:48 | |
Hannah Blythyn. | 4:28:48 | 4:28:49 | |
Since being elected a year ago, I've not only wanted to serve | 4:28:50 | 4:28:53 | |
my own constituency but also to be a strong voice for the whole of | 4:28:53 | 4:28:56 | |
north-east Wales, and I'm pleased that in the past 12 months | 4:28:56 | 4:28:59 | |
we've witnessed much Welsh government investment in | 4:28:59 | 4:29:01 | |
my own constituency alone from Flint Castle to Theatr Clwyd, | 4:29:01 | 4:29:04 | |
to support for local businesses, but alongside major proposals to improve | 4:29:04 | 4:29:07 | |
our infrastructure across the whole of North Wales. | 4:29:07 | 4:29:10 | |
Does the First Minister agree with me that what the people | 4:29:10 | 4:29:12 | |
and communities of North Wales need is action | 4:29:12 | 4:29:14 | |
and not just words, | 4:29:14 | 4:29:16 | |
and further reassure us in North Wales that the Welsh government | 4:29:16 | 4:29:19 | |
remains committed to investing and supporting our region? | 4:29:19 | 4:29:22 | |
Very much so. I mean, work is already underway of course to help | 4:29:22 | 4:29:25 | |
to deliver the project, | 4:29:25 | 4:29:26 | |
we announced the £20 million fund to establish an advanced | 4:29:26 | 4:29:29 | |
manufacturing and research institutes, supporting key employers | 4:29:29 | 4:29:33 | |
like Airbus, we've announced plans of course to | 4:29:33 | 4:29:36 | |
invest more than £200 million in the A55/A494 corridor, | 4:29:36 | 4:29:40 | |
we've committed £50 million to take forward the first phase of | 4:29:40 | 4:29:43 | |
the North East Wales Metro, and of course backing | 4:29:43 | 4:29:46 | |
a little further west for the third crossing of the Menai. | 4:29:46 | 4:29:50 | |
That's in addition to a million of the funding to develop | 4:29:50 | 4:29:53 | |
a new business hub in Wrexham supporting 100 new businesses. | 4:29:53 | 4:29:57 | |
-TRANSLATION: -I now call questions from the party leaders, | 4:29:57 | 4:30:01 | |
first of all Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood. | 4:30:01 | 4:30:03 | |
First Minister, people across Wales | 4:30:03 | 4:30:06 | |
are grieving for those in Manchester | 4:30:06 | 4:30:09 | |
and further afield following the horrific events last night. | 4:30:09 | 4:30:12 | |
I would like to pass on my condolences and solidarity | 4:30:12 | 4:30:16 | |
with everyone affected. | 4:30:16 | 4:30:17 | |
The senseless violence and the fact that there are children | 4:30:17 | 4:30:21 | |
and young people among the victims | 4:30:21 | 4:30:23 | |
has left the whole of the UK devastated. | 4:30:23 | 4:30:26 | |
I know you made a statement earlier on, but can you place on record | 4:30:26 | 4:30:30 | |
all of our appreciation for the men and the women of | 4:30:30 | 4:30:33 | |
the emergency services and all of those people | 4:30:33 | 4:30:36 | |
who have worked overnight and today | 4:30:36 | 4:30:39 | |
to treat the wounded and to help those get to safety. | 4:30:39 | 4:30:42 | |
It's worth reiterating in my view how much our public service workers | 4:30:42 | 4:30:47 | |
-are valued at a difficult time like this. -Very much so. | 4:30:47 | 4:30:51 | |
I'm sure that the entire chamber was supportive of what I said | 4:30:51 | 4:30:56 | |
earlier on and indeed what the leader of Plaid Cymru has said. | 4:30:56 | 4:30:59 | |
There are always exercises to deal with... | 4:31:01 | 4:31:05 | |
To look at how attacks like this can be dealt with, but when it | 4:31:05 | 4:31:08 | |
actually happens then of course the system is tested | 4:31:08 | 4:31:12 | |
very rigorously, and certainly, | 4:31:12 | 4:31:14 | |
what we have seen from the emergency services, what we have seen | 4:31:14 | 4:31:17 | |
from the hospitals, what we have seen from the community, | 4:31:17 | 4:31:20 | |
shows the level of resilience even in the face of tragedy. | 4:31:20 | 4:31:23 | |
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. | 4:31:23 | 4:31:26 | |
And while the facts as to who is responsible are still being | 4:31:26 | 4:31:30 | |
established, we know that attacks like this can put | 4:31:30 | 4:31:34 | |
enormous strain upon community relations in Welsh cities | 4:31:34 | 4:31:37 | |
as well as in other parts of the UK. | 4:31:37 | 4:31:39 | |
One of the objectives of extremists, | 4:31:39 | 4:31:42 | |
aside from harming innocent people, is to divide communities. | 4:31:42 | 4:31:47 | |
They want to make people fearful and suspicious of each other | 4:31:47 | 4:31:50 | |
so that they can profit from alienation and division. | 4:31:50 | 4:31:53 | |
The real story is of people of all backgrounds and faiths - | 4:31:53 | 4:31:57 | |
emergency workers, taxi drivers - | 4:31:57 | 4:31:59 | |
coming together to face down those extremists. | 4:31:59 | 4:32:02 | |
Will you reiterate today, First Minister, | 4:32:02 | 4:32:05 | |
that none of us here will let terrorists divide our communities? | 4:32:05 | 4:32:10 | |
Absolutely not. Extremists only represent themselves. | 4:32:10 | 4:32:14 | |
A very small number of people with a worldview that is intolerant | 4:32:14 | 4:32:19 | |
and is driven to violence. | 4:32:19 | 4:32:21 | |
They are happy to murder people of all religions or none, they are | 4:32:21 | 4:32:28 | |
happy to murder young people who are doing nothing more than going out | 4:32:28 | 4:32:34 | |
for a night out. It's too early to say of course the extent | 4:32:34 | 4:32:39 | |
of what surrounded the events of last night, the police are | 4:32:39 | 4:32:44 | |
still investigating, and it is important | 4:32:44 | 4:32:46 | |
that there is no speculation in order | 4:32:46 | 4:32:48 | |
for those investigations to be carried forward. | 4:32:48 | 4:32:51 | |
But, make no mistake, | 4:32:51 | 4:32:53 | |
whoever carried out the attacks of last night represented | 4:32:53 | 4:32:58 | |
only themselves and a very small group of people around them. | 4:32:58 | 4:33:01 | |
They can never represent an entire community. | 4:33:01 | 4:33:04 | |
Diolch yn fawr, First Minister, I'm sure that message will be | 4:33:04 | 4:33:08 | |
appreciated by many communities throughout Wales and beyond. | 4:33:08 | 4:33:11 | |
It's important, First Minister, | 4:33:11 | 4:33:13 | |
that everyone remains calm and that we don't change the way we live | 4:33:13 | 4:33:17 | |
our lives in the face of this senseless and tragic violence. | 4:33:17 | 4:33:22 | |
People are planning to visit our capital city in the coming weeks | 4:33:22 | 4:33:25 | |
and need further reassurance. | 4:33:25 | 4:33:28 | |
Can you update the Assembly on the security preparations for | 4:33:28 | 4:33:32 | |
major events such as the Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3rd? | 4:33:32 | 4:33:38 | |
Yes, I touched on this in the conversation I had | 4:33:38 | 4:33:41 | |
with the deputy national security adviser. | 4:33:41 | 4:33:44 | |
The security arrangements for the Champions League final are robust. | 4:33:44 | 4:33:48 | |
I met with a number of the organisations involved last week | 4:33:48 | 4:33:52 | |
for the final time, including Gold Command, | 4:33:52 | 4:33:55 | |
all the preparations are in place in terms of communications, | 4:33:55 | 4:33:58 | |
in terms of security. Members, and indeed, | 4:33:58 | 4:34:01 | |
members of the public will see over the course of the next | 4:34:01 | 4:34:03 | |
few days the arrangements being put in place in order | 4:34:03 | 4:34:06 | |
