28/03/2017 First Minister's Questions


28/03/2017

Similar Content

Browse content similar to 28/03/2017. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

Good afternoon and welcome to the programme, our weekly coverage of

:00:19.:00:25.

questions to the First Minister. Carwyn Jones expects questions and

:00:26.:00:30.

public transport, jobs for Newport and the funding of social care. Away

:00:31.:00:35.

from the chamber, you can follow Welsh politics and our Twitter feed.

:00:36.:00:41.

Business in the Assembly has started so let's cross to questions from the

:00:42.:00:46.

First Minister -- for the First Minister.

:00:47.:00:52.

TRANSLATION: The first item on the agenda is questions to the First

:00:53.:00:58.

Minister. Will the First Minister make a statement on public transport

:00:59.:01:02.

provision in south-east Wales. The plan sets out the measures we are

:01:03.:01:07.

taking to make sure the south-east is connected by effective, modern

:01:08.:01:12.

and fully into -- fully integrated public transport. The decision and

:01:13.:01:20.

the awarding of the new Welsh border franchise is critically important

:01:21.:01:23.

for south-east Wales and for the Wales Metro. You mentioned at the

:01:24.:01:30.

end of your answer the importance of integration. Will you update us on

:01:31.:01:33.

the process of awarding the franchise, given that the metro map

:01:34.:01:38.

includes bus and train routes? What are you doing to make sure that the

:01:39.:01:46.

independency of those two is insured in the new franchise? The franchise

:01:47.:01:59.

is going well but I wouldn't expect to cross railway services with bus

:02:00.:02:07.

services. Next year the government and the Assembly will have the

:02:08.:02:10.

opportunity to integrate bus and rail services given the fact that

:02:11.:02:16.

control will rest in the same place. It has been five years since the

:02:17.:02:27.

report making a case for a step change in public transport was

:02:28.:02:35.

published. A colour matter and rail costs about the same as on a

:02:36.:02:38.

motorway but carries eight to 20 more people, so I wonder what the

:02:39.:02:44.

government has done to deal with the congestion we currently have on the

:02:45.:02:54.

Mfor east of Cardiff. That road is affected by many problems. -- the

:02:55.:03:05.

M4. The Metro will improve and upgrade the existing lines and the

:03:06.:03:12.

next phases will include light rail but that is some years away. The

:03:13.:03:18.

initial focus will be on heavy rail lines that exists but there are

:03:19.:03:22.

significant opportunities for modal shift via the metro in years to

:03:23.:03:32.

come. Last Thursday morning the leaders of Bridgend Council and

:03:33.:03:37.

another council gave a statement on the advantage of the metro. They

:03:38.:03:42.

argued that it needs to connect across the northern valleys and not

:03:43.:03:47.

just strengthen links to and from Cardiff. Will the First Minister

:03:48.:03:49.

agree and commit to ensuring this happens? The metro is not a greater

:03:50.:03:56.

Cardiff transports six -- system. The fact that it will be based in

:03:57.:04:05.

Pontypridd gives an example of our commitment to valleys communities.

:04:06.:04:13.

Many people commute from one valley to another. The railway lines once

:04:14.:04:19.

connected those areas but they are long gone so we need to look at how

:04:20.:04:23.

we can upgrade bus services to provide those connections. In stand

:04:24.:04:31.

up no-op on Saturday at the Welsh Labour conference. -- inland at no.

:04:32.:04:43.

Every train on the Wales and border line will have a roll-out of free

:04:44.:04:49.

Wi-Fi, starting with 50 of the busiest stations in Wales, and a 12

:04:50.:04:55.

month pilot a free weekend travel. Isn't this further evidence that the

:04:56.:04:58.

Welsh Labour government is on the side of commuters and what further

:04:59.:05:06.

action can improve public transport in my constituency and in Wales? I

:05:07.:05:10.

thank her for grinding me of what I said at the weekend. It is a

:05:11.:05:15.

commitment that we make to commuters, the fact that we are

:05:16.:05:18.

upgrading the Metro, we are committed to the north-east Metro,

:05:19.:05:22.

we are looking at upgrading trains, the fact that when powers come to us

:05:23.:05:31.

we will look to upgrading the bus system, and we will do things to

:05:32.:05:35.

make it easier and more comfortable to travel by rail and bus in the

:05:36.:05:43.

future. TRANSLATION: What discussions has the Welsh government

:05:44.:05:46.

held with Newsquest regarding public money used to establish the

:05:47.:05:51.

company's sub editing Centre in Newport? We are in ongoing

:05:52.:05:58.

discussions with Newsquest regarding its ongoing and planned

:05:59.:06:00.

redundancies. Officials have received assurances and current

:06:01.:06:07.

staffing levels and we will use this to determine whether the conditions

:06:08.:06:11.

of the grant have been breached. Will you therefore confirm that you

:06:12.:06:16.

will actually try to recoup every penny if the full terms and

:06:17.:06:18.

conditions have been breached and will you reconsider the way you do

:06:19.:06:26.

support the local press? This is an NUJ campaign in terms of local news

:06:27.:06:29.

matters. Wouldn't it be more appropriate for the Welsh government

:06:30.:06:33.

to establish an independent fund for Independent news so that all

:06:34.:06:37.

companies could be brought into that to support Welsh and English

:06:38.:06:43.

language journalism? It is right that we should pursue every penny.

:06:44.:06:52.

