:00:19. > :00:25.Good afternoon and welcome to the programme, our weekly coverage of
:00:26. > :00:30.questions to the First Minister. Carwyn Jones expects questions and
:00:31. > :00:35.public transport, jobs for Newport and the funding of social care. Away
:00:36. > :00:41.from the chamber, you can follow Welsh politics and our Twitter feed.
:00:42. > :00:46.Business in the Assembly has started so let's cross to questions from the
:00:47. > :00:52.First Minister -- for the First Minister.
:00:53. > :00:58.TRANSLATION: The first item on the agenda is questions to the First
:00:59. > :01:02.Minister. Will the First Minister make a statement on public transport
:01:03. > :01:07.provision in south-east Wales. The plan sets out the measures we are
:01:08. > :01:12.taking to make sure the south-east is connected by effective, modern
:01:13. > :01:20.and fully into -- fully integrated public transport. The decision and
:01:21. > :01:23.the awarding of the new Welsh border franchise is critically important
:01:24. > :01:30.for south-east Wales and for the Wales Metro. You mentioned at the
:01:31. > :01:33.end of your answer the importance of integration. Will you update us on
:01:34. > :01:38.the process of awarding the franchise, given that the metro map
:01:39. > :01:46.includes bus and train routes? What are you doing to make sure that the
:01:47. > :01:59.independency of those two is insured in the new franchise? The franchise
:02:00. > :02:07.is going well but I wouldn't expect to cross railway services with bus
:02:08. > :02:10.services. Next year the government and the Assembly will have the
:02:11. > :02:16.opportunity to integrate bus and rail services given the fact that
:02:17. > :02:27.control will rest in the same place. It has been five years since the
:02:28. > :02:35.report making a case for a step change in public transport was
:02:36. > :02:38.published. A colour matter and rail costs about the same as on a
:02:39. > :02:44.motorway but carries eight to 20 more people, so I wonder what the
:02:45. > :02:54.government has done to deal with the congestion we currently have on the
:02:55. > :03:05.Mfor east of Cardiff. That road is affected by many problems. -- the
:03:06. > :03:12.M4. The Metro will improve and upgrade the existing lines and the
:03:13. > :03:18.next phases will include light rail but that is some years away. The
:03:19. > :03:22.initial focus will be on heavy rail lines that exists but there are
:03:23. > :03:32.significant opportunities for modal shift via the metro in years to
:03:33. > :03:37.come. Last Thursday morning the leaders of Bridgend Council and
:03:38. > :03:42.another council gave a statement on the advantage of the metro. They
:03:43. > :03:47.argued that it needs to connect across the northern valleys and not
:03:48. > :03:49.just strengthen links to and from Cardiff. Will the First Minister
:03:50. > :03:56.agree and commit to ensuring this happens? The metro is not a greater
:03:57. > :04:05.Cardiff transports six -- system. The fact that it will be based in
:04:06. > :04:13.Pontypridd gives an example of our commitment to valleys communities.
:04:14. > :04:19.Many people commute from one valley to another. The railway lines once
:04:20. > :04:23.connected those areas but they are long gone so we need to look at how
:04:24. > :04:31.we can upgrade bus services to provide those connections. In stand
:04:32. > :04:43.up no-op on Saturday at the Welsh Labour conference. -- inland at no.
:04:44. > :04:49.Every train on the Wales and border line will have a roll-out of free
:04:50. > :04:55.Wi-Fi, starting with 50 of the busiest stations in Wales, and a 12
:04:56. > :04:58.month pilot a free weekend travel. Isn't this further evidence that the
:04:59. > :05:06.Welsh Labour government is on the side of commuters and what further
:05:07. > :05:10.action can improve public transport in my constituency and in Wales? I
:05:11. > :05:15.thank her for grinding me of what I said at the weekend. It is a
:05:16. > :05:18.commitment that we make to commuters, the fact that we are
:05:19. > :05:22.upgrading the Metro, we are committed to the north-east Metro,
:05:23. > :05:31.we are looking at upgrading trains, the fact that when powers come to us
:05:32. > :05:35.we will look to upgrading the bus system, and we will do things to
:05:36. > :05:43.make it easier and more comfortable to travel by rail and bus in the
:05:44. > :05:46.future. TRANSLATION: What discussions has the Welsh government
:05:47. > :05:51.held with Newsquest regarding public money used to establish the
:05:52. > :05:58.company's sub editing Centre in Newport? We are in ongoing
:05:59. > :06:00.discussions with Newsquest regarding its ongoing and planned
:06:01. > :06:07.redundancies. Officials have received assurances and current
:06:08. > :06:11.staffing levels and we will use this to determine whether the conditions
:06:12. > :06:16.of the grant have been breached. Will you therefore confirm that you
:06:17. > :06:18.will actually try to recoup every penny if the full terms and
:06:19. > :06:26.conditions have been breached and will you reconsider the way you do
:06:27. > :06:29.support the local press? This is an NUJ campaign in terms of local news
:06:30. > :06:33.matters. Wouldn't it be more appropriate for the Welsh government
:06:34. > :06:37.to establish an independent fund for Independent news so that all
:06:38. > :06:43.companies could be brought into that to support Welsh and English
:06:44. > :06:52.language journalism? It is right that we should pursue every penny.