that people can come to our capital city to enjoy themselves | 4:34:06 | 4:34:09 | |
and be left with a favourable impression. | 4:34:09 | 4:34:11 | |
We know there are some people who would not wish that to be so, | 4:34:11 | 4:34:14 | |
and anything that can be learned from the events of the last 24 hours | 4:34:14 | 4:34:19 | |
will be factored in to the security arrangements for | 4:34:19 | 4:34:23 | |
the Champions League final, but we are... This is the world we live in. | 4:34:23 | 4:34:26 | |
We are aware of what needs to be done in order to provide for | 4:34:26 | 4:34:29 | |
the security of the public when they come to our capital city, | 4:34:29 | 4:34:33 | |
and working with the police and other authorities, | 4:34:33 | 4:34:35 | |
that's exactly what we intend to do. | 4:34:35 | 4:34:37 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Leader of the Opposition, Andrew RT Davies. | 4:34:37 | 4:34:41 | |
If I may, presiding officer, I will not take my three questions | 4:34:41 | 4:34:44 | |
today, given I think | 4:34:44 | 4:34:46 | |
we need to stand shoulder to shoulder and face down | 4:34:46 | 4:34:49 | |
this act of evil, this atrocity that happened in Manchester last night. | 4:34:49 | 4:34:53 | |
As a father, I cannot think of anything more horrific than | 4:34:53 | 4:34:56 | |
being separated from your children, separated from your loved ones | 4:34:56 | 4:35:01 | |
in the uncertain knowledge of what might have happened to them. | 4:35:01 | 4:35:05 | |
I, like many parents, | 4:35:05 | 4:35:07 | |
would have dropped my children off at events to meet at | 4:35:07 | 4:35:11 | |
a designated spot and they come back safely, and I can only offer | 4:35:11 | 4:35:16 | |
my love, my support, my condolence to each and every member | 4:35:16 | 4:35:20 | |
who has gone through a bereavement, | 4:35:20 | 4:35:23 | |
the injured in hospital, and tribute to the dedication of | 4:35:23 | 4:35:27 | |
the public services who responded so quickly and so professionally | 4:35:27 | 4:35:31 | |
to that atrocity, that act of evil that visited Manchester last night. | 4:35:31 | 4:35:38 | |
But I would like to put three points to you if I may, First Minister. | 4:35:38 | 4:35:41 | |
The First is what became evident today was | 4:35:41 | 4:35:45 | |
the amount of people that did go from North Wales to Manchester, | 4:35:45 | 4:35:48 | |
as on an everyday basis, attend events in Manchester. | 4:35:48 | 4:35:51 | |
On the radio this morning, many parents, many youngsters | 4:35:51 | 4:35:55 | |
who had attended that event. | 4:35:55 | 4:35:56 | |
There will be a requirement for help and support. | 4:35:56 | 4:35:59 | |
I don't know the destination of some of the bereaved, | 4:35:59 | 4:36:04 | |
or obviously the injured parties in the hospitals, | 4:36:04 | 4:36:07 | |
where they have come from, but I'm sure some of those individuals | 4:36:07 | 4:36:10 | |
will have come from North Wales, and I know it's early hours | 4:36:10 | 4:36:13 | |
and early days yet, | 4:36:13 | 4:36:15 | |
but what calibration, what work is the Welsh government doing | 4:36:15 | 4:36:18 | |
with the public services in North Wales to make sure | 4:36:18 | 4:36:22 | |
that help and support is there for the families in the education field, | 4:36:22 | 4:36:26 | |
but also in the health field | 4:36:26 | 4:36:28 | |
as well to make sure that no stone is left unturned when families | 4:36:28 | 4:36:32 | |
look for that support and look for that help from those services | 4:36:32 | 4:36:36 | |
in North Wales, and if extra resources are required, | 4:36:36 | 4:36:39 | |
I'm sure you would confirm this, | 4:36:39 | 4:36:41 | |
those extra resources will be made available to local authorities | 4:36:41 | 4:36:44 | |
and also to the health boards. | 4:36:44 | 4:36:46 | |
Secondly, as the leader of Plaid Cymru quite clearly identified, | 4:36:46 | 4:36:50 | |
we do have a major sporting event, | 4:36:50 | 4:36:52 | |
in the Champions League happening here, | 4:36:52 | 4:36:54 | |
the final in a little over ten days' time, but there are events | 4:36:54 | 4:36:58 | |
across the whole of Wales that happen on a day-to-day, | 4:36:58 | 4:37:01 | |
week-by-week basis | 4:37:01 | 4:37:03 | |
and it forced all of us to play our part to work | 4:37:03 | 4:37:06 | |
with the security services, | 4:37:06 | 4:37:08 | |
whether it be police or MI5 or any of the security services, | 4:37:08 | 4:37:11 | |
to make sure we can be the eyes and ears on the streets | 4:37:11 | 4:37:15 | |
and reporting what we see. But how can the Welsh government | 4:37:15 | 4:37:19 | |
distil down any information it has so that the public | 4:37:19 | 4:37:22 | |
can have confidence that they can | 4:37:22 | 4:37:24 | |
attend these events in the full knowledge | 4:37:24 | 4:37:26 | |
that every measure possible has been put in place to protect | 4:37:26 | 4:37:29 | |
the public and to allow democracy and our free society | 4:37:29 | 4:37:33 | |
to continue to function? | 4:37:33 | 4:37:35 | |
Because we must not be cowered by these acts of violence. | 4:37:35 | 4:37:39 | |
That is one thing that is quite critical and, thirdly, | 4:37:39 | 4:37:42 | |
what I'd like to just seek off the First Minister as we do | 4:37:42 | 4:37:46 | |
go forward is that any information that is available, and the | 4:37:46 | 4:37:51 | |
First Minister has indicated that he has received | 4:37:51 | 4:37:53 | |
a security briefing this morning, | 4:37:53 | 4:37:55 | |
and I presume that some of that information, | 4:37:55 | 4:37:57 | |
if not all of that information, might be confidential. | 4:37:57 | 4:37:59 | |
But, where information can be made available it is made available | 4:37:59 | 4:38:02 | |
in a timely manner to the public in Wales, to organisers | 4:38:02 | 4:38:07 | |
of events, so that again people can go about | 4:38:07 | 4:38:11 | |
their everyday lives and play the important role that we all | 4:38:11 | 4:38:14 | |
have to play in our great democracy of standing up against | 4:38:14 | 4:38:18 | |
these acts of evil that visited Manchester last night. | 4:38:18 | 4:38:22 | |
We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Manchester | 4:38:22 | 4:38:26 | |
and whatever happens, we will not be beaten by such atrocities. | 4:38:26 | 4:38:30 | |
I thank the leader of the Welsh Conservatives for his comments. | 4:38:31 | 4:38:34 | |
It is difficult for us in this chamber, | 4:38:34 | 4:38:36 | |
and the vast majority of people across the world to conceive | 4:38:36 | 4:38:39 | |
of a philosophy that holds that murdering young people | 4:38:39 | 4:38:45 | |
advances the cause of humanity. | 4:38:45 | 4:38:49 | |
How can we understand those thought processes? | 4:38:49 | 4:38:52 | |
But we know there are some, unfortunately, who hold | 4:38:52 | 4:38:54 | |
those views and there is, of course, a duty in all authorities to provide | 4:38:54 | 4:38:58 | |
as much protection as possible to the public against these people. | 4:38:58 | 4:39:02 | |
After the events in Tunisia, we did set up a helpline that looked | 4:39:02 | 4:39:06 | |
to provide signposting to counselling for people. | 4:39:06 | 4:39:10 | |
We will look to do the same thing | 4:39:10 | 4:39:12 | |
again in the aftermath of this event. | 4:39:12 | 4:39:14 | |
We are not aware of anybody who has been injured or killed | 4:39:14 | 4:39:18 | |
who comes from Wales as yet, nothing to indicate that, | 4:39:18 | 4:39:22 | |
but of course we will monitor the situation very, very closely. | 4:39:22 | 4:39:26 | |