If terms and conditions were breached. Secondly, with the fund,

:06:53.:06:56.

we are going to establish an independent forum for the media to

:06:57.:07:02.

consider the challenges over the ensuring years and see which way we

:07:03.:07:09.

have strong and robust local media. -- in assuming years. The staff at

:07:10.:07:17.

Newsquest are very worried. Along with the trade union I have spoken

:07:18.:07:21.

to staff, who estimate there will be less than ten fewer full-time roles

:07:22.:07:27.

at the end of the process and that full-time high skilled jobs will be

:07:28.:07:33.

replaced by more part-time administrative roles. Newsquest say

:07:34.:07:38.

they employ approximately 60 staff in Newport and support editorial and

:07:39.:07:41.

publishing teams across the organisation. Does the Welsh

:07:42.:07:46.

government know how the figure of 60 staff equates to full-time roles in

:07:47.:07:50.

Newport and what assurances have you received to ensure that Newsquest

:07:51.:07:53.

continues to meet their obligations to their staff and the government?

:07:54.:07:59.

We are aware of 14 planned redundancies. In 2015 we provide

:08:00.:08:09.

money to Newsquest towards the creation and safeguarding of jobs.

:08:10.:08:13.

That award was conditional on the jobs being replaced in May 20 20.

:08:14.:08:18.

The operation has exceeded that target for job creation so far but

:08:19.:08:24.

it is important that they honour that, if they don't we will pull the

:08:25.:08:29.

money back. I asked the same question last week regarding the sub

:08:30.:08:36.

editing Centre in Newport. You confirms that the grant of the money

:08:37.:08:44.

in May 2015 was in -- on condition of jobs being in place until May of

:08:45.:08:51.

2020. It now appears that the staff in Newport were placed at risk of

:08:52.:08:59.

redundancy. Can I ask whether the Welsh government was aware of these

:09:00.:09:05.

redundancies and if so what representations were made to the

:09:06.:09:09.

company at that time to remind them of the condition attached to the

:09:10.:09:12.

award of grant funding from this Assembly? As I said, the conditions

:09:13.:09:18.

of the grant have been met thus far but they have to be met until May of

:09:19.:09:24.

2020 otherwise we will seek to recoup the money. As far as

:09:25.:09:29.

officials are concerned, there have been discussions for some time with

:09:30.:09:33.

Newsquest. As customary in these situations we look to see what help

:09:34.:09:38.

we can offer but let it be very clear that if the conditions of the

:09:39.:09:42.

grant are not met then we will take action to recoup the money. I know

:09:43.:09:48.

that many of the journalists working at the sub editing in Newport were

:09:49.:09:54.

from Cardiff, having already been made redundant by Trinity Mirror,

:09:55.:09:59.

which has also seen wave after wave of job losses. What more can the

:10:00.:10:03.

Welsh government do to stop large private companies which run local

:10:04.:10:10.

news titles decimating the industry further and does he know of any

:10:11.:10:15.

funding available for journalists who may want to set up local news

:10:16.:10:24.

websites? Officials have provided information on services available to

:10:25.:10:30.

redundant workers. Business Wales is available in order to look at the

:10:31.:10:37.

kind of financial help that has been mentioned, but there is no doubt

:10:38.:10:43.

that many of us fear that we will see a steady diminishing of local

:10:44.:10:46.

and national news coverage across Wales, which is why the independent

:10:47.:10:51.

media Forum is being set up and one of their objectives will be to look

:10:52.:10:55.

at ways of making sure that people are properly informed and not

:10:56.:11:06.

misled. Tomorrow the UK Government will trigger Article 50, beginning

:11:07.:11:12.

the process by which the UK, or at least some parts of it, will leave

:11:13.:11:18.

the European Union. You have previously said that you expect to

:11:19.:11:23.

be consulted prior to Article 50 night and being made. Can you tell

:11:24.:11:27.

us what consultation has taken place and what you expect to see in the

:11:28.:11:33.

Article 50 letter? We discussed this at length last week when I met with

:11:34.:11:37.

the Prime Minister and David Davis. It was unclear then on the part of

:11:38.:11:41.

the UK Government whether it would be a short or a longer letter out

:11:42.:11:50.

loud in -- outlining the entire case but it seems to me that what will

:11:51.:11:54.

happen is that the letter will simply be sent explaining what the

:11:55.:11:57.

UK is planning to do. I don't expect there to be anything in the letter

:11:58.:12:04.

referring to devolution. Thank you. That doesn't fill me with great

:12:05.:12:07.

confidence that you don't know exactly what will be in the letter.

:12:08.:12:12.

The think tank there must yesterday set out that Wales could be hardest

:12:13.:12:18.

hit by the economic impact of Brexit and we face as you know a high risk

:12:19.:12:25.

from any loss of exports and that is why continued participation in the

:12:26.:12:28.

single market is so important. We also face a high risk from any loss

:12:29.:12:33.

of EU funding. In terms of EU nationals, demos describes the

:12:34.:12:39.

situation as low risk to Wales due to the relatively small numbers of

:12:40.:12:43.

people here but we do know that those EU citizens who are here are

:12:44.:12:48.

important to our public services and in particular the NHS. Those Demel

:12:49.:12:59.

's findings explain exactly why... -- those Demos findings. What is

:13:00.:13:11.

your assessment of a hard Brexit? The only issue different from

:13:12.:13:15.

statements I have made in the past, the language that membership is

:13:16.:13:22.

different from participation. What is clear to me is that last week the

:13:23.:13:26.