:06:53. > :06:56.If terms and conditions were breached. Secondly, with the fund,
:06:57. > :07:02.we are going to establish an independent forum for the media to
:07:03. > :07:09.consider the challenges over the ensuring years and see which way we
:07:10. > :07:17.have strong and robust local media. -- in assuming years. The staff at
:07:18. > :07:21.Newsquest are very worried. Along with the trade union I have spoken
:07:22. > :07:27.to staff, who estimate there will be less than ten fewer full-time roles
:07:28. > :07:33.at the end of the process and that full-time high skilled jobs will be
:07:34. > :07:38.replaced by more part-time administrative roles. Newsquest say
:07:39. > :07:41.they employ approximately 60 staff in Newport and support editorial and
:07:42. > :07:46.publishing teams across the organisation. Does the Welsh
:07:47. > :07:50.government know how the figure of 60 staff equates to full-time roles in
:07:51. > :07:53.Newport and what assurances have you received to ensure that Newsquest
:07:54. > :07:59.continues to meet their obligations to their staff and the government?
:08:00. > :08:09.We are aware of 14 planned redundancies. In 2015 we provide
:08:10. > :08:13.money to Newsquest towards the creation and safeguarding of jobs.
:08:14. > :08:18.That award was conditional on the jobs being replaced in May 20 20.
:08:19. > :08:24.The operation has exceeded that target for job creation so far but
:08:25. > :08:29.it is important that they honour that, if they don't we will pull the
:08:30. > :08:36.money back. I asked the same question last week regarding the sub
:08:37. > :08:44.editing Centre in Newport. You confirms that the grant of the money
:08:45. > :08:51.in May 2015 was in -- on condition of jobs being in place until May of
:08:52. > :08:59.2020. It now appears that the staff in Newport were placed at risk of
:09:00. > :09:05.redundancy. Can I ask whether the Welsh government was aware of these
:09:06. > :09:09.redundancies and if so what representations were made to the
:09:10. > :09:12.company at that time to remind them of the condition attached to the
:09:13. > :09:18.award of grant funding from this Assembly? As I said, the conditions
:09:19. > :09:24.of the grant have been met thus far but they have to be met until May of
:09:25. > :09:29.2020 otherwise we will seek to recoup the money. As far as
:09:30. > :09:33.officials are concerned, there have been discussions for some time with
:09:34. > :09:38.Newsquest. As customary in these situations we look to see what help
:09:39. > :09:42.we can offer but let it be very clear that if the conditions of the
:09:43. > :09:48.grant are not met then we will take action to recoup the money. I know
:09:49. > :09:54.that many of the journalists working at the sub editing in Newport were
:09:55. > :09:59.from Cardiff, having already been made redundant by Trinity Mirror,
:10:00. > :10:03.which has also seen wave after wave of job losses. What more can the
:10:04. > :10:10.Welsh government do to stop large private companies which run local
:10:11. > :10:15.news titles decimating the industry further and does he know of any
:10:16. > :10:24.funding available for journalists who may want to set up local news
:10:25. > :10:30.websites? Officials have provided information on services available to
:10:31. > :10:37.redundant workers. Business Wales is available in order to look at the
:10:38. > :10:43.kind of financial help that has been mentioned, but there is no doubt
:10:44. > :10:46.that many of us fear that we will see a steady diminishing of local
:10:47. > :10:51.and national news coverage across Wales, which is why the independent
:10:52. > :10:55.media Forum is being set up and one of their objectives will be to look
:10:56. > :11:06.at ways of making sure that people are properly informed and not
:11:07. > :11:12.misled. Tomorrow the UK Government will trigger Article 50, beginning
:11:13. > :11:18.the process by which the UK, or at least some parts of it, will leave
:11:19. > :11:23.the European Union. You have previously said that you expect to
:11:24. > :11:27.be consulted prior to Article 50 night and being made. Can you tell
:11:28. > :11:33.us what consultation has taken place and what you expect to see in the
:11:34. > :11:37.Article 50 letter? We discussed this at length last week when I met with
:11:38. > :11:41.the Prime Minister and David Davis. It was unclear then on the part of
:11:42. > :11:50.the UK Government whether it would be a short or a longer letter out
:11:51. > :11:54.loud in -- outlining the entire case but it seems to me that what will
:11:55. > :11:57.happen is that the letter will simply be sent explaining what the
:11:58. > :12:04.UK is planning to do. I don't expect there to be anything in the letter
:12:05. > :12:07.referring to devolution. Thank you. That doesn't fill me with great
:12:08. > :12:12.confidence that you don't know exactly what will be in the letter.