One thing I think we do need to be careful of is not to | 4:39:26 | 4:39:29 | |
put people off coming to events. | 4:39:29 | 4:39:31 | |
He is right when he says that the last thing we should do is to modify | 4:39:31 | 4:39:36 | |
our behaviour and our beliefs for that matter | 4:39:36 | 4:39:39 | |
in the face of terrorism. | 4:39:39 | 4:39:41 | |
That's exactly what they want. | 4:39:41 | 4:39:42 | |
They want us to become more intolerant | 4:39:42 | 4:39:45 | |
so that we share their intolerance. | 4:39:45 | 4:39:47 | |
They want us to alter the way in which we exercise our freedom | 4:39:47 | 4:39:52 | |
and go to events, they see that as a victory. | 4:39:52 | 4:39:54 | |
What I can say to people is, of course we will be taking | 4:39:54 | 4:39:58 | |
further advice with regards to the Champions League. | 4:39:58 | 4:40:00 | |
But a lot of work's already been done | 4:40:00 | 4:40:02 | |
regarding security around the Champions League | 4:40:02 | 4:40:05 | |
and that work has been in train for many, many months, | 4:40:05 | 4:40:08 | |
as members would expect, given that it is an event of significant size. | 4:40:08 | 4:40:13 | |
In terms of information, | 4:40:13 | 4:40:15 | |
he has identified the issues. | 4:40:15 | 4:40:19 | |
Firstly, some information is shared | 4:40:19 | 4:40:21 | |
on what is essentially Privy Council basis - it's confidential. | 4:40:21 | 4:40:24 | |
Members will understand that | 4:40:24 | 4:40:25 | |
there is information that needs to be kept confidential | 4:40:25 | 4:40:29 | |
so as not to interfere with any police investigation, | 4:40:29 | 4:40:32 | |
but of course, where information is no longer sensitive | 4:40:32 | 4:40:35 | |
and where that information needs to be shared with the public | 4:40:35 | 4:40:39 | |
then that will happen at the appropriate time. | 4:40:39 | 4:40:42 | |
TRANSLATION: Leader of the Ukip group Neil Hamilton. | 4:40:44 | 4:40:46 | |
Can I congratulate the First Minister | 4:40:46 | 4:40:49 | |
on speaking so finely for us all in this Assembly | 4:40:49 | 4:40:52 | |
in his statement at the start of today's proceedings, | 4:40:52 | 4:40:55 | |
and to add my condolences and the condolences of my party, | 4:40:55 | 4:40:58 | |
all my members here | 4:40:58 | 4:41:01 | |
and members of the party in the country, | 4:41:01 | 4:41:03 | |
to those who have lost their lives | 4:41:03 | 4:41:06 | |
and been maimed in the horrible outrage in Manchester. | 4:41:06 | 4:41:12 | |
Er, I agree with the First Minister | 4:41:12 | 4:41:15 | |
that it is impossible for us to understand the mind-set of those | 4:41:15 | 4:41:19 | |
who are prepared to indiscriminately slaughter children | 4:41:19 | 4:41:22 | |
in the way that happened last night. | 4:41:22 | 4:41:24 | |
Not the first time in the Arndale Centre, of course, | 4:41:24 | 4:41:26 | |
in Manchester, where an event of this kind has occurred. | 4:41:26 | 4:41:30 | |
I was a Member of Parliament just a few miles away from | 4:41:30 | 4:41:33 | |
the centre of Manchester back in the 1990s - | 4:41:33 | 4:41:36 | |
we had a similar kind of outrage from, in those days, the IRA. | 4:41:36 | 4:41:41 | |
But, er, I'm sure the First Minister will agree with me | 4:41:41 | 4:41:44 | |
that the best way that a democratic society | 4:41:44 | 4:41:47 | |
can fight against such tendencies | 4:41:47 | 4:41:49 | |
is to carry on as normal so far as we can, | 4:41:49 | 4:41:53 | |
and for a democratic assembly like the National Assembly for Wales,, | 4:41:53 | 4:41:57 | |
whilst it is right that we should suspend | 4:41:57 | 4:41:59 | |
the party-political dogfight for today, | 4:41:59 | 4:42:02 | |
we're in the middle of an election campaign nationally as well | 4:42:02 | 4:42:04 | |
and the best act of defiance for us | 4:42:04 | 4:42:07 | |
is to continue to do what democratic societies do | 4:42:07 | 4:42:10 | |
and which totalitarian societies do not, | 4:42:10 | 4:42:12 | |
and that is to solve our differences by means of debate | 4:42:12 | 4:42:15 | |
rather than by the bomb and the bullet. | 4:42:15 | 4:42:18 | |
And so I have no further questions for the First Minister today, | 4:42:18 | 4:42:22 | |
but I'd like to express my solidarity with everyone else | 4:42:22 | 4:42:26 | |
who has spoken on what was going to be a sombre day for us in any event | 4:42:26 | 4:42:29 | |
because of tributes to Rhodri, but which has been | 4:42:29 | 4:42:32 | |
made immeasurably worse by the events of last night. | 4:42:32 | 4:42:35 | |
Can I thank the leader of Ukip for his comments? | 4:42:35 | 4:42:37 | |
One of the main purposes of acts such as this | 4:42:40 | 4:42:44 | |
is to make us more angry and more intolerant | 4:42:44 | 4:42:49 | |
in order to provoke an even greater reaction. | 4:42:49 | 4:42:53 | |
We do not need to do that. We are bigger than they are. | 4:42:53 | 4:42:56 | |
Today, the mood of the chamber is sombre, that's true, | 4:42:58 | 4:43:02 | |
and with good reason. | 4:43:02 | 4:43:04 | |
In the next few days, we'll get back to debate, | 4:43:04 | 4:43:07 | |
we'll get back to robust electioneering - | 4:43:07 | 4:43:10 | |
that's the nature of what we do. | 4:43:10 | 4:43:12 | |
But that is the essence of our democracy. | 4:43:12 | 4:43:15 | |
Robust debate and exchange of ideas | 4:43:15 | 4:43:18 | |
is what gives us the ability to see ourselves as a free society, | 4:43:18 | 4:43:25 | |
and the actions of last night were designed to close down | 4:43:25 | 4:43:29 | |
that which makes us a free society. | 4:43:29 | 4:43:32 | |
It is absolutely right to say that we should carry on. | 4:43:33 | 4:43:37 | |
Of course we have to be cautious when it comes to security, | 4:43:37 | 4:43:42 | |
and for people who visit not just Wales, but any other country, | 4:43:42 | 4:43:46 | |
they need to be assured that their security is paramount to us, | 4:43:46 | 4:43:50 | |
and I can say that is absolutely true as far as the Welsh government | 4:43:50 | 4:43:54 | |
and indeed the UK government is concerned. | 4:43:54 | 4:43:56 | |
But... | 4:43:57 | 4:43:59 | |
I have children in the age range | 4:43:59 | 4:44:02 | |
of the majority of those who'd have been at that concert last night. | 4:44:02 | 4:44:05 | |
What exactly did they do to deserve to be injured or killed? | 4:44:05 | 4:44:11 | |
We can't answer that question. | 4:44:11 | 4:44:13 | |
The answer to that question | 4:44:13 | 4:44:16 | |
lies in a tormented, intolerant and dangerous mind, | 4:44:16 | 4:44:21 | |
and that was the mind, I believe, | 4:44:21 | 4:44:24 | |
of the perpetrator who carried out the attack last night. | 4:44:24 | 4:44:28 | |
But as I said, we can get above that. | 4:44:28 | 4:44:33 | |
The strongest message that we can send | 4:44:33 | 4:44:36 | |
to those who wish to terrorise our society | 4:44:36 | 4:44:39 | |
is that they cannot win. | 4:44:39 | 4:44:41 | |
And they cannot win because we will carry on enjoying our freedoms, | 4:44:41 | 4:44:45 | |
we will carry on enjoying | 4:44:45 | 4:44:47 | |
what we have built over many decades and centuries, | 4:44:47 | 4:44:51 | |
and we will never give way to their intolerance and their violence. | 4:44:51 | 4:44:56 | |
Cwestiwn tri, Steffan Lewis. | 4:44:57 | 4:44:59 | |
Question three, Steffan Lewis. | 4:44:59 | 4:45:01 | |
INAUDIBLE | 4:45:01 | 4:45:03 | |
..rail network in the last financial year. | 4:45:03 | 4:45:06 | |
Every year the Welsh government provides £180 million | 4:45:06 | 4:45:08 | |