UK Government itself didn't know exactly what the Article 50 letter

:13:27.:13:33.

would look like. I advised the Prime Minister and I thought the shorter

:13:34.:13:35.

the better would be best for Wales. We will see what the letter actually

:13:36.:13:41.

looks like. In terms of EU citizens, there are still EU citizens who are

:13:42.:13:48.

a concern -- who are concerned that they might be deep ported. It is not

:13:49.:13:55.

a fear that is grounded in fact. -- might be deported. They saw what has

:13:56.:13:58.

happened in the United States and they extrapolated those fears to

:13:59.:14:06.

hear. It is critical to me that as soon as possible the issue of EU

:14:07.:14:10.

citizens living across the European Union and UK citizens living in

:14:11.:14:16.

other countries of the EU is resolved quickly to remove that

:14:17.:14:20.

uncertainty. On the economy she and I are in the same place, access to

:14:21.:14:26.

the single market, no imposition of tariffs, the ability to have full

:14:27.:14:28.

access to the single market is crucial for economy like ours where

:14:29.:14:36.

67% of exports go to the EU. I have no confidence in the UK Government's

:14:37.:14:42.

ability to reflect our specific Welsh national interest and there

:14:43.:14:45.

isn't any information you have given us this afternoon to give us any

:14:46.:14:50.

more confidence. Wales can't afford to pay a high price for a hard

:14:51.:14:55.

Brexit and we know we will have to defend our interests due to the

:14:56.:14:59.

Article 15 negotiations but we also need to think about how we move the

:15:00.:15:03.

debate forward to deal with the powers we need to mitigate those

:15:04.:15:07.

economic risks. -- Article 50. We want to keep the value of current EU

:15:08.:15:14.

funding in any replacement scheme but Plaid Cymru believes we need

:15:15.:15:18.

more power in Wales to decide how that money is spent. We should be

:15:19.:15:21.

able to use replacement funding to make Wales more attractive to

:15:22.:15:26.

business and Plaid Cymru wants to see Wales in power so we can adapt

:15:27.:15:31.

to the challenge of Brexit. We need much wider tax powers than those on

:15:32.:15:37.

offer already. I have set out my demands to the UK Government on this

:15:38.:15:43.

today. What Plaid Cymru sees as being in Wales's best interest. Can

:15:44.:15:48.

you tell us what you intend to do as a Welsh government to get our

:15:49.:15:54.

country into a position where it can survive an extreme Tory Brexit?

:15:55.:16:00.

I am not as optimistic, probably the wrong word, that there will be any

:16:01.:16:11.

money post 2020. All money to replace structural funds and I'm

:16:12.:16:14.

increasingly convinced there would be money to replace farming

:16:15.:16:18.

subsidies. We are hearing common agricultural policy is a problem.

:16:19.:16:22.

That means farming subsidies could disappear. That is my greatest fear.

:16:23.:16:27.

We know what that would mean for the economy overall in Wales. But she

:16:28.:16:30.

will know in many occasions I have said that this process will only

:16:31.:16:35.

work if all four nations agreed to the final settlement. I don't

:16:36.:16:40.

believe it in any way possible to have a final settlement by March

:16:41.:16:45.

2019, because it would have to be to make goodbye autumn next year. --

:16:46.:16:53.

committed by autumn next year. They have to be agreed by the four

:16:54.:16:59.

nations, and the UK Government. I think it's workable then, but my

:17:00.:17:03.

greatest fear is this is not well understood. On Thursday, we will see

:17:04.:17:08.

the white paper on the so-called great repeal bill. If it focuses

:17:09.:17:14.

solely on preserving the existing European law, that sensible. But if

:17:15.:17:18.

it strays into the territory of suggesting something like EU powers

:17:19.:17:24.

coming back into Whitehall on a temporary basis then they'll be a

:17:25.:17:26.

discussion about where they go, that would not be acceptable. Temporary

:17:27.:17:33.

should mean temporary. We will see if the UK Government is serious

:17:34.:17:36.

about working sure that the UK can work as a partnership. Leader of the

:17:37.:17:43.

Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies. Yesterday we learned that

:17:44.:17:49.

for health boards in Wales have a chronic deficit. The Welsh

:17:50.:17:53.

Government have drawn a line in the sand and said they will not be

:17:54.:17:57.

bailed out. The Health Secretary did say that no services will be lost

:17:58.:18:02.

anywhere in Wales, because of a lack of money. Can you confirm that is

:18:03.:18:07.

the case and that is was government policy? Yes. The health boards are

:18:08.:18:10.

being told that they must keep within budget. They were told at the

:18:11.:18:14.

beginning they must not harm services. We will look again at them

:18:15.:18:19.

accounts in June and if further action needs to be taken, if they're

:18:20.:18:24.

unable to deliver, then I shall look into it. It is in special measures

:18:25.:18:36.

run by the Welsh Government, but you can must see if people rely on the

:18:37.:18:42.

services. -- put money into services people rely on. When one of the

:18:43.:18:47.

fourth health boards is projected to have a worse deficit next year, ?52

:18:48.:18:54.

million as opposed to ?39 million. This a break even position last

:18:55.:18:58.

year, that statement does not work. It's unbelievable, First Minister.

:18:59.:19:03.

How are you going to be able to maintain services when four of the

:19:04.:19:10.

six health boards have such a chronic deficit? And ultimately,

:19:11.:19:12.

waiting times are constantly going up? 47. But he asked the question,

:19:13.:19:22.

what will happen if they don't come within budget -- for all seven. If

:19:23.:19:31.

they do not come into budget without harming services, we have to look

:19:32.:19:34.

into the governance of that board. We will not start, the shy away of

:19:35.:19:41.

that. Much like we went shy of dealing with Betsi Cadwaladr. I use

:19:42.:19:46.

four of six because Powys health board does not have a General

:19:47.:19:51.