:12:13. > :12:18.The think tank there must yesterday set out that Wales could be hardest
:12:19. > :12:25.hit by the economic impact of Brexit and we face as you know a high risk
:12:26. > :12:28.from any loss of exports and that is why continued participation in the
:12:29. > :12:33.single market is so important. We also face a high risk from any loss
:12:34. > :12:39.of EU funding. In terms of EU nationals, demos describes the
:12:40. > :12:43.situation as low risk to Wales due to the relatively small numbers of
:12:44. > :12:48.people here but we do know that those EU citizens who are here are
:12:49. > :12:59.important to our public services and in particular the NHS. Those Demel
:13:00. > :13:11.'s findings explain exactly why... -- those Demos findings. What is
:13:12. > :13:15.your assessment of a hard Brexit? The only issue different from
:13:16. > :13:22.statements I have made in the past, the language that membership is
:13:23. > :13:26.different from participation. What is clear to me is that last week the
:13:27. > :13:33.UK Government itself didn't know exactly what the Article 50 letter
:13:34. > :13:35.would look like. I advised the Prime Minister and I thought the shorter
:13:36. > :13:41.the better would be best for Wales. We will see what the letter actually
:13:42. > :13:48.looks like. In terms of EU citizens, there are still EU citizens who are
:13:49. > :13:55.a concern -- who are concerned that they might be deep ported. It is not
:13:56. > :13:58.a fear that is grounded in fact. -- might be deported. They saw what has
:13:59. > :14:06.happened in the United States and they extrapolated those fears to
:14:07. > :14:10.hear. It is critical to me that as soon as possible the issue of EU
:14:11. > :14:16.citizens living across the European Union and UK citizens living in
:14:17. > :14:20.other countries of the EU is resolved quickly to remove that
:14:21. > :14:26.uncertainty. On the economy she and I are in the same place, access to
:14:27. > :14:28.the single market, no imposition of tariffs, the ability to have full
:14:29. > :14:36.access to the single market is crucial for economy like ours where
:14:37. > :14:42.67% of exports go to the EU. I have no confidence in the UK Government's
:14:43. > :14:45.ability to reflect our specific Welsh national interest and there
:14:46. > :14:50.isn't any information you have given us this afternoon to give us any
:14:51. > :14:55.more confidence. Wales can't afford to pay a high price for a hard
:14:56. > :14:59.Brexit and we know we will have to defend our interests due to the
:15:00. > :15:03.Article 15 negotiations but we also need to think about how we move the
:15:04. > :15:07.debate forward to deal with the powers we need to mitigate those
:15:08. > :15:14.economic risks. -- Article 50. We want to keep the value of current EU
:15:15. > :15:18.funding in any replacement scheme but Plaid Cymru believes we need
:15:19. > :15:21.more power in Wales to decide how that money is spent. We should be
:15:22. > :15:26.able to use replacement funding to make Wales more attractive to
:15:27. > :15:31.business and Plaid Cymru wants to see Wales in power so we can adapt
:15:32. > :15:37.to the challenge of Brexit. We need much wider tax powers than those on
:15:38. > :15:43.offer already. I have set out my demands to the UK Government on this
:15:44. > :15:48.today. What Plaid Cymru sees as being in Wales's best interest. Can
:15:49. > :15:54.you tell us what you intend to do as a Welsh government to get our
:15:55. > :16:00.country into a position where it can survive an extreme Tory Brexit?
:16:01. > :16:11.I am not as optimistic, probably the wrong word, that there will be any
:16:12. > :16:14.money post 2020. All money to replace structural funds and I'm
:16:15. > :16:18.increasingly convinced there would be money to replace farming
:16:19. > :16:22.subsidies. We are hearing common agricultural policy is a problem.
:16:23. > :16:27.That means farming subsidies could disappear. That is my greatest fear.
:16:28. > :16:30.We know what that would mean for the economy overall in Wales. But she
:16:31. > :16:35.will know in many occasions I have said that this process will only
:16:36. > :16:40.work if all four nations agreed to the final settlement. I don't
:16:41. > :16:45.believe it in any way possible to have a final settlement by March
:16:46. > :16:53.2019, because it would have to be to make goodbye autumn next year. --
:16:54. > :16:59.committed by autumn next year. They have to be agreed by the four
:17:00. > :17:03.nations, and the UK Government. I think it's workable then, but my
:17:04. > :17:08.greatest fear is this is not well understood. On Thursday, we will see
:17:09. > :17:14.the white paper on the so-called great repeal bill. If it focuses
:17:15. > :17:18.solely on preserving the existing European law, that sensible. But if
:17:19. > :17:24.it strays into the territory of suggesting something like EU powers
:17:25. > :17:26.coming back into Whitehall on a temporary basis then they'll be a
:17:27. > :17:33.discussion about where they go, that would not be acceptable. Temporary
:17:34. > :17:36.should mean temporary. We will see if the UK Government is serious
:17:37. > :17:43.about working sure that the UK can work as a partnership. Leader of the
:17:44. > :17:49.Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies. Yesterday we learned that
:17:50. > :17:53.for health boards in Wales have a chronic deficit. The Welsh
:17:54. > :17:57.Government have drawn a line in the sand and said they will not be
:17:58. > :18:02.bailed out. The Health Secretary did say that no services will be lost
:18:03. > :18:07.anywhere in Wales, because of a lack of money. Can you confirm that is
:18:08. > :18:10.the case and that is was government policy? Yes. The health boards are
:18:11. > :18:14.being told that they must keep within budget. They were told at the
:18:15. > :18:19.beginning they must not harm services. We will look again at them
:18:20. > :18:24.accounts in June and if further action needs to be taken, if they're
:18:25. > :18:36.unable to deliver, then I shall look into it. It is in special measures
:18:37. > :18:42.run by the Welsh Government, but you can must see if people rely on the
:18:43. > :18:47.services. -- put money into services people rely on. When one of the
:18:48. > :18:54.fourth health boards is projected to have a worse deficit next year, ?52
:18:55. > :18:58.million as opposed to ?39 million. This a break even position last
:18:59. > :19:03.year, that statement does not work. It's unbelievable, First Minister.