in franchise subsidy payments | 4:45:08 | 4:45:10 | |
and funding for additional services and rolling stock. | 4:45:10 | 4:45:14 | |
I thank the First Minister for his answer | 4:45:14 | 4:45:16 | |
and I declare an interest | 4:45:16 | 4:45:17 | |
that my sister's an employee of Network Rail. | 4:45:17 | 4:45:19 | |
I wonder if the First Minister can provide updated figures | 4:45:19 | 4:45:22 | |
on the amount of profit made by the current operator of that franchise. | 4:45:22 | 4:45:26 | |
I have figures for 2012 | 4:45:26 | 4:45:27 | |
that show that that company made a profit of £13.6 million, | 4:45:27 | 4:45:31 | |
and of course as a company | 4:45:31 | 4:45:32 | |
that is entirely owned by the German government, | 4:45:32 | 4:45:35 | |
and bidding is under way for the next franchise, | 4:45:35 | 4:45:38 | |
I wonder if the First Minister can tell us | 4:45:38 | 4:45:40 | |
whether he remains committed to returning the rail network | 4:45:40 | 4:45:43 | |
to public ownership, | 4:45:43 | 4:45:45 | |
and if so, does he believe that an opportunity has been missed | 4:45:45 | 4:45:48 | |
in not using the "operator of last resort" provision | 4:45:48 | 4:45:51 | |
in order to bring it back into Welsh public ownership | 4:45:51 | 4:45:53 | |
as quickly as possible? | 4:45:53 | 4:45:55 | |
I do remain committed to that. | 4:45:55 | 4:45:57 | |
Unfortunately, of course, due to the provision in the Wales Act, | 4:45:57 | 4:46:00 | |
it's not an option open to us. | 4:46:00 | 4:46:01 | |
We have not been permitted to look at an arm's-length public body | 4:46:01 | 4:46:05 | |
being used to run the franchise. | 4:46:05 | 4:46:07 | |
Unlike in Scotland, you will know | 4:46:07 | 4:46:09 | |
that this is an issue where we share the same view | 4:46:09 | 4:46:11 | |
and something where we are in dispute with the UK government over. | 4:46:11 | 4:46:15 | |
As part of the franchising process next year | 4:46:15 | 4:46:18 | |
we expect to see the best value for money | 4:46:18 | 4:46:20 | |
delivered for Welsh customers, | 4:46:20 | 4:46:22 | |
and of course significant investment in rolling stock. | 4:46:22 | 4:46:25 | |
There are many people who use the Valleys lines | 4:46:25 | 4:46:27 | |
who are on rolling stock many, many decades old. | 4:46:27 | 4:46:29 | |
They deserve better than that, and we want to see that delivered | 4:46:29 | 4:46:32 | |
over the course of the next franchise period. | 4:46:32 | 4:46:34 | |
Jenny Rathbone. | 4:46:34 | 4:46:36 | |
Diolch, Llywydd. | 4:46:36 | 4:46:38 | |
Er...it is a strange irony, is it not, | 4:46:38 | 4:46:41 | |
that Arriva Trains receives one of the highest subsidies | 4:46:41 | 4:46:46 | |
of any public train provider | 4:46:46 | 4:46:48 | |
and yet has just declared record profits. | 4:46:48 | 4:46:51 | |
I'm sure you, like me, would like to see a government | 4:46:51 | 4:46:55 | |
with a more rational approach | 4:46:55 | 4:46:57 | |
to the way we run our railways after June 8th, | 4:46:57 | 4:47:00 | |
but for now we have a UK government | 4:47:00 | 4:47:02 | |
that is unfortunately committed to insisting that the £125 million | 4:47:02 | 4:47:06 | |
that has been set aside to improve our rail services | 4:47:06 | 4:47:11 | |
must be spent on electrifying the Valleys lines | 4:47:11 | 4:47:15 | |
when all the experts are clear that light rail | 4:47:15 | 4:47:18 | |
is both more cost-effective | 4:47:18 | 4:47:19 | |
and will improve the journey times | 4:47:19 | 4:47:21 | |
in a way that electrification will not. | 4:47:21 | 4:47:24 | |
What do you think your government can do | 4:47:24 | 4:47:27 | |
to ensure that there is a much more rational approach | 4:47:27 | 4:47:30 | |
to the way we invest public money | 4:47:30 | 4:47:32 | |
to ensure that we get the gains that are needed | 4:47:32 | 4:47:35 | |
in the Metro system that we hope to deliver across south-east Wales? | 4:47:35 | 4:47:40 | |
Well, we have a curious system where a public subsidy of £180 million | 4:47:40 | 4:47:46 | |
is provided to a private company | 4:47:46 | 4:47:48 | |
who then make a profit of £40 million on top. | 4:47:48 | 4:47:50 | |
I mean, it's very difficult to justify that sort of level. | 4:47:50 | 4:47:53 | |
We weren't in charge of the franchise | 4:47:53 | 4:47:55 | |
when it was awarded last time around, | 4:47:55 | 4:47:57 | |
but it's very difficult to justify that to the public. | 4:47:57 | 4:48:00 | |
Of course, light rail is electrified. | 4:48:00 | 4:48:02 | |
There are different ways of doing it - | 4:48:02 | 4:48:04 | |
you don't have to have overhead cabling, | 4:48:04 | 4:48:06 | |
there are other means of doing that - but for me, | 4:48:06 | 4:48:08 | |
the core principle of the Metro | 4:48:08 | 4:48:11 | |
is that it should be extendable. | 4:48:11 | 4:48:13 | |
Yes, of course we have the core network in place at the moment, | 4:48:13 | 4:48:16 | |
but in time, the plan is to look at new routes | 4:48:16 | 4:48:19 | |
that are not currently served by heavy rail. | 4:48:19 | 4:48:22 | |
If we are serious about developing | 4:48:22 | 4:48:25 | |
the region around Cardiff and beyond, | 4:48:25 | 4:48:28 | |
then we have to make sure that people can travel | 4:48:28 | 4:48:31 | |
without having to get in their cars, thus causing greater congestion. | 4:48:31 | 4:48:35 | |
So that extendability, and also the mix of provision | 4:48:35 | 4:48:38 | |
that will be part, no doubt, of the Metro, | 4:48:38 | 4:48:41 | |
will provide that flexibility for the future as well. | 4:48:41 | 4:48:44 | |
Nick Ramsay. | 4:48:44 | 4:48:46 | |
First Minister, 60 years ago I would have been able to travel | 4:48:46 | 4:48:49 | |
from my village of Raglan in Monmouthshire | 4:48:49 | 4:48:52 | |
by rail to Cardiff. | 4:48:52 | 4:48:54 | |
That can't be done now because obviously we lost a lot of | 4:48:54 | 4:48:57 | |
the branch line rail network back in the '50s and '60s. | 4:48:57 | 4:49:01 | |
You've mentioned the need to make sure that the Metro is expandable | 4:49:01 | 4:49:05 | |
and that it reaches areas of South Wales | 4:49:05 | 4:49:08 | |
and the South Wales city region that it hasn't to date, | 4:49:08 | 4:49:11 | |
and wouldn't be able to at the moment. | 4:49:11 | 4:49:14 | |
Have you looked any more at the issue of a potential Metro hub | 4:49:14 | 4:49:18 | |
at the Celtic Manor, or in that area? | 4:49:18 | 4:49:21 | |
I have raised this in the past | 4:49:21 | 4:49:22 | |
with the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure. | 4:49:22 | 4:49:24 | |
I think if you looked at developing a hub at that point, | 4:49:24 | 4:49:27 | |
you could then have a very good core to build out from | 4:49:27 | 4:49:30 | |
into the rural areas around Newport and up in my neck of the woods | 4:49:30 | 4:49:34 | |
to make sure that everyone can benefit from the Metro. | 4:49:34 | 4:49:36 | |
Yes, I'm tempted to pull his leg and say, "Well, a Tory government | 4:49:36 | 4:49:39 | |
"closed down the railway line," but I'm not sure whether it was or not. | 4:49:39 | 4:49:42 | |
-But it was a long time ago. -Not that one! | 4:49:42 | 4:49:44 | |
-What we do know... -I think we share that. -..is in the early '60s, | 4:49:44 | 4:49:47 | |
late '50s, early '60s, many lines were closed | 4:49:47 | 4:49:50 | |
by governments of either persuasion. | 4:49:50 | 4:49:54 | |
We also saw, of course, the closure of the Carmarthen/ Aberystwyth line | 4:49:54 | 4:49:59 | |