Hospital in its area. The high-end of acute services, is in the

:19:52.:19:56.

district General hospitals and closing to be the health boards that

:19:57.:20:00.

deal clearly have a big deficit problem. As refused avatar way

:20:01.:20:11.

health board -- Abertawe, we talk about government away judgments, and

:20:12.:20:15.

the ballot sheet. I can hear from a position, I need to look across the

:20:16.:20:18.

border, the deficit position of Welsh NHS is double what the English

:20:19.:20:29.

NHS is facing. I don't discount the issues across the whole of the NHS

:20:30.:20:37.

in the United Kingdom. Is not unreasonable people in those health

:20:38.:20:41.

board areas trying to reconcile the statement that there will be no loss

:20:42.:20:45.

of services, there will be no increase in waiting times, when

:20:46.:20:48.

you've got to put such downward pressure on the budget without

:20:49.:20:53.

additional money going in. So I do ask you again, what specific

:20:54.:20:57.

measures to you believe that he will be able to take, you've identified

:20:58.:21:00.

gene being a particular point, and government arrangements, to address

:21:01.:21:07.

the thoughtful tonne shortfall. I'm not trying to belittle that point

:21:08.:21:13.

but I'm trying to make a point that constituents and users of these

:21:14.:21:18.

services are not unreasonably concerned because obviously, there

:21:19.:21:21.

is a huge issue about how these deficits will be brought back into

:21:22.:21:27.

control. Powys is a health board, and it buys in most of its services.

:21:28.:21:31.

One can argue it's more difficult for powers because so few services

:21:32.:21:37.

are provided in Powys because of its rural status. The message we have

:21:38.:21:44.

given to them is you must manage this, you must make sure that you

:21:45.:21:48.

cut in areas that are not providing services to the public, you do not

:21:49.:21:53.

look at services provided the public and you come within budget. It is

:21:54.:22:00.

their responsibility, that is why we have health board and they will have

:22:01.:22:06.

to answer for their actions in a few months' time. We will look at the

:22:07.:22:11.

national situation. TRANSLATION: On behalf of the Ukip

:22:12.:22:19.

leader group. Diolch. My group leader asks me to pass on his

:22:20.:22:23.

apologies as he is at a family funeral today. May I commend the

:22:24.:22:29.

First Minister on his government's 13th of March response to the UK

:22:30.:22:34.

Government's consultation paper. On the future of the Severn told. It is

:22:35.:22:43.

well argued and reflects the view of this assembly on my motion to

:22:44.:22:48.

support tolls on the bridge were following their return to the public

:22:49.:22:51.

sector. One would hope there would be a greater degree of engagement

:22:52.:22:54.

between the Welsh Government and the UK Government that merely filing her

:22:55.:23:02.

consultation response, the silk commission propose close

:23:03.:23:04.

coordination between the two governments on the future of the

:23:05.:23:08.

Severn crossing. The Saint Davids Day agreement, whether UK Government

:23:09.:23:14.

worked with the Welsh Government to determine its long future. And their

:23:15.:23:19.

investment strategies says the Department for Transport will work

:23:20.:23:22.

with the Welsh Assembly government to examine the future of the

:23:23.:23:25.

crossings in more detail. Can the First Minister tell us how that

:23:26.:23:31.

engagement is going? Officials are in discussions. Our position is that

:23:32.:23:34.

we should take over the running of those bridges. And take control of

:23:35.:23:39.

the tolls before we do that we would have do you have a robust

:23:40.:23:43.

understanding of what the condition and cost of those two bridges are.

:23:44.:23:47.

The figures we have vary wildly. They need to be nailed down, almost

:23:48.:23:55.

literally. We understand what they are, and we should control the

:23:56.:23:59.

tolls. I don't understand the resistance of the UK Government in

:24:00.:24:04.

this. I don't understand why they feel that the bridge is, at the end

:24:05.:24:08.

of the day, the main entrance to Wales should not be controlled from

:24:09.:24:14.

Wales. I agree with the First Minister and wish him and his

:24:15.:24:17.

officials well in pushing that position. The UK Government, I

:24:18.:24:25.

believe, has three very serious legal risks if it seeks to continue

:24:26.:24:30.

changing the agreement. One could be fatal to a plan. First the agreement

:24:31.:24:39.

says Tolson sees it is fixed sum is raised. That would happen around the

:24:40.:24:45.

end of next year. Second, we have under schedule five of the

:24:46.:24:48.

government of Wales act, a list of devolved matters including 10.1, the

:24:49.:24:54.

making operation and enforcement of schemes for imposing charges in

:24:55.:24:57.

respect of the use of Welsh trunk roads. That, I believe, has led the

:24:58.:25:02.

UK Government to propose turning over the English half of the bridge,

:25:03.:25:07.

because that supersedes the charging authority. They would need to

:25:08.:25:11.

enforce that all essentially at a plaza in Wales, counter to the

:25:12.:25:17.

government of Wales act. Thirdly, they have a further problem is that

:25:18.:25:20.

the transport act 2000, which they are now planning to use, says that a

:25:21.:25:27.

trunk road charging scheme could only be made in respect of a road if

:25:28.:25:32.

the road is carried by a bridge through a tunnel. It doesn't provide

:25:33.:25:37.

charging for part of a road carried by a bridge. And the use of the full

:25:38.:25:42.

phrase passes through a tunnel implies by analogy going from one

:25:43.:25:48.

side of the river to the other. So if all those reasons, can the First

:25:49.:25:51.