:19:04. > :19:10.How are you going to be able to maintain services when four of the
:19:11. > :19:12.six health boards have such a chronic deficit? And ultimately,
:19:13. > :19:22.waiting times are constantly going up? 47. But he asked the question,
:19:23. > :19:31.what will happen if they don't come within budget -- for all seven. If
:19:32. > :19:34.they do not come into budget without harming services, we have to look
:19:35. > :19:41.into the governance of that board. We will not start, the shy away of
:19:42. > :19:46.that. Much like we went shy of dealing with Betsi Cadwaladr. I use
:19:47. > :19:51.four of six because Powys health board does not have a General
:19:52. > :19:56.Hospital in its area. The high-end of acute services, is in the
:19:57. > :20:00.district General hospitals and closing to be the health boards that
:20:01. > :20:11.deal clearly have a big deficit problem. As refused avatar way
:20:12. > :20:15.health board -- Abertawe, we talk about government away judgments, and
:20:16. > :20:18.the ballot sheet. I can hear from a position, I need to look across the
:20:19. > :20:29.border, the deficit position of Welsh NHS is double what the English
:20:30. > :20:37.NHS is facing. I don't discount the issues across the whole of the NHS
:20:38. > :20:41.in the United Kingdom. Is not unreasonable people in those health
:20:42. > :20:45.board areas trying to reconcile the statement that there will be no loss
:20:46. > :20:48.of services, there will be no increase in waiting times, when
:20:49. > :20:53.you've got to put such downward pressure on the budget without
:20:54. > :20:57.additional money going in. So I do ask you again, what specific
:20:58. > :21:00.measures to you believe that he will be able to take, you've identified
:21:01. > :21:07.gene being a particular point, and government arrangements, to address
:21:08. > :21:13.the thoughtful tonne shortfall. I'm not trying to belittle that point
:21:14. > :21:18.but I'm trying to make a point that constituents and users of these
:21:19. > :21:21.services are not unreasonably concerned because obviously, there
:21:22. > :21:27.is a huge issue about how these deficits will be brought back into
:21:28. > :21:31.control. Powys is a health board, and it buys in most of its services.
:21:32. > :21:37.One can argue it's more difficult for powers because so few services
:21:38. > :21:44.are provided in Powys because of its rural status. The message we have
:21:45. > :21:48.given to them is you must manage this, you must make sure that you
:21:49. > :21:53.cut in areas that are not providing services to the public, you do not
:21:54. > :22:00.look at services provided the public and you come within budget. It is
:22:01. > :22:06.their responsibility, that is why we have health board and they will have
:22:07. > :22:11.to answer for their actions in a few months' time. We will look at the
:22:12. > :22:19.national situation. TRANSLATION: On behalf of the Ukip
:22:20. > :22:23.leader group. Diolch. My group leader asks me to pass on his
:22:24. > :22:29.apologies as he is at a family funeral today. May I commend the
:22:30. > :22:34.First Minister on his government's 13th of March response to the UK
:22:35. > :22:43.Government's consultation paper. On the future of the Severn told. It is
:22:44. > :22:48.well argued and reflects the view of this assembly on my motion to
:22:49. > :22:51.support tolls on the bridge were following their return to the public
:22:52. > :22:54.sector. One would hope there would be a greater degree of engagement
:22:55. > :23:02.between the Welsh Government and the UK Government that merely filing her
:23:03. > :23:04.consultation response, the silk commission propose close
:23:05. > :23:08.coordination between the two governments on the future of the
:23:09. > :23:14.Severn crossing. The Saint Davids Day agreement, whether UK Government
:23:15. > :23:19.worked with the Welsh Government to determine its long future. And their
:23:20. > :23:22.investment strategies says the Department for Transport will work
:23:23. > :23:25.with the Welsh Assembly government to examine the future of the
:23:26. > :23:31.crossings in more detail. Can the First Minister tell us how that
:23:32. > :23:34.engagement is going? Officials are in discussions. Our position is that
:23:35. > :23:39.we should take over the running of those bridges. And take control of
:23:40. > :23:43.the tolls before we do that we would have do you have a robust
:23:44. > :23:47.understanding of what the condition and cost of those two bridges are.
:23:48. > :23:55.The figures we have vary wildly. They need to be nailed down, almost
:23:56. > :23:59.literally. We understand what they are, and we should control the
:24:00. > :24:04.tolls. I don't understand the resistance of the UK Government in
:24:05. > :24:08.this. I don't understand why they feel that the bridge is, at the end
:24:09. > :24:14.of the day, the main entrance to Wales should not be controlled from
:24:15. > :24:17.Wales. I agree with the First Minister and wish him and his
:24:18. > :24:25.officials well in pushing that position. The UK Government, I
:24:26. > :24:30.believe, has three very serious legal risks if it seeks to continue
:24:31. > :24:39.changing the agreement. One could be fatal to a plan. First the agreement
:24:40. > :24:45.says Tolson sees it is fixed sum is raised. That would happen around the
:24:46. > :24:48.end of next year. Second, we have under schedule five of the
:24:49. > :24:54.government of Wales act, a list of devolved matters including 10.1, the
:24:55. > :24:57.making operation and enforcement of schemes for imposing charges in
:24:58. > :25:02.respect of the use of Welsh trunk roads. That, I believe, has led the
:25:03. > :25:07.UK Government to propose turning over the English half of the bridge,
:25:08. > :25:11.because that supersedes the charging authority. They would need to
:25:12. > :25:17.enforce that all essentially at a plaza in Wales, counter to the
:25:18. > :25:20.government of Wales act. Thirdly, they have a further problem is that
:25:21. > :25:27.the transport act 2000, which they are now planning to use, says that a
:25:28. > :25:32.trunk road charging scheme could only be made in respect of a road if
:25:33. > :25:37.the road is carried by a bridge through a tunnel. It doesn't provide
:25:38. > :25:42.charging for part of a road carried by a bridge. And the use of the full
:25:43. > :25:48.phrase passes through a tunnel implies by analogy going from one
:25:49. > :25:51.side of the river to the other. So if all those reasons, can the First
:25:52. > :25:56.Minister consider what more he or his government might do to emphasise
:25:57. > :26:00.the UK Government at the very least legal risks they run if they do seek
:26:01. > :26:04.to impose charges in future without an agreement. The member has raised
:26:05. > :26:10.these issues before. We looked at them. It appears because of the
:26:11. > :26:16.nature of the governments of the Severn Bridge, they are reserved, it
:26:17. > :26:22.does not mean it will be raised further, I will do that work to him.