to passengers in '64 and to milk in 1973, | 4:49:59 | 4:50:03 | |
with the track being taken up very soon after. | 4:50:03 | 4:50:05 | |
A great tragedy, and something we could have... | 4:50:05 | 4:50:08 | |
profited from, in terms of being able to run a service | 4:50:08 | 4:50:11 | |
on that line at least as far as Strata Florida, er, now. | 4:50:11 | 4:50:17 | |
But, yes, I take his point. It is usually important | 4:50:17 | 4:50:19 | |
that areas of Wales that are not being served by any form of railway | 4:50:19 | 4:50:24 | |
should be served by...in the future, by a form of transport | 4:50:24 | 4:50:31 | |
that may include probably light rail rather than heavy rail. | 4:50:31 | 4:50:34 | |
We know of course in his constituency | 4:50:34 | 4:50:36 | |
that much of the former rail track going up to Monmouth | 4:50:36 | 4:50:38 | |
has been built over by the dual carriageway, | 4:50:38 | 4:50:40 | |
and the Celtic Manor is an important part of our plans | 4:50:40 | 4:50:45 | |
for the Metro. As I said, at the core of the Metro, | 4:50:45 | 4:50:49 | |
of thinking for the Metro, | 4:50:49 | 4:50:50 | |
is that the system should be flexible and extendable, | 4:50:50 | 4:50:53 | |
and that means looking at parts of Wales | 4:50:53 | 4:50:55 | |
that have not had a rail service for many, many years, | 4:50:55 | 4:50:58 | |
as much of his constituency has not had. | 4:50:58 | 4:51:00 | |
Cwestiwn pedwar, John Griffiths. | 4:51:00 | 4:51:01 | |
Question four, John Griffiths. | 4:51:01 | 4:51:03 | |
Er, excuse me, I'm temporarily embarrassed, I'm afraid. | 4:51:08 | 4:51:11 | |
I'll have to get that question up. | 4:51:11 | 4:51:13 | |
Yes. Er, will the First Minister provide an update on progress | 4:51:15 | 4:51:18 | |
with integrated transport in south-east Wales? Diolch yn fawr. | 4:51:18 | 4:51:21 | |
-Yes, transport... -I think you should thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that. | 4:51:21 | 4:51:25 | |
LAUGHTER | 4:51:25 | 4:51:26 | |
The National Transport Finance Plan is a live document | 4:51:26 | 4:51:29 | |
and it contains an ambitious programme of interventions | 4:51:29 | 4:51:32 | |
that are in varying stages of development. | 4:51:32 | 4:51:34 | |
We will update the plan periodically to reflect developments over time | 4:51:34 | 4:51:37 | |
and of course the changing profile of need across Wales. | 4:51:37 | 4:51:40 | |
Would you agree with me, First Minister, | 4:51:40 | 4:51:43 | |
that active travel must be an important part of | 4:51:43 | 4:51:46 | |
integrated transport in south-east Wales? | 4:51:46 | 4:51:49 | |
And now that local authorities are working out their integrated plans | 4:51:49 | 4:51:52 | |
for the future, the Welsh government | 4:51:52 | 4:51:54 | |
must continue to take a keen interest in those plans, | 4:51:54 | 4:51:57 | |
and make sure they fit with that wider integrated transport agenda? | 4:51:57 | 4:52:01 | |
Absolutely so. | 4:52:01 | 4:52:02 | |
The change that is happening - it's not yet happened | 4:52:02 | 4:52:06 | |
across every local authority - | 4:52:06 | 4:52:07 | |
the change that is happening at the moment | 4:52:07 | 4:52:09 | |
is that cycling and walking are seen as modes of transport | 4:52:09 | 4:52:12 | |
rather than means of recreation alone. | 4:52:12 | 4:52:16 | |
And we know that many of our cities are well-placed to deliver | 4:52:16 | 4:52:20 | |
cycle paths and cycle routes, | 4:52:20 | 4:52:22 | |
we know that the issue for many people who might cycle | 4:52:22 | 4:52:26 | |
is they don't want to be on the road with cars. | 4:52:26 | 4:52:28 | |
For the brave, yes, they do, I know that, and quite rightly so, | 4:52:28 | 4:52:33 | |
because they have every right to be on the road. | 4:52:33 | 4:52:35 | |
But the more we can develop cycle routes | 4:52:35 | 4:52:38 | |
that are physically separated from cars, | 4:52:38 | 4:52:40 | |
the more people we will attract, I believe, onto those routes | 4:52:40 | 4:52:43 | |
because they don't feel they have to compete with cars and lorries | 4:52:43 | 4:52:46 | |
on the road, and that's very much part, of course, | 4:52:46 | 4:52:48 | |
as he will know, of the Active Travel Act. | 4:52:48 | 4:52:50 | |
Mark Reckless. | 4:52:50 | 4:52:52 | |
Following the very welcome abolition of the southern tolls | 4:52:54 | 4:52:57 | |
and we hope the construction of an M4 relief road, | 4:52:57 | 4:53:00 | |
does the First Minister agree with me | 4:53:00 | 4:53:03 | |
that the importance of rail as an alternative | 4:53:03 | 4:53:05 | |
to integrate with the road system only increases, | 4:53:05 | 4:53:08 | |
and does he welcome the decision of his Cabinet Secretary | 4:53:08 | 4:53:12 | |
that the Magor-Undy proposal for a new train station | 4:53:12 | 4:53:15 | |
should be taken forward as well as Llanwern and St Mellons | 4:53:15 | 4:53:20 | |
that are identified within the first 12, | 4:53:20 | 4:53:23 | |
as putting three new rail stations | 4:53:23 | 4:53:25 | |
on that route between Cardiff and the Severn | 4:53:25 | 4:53:29 | |
would transform the nature of the service. | 4:53:29 | 4:53:31 | |
I'm not sure the toll's actually been abolished yet, | 4:53:31 | 4:53:34 | |
but certainly that's something that we would welcome. | 4:53:34 | 4:53:36 | |
I always welcome statements made by my cabinet ministers, | 4:53:36 | 4:53:40 | |
and it's right to say that... | 4:53:40 | 4:53:43 | |
in different stages, we are looking at reopening lines | 4:53:43 | 4:53:47 | |
to the east of Cardiff and Newport area | 4:53:47 | 4:53:49 | |
that's not being well served by the rail network. | 4:53:49 | 4:53:52 | |
We know for example that the eastern part of the city of Cardiff | 4:53:52 | 4:53:54 | |
has been historically very poorly served. | 4:53:54 | 4:53:57 | |
There is a need to improve public transport links | 4:53:57 | 4:53:59 | |
to the eastern part of the city, | 4:53:59 | 4:54:01 | |
and the same applies, of course, | 4:54:01 | 4:54:03 | |
to settlements between Newport and the Severn Bridge. | 4:54:03 | 4:54:07 | |
We can't simply build roads. | 4:54:07 | 4:54:09 | |
We must make sure that as roads are improved and built, | 4:54:09 | 4:54:13 | |
that we also provide better public transport connections as well. | 4:54:13 | 4:54:16 | |
Gareth Bennett. | 4:54:18 | 4:54:20 | |
Diolch, Llywydd. | 4:54:20 | 4:54:21 | |
One of the harder things to achieve with public transport | 4:54:21 | 4:54:25 | |
is the travelcard that enables passengers to travel | 4:54:25 | 4:54:28 | |
on different types of transport. | 4:54:28 | 4:54:30 | |
Now, I know that your government is going to be involved with | 4:54:30 | 4:54:34 | |
negotiating the new rail franchises. | 4:54:34 | 4:54:37 | |
How much of a priority will be providing that kind of travelcard | 4:54:37 | 4:54:42 | |
form in your talks with the rail companies? | 4:54:42 | 4:54:45 | |
Well, there are two issues. | 4:54:45 | 4:54:46 | |
Firstly, it's trickier dealing with travelcard negotiations | 4:54:46 | 4:54:50 | |
at railway stations because there's more than one operator. | 4:54:50 | 4:54:53 | |
In terms of the Metro, it's essential that there is | 4:54:53 | 4:54:56 | |
an integrated Oyster-style travelcard available, | 4:54:56 | 4:54:59 | |
although even in London now, of course, | 4:54:59 | 4:55:01 | |
it's possible to travel simply by using a contactless debit card. | 4:55:01 | 4:55:04 | |
So actually, Oyster cards are now even less essential | 4:55:04 | 4:55:09 | |