Minister consider what more he or his government might do to emphasise

:25:52.:25:56.

the UK Government at the very least legal risks they run if they do seek

:25:57.:26:00.

to impose charges in future without an agreement. The member has raised

:26:01.:26:04.

these issues before. We looked at them. It appears because of the

:26:05.:26:10.

nature of the governments of the Severn Bridge, they are reserved, it

:26:11.:26:16.

does not mean it will be raised further, I will do that work to him.

:26:17.:26:22.

The tolls on the old bridge on the other side and the tolls on the

:26:23.:26:25.

Newbridge are on the wild side. We prefer it if there no tools at all

:26:26.:26:32.

on either side. And we can maintain the bridges. The legal

:26:33.:26:39.

correspondence has changed. The focus was the UK Government could do

:26:40.:26:43.

it because the charging authority because the UK Government isn't

:26:44.:26:46.

seeking to enforce our side of the road. There are difficulties in

:26:47.:26:51.

doing that and later act, there are three different arguments. Anyone of

:26:52.:26:55.

what would be fatal to the UK Government's position. They will

:26:56.:26:58.

either use the current toll passed despite our government saying it's

:26:59.:27:03.

our right to force it in Wales, all looking in to investigate free flow

:27:04.:27:08.

charged, a lot of capital without legal certainty that someone goes

:27:09.:27:17.

and doesn't pay. They chase them for the debt and go to court, and unless

:27:18.:27:20.

they know with certainty that that causes going to say yes, that is a

:27:21.:27:23.

valid charge, it is very difficult for them to a invest in that scheme.

:27:24.:27:26.

The frustration I have there is a fixed sum of the UK Government, that

:27:27.:27:29.

which would be raised within a year or so. Continued polling. --

:27:30.:27:40.

tolling. Much of that is the operation of the tolls itself that

:27:41.:27:43.

we are looking at a sum of around half that. Walter is not an ideal

:27:44.:27:49.

scenario, with the First Minister consider that it might be better

:27:50.:27:53.

than nothing if tolling could continue for just a gear and then we

:27:54.:27:58.

could make a modest contribution perhaps two or 3 million to the

:27:59.:28:02.

telling cost, does he think that the BA deal worth having to get rid of

:28:03.:28:07.

those tolls, and will he work with parties across the chamber to agree

:28:08.:28:14.

with that? We wouldn't do anything that is not devolved. It it's not

:28:15.:28:18.

devolved, it's a matter for the UK get government to deal with. It

:28:19.:28:23.

strikes me that, he suggested a way forward, but the easy way in my mind

:28:24.:28:29.

is to have no tolls at all. In intermittent periods, to have

:28:30.:28:35.

electronic tolling, that is investment, and the issue for us

:28:36.:28:39.

that the faster the traffic goes to the bridges, the faster it adds to

:28:40.:28:45.

congestion at those terminals. That is a fact we are aware of. He will

:28:46.:28:49.

note the proposals the government have made in terms of that. To me,

:28:50.:28:55.

this is a simple issue that doesn't need to be made complex. We'd have

:28:56.:28:59.

an understanding of what the condition of the two bridges

:29:00.:29:05.

actually is. We don't know that. I've seen figures well beyond the

:29:06.:29:09.

figure he suggested in terms of maintenance and upkeep. That needs

:29:10.:29:13.

to be robust, first of all. Then we'll have a understanding of what

:29:14.:29:17.

it is. For us the government, we would like to the tolls, and we need

:29:18.:29:23.

to understand what we are taking. Question three. Will the First

:29:24.:29:32.

Minister make a statement on Welsh Government decisions for social

:29:33.:29:37.

care? We have made a decision on ?55 million on social services for 27 to

:29:38.:29:41.

18. That includes the 20 million for social care yesterday. We have also

:29:42.:29:49.

provided for social care. I'm sure everyone will welcome the 2 billion

:29:50.:29:53.

announcement for social care in England. That gives the Welsh

:29:54.:29:59.

Government an opportunity to add to its own money that you mentioned

:30:00.:30:04.

today. There is money now available for social care, which will all be

:30:05.:30:09.

grateful for. What will you say to Bridgend County Borough Council

:30:10.:30:13.

which has taken ?2.2 million of social care money out of next year's

:30:14.:30:17.

budget. We need a Labour government in London. That will provide the

:30:18.:30:23.

funding for social care. And sure that will happen many times over the

:30:24.:30:29.

Lynne Neagle. Thank you the meeting me last month to talk about the

:30:30.:30:41.

family fund money in the social services fund and its effect on

:30:42.:30:43.

disabled children and their families.

:30:44.:30:51.

Given your assurances to me in that meeting and that these are some of

:30:52.:30:58.

our lowest income families who in my experience have to fight everything

:30:59.:31:02.

in their lives, will you look at allocating some of this additional

:31:03.:31:07.

money to disabled children and their families? She has been passionate in

:31:08.:31:10.

her advocacy for this cause, she has asked me to see whether money has

:31:11.:31:16.

been made available, I will look at that for her. Not all of the money

:31:17.:31:23.

has been allocated, we have to look at what will happen in the financial

:31:24.:31:26.

year beyond this year and the one he and that but I will look at that for

:31:27.:31:37.

her. -- and the one beyond that. TRANSLATION: The efficiency and what

:31:38.:31:42.

we can achieve from social service funding depends on the NHS and what

:31:43.:31:48.

happens in it. I think it is the fault of the government for not

:31:49.:31:58.

supporting the NHS which is responsible for this overflow. Does

:31:59.:32:05.

he agree with my concern that forcing them to balance their books

:32:06.:32:10.

overnight would inevitably lead to more pressure on the social sector?