:26:23. > :26:25.The tolls on the old bridge on the other side and the tolls on the
:26:26. > :26:32.Newbridge are on the wild side. We prefer it if there no tools at all
:26:33. > :26:39.on either side. And we can maintain the bridges. The legal
:26:40. > :26:43.correspondence has changed. The focus was the UK Government could do
:26:44. > :26:46.it because the charging authority because the UK Government isn't
:26:47. > :26:51.seeking to enforce our side of the road. There are difficulties in
:26:52. > :26:55.doing that and later act, there are three different arguments. Anyone of
:26:56. > :26:58.what would be fatal to the UK Government's position. They will
:26:59. > :27:03.either use the current toll passed despite our government saying it's
:27:04. > :27:08.our right to force it in Wales, all looking in to investigate free flow
:27:09. > :27:17.charged, a lot of capital without legal certainty that someone goes
:27:18. > :27:20.and doesn't pay. They chase them for the debt and go to court, and unless
:27:21. > :27:23.they know with certainty that that causes going to say yes, that is a
:27:24. > :27:26.valid charge, it is very difficult for them to a invest in that scheme.
:27:27. > :27:29.The frustration I have there is a fixed sum of the UK Government, that
:27:30. > :27:40.which would be raised within a year or so. Continued polling. --
:27:41. > :27:43.tolling. Much of that is the operation of the tolls itself that
:27:44. > :27:49.we are looking at a sum of around half that. Walter is not an ideal
:27:50. > :27:53.scenario, with the First Minister consider that it might be better
:27:54. > :27:58.than nothing if tolling could continue for just a gear and then we
:27:59. > :28:02.could make a modest contribution perhaps two or 3 million to the
:28:03. > :28:07.telling cost, does he think that the BA deal worth having to get rid of
:28:08. > :28:14.those tolls, and will he work with parties across the chamber to agree
:28:15. > :28:18.with that? We wouldn't do anything that is not devolved. It it's not
:28:19. > :28:23.devolved, it's a matter for the UK get government to deal with. It
:28:24. > :28:29.strikes me that, he suggested a way forward, but the easy way in my mind
:28:30. > :28:35.is to have no tolls at all. In intermittent periods, to have
:28:36. > :28:39.electronic tolling, that is investment, and the issue for us
:28:40. > :28:45.that the faster the traffic goes to the bridges, the faster it adds to
:28:46. > :28:49.congestion at those terminals. That is a fact we are aware of. He will
:28:50. > :28:55.note the proposals the government have made in terms of that. To me,
:28:56. > :28:59.this is a simple issue that doesn't need to be made complex. We'd have
:29:00. > :29:05.an understanding of what the condition of the two bridges
:29:06. > :29:09.actually is. We don't know that. I've seen figures well beyond the
:29:10. > :29:13.figure he suggested in terms of maintenance and upkeep. That needs
:29:14. > :29:17.to be robust, first of all. Then we'll have a understanding of what
:29:18. > :29:23.it is. For us the government, we would like to the tolls, and we need
:29:24. > :29:32.to understand what we are taking. Question three. Will the First
:29:33. > :29:37.Minister make a statement on Welsh Government decisions for social
:29:38. > :29:41.care? We have made a decision on ?55 million on social services for 27 to
:29:42. > :29:49.18. That includes the 20 million for social care yesterday. We have also
:29:50. > :29:53.provided for social care. I'm sure everyone will welcome the 2 billion
:29:54. > :29:59.announcement for social care in England. That gives the Welsh
:30:00. > :30:04.Government an opportunity to add to its own money that you mentioned
:30:05. > :30:09.today. There is money now available for social care, which will all be
:30:10. > :30:13.grateful for. What will you say to Bridgend County Borough Council
:30:14. > :30:17.which has taken ?2.2 million of social care money out of next year's
:30:18. > :30:23.budget. We need a Labour government in London. That will provide the
:30:24. > :30:29.funding for social care. And sure that will happen many times over the
:30:30. > :30:41.Lynne Neagle. Thank you the meeting me last month to talk about the
:30:42. > :30:43.family fund money in the social services fund and its effect on
:30:44. > :30:51.disabled children and their families.
:30:52. > :30:58.Given your assurances to me in that meeting and that these are some of
:30:59. > :31:02.our lowest income families who in my experience have to fight everything
:31:03. > :31:07.in their lives, will you look at allocating some of this additional
:31:08. > :31:10.money to disabled children and their families? She has been passionate in
:31:11. > :31:16.her advocacy for this cause, she has asked me to see whether money has
:31:17. > :31:23.been made available, I will look at that for her. Not all of the money
:31:24. > :31:26.has been allocated, we have to look at what will happen in the financial
:31:27. > :31:37.year beyond this year and the one he and that but I will look at that for
:31:38. > :31:42.her. -- and the one beyond that. TRANSLATION: The efficiency and what
:31:43. > :31:48.we can achieve from social service funding depends on the NHS and what
:31:49. > :31:58.happens in it. I think it is the fault of the government for not
:31:59. > :32:05.supporting the NHS which is responsible for this overflow. Does
:32:06. > :32:10.he agree with my concern that forcing them to balance their books
:32:11. > :32:16.overnight would inevitably lead to more pressure on the social sector?