than once they were for some people. Of course, they're important to | 4:55:09 | 4:55:12 | |
those who don't have access to contactless cards, | 4:55:12 | 4:55:14 | |
yes, they need them to travel, | 4:55:14 | 4:55:16 | |
but it is absolutely crucial | 4:55:16 | 4:55:18 | |
that the network of the south-east Wales Metro | 4:55:18 | 4:55:21 | |
has one card that covers all journeys within the Metro area, | 4:55:21 | 4:55:24 | |
otherwise, of course, it's not an integrated system. | 4:55:24 | 4:55:27 | |
Michelle Brown... | 4:55:29 | 4:55:30 | |
TRANSLATION: Michelle Brown is not in the chamber to ask question five. | 4:55:30 | 4:55:34 | |
Question six, Hannah Blythyn. | 4:55:34 | 4:55:36 | |
Can the First Minister provide an update on how the Year of Legends | 4:55:36 | 4:55:38 | |
will benefit north-east Wales? | 4:55:38 | 4:55:40 | |
Yes. Our tourism strategy sets out our priorities | 4:55:40 | 4:55:42 | |
in supporting the tourism industry, | 4:55:42 | 4:55:44 | |
including capital development funding, | 4:55:44 | 4:55:46 | |
along with marketing and promotional opportunities. | 4:55:46 | 4:55:49 | |
We know that, er, the Year of Legends provides an opportunity | 4:55:49 | 4:55:52 | |
for us to build on that foundation. | 4:55:52 | 4:55:55 | |
Thank you, First Minister. As part of the Year of Legends | 4:55:55 | 4:55:58 | |
we are awaiting with great anticipation the winning design | 4:55:58 | 4:56:01 | |
for a new Welsh government-supported installation at Flint Castle. | 4:56:01 | 4:56:04 | |
I'm sure everybody in the community is looking forward to | 4:56:04 | 4:56:07 | |
this latest legend descending on the shores of the castle. | 4:56:07 | 4:56:09 | |
But there was another local legend of old | 4:56:09 | 4:56:11 | |
that the constituency, in particular the community of Mold, | 4:56:11 | 4:56:14 | |
are rightly proud of. | 4:56:14 | 4:56:16 | |
The Mold Gold Cape was found in 1833 | 4:56:16 | 4:56:18 | |
by workmen quarrying for stone in a burial mound | 4:56:18 | 4:56:21 | |
and is currently part of the British Museum collection in London. | 4:56:21 | 4:56:25 | |
It previously left the British Museum | 4:56:25 | 4:56:27 | |
to be temporarily exhibited in Wrexham, | 4:56:27 | 4:56:29 | |
but it has never actually made it back to Mold | 4:56:29 | 4:56:31 | |
to be temporarily exhibited in the town | 4:56:31 | 4:56:34 | |
where it was found. | 4:56:34 | 4:56:35 | |
As we commemorate and celebrate the Year of Legends, | 4:56:35 | 4:56:38 | |
do you share with many of my constituents | 4:56:38 | 4:56:41 | |
that it would be great to see the gold cape returned | 4:56:41 | 4:56:43 | |
to be exhibited in the town where it was discovered? | 4:56:43 | 4:56:46 | |
Yes. The gold cape is famous. | 4:56:46 | 4:56:48 | |
I'm sure the people of Mold | 4:56:48 | 4:56:50 | |
would like to see the actual gold cape there, | 4:56:50 | 4:56:53 | |
rather than it being commemorated in the name of a pub. | 4:56:53 | 4:56:55 | |
LAUGHTER | 4:56:55 | 4:56:57 | |
It was in Wrexham. | 4:56:57 | 4:56:59 | |
The difficulty at the moment, of course, | 4:56:59 | 4:57:01 | |
is that there's nowhere in Mold for the cape to be exhibited. | 4:57:01 | 4:57:04 | |
And that is what needs to be resolved first. | 4:57:04 | 4:57:06 | |
In order for that to happen... | 4:57:06 | 4:57:09 | |
The local authority in Flintshire could look at taking leads | 4:57:09 | 4:57:13 | |
talking with us, as the Welsh Government, | 4:57:13 | 4:57:15 | |
to see what could be done | 4:57:15 | 4:57:16 | |
in order to provide a facility with the right atmosphere, | 4:57:16 | 4:57:19 | |
and in terms of the right security, | 4:57:19 | 4:57:21 | |
in order to provide a home for the gold cape, | 4:57:21 | 4:57:24 | |
even if temporary, in the years to come. | 4:57:24 | 4:57:27 | |
We're more than happy, of course, to work with the local authority | 4:57:27 | 4:57:30 | |
and with local people to see how we can move this forward | 4:57:30 | 4:57:32 | |
to bring the cape home, and for the people of Mold | 4:57:32 | 4:57:36 | |
to be able to see the cape in its hometown. | 4:57:36 | 4:57:39 | |
Janet Finch-Saunders. | 4:57:39 | 4:57:41 | |
And a good question from the Member there | 4:57:41 | 4:57:44 | |
for us in North Wales. | 4:57:44 | 4:57:45 | |
First Minister, Visit Britain has launched | 4:57:45 | 4:57:47 | |
Where Stories Become Legends, | 4:57:47 | 4:57:49 | |
an international film tourism campaign | 4:57:49 | 4:57:52 | |
with Warner Bros to coincide with the release | 4:57:52 | 4:57:54 | |
of the King Arthur film, | 4:57:54 | 4:57:56 | |
parts of which were filmed in Snowdonia. | 4:57:56 | 4:57:58 | |
How is Visit Wales using the Year of Legends campaign | 4:57:58 | 4:58:02 | |
to collaborate on this, | 4:58:02 | 4:58:03 | |
and what future plans do you have to promote the region of North Wales, | 4:58:03 | 4:58:07 | |
home to some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes | 4:58:07 | 4:58:10 | |
in the world, that are available to the film industry | 4:58:10 | 4:58:14 | |
and its fans? | 4:58:14 | 4:58:15 | |
Well, King Arthur was a film, if I remember rightly, | 4:58:15 | 4:58:18 | |
we supported as a government. | 4:58:18 | 4:58:20 | |
A film that we took a stake in. | 4:58:20 | 4:58:23 | |
It's a film that, yes, it's been located in Wales | 4:58:23 | 4:58:27 | |
and also a film that, of course, has benefitted from, I believe, | 4:58:27 | 4:58:30 | |
post-production in Wales as well. | 4:58:30 | 4:58:32 | |
The Member has asked what we have done particularly for | 4:58:32 | 4:58:35 | |
the north of Wales. | 4:58:35 | 4:58:37 | |
I can say that just over £0.5 million has been made available | 4:58:37 | 4:58:39 | |
in this financial year for projects in the north. | 4:58:39 | 4:58:41 | |
So five projects via the Regional Tourism Engagement Fund, | 4:58:41 | 4:58:44 | |
totalling £0.25 million, | 4:58:44 | 4:58:46 | |
and a further £265,000 via the Tourism Product Innovation Fund | 4:58:46 | 4:58:51 | |
to support six projects across the north as well. | 4:58:51 | 4:58:53 | |
I can say, since April 2013, | 4:58:53 | 4:58:55 | |
the Tourism Investment Support Scheme | 4:58:55 | 4:58:57 | |
has made offers of funding to 48 businesses in the north, | 4:58:57 | 4:59:01 | |
totally nearly £8 million. | 4:59:01 | 4:59:04 | |
That's brought in additional investment of £12.5 million, | 4:59:04 | 4:59:08 | |
and assisted 551 jobs, | 4:59:08 | 4:59:11 | |
in terms of them being secured, | 4:59:11 | 4:59:13 | |
with another 433 jobs being created. | 4:59:13 | 4:59:16 | |
Llyr Gruffydd. | 4:59:16 | 4:59:17 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Thank you. Whilst it's quite appropriate that we attract | 4:59:17 | 4:59:23 | |
people to celebrate and become aware of our legends and our story | 4:59:23 | 4:59:28 | |
in north-east Wales, to refer back to the question, | 4:59:28 | 4:59:32 | |
there is a significant market also | 4:59:32 | 4:59:36 | |
in the north-east of Wales, | 4:59:36 | 4:59:38 | |
and very often the local people don't appreciate | 4:59:38 | 4:59:41 | |
the history and the assets that we have in those areas. | 4:59:41 | 4:59:44 | |
May I ask, while this project encourages the whole of Wales, | 4:59:44 | 4:59:51 | |
shouldn't we do far more to work at a local level? | 4:59:51 | 4:59:55 | |
That worked with the National Trust, | 4:59:55 | 4:59:57 | |
in my days, the number of visitors increased significantly | 4:59:57 | 5:00:00 | |