:32:11.:32:16.

The health board had three-year is to consider their budget, that is

:32:17.:32:20.

why the law changed in this place because they would then have to

:32:21.:32:23.

consider their budgets over a period of a year and now they have

:32:24.:32:28.

three-year is and it is easier for them to balance their books in that

:32:29.:32:31.

regard so we do expect them, as they have been given that freedom, to

:32:32.:32:35.

ensure they are responsible and can remain within their budgets. Both

:32:36.:32:44.

Conservative and Labour governments in Westminster and successive

:32:45.:32:48.

Labour, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dem coalition is here in Wales have

:32:49.:32:52.

failed to allow for sufficient funding for social care. As a result

:32:53.:32:57.

of decades of underfunding we are approaching a crisis point in social

:32:58.:33:04.

care and despite the fact that our population is ageing fast neither

:33:05.:33:08.

you nor the Tories seem to have any plans to address chronic long-term

:33:09.:33:12.

shortages. Your government has announced additional funding for

:33:13.:33:16.

social care but this simply replaces lost funding. It does nothing to

:33:17.:33:21.

address future demand. How does your government plan to address the

:33:22.:33:26.

long-term funding shortfall and make sure that future social care needs

:33:27.:33:32.

are met? If she looks at the social services in Wales act she will see

:33:33.:33:37.

that we are committed to investing in the system, we know that spending

:33:38.:33:44.

on social services per head in Wales is 6% higher than in England. We

:33:45.:33:51.

have put in the investment. On top of that it is important to remember

:33:52.:33:57.

the ?60 million intermediate care fund. Delayed care in February was

:33:58.:34:20.

22% down on the previous year. How is the Welsh government working to

:34:21.:34:25.

ensure that emotional resilience is improved in children and young

:34:26.:34:30.

people? We are working to improve the well-being of children and young

:34:31.:34:33.

people and helping them to improving emotional resilience. You will be

:34:34.:34:40.

aware of my recent short debate on ensuring that resilience is

:34:41.:34:46.

developed long before young people need specialist help. This is linked

:34:47.:34:55.

to ongoing work on the government is doing. As you have highlighted, the

:34:56.:34:59.

Cabinet Secretary for health is responsible for the... It raises

:35:00.:35:13.

questions for me as to how this work is being taken forward in a joined

:35:14.:35:16.

up way across government. Will you personally look at this issue and

:35:17.:35:24.

commit to ensuring that the work to deliver on Together For Children And

:35:25.:35:29.

Young People is taken forward with urgency across government?

:35:30.:35:34.

Discussions have been held between the Cabinet Secretary is for

:35:35.:35:39.

education and health on how the joint work can be improved. This is

:35:40.:35:42.

not the sole responsibility of one minister, I understand that. We know

:35:43.:35:49.

that in working on an across portfolio basis we can get the best

:35:50.:35:54.

results. We recognise that health education of much linked and

:35:55.:35:59.

officials have been instructed to work together to consider different

:36:00.:36:02.

approaches to support the mental health and well-being of our

:36:03.:36:08.

children and young people. One thing which can be done is to develop more

:36:09.:36:13.

mindfulness practice in schools. The Cabinet Secretary for education

:36:14.:36:20.

visited a school in Colwyn Bay late last year when she met some of the

:36:21.:36:24.

children and staff that had been practising mindfulness and they

:36:25.:36:30.

spoke passionately about the impact it had in helping them to deal with

:36:31.:36:33.

what can be difficult situations whether in school or at home. I

:36:34.:36:39.

wonder what the Welsh government is doing to look at mindfulness and

:36:40.:36:42.

whether this can be introduced more widely into the education sector. It

:36:43.:36:46.

is something we are considering actively as something we discussed

:36:47.:36:49.

at length before the election last year. There is no greater advocate

:36:50.:36:57.

for mindfulness than the Cabinet Secretary for economy. I wasn't sure

:36:58.:37:01.

what it was but I am fully informed now. It is hugely important that we

:37:02.:37:06.

consider new to help young people to deal with pressures that didn't

:37:07.:37:09.

exist when I was that age, the pressures of social media. When you

:37:10.:37:13.

went home, that was it, you wide followed around online with the

:37:14.:37:19.

bullying that that can sometimes lead to and the pressure to conform.

:37:20.:37:23.

-- you were not followed. New approaches need to be used to deal

:37:24.:37:33.

with new problems. TRANSLATION: Will he outlined the Welsh government's

:37:34.:37:37.

transport priorities for Pembrokeshire in the next 12 months?

:37:38.:37:44.

The National Trust or finance plan published in July 2015 sets out the

:37:45.:37:49.

investment on transport and infrastructure in all parts of Wales

:37:50.:37:56.

the 2015-2016. The National Trust or finance plan the Welsh government

:37:57.:37:59.

highlights only one project the Pembrokeshire in the next 12 months,

:38:00.:38:10.

the proposal to turn the Aseven 477 into a trunk road. Will you agree

:38:11.:38:19.

with me that in light of these important economic development is it

:38:20.:38:22.

is time for governments to cooperate to turn the A40 into a dual

:38:23.:38:29.

carriageway to make the most of these proposals in West Wales? First

:38:30.:38:37.

of all it is true to say that the project mentioned is crucially

:38:38.:38:40.

important. It is possible to consider the city deal to take new

:38:41.:38:48.

projects in terms of transport into account. We can certainly consider

:38:49.:38:53.

that. Thirdly, in taking over the franchise next year, it will be very

:38:54.:39:00.

important to ensure that the rail service is also improved in

:39:01.:39:04.