:32:17. > :32:20.The health board had three-year is to consider their budget, that is
:32:21. > :32:23.why the law changed in this place because they would then have to
:32:24. > :32:28.consider their budgets over a period of a year and now they have
:32:29. > :32:31.three-year is and it is easier for them to balance their books in that
:32:32. > :32:35.regard so we do expect them, as they have been given that freedom, to
:32:36. > :32:44.ensure they are responsible and can remain within their budgets. Both
:32:45. > :32:48.Conservative and Labour governments in Westminster and successive
:32:49. > :32:52.Labour, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dem coalition is here in Wales have
:32:53. > :32:57.failed to allow for sufficient funding for social care. As a result
:32:58. > :33:04.of decades of underfunding we are approaching a crisis point in social
:33:05. > :33:08.care and despite the fact that our population is ageing fast neither
:33:09. > :33:12.you nor the Tories seem to have any plans to address chronic long-term
:33:13. > :33:16.shortages. Your government has announced additional funding for
:33:17. > :33:21.social care but this simply replaces lost funding. It does nothing to
:33:22. > :33:26.address future demand. How does your government plan to address the
:33:27. > :33:32.long-term funding shortfall and make sure that future social care needs
:33:33. > :33:37.are met? If she looks at the social services in Wales act she will see
:33:38. > :33:44.that we are committed to investing in the system, we know that spending
:33:45. > :33:51.on social services per head in Wales is 6% higher than in England. We
:33:52. > :33:57.have put in the investment. On top of that it is important to remember
:33:58. > :34:20.the ?60 million intermediate care fund. Delayed care in February was
:34:21. > :34:25.22% down on the previous year. How is the Welsh government working to
:34:26. > :34:30.ensure that emotional resilience is improved in children and young
:34:31. > :34:33.people? We are working to improve the well-being of children and young
:34:34. > :34:40.people and helping them to improving emotional resilience. You will be
:34:41. > :34:46.aware of my recent short debate on ensuring that resilience is
:34:47. > :34:55.developed long before young people need specialist help. This is linked
:34:56. > :34:59.to ongoing work on the government is doing. As you have highlighted, the
:35:00. > :35:13.Cabinet Secretary for health is responsible for the... It raises
:35:14. > :35:16.questions for me as to how this work is being taken forward in a joined
:35:17. > :35:24.up way across government. Will you personally look at this issue and
:35:25. > :35:29.commit to ensuring that the work to deliver on Together For Children And
:35:30. > :35:34.Young People is taken forward with urgency across government?
:35:35. > :35:39.Discussions have been held between the Cabinet Secretary is for
:35:40. > :35:42.education and health on how the joint work can be improved. This is
:35:43. > :35:49.not the sole responsibility of one minister, I understand that. We know
:35:50. > :35:54.that in working on an across portfolio basis we can get the best
:35:55. > :35:59.results. We recognise that health education of much linked and
:36:00. > :36:02.officials have been instructed to work together to consider different
:36:03. > :36:08.approaches to support the mental health and well-being of our
:36:09. > :36:13.children and young people. One thing which can be done is to develop more
:36:14. > :36:20.mindfulness practice in schools. The Cabinet Secretary for education
:36:21. > :36:24.visited a school in Colwyn Bay late last year when she met some of the
:36:25. > :36:30.children and staff that had been practising mindfulness and they
:36:31. > :36:33.spoke passionately about the impact it had in helping them to deal with
:36:34. > :36:39.what can be difficult situations whether in school or at home. I
:36:40. > :36:42.wonder what the Welsh government is doing to look at mindfulness and
:36:43. > :36:46.whether this can be introduced more widely into the education sector. It
:36:47. > :36:49.is something we are considering actively as something we discussed
:36:50. > :36:57.at length before the election last year. There is no greater advocate
:36:58. > :37:01.for mindfulness than the Cabinet Secretary for economy. I wasn't sure
:37:02. > :37:06.what it was but I am fully informed now. It is hugely important that we
:37:07. > :37:09.consider new to help young people to deal with pressures that didn't
:37:10. > :37:13.exist when I was that age, the pressures of social media. When you
:37:14. > :37:19.went home, that was it, you wide followed around online with the
:37:20. > :37:23.bullying that that can sometimes lead to and the pressure to conform.
:37:24. > :37:33.-- you were not followed. New approaches need to be used to deal
:37:34. > :37:37.with new problems. TRANSLATION: Will he outlined the Welsh government's
:37:38. > :37:44.transport priorities for Pembrokeshire in the next 12 months?