and the number of people who were volunteering and taking | 5:00:00 | 5:00:02 | |
ownership of those assets which | 5:00:02 | 5:00:04 | |
strengthened the wider offer within north-east Wales. | 5:00:04 | 5:00:07 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Well, it's true to say | 5:00:07 | 5:00:09 | |
that we never appreciate what's on our doorstep. | 5:00:09 | 5:00:12 | |
As regards the projects I've already alluded to, | 5:00:12 | 5:00:15 | |
many of those projects are working in order | 5:00:15 | 5:00:18 | |
to raise awareness of local history | 5:00:18 | 5:00:23 | |
by local residents, and a lot of work, of course, is being done by | 5:00:23 | 5:00:28 | |
voluntary organisations also, but, of course, it is vital that we | 5:00:28 | 5:00:35 | |
ensure that people know what's available | 5:00:35 | 5:00:38 | |
and have an interest in their own history, | 5:00:38 | 5:00:40 | |
so that they can act as ambassadors for their own areas and regions | 5:00:40 | 5:00:45 | |
and ensure that more people come and stay and spend money. | 5:00:45 | 5:00:49 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Question seven, Russell George. | 5:00:49 | 5:00:52 | |
Will the First Minister make a statement | 5:00:52 | 5:00:53 | |
on access to GP legal services in Montgomeryshire? | 5:00:53 | 5:00:56 | |
We continue to work with the health board and other partners | 5:00:56 | 5:00:58 | |
in Wales to take a range of actions | 5:00:58 | 5:01:00 | |
to improve access to health care services | 5:01:00 | 5:01:02 | |
that are safe and sustainable and as close to people's homes as possible. | 5:01:02 | 5:01:06 | |
Thank you, First Minister. I've been contacted | 5:01:06 | 5:01:08 | |
by a parent who has been trying to arrange | 5:01:08 | 5:01:12 | |
for a simple medical examination | 5:01:12 | 5:01:14 | |
for her daughter at her local surgery in Newtown. | 5:01:14 | 5:01:19 | |
And this is a requirement in advance of her going abroad to study. | 5:01:19 | 5:01:23 | |
Now, the surgery has made the decision not to undertake any | 5:01:23 | 5:01:27 | |
further medicals of this nature due to the GP shortage. | 5:01:27 | 5:01:32 | |
Now, no other practices in the area are able to also offer this... | 5:01:32 | 5:01:38 | |
..appointment. The parent has even offered to pay. | 5:01:41 | 5:01:44 | |
My office has been in contact with | 5:01:44 | 5:01:46 | |
the local health board, who are also not able to offer any support. | 5:01:46 | 5:01:50 | |
So, as it stands, from my understanding, the only option | 5:01:50 | 5:01:53 | |
available now for this young lady to get the medical | 5:01:53 | 5:01:57 | |
that she needs to go and study abroad | 5:01:57 | 5:02:00 | |
is to pay for it privately and she would need to go... | 5:02:00 | 5:02:03 | |
The nearest area to do this would be somewhere in England. | 5:02:03 | 5:02:07 | |
So, one, I'd be grateful if you | 5:02:07 | 5:02:09 | |
could offer any advice to my constituent | 5:02:09 | 5:02:11 | |
and, two, if you could offer any update | 5:02:11 | 5:02:14 | |
on the shortage of GPs that we see, particularly in mid Wales | 5:02:14 | 5:02:18 | |
that is becoming, I'm sure you would agree, | 5:02:18 | 5:02:21 | |
also, more of a crisis that we have to deal with. | 5:02:21 | 5:02:24 | |
I don't understand the view taken by the GP practice. | 5:02:24 | 5:02:28 | |
What I don't know, of course... | 5:02:28 | 5:02:30 | |
I would invite to write to me, as well, of course, with more details. | 5:02:30 | 5:02:34 | |
But GPs don't provide every service for free. | 5:02:34 | 5:02:36 | |
Some services have always been paid for. | 5:02:36 | 5:02:39 | |
GPs are paid sometimes through the NHS. | 5:02:39 | 5:02:41 | |
For example, if they carry out blood tests. | 5:02:41 | 5:02:44 | |
Sometimes, of course, they charge the individual directly - | 5:02:44 | 5:02:47 | |
signing for things quite often. | 5:02:47 | 5:02:50 | |
So, I don't know whether this is a service that would routinely | 5:02:50 | 5:02:53 | |
be provided on the NHS or not, but he has raised the issue with me. | 5:02:53 | 5:02:57 | |
If he provides me with the details, I will of course respond. | 5:02:57 | 5:03:00 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Question eight, Angela Burns. | 5:03:00 | 5:03:03 | |
Good afternoon, First Minister. | 5:03:03 | 5:03:05 | |
What is the Welsh government doing to promote | 5:03:05 | 5:03:07 | |
staff wellbeing within the Welsh public sector? | 5:03:07 | 5:03:10 | |
We do work closely with public sector employers | 5:03:10 | 5:03:12 | |
and trade unions to promote staff wellbeing | 5:03:12 | 5:03:15 | |
as an essential part of the delivery of good Welsh public services. | 5:03:15 | 5:03:18 | |
You will be aware that almost 8,000 staff members of the NHS in Wales | 5:03:18 | 5:03:24 | |
were affected by anxiety, stress, depression and a number of other | 5:03:24 | 5:03:29 | |
psychiatric illnesses in the year 2015/16, | 5:03:29 | 5:03:32 | |
and the trend appears to be the same going forward. | 5:03:32 | 5:03:35 | |
Aneurin Bevan health board created and filled | 5:03:35 | 5:03:37 | |
the post of Head of Employee Wellbeing, | 5:03:37 | 5:03:40 | |
and Adrian Neal and his colleagues are making great strides | 5:03:40 | 5:03:43 | |
forward in reducing staff absence and improving employee morale. | 5:03:43 | 5:03:47 | |
But, First Minister, this wellbeing position | 5:03:47 | 5:03:50 | |
is not filled in all the Welsh health boards. | 5:03:50 | 5:03:53 | |
Some created the post and then | 5:03:53 | 5:03:55 | |
decided to remove it for budgetary reasons. | 5:03:55 | 5:03:58 | |
Others have got the post, but they are vacant - | 5:03:58 | 5:04:01 | |
again, for budgetary reasons. | 5:04:01 | 5:04:03 | |
Given the scale of the challenge that we face | 5:04:03 | 5:04:05 | |
and how difficult it is to recruit people into the Welsh NHS, | 5:04:05 | 5:04:09 | |
I wondered if you might be able to | 5:04:09 | 5:04:10 | |
outline what plans you could have to rectify this issue. | 5:04:10 | 5:04:13 | |
Well, a health and wellbeing programme board | 5:04:13 | 5:04:15 | |
has been established, which oversees the programme | 5:04:15 | 5:04:17 | |
and the collaborative agenda of NHS Wales in respect of | 5:04:17 | 5:04:21 | |
improving staff health and wellbeing | 5:04:21 | 5:04:23 | |
and reducing levels of sickness and absence. | 5:04:23 | 5:04:26 | |
All NHS organisations have achieved | 5:04:26 | 5:04:28 | |
or are working towards the corporate health standard. | 5:04:28 | 5:04:31 | |
So we would expect all NHS boards to achieve that standard | 5:04:31 | 5:04:35 | |
and provide the right level of support to staff, | 5:04:35 | 5:04:38 | |
particularly with regards to their own mental health. | 5:04:38 | 5:04:40 | |
Question nine, Nathan Craig. | 5:04:40 | 5:04:43 | |
Thank you. First Minister, | 5:04:43 | 5:04:45 | |
would you make a statement please on the North Wales growth deal? | 5:04:45 | 5:04:48 | |
Yes, we'll continue to press the case for | 5:04:48 | 5:04:50 | |
a North Wales growth bid with the UK government, | 5:04:50 | 5:04:53 | |
the reference by the Chancellor to the North Wales growth bid | 5:04:53 | 5:04:56 | |
in his recent budget, which seems some time ago now, | 5:04:56 | 5:04:58 | |
is a positive step forward and we trust | 5:04:58 | 5:05:01 | |
the UK government will maintain that commitment. | 5:05:01 | 5:05:04 | |
Thank you, First Minister. | 5:05:04 | 5:05:06 | |
A key part of the North Wales growth deal is Wylfa Newydd, | 5:05:06 | 5:05:09 | |
the nuclear power plant which will be built on Anglesey, | 5:05:09 | 5:05:14 | |
which will create many well-paid jobs, highly skilled, | 5:05:14 | 5:05:18 | |
not just on Anglesey but throughout the whole of North Wales. | 5:05:18 | 5:05:21 | |
Now, having read through the Labour Party manifesto, | 5:05:21 | 5:05:24 | |
there is clear support for our nuclear energy sector. | 5:05:24 | 5:05:29 | |
But just days before the general election was called, | 5:05:29 | 5:05:33 | |
the Labour Shadow Chancellor vowed to end nuclear power as part | 5:05:33 | 5:05:38 | |
of a Labour government's first 100 days in office. | 5:05:38 | 5:05:43 | |
Now it is well known, of course, | 5:05:43 | 5:05:44 | |
about the fact that Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of | 5:05:44 | 5:05:47 | |
the Labour Party, has for many years opposed nuclear power. | 5:05:47 | 5:05:52 | |
Could you take this opportunity to not only clarify yourself | 5:05:53 | 5:05:58 | |
and your government's opinion and goals for nuclear power, but also | 5:05:58 | 5:06:04 | |
the Labour Party's aspirations for the nuclear industry? | 5:06:04 | 5:06:09 | |
We are 100% committed to Wylfa Newydd. | 5:06:09 | 5:06:11 | |
We have already been working with with Wylfa itself | 5:06:11 | 5:06:16 | |
and the skill suppliers to make sure that there will be as many | 5:06:16 | 5:06:18 | |
local people as possible will have the skills required there. | 5:06:18 | 5:06:22 | |
It will provide many temporary construction jobs, | 5:06:23 | 5:06:26 | |
and importantly, around 600 jobs in the community. | 5:06:26 | 5:06:29 | |
There is no wavering in our support for the project. | 5:06:31 | 5:06:33 | |
Darren Millar. | 5:06:33 | 5:06:35 | |
Firstly, can I thank you, First Minister, for the remarks | 5:06:36 | 5:06:39 | |
you made this afternoon in relation to the attack in Manchester? | 5:06:39 | 5:06:44 | |
I'm sure they will be words of comfort at this | 5:06:44 | 5:06:46 | |
very difficult time for many families. | 5:06:46 | 5:06:48 | |
As a Mancunian myself, I'm very familiar with that part of | 5:06:48 | 5:06:53 | |
the world, and I know that many of my constituents, | 5:06:53 | 5:06:55 | |
some of my constituents, were present at the event, | 5:06:55 | 5:06:58 | |
because they have been in touch with me. | 5:06:58 | 5:07:00 | |
There's no doubt that events like this have an impact, | 5:07:00 | 5:07:04 | |
not just on the night for those who have been | 5:07:04 | 5:07:07 | |
injured or lost their lives, but indeed, | 5:07:07 | 5:07:11 | |
for many years to come, including the psychological impact | 5:07:11 | 5:07:15 | |
potentially, for those who were present. | 5:07:15 | 5:07:17 | |
Many of them, as you have already indicated, were teenagers. | 5:07:17 | 5:07:22 | |
Now, as a father, I know of teenagers, | 5:07:22 | 5:07:26 | |
I know how important it is that young people receive support | 5:07:26 | 5:07:31 | |
in a timely manner when they need it. And I was very pleased to hear | 5:07:31 | 5:07:35 | |
that the you are considering the establishment of a helpline for | 5:07:35 | 5:07:40 | |
any individuals from Wales who may need access | 5:07:40 | 5:07:43 | |
to support in the future. | 5:07:43 | 5:07:44 | |
Can I just ask you to confirm that there will be that | 5:07:44 | 5:07:48 | |
psychological support also, not just in terms of | 5:07:48 | 5:07:51 | |
the physical support which might be available, | 5:07:51 | 5:07:53 | |
but the psychological support | 5:07:53 | 5:07:55 | |
should it be needed by any of those young people, | 5:07:55 | 5:07:57 | |
or indeed any of the adults that were attending last night as well? | 5:07:57 | 5:08:01 | |
That's the intention. The intention is that people can be signposted | 5:08:01 | 5:08:04 | |
to organisations that can provide that support in the longer term. | 5:08:04 | 5:08:10 | |
It tends to be the case with PTSD, for example, | 5:08:10 | 5:08:12 | |
that people don't see it at the beginning - | 5:08:12 | 5:08:15 | |
it develops over time as people begin to understand the consequences | 5:08:15 | 5:08:19 | |
of what might have happened, or understand the consequences | 5:08:19 | 5:08:23 | |
of what they've seen. | 5:08:23 | 5:08:24 | |
So it is hugely important to make sure that | 5:08:24 | 5:08:26 | |
that support is available, not just for a week or two | 5:08:26 | 5:08:29 | |
but over the course of time that the individual needs it | 5:08:29 | 5:08:31 | |
in order to come to terms with what they've witnessed | 5:08:31 | 5:08:34 | |
or they've experienced. | 5:08:34 | 5:08:35 | |
Llyr Gruffydd. | 5:08:35 | 5:08:37 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Thank you. We know that significant sums | 5:08:37 | 5:08:43 | |
will be invested in light of this growth bid | 5:08:43 | 5:08:46 | |
in North Wales, but the local authorities have come together | 5:08:46 | 5:08:49 | |
to create a joint committee which will oversee that process. | 5:08:49 | 5:08:53 | |
But may I ask how you as a government | 5:08:53 | 5:08:55 | |
will ensure that these investments do reflect your strategic priorities | 5:08:55 | 5:08:59 | |
in North Wales and aren't led to run in parallel | 5:08:59 | 5:09:03 | |
so that everything works together | 5:09:03 | 5:09:05 | |
as one effort for economic regeneration in North Wales? | 5:09:05 | 5:09:08 | |
Because I'm not really sure where the government voice is heard | 5:09:08 | 5:09:12 | |
within the context of this new joint committee or other sectors | 5:09:12 | 5:09:16 | |
such as the business sector, HE and FE in the region, | 5:09:16 | 5:09:20 | |
which were a prominent part of the economic ambition board, | 5:09:20 | 5:09:25 | |
but will now have a non-voting role in these new structures. | 5:09:25 | 5:09:29 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Well, as regards the bid itself of the city deal | 5:09:32 | 5:09:37 | |
that's taking place now, it's the local authorities | 5:09:37 | 5:09:39 | |
that are in the lead, and not Welsh government. | 5:09:39 | 5:09:42 | |
We are part of the process, but they ensure | 5:09:42 | 5:09:44 | |
that the governance structure | 5:09:44 | 5:09:46 | |
is in place and that they consider regional projects, | 5:09:46 | 5:09:50 | |
not just projects that benefit only one county. | 5:09:50 | 5:09:55 | |
And so we, of course, want to ensure that the structures are in place, | 5:09:55 | 5:09:58 | |
and we're confident that that is the case. | 5:09:58 | 5:10:01 | |
We've seen the local governments working together, | 5:10:01 | 5:10:04 | |
whoever may run those local authorities, | 5:10:04 | 5:10:07 | |
and we are confident that the funding will be used | 5:10:07 | 5:10:10 | |
in the way in which we would wish to see. | 5:10:10 | 5:10:12 | |
And we of course will collaborate with local authorities | 5:10:12 | 5:10:16 | |
to ensure that our priorities as a government are secured | 5:10:16 | 5:10:20 | |
and there isn't very much difference | 5:10:20 | 5:10:21 | |
between our priorities and the counties' priorities | 5:10:21 | 5:10:24 | |
to ensure that they are of mutual benefit. | 5:10:24 | 5:10:28 | |
Thank you, First Minister. | 5:10:28 | 5:10:31 | |
There we are. That was First Minister's questions. | 5:10:31 | 5:10:33 | |
If you want more coverage of the National Assembly, | 5:10:33 | 5:10:36 | |
go online to BBC Wales' newspage... | 5:10:36 | 5:10:38 | |
That's it from us on the programme. Thanks for watching. | 5:10:41 | 5:10:44 |