Pembrokeshire and to link Pembrokeshire with the rest of Wales

:39:05.:39:11.

and the rest of the UK. Ports are in important part of transport in

:39:12.:39:14.

Pembrokeshire and particularly the link between Wales and Ireland. With

:39:15.:39:19.

Brexit happening this week I am concerned that we will see less

:39:20.:39:24.

transport in terms of goods carried between Britain and Ireland and also

:39:25.:39:30.

in terms of passengers, with lots of talk about developing more direct

:39:31.:39:36.

links between France and the Republic of Ireland in order to

:39:37.:39:42.

avoid Britain once we have left the EU. That will undermine Pembroke

:39:43.:39:51.

Dock so what steps are you taking to ensure that we keep transport

:39:52.:39:58.

between the ports of Pembrokeshire? I have raised this number of times

:39:59.:40:01.

with the Westminster government and with the Irish government and I

:40:02.:40:04.

discussed it with the Taoiseach when he was here on the tenth March. My

:40:05.:40:10.

concern is that if it is easier to go through Northern Ireland that is

:40:11.:40:14.

where goods will go. If there is more paperwork that has to be filled

:40:15.:40:19.

in going through Holyhead, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard, if there is any

:40:20.:40:26.

official order in Wales but nothing of that kind in Northern Ireland

:40:27.:40:29.

then goods will go through Liverpool and the links that have -- the ports

:40:30.:40:33.

that have links with Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland

:40:34.:40:38.

understands this will have an impact on Dublin and other ports. It is

:40:39.:40:42.

crucially important that the arrangements in border crossing are

:40:43.:40:45.

the same between Wales and the Republic of Ireland as between the

:40:46.:40:49.

Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Will he provide an update

:40:50.:40:56.

on the new treatment... All health boards have received updates on

:40:57.:41:02.

their funding and the Cabinet Secretary will update before the

:41:03.:41:12.

summary says. -- summer recess. This demonstrates the Welsh government's

:41:13.:41:17.

commitment to delivering on the 2016 election pledge and I understand

:41:18.:41:22.

that new fund will Expedia eight -- will expedite access to new

:41:23.:41:34.

medicines for a host of illnesses, no doubt helping countless

:41:35.:41:37.

individuals with life-threatening else's right here in Wales. --

:41:38.:41:45.

illnesses. I understand that it is extremely early days but can I

:41:46.:41:48.

request that we receive regular updates on progress within the

:41:49.:41:54.

access to the new treatment fund and any figures that could be attached

:41:55.:42:04.

to that? I am sure that can be done. In January 2015 medicines

:42:05.:42:06.

recommended by NICE have been made available to patients and in the

:42:07.:42:11.

first two months this has already made a palpable Air France. --

:42:12.:42:19.

difference. Can you give us an overview of what monitoring is in

:42:20.:42:22.

place to ensure the funds that have gone to the health boards for this

:42:23.:42:26.

very where -- worthy initiative are being spent on just this initiative?

:42:27.:42:31.

There is full monitoring on that and we will see the results of that

:42:32.:42:37.

through the process is already made available. What discussions he has

:42:38.:42:45.

the Welsh government had with Cardiff Council regarding the

:42:46.:42:48.

provision of a new bus station in the city? This is ultimately a

:42:49.:42:54.

matter for Cardiff Council. I met with the counsellor and we discussed

:42:55.:42:59.

the latest updates on that the element. -- that development. I

:43:00.:43:06.

understand it is a matter principally for the council but the

:43:07.:43:11.

bus station is an issue of growing concern to South Wales residents.

:43:12.:43:16.

There have been fears that the facility may be too small and fears

:43:17.:43:20.

over the funding now as well. We don't yet know if there will be

:43:21.:43:24.

coach bays at the new station, none of which really helps with the

:43:25.:43:30.

government providing day-to-day integrated transport. As Cardiff is

:43:31.:43:33.

such an important hub for the region, can the Welsh government

:43:34.:43:37.

make any intervention to make sure that passengers do end up with a

:43:38.:43:41.

first-class facility rather than a botched job? There was a time when

:43:42.:43:45.

Cardiff Council doubted whether there needed to be a bus stop at

:43:46.:43:52.

all. -- bus station. It is hugely important to have an interchange and

:43:53.:43:56.

a hub. The need for a new station is clear to me, it needs to be fit for

:43:57.:44:02.

purpose, future proof, successfully integrated. The project has been led

:44:03.:44:11.

by a company that has monthly meetings with key stakeholders

:44:12.:44:15.

including us. I understand that planning permission has been

:44:16.:44:19.

approved but the start date has been delayed as discussions take place on

:44:20.:44:24.

what the station should look like. There is agreement that the station

:44:25.:44:29.

should be fit for purpose as the main interchange of a capital city.

:44:30.:44:32.