:37:45. > :37:49.The National Trust or finance plan published in July 2015 sets out the
:37:50. > :37:56.investment on transport and infrastructure in all parts of Wales
:37:57. > :37:59.the 2015-2016. The National Trust or finance plan the Welsh government
:38:00. > :38:10.highlights only one project the Pembrokeshire in the next 12 months,
:38:11. > :38:19.the proposal to turn the Aseven 477 into a trunk road. Will you agree
:38:20. > :38:22.with me that in light of these important economic development is it
:38:23. > :38:29.is time for governments to cooperate to turn the A40 into a dual
:38:30. > :38:37.carriageway to make the most of these proposals in West Wales? First
:38:38. > :38:40.of all it is true to say that the project mentioned is crucially
:38:41. > :38:48.important. It is possible to consider the city deal to take new
:38:49. > :38:53.projects in terms of transport into account. We can certainly consider
:38:54. > :39:00.that. Thirdly, in taking over the franchise next year, it will be very
:39:01. > :39:04.important to ensure that the rail service is also improved in
:39:05. > :39:11.Pembrokeshire and to link Pembrokeshire with the rest of Wales
:39:12. > :39:14.and the rest of the UK. Ports are in important part of transport in
:39:15. > :39:19.Pembrokeshire and particularly the link between Wales and Ireland. With
:39:20. > :39:24.Brexit happening this week I am concerned that we will see less
:39:25. > :39:30.transport in terms of goods carried between Britain and Ireland and also
:39:31. > :39:36.in terms of passengers, with lots of talk about developing more direct
:39:37. > :39:42.links between France and the Republic of Ireland in order to
:39:43. > :39:51.avoid Britain once we have left the EU. That will undermine Pembroke
:39:52. > :39:58.Dock so what steps are you taking to ensure that we keep transport
:39:59. > :40:01.between the ports of Pembrokeshire? I have raised this number of times
:40:02. > :40:04.with the Westminster government and with the Irish government and I
:40:05. > :40:10.discussed it with the Taoiseach when he was here on the tenth March. My
:40:11. > :40:14.concern is that if it is easier to go through Northern Ireland that is
:40:15. > :40:19.where goods will go. If there is more paperwork that has to be filled
:40:20. > :40:26.in going through Holyhead, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard, if there is any
:40:27. > :40:29.official order in Wales but nothing of that kind in Northern Ireland
:40:30. > :40:33.then goods will go through Liverpool and the links that have -- the ports
:40:34. > :40:38.that have links with Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland
:40:39. > :40:42.understands this will have an impact on Dublin and other ports. It is
:40:43. > :40:45.crucially important that the arrangements in border crossing are
:40:46. > :40:49.the same between Wales and the Republic of Ireland as between the
:40:50. > :40:56.Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Will he provide an update
:40:57. > :41:02.on the new treatment... All health boards have received updates on
:41:03. > :41:12.their funding and the Cabinet Secretary will update before the
:41:13. > :41:17.summary says. -- summer recess. This demonstrates the Welsh government's
:41:18. > :41:22.commitment to delivering on the 2016 election pledge and I understand
:41:23. > :41:34.that new fund will Expedia eight -- will expedite access to new
:41:35. > :41:37.medicines for a host of illnesses, no doubt helping countless
:41:38. > :41:45.individuals with life-threatening else's right here in Wales. --
:41:46. > :41:48.illnesses. I understand that it is extremely early days but can I
:41:49. > :41:54.request that we receive regular updates on progress within the
:41:55. > :42:04.access to the new treatment fund and any figures that could be attached
:42:05. > :42:06.to that? I am sure that can be done. In January 2015 medicines
:42:07. > :42:11.recommended by NICE have been made available to patients and in the
:42:12. > :42:19.first two months this has already made a palpable Air France. --
:42:20. > :42:22.difference. Can you give us an overview of what monitoring is in
:42:23. > :42:26.place to ensure the funds that have gone to the health boards for this
:42:27. > :42:31.very where -- worthy initiative are being spent on just this initiative?
:42:32. > :42:37.There is full monitoring on that and we will see the results of that
:42:38. > :42:45.through the process is already made available. What discussions he has
:42:46. > :42:48.the Welsh government had with Cardiff Council regarding the
:42:49. > :42:54.provision of a new bus station in the city? This is ultimately a
:42:55. > :42:59.matter for Cardiff Council. I met with the counsellor and we discussed
:43:00. > :43:06.the latest updates on that the element. -- that development. I
:43:07. > :43:11.understand it is a matter principally for the council but the
:43:12. > :43:16.bus station is an issue of growing concern to South Wales residents.
:43:17. > :43:20.There have been fears that the facility may be too small and fears
:43:21. > :43:24.over the funding now as well. We don't yet know if there will be
:43:25. > :43:30.coach bays at the new station, none of which really helps with the
:43:31. > :43:33.government providing day-to-day integrated transport. As Cardiff is
:43:34. > :43:37.such an important hub for the region, can the Welsh government
:43:38. > :43:41.make any intervention to make sure that passengers do end up with a
:43:42. > :43:45.first-class facility rather than a botched job? There was a time when
:43:46. > :43:52.Cardiff Council doubted whether there needed to be a bus stop at
:43:53. > :43:56.all. -- bus station. It is hugely important to have an interchange and
:43:57. > :44:02.a hub. The need for a new station is clear to me, it needs to be fit for
:44:03. > :44:11.purpose, future proof, successfully integrated. The project has been led
:44:12. > :44:15.by a company that has monthly meetings with key stakeholders
:44:16. > :44:19.including us. I understand that planning permission has been
:44:20. > :44:24.approved but the start date has been delayed as discussions take place on
:44:25. > :44:29.what the station should look like. There is agreement that the station
:44:30. > :44:32.should be fit for purpose as the main interchange of a capital city.
:44:33. > :44:38.Following the triggering of Article 50 this week, what discussions does
:44:39. > :44:41.the First Minister intent to have with the UK Government and the
:44:42. > :44:47.establishment of a UK single market? The answer is on the many. I have
:44:48. > :44:55.had discussions already, we continue to hold them. -- the answer is,
:44:56. > :45:01.many. I think we should continue with an internal single market
:45:02. > :45:06.within the UK, there should be a rules -based system, those rules
:45:07. > :45:10.should be agreed by all four governments and there should be an
:45:11. > :45:15.independent adjudicator, a trade court if you like, to police those
:45:16. > :45:17.rules. If all of those requirements are satisfied the single market
:45:18. > :45:34.could be robust. Other people have referred to the
:45:35. > :45:37.Dem 's report saying... We have seen by the recent accidents by Tories
:45:38. > :45:45.are made that the party has broken promises. David Davies, has said, he
:45:46. > :45:50.wants to see the same benefits we have with the single market and
:45:51. > :45:54.Customs union to be maintained after we leave the EU. How realistic is
:45:55. > :45:59.the First Minister think that is? In the light of the fact that the Prime
:46:00. > :46:04.Minister of Malta has said that of necessity, our relationship needs to
:46:05. > :46:13.be inferior to that we currently enjoy? It's possible to do it by
:46:14. > :46:18.four example remaining in the EU. They don't want to pay into a budget
:46:19. > :46:29.pot, but if you want to be in a club you have to pay the fee. I think the
:46:30. > :46:33.UK will be offered a model that I don't think the UK will be offered a
:46:34. > :46:37.specific model. I don't believe there is a majority of people in
:46:38. > :46:41.this majority who want to see a Brexit that is so hard that tariffs
:46:42. > :46:52.will be put impose, there will be unnecessary restrictions of new,
:46:53. > :46:56.movements. What we don't know is that what they believe the terms
:46:57. > :47:00.would be. To my mind, it is perfectly possible to leave the EU
:47:01. > :47:03.and yet still have full access to the single market. Question nine,
:47:04. > :47:07.David Melding. What is the Welsh Government doing
:47:08. > :47:09.to actively promote female mentorship programmes
:47:10. > :47:19.in the workplace? We provide a programme to maximise
:47:20. > :47:22.the contribution women make to the economy. I think we all remember
:47:23. > :47:30.with deep affection, Dame Rosemary Butler, our former Bravo try
:47:31. > :47:39.Presiding Officer, and herb programme to fix her programme to
:47:40. > :47:44.increase women in public life. It was increasing ambition in women who
:47:45. > :47:48.already have the talent to perform outstandingly in the workplace.
:47:49. > :47:57.Quality is an important part of this. The exact equality. There are
:47:58. > :48:03.other tools at our disposal as well, it was commissioned by the Chief
:48:04. > :48:10.scientific adviser, dealing with the long-term problems of women in
:48:11. > :48:14.science, and the Minister Julie James accepted the statement in
:48:15. > :48:21.January. Those are two examples among many of the work being done to
:48:22. > :48:30.achieve two, the true equality in our society. Finally, question ten.
:48:31. > :48:31.Will the First Minister consider reopening
:48:32. > :48:33.inpatient perinatal mental health facilities?
:48:34. > :48:43.That is a decision for the health boards and committees. We are
:48:44. > :48:47.investing money for community specialist perinatal mental health
:48:48. > :48:50.service. I hope he has the opportunity to hear from mothers in
:48:51. > :48:55.Wales who have had the courage to speak out about their individual
:48:56. > :49:01.experience at Charlotte Harding from Cardiff whose husband took two years
:49:02. > :49:05.off from work to care for her and her two boys after developing
:49:06. > :49:11.postpartum psychosis. The own criteria in this country is based
:49:12. > :49:16.on... They are failing the government's own criteria. It costs
:49:17. > :49:19.more to send Welsh mothers to inpatient centres in England than it
:49:20. > :49:23.would have two keep the facilities open in Wales and we know the
:49:24. > :49:28.provision is patchy. Politics aside, can I plead with the First Minister
:49:29. > :49:31.to put as a matter of urgency this issue to the top of the agenda, so
:49:32. > :49:33.mothers in Wales do not face the joys of being separated from a
:49:34. > :49:44.newborn baby or their families or or not have the mental health
:49:45. > :49:48.facilities in their own country. In the last few years less than five
:49:49. > :49:56.women have been admitted to inpatient in Wales. The problem then
:49:57. > :50:02.of course is you cannot run a specialist unit on those numbers. No
:50:03. > :50:06.accredited body will allow this. It can't be a specialist unit with
:50:07. > :50:09.those numbers. I agree with him about the condition and not
:50:10. > :50:19.separating mothers and babies which is why we go the extra funding into
:50:20. > :50:22.community-based Perak perinatal funding. Focusing on the individual
:50:23. > :50:29.rather than the hospital, making sure they have community care,
:50:30. > :50:38.rather than using a badly used service and a problem of it
:50:39. > :50:41.continuing to be a unit. That was First Minister's Questions this
:50:42. > :50:51.afternoon. For more coverage, go online to BBC world's Senedd page.
:50:52. > :50:57.-- BBC Wales's Senedd web page. You can watch more at 6:30pm on BBC
:50:58. > :50:58.Wales. And at 9pm on S foresee. First Minister's Questions is back
:50:59. > :51:06.next week. Thank you for watching. I think I've died and gone to
:51:07. > :51:54.heaven. Saluti. Chin-chin. So, can anybody speak Italian?
:51:55. > :52:07.No. Non parlo italiano. Can ten Brits looking for
:52:08. > :52:11.a new life start again?