Following the triggering of Article 50 this week, what discussions does

:44:33.:44:38.

the First Minister intent to have with the UK Government and the

:44:39.:44:41.

establishment of a UK single market? The answer is on the many. I have

:44:42.:44:47.

had discussions already, we continue to hold them. -- the answer is,

:44:48.:44:55.

many. I think we should continue with an internal single market

:44:56.:45:01.

within the UK, there should be a rules -based system, those rules

:45:02.:45:06.

should be agreed by all four governments and there should be an

:45:07.:45:10.

independent adjudicator, a trade court if you like, to police those

:45:11.:45:15.

rules. If all of those requirements are satisfied the single market

:45:16.:45:17.

could be robust. Other people have referred to the

:45:18.:45:34.

Dem 's report saying... We have seen by the recent accidents by Tories

:45:35.:45:37.

are made that the party has broken promises. David Davies, has said, he

:45:38.:45:45.

wants to see the same benefits we have with the single market and

:45:46.:45:50.

Customs union to be maintained after we leave the EU. How realistic is

:45:51.:45:54.

the First Minister think that is? In the light of the fact that the Prime

:45:55.:45:59.

Minister of Malta has said that of necessity, our relationship needs to

:46:00.:46:04.

be inferior to that we currently enjoy? It's possible to do it by

:46:05.:46:13.

four example remaining in the EU. They don't want to pay into a budget

:46:14.:46:18.

pot, but if you want to be in a club you have to pay the fee. I think the

:46:19.:46:29.

UK will be offered a model that I don't think the UK will be offered a

:46:30.:46:33.

specific model. I don't believe there is a majority of people in

:46:34.:46:37.

this majority who want to see a Brexit that is so hard that tariffs

:46:38.:46:41.

will be put impose, there will be unnecessary restrictions of new,

:46:42.:46:52.

movements. What we don't know is that what they believe the terms

:46:53.:46:56.

would be. To my mind, it is perfectly possible to leave the EU

:46:57.:47:00.

and yet still have full access to the single market. Question nine,

:47:01.:47:03.

David Melding. What is the Welsh Government doing

:47:04.:47:07.

to actively promote female mentorship programmes

:47:08.:47:09.

in the workplace? We provide a programme to maximise

:47:10.:47:19.

the contribution women make to the economy. I think we all remember

:47:20.:47:22.

with deep affection, Dame Rosemary Butler, our former Bravo try

:47:23.:47:30.

Presiding Officer, and herb programme to fix her programme to

:47:31.:47:39.

increase women in public life. It was increasing ambition in women who

:47:40.:47:44.

already have the talent to perform outstandingly in the workplace.

:47:45.:47:48.

Quality is an important part of this. The exact equality. There are

:47:49.:47:57.

other tools at our disposal as well, it was commissioned by the Chief

:47:58.:48:03.

scientific adviser, dealing with the long-term problems of women in

:48:04.:48:10.

science, and the Minister Julie James accepted the statement in

:48:11.:48:14.

January. Those are two examples among many of the work being done to

:48:15.:48:21.

achieve two, the true equality in our society. Finally, question ten.

:48:22.:48:30.

Will the First Minister consider reopening

:48:31.:48:31.

inpatient perinatal mental health facilities?

:48:32.:48:33.

That is a decision for the health boards and committees. We are

:48:34.:48:43.

investing money for community specialist perinatal mental health

:48:44.:48:47.

service. I hope he has the opportunity to hear from mothers in

:48:48.:48:50.

Wales who have had the courage to speak out about their individual

:48:51.:48:55.

experience at Charlotte Harding from Cardiff whose husband took two years

:48:56.:49:01.

off from work to care for her and her two boys after developing

:49:02.:49:05.

postpartum psychosis. The own criteria in this country is based

:49:06.:49:11.

on... They are failing the government's own criteria. It costs

:49:12.:49:16.

more to send Welsh mothers to inpatient centres in England than it

:49:17.:49:19.

would have two keep the facilities open in Wales and we know the

:49:20.:49:23.

provision is patchy. Politics aside, can I plead with the First Minister

:49:24.:49:28.

to put as a matter of urgency this issue to the top of the agenda, so

:49:29.:49:31.

mothers in Wales do not face the joys of being separated from a

:49:32.:49:33.

newborn baby or their families or or not have the mental health

:49:34.:49:44.

facilities in their own country. In the last few years less than five

:49:45.:49:48.

women have been admitted to inpatient in Wales. The problem then

:49:49.:49:56.

of course is you cannot run a specialist unit on those numbers. No

:49:57.:50:02.

accredited body will allow this. It can't be a specialist unit with

:50:03.:50:06.

those numbers. I agree with him about the condition and not

:50:07.:50:09.

separating mothers and babies which is why we go the extra funding into

:50:10.:50:19.

community-based Perak perinatal funding. Focusing on the individual

:50:20.:50:22.

rather than the hospital, making sure they have community care,

:50:23.:50:29.

rather than using a badly used service and a problem of it

:50:30.:50:38.

continuing to be a unit. That was First Minister's Questions this

:50:39.:50:41.

afternoon. For more coverage, go online to BBC world's Senedd page.

:50:42.:50:51.

-- BBC Wales's Senedd web page. You can watch more at 6:30pm on BBC

:50:52.:50:57.

Wales. And at 9pm on S foresee. First Minister's Questions is back

:50:58.:50:58.

next week. Thank you for watching. I think I've died and gone to

:50:59.:51:06.

heaven. Saluti. Chin-chin. So, can anybody speak Italian?

:51:07.:51:54.

No. Non parlo italiano. Can ten Brits looking for

:51:55.:52:07.

a new life start again?

:52:08.:52:11.

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS