:00:23. > :00:28.and our weekly coverage of Questions to the First Minister.
:00:29. > :00:31.As ever, Carwyn Jones will be answering questions
:00:32. > :00:33.on a range of topics which fall under his responsibility,
:00:34. > :00:35.including health policy, his plans for industry
:00:36. > :00:37.and his reaction to local bank closures.
:00:38. > :00:39.Don't forget we're @walespolitics on twitter,
:00:40. > :00:42.where you can see all the latest on Welsh politics.
:00:43. > :00:52.and today's Questions to the First Minister.
:00:53. > :00:58.I call the National Assembly to order and the first item on our
:00:59. > :01:02.agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister. Janet
:01:03. > :01:07.Finch-Saunders. Will the First Minister make a statement on the
:01:08. > :01:11.health service in north Wales? Our priorities for the health service in
:01:12. > :01:15.the north and throughout Wales are to continue to protect investment
:01:16. > :01:20.and deliver the range of commitments in taking Wales forward. Clearly
:01:21. > :01:26.your priorities are not orthopaedic care because I hope you are as
:01:27. > :01:34.shocked as I am with the recent findings of a 5000 per increase in
:01:35. > :01:41.those having gone longer than the 36 weeks treatment time for orthopaedic
:01:42. > :01:44.and trauma services. That is 3052 patients now having gone
:01:45. > :01:55.considerably longer than that. I have constituents waiting for a new
:01:56. > :02:03.replacement, 130 weeks for a hip replacement. They are in constant
:02:04. > :02:10.pain, fed up with popping really serious painkillers. We learned
:02:11. > :02:16.yesterday that all orthopaedic replacement surgery at Ysbyty Glan
:02:17. > :02:20.Clwyd is now on hold. I am now advise the entry ward is now closed
:02:21. > :02:25.for surgery. That frustrates me and my constituency even more. Such
:02:26. > :02:30.delays in this kind of treatment is a national scandal and if this is an
:02:31. > :02:35.example of your government putting the health board in special measures
:02:36. > :02:41.18 months ago, then serious questions must be raised. How, under
:02:42. > :02:45.your watch, have you allowed such scandalous waiting times and what
:02:46. > :02:49.will you do now as First Minister on behalf of my constituents and those
:02:50. > :02:52.patients across North Wales to investigate the matter urgently and
:02:53. > :02:58.to provide my constituents and others with the appropriate
:02:59. > :03:05.treatment... You need to bring your question to an end. The approach --
:03:06. > :03:10.appropriate treatment they not only need but deserve. The majority of
:03:11. > :03:14.patients in North Wales are within less than 26 weeks but we understand
:03:15. > :03:18.that Orthopaedics is a challenging area. Extra money has been made
:03:19. > :03:23.available to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in order to reduce waiting
:03:24. > :03:27.times. They are outsourcing some activity to alternative providers
:03:28. > :03:35.and we expect to see the situation improved markedly over the next two
:03:36. > :03:37.months. Earlier this month, the annual safeguarding report from
:03:38. > :03:40.Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board was published which was quite a
:03:41. > :03:47.frightening read. The risk register showed 13 serious risks, including
:03:48. > :03:50.failure to comply with various pieces of safeguarding legislation
:03:51. > :03:57.or that there was a real risk that a child or a person couldn't be
:03:58. > :04:01.identified if they were to go to A, which could lead to serious
:04:02. > :04:06.harm to that individual. After a year and a half in special measures,
:04:07. > :04:11.do you believe that is acceptable? We know that the board is not yet
:04:12. > :04:15.ready to come out of special measures at present but, having said
:04:16. > :04:19.that, we also know that looking broadly at the performance of the
:04:20. > :04:23.health board, things have improved and we saw that in looking at the
:04:24. > :04:27.framework in November where it showed that very good work had been
:04:28. > :04:33.done and what's important now is to make sure that every part of service
:04:34. > :04:43.being delivered by the health board improves in the same manner as the
:04:44. > :04:51.cancer treatment times and so on and also the waiting times for
:04:52. > :04:54.diagnostic tests. First Minister, how can you justify offering free
:04:55. > :04:58.prescriptions and additional childcare regardless of income and
:04:59. > :05:01.at huge cost while the number of people waiting for orthopaedic
:05:02. > :05:07.treatment in North Wales has rocketed. Where are your priorities?
:05:08. > :05:11.Because we were elected on that basis. I can't speak for her party
:05:12. > :05:14.but we like to keep our promises. Question two. Will the First
:05:15. > :05:16.Minister make a statement on the provision of bespoke mental health
:05:17. > :05:21.services for former armed services personnel? Taking Wales forward
:05:22. > :05:25.confirms our commitment to making sure that runs receive health care
:05:26. > :05:30.that meets their needs and we will maintain that, which provides access
:05:31. > :05:33.to evidence -based treatment for veterans with mental health
:05:34. > :05:38.problems. Can I welcome what you said about preserving the service.
:05:39. > :05:43.You are leading the way in the UK and I commend you for that but as we
:05:44. > :05:47.now revealed this service, which has had a lot of initial success, I
:05:48. > :05:51.think we are too reliant on self referral. That is one of the things
:05:52. > :05:56.that has come through at the moment. One key objective is to inform
:05:57. > :06:01.veterans that the resettlement stage as they moved back into civilian
:06:02. > :06:04.life, that in itself can be very challenging, but they may then have
:06:05. > :06:10.information that could be very important to them a few months or
:06:11. > :06:14.years hence. I take the point that the member makes. We know there are
:06:15. > :06:20.high levels of satisfaction that the service has provided. I think we can
:06:21. > :06:23.do this, we can raise the issue with the Royal British Legion and the
:06:24. > :06:27.Armed Forces to see what more could be done to inform veterans of the
:06:28. > :06:30.availability of the service and also to encourage them to seek help from
:06:31. > :06:37.the service rather than hold back but I will, the Minister will have
:06:38. > :06:42.heard what's been said in the chamber and if we can do more to
:06:43. > :06:45.improve communication to ensure that people who can benefit from a
:06:46. > :06:57.service which does have such high risk of satisfaction, we will. I
:06:58. > :07:10.wonder if you know that there was a motion to bring forward a No
:07:11. > :07:14.Soldier, left behind. ... Can I just direct, the decision taken by the
:07:15. > :07:19.business committee is not to be questioned on this floor and is not
:07:20. > :07:24.to be timetabled. Priority has been given to another member as a
:07:25. > :07:30.legislative proposal. Thank you for your clarification. So we do have an
:07:31. > :07:34.opportunity to bring it back, it seems. But too many veterans are
:07:35. > :07:39.struggling for health care, struggling for housing, especially
:07:40. > :07:42.as the colleague across the chamber said, mental health care. Local
:07:43. > :07:46.authorities don't have to give veterans priority. The reality is
:07:47. > :07:49.that we don't leave soldiers behind on the battlefield and we shouldn't
:07:50. > :07:56.be leaving them behind when they come home. Will your government
:07:57. > :08:02.support a Bill, legislation, to make sure that what a lot of people are
:08:03. > :08:05.suffering at the minute no longer happens and we make a difference and
:08:06. > :08:12.make a change to the lives of these people? All I know there is a
:08:13. > :08:15.suggestion and we have to see what the detail might be. It may be that
:08:16. > :08:21.a lot of the issues the member raises has been covered by the
:08:22. > :08:23.service as it stands. We do make ?585,000 available each year to fund
:08:24. > :08:30.the service. It does provide therapeutic interventions in each
:08:31. > :08:33.local health board. It also has a referral pathways to signpost that
:08:34. > :08:37.runs to other areas in order for them to get help and support. The
:08:38. > :08:42.question will be, would a Bill add to that and much would depend would
:08:43. > :08:46.depend on what is in the Bill before taking a proper view on whether a
:08:47. > :08:53.Bill would add to the services available already. Caroline Jones.
:08:54. > :08:58.Just over two years ago, a Welsh government review of the veterans
:08:59. > :09:06.NHS Wales service found that veterans were waiting at 280 days
:09:07. > :09:09.for an initial assessment and up to 140 days from assessment. The review
:09:10. > :09:14.also highlighted the fact that the service would face additional
:09:15. > :09:17.pressures resulting from the UK defence and security review. In
:09:18. > :09:22.total 15 recommendations were made as a result of the review. First
:09:23. > :09:25.Minister, can you update us on the progress that has been made by Welsh
:09:26. > :09:33.government and the local health boards in implementing the --... And
:09:34. > :09:39.ensuring the service can respond to future demand? That report was
:09:40. > :09:44.received in November 2014 and it did show high satisfaction rates among
:09:45. > :09:49.veterans using the service. The recommendations have been accepted
:09:50. > :09:54.and are being taken forward. Questions now from the party
:09:55. > :09:58.leaders. Leanne Wood. Following the announcement of President Trump's
:09:59. > :10:03.racist travel ban, they have been demonstrations throughout the world
:10:04. > :10:08.including in Wales, rejecting the idea of division. But the issue is
:10:09. > :10:13.wider than that just of a specific ban. The whole question of migration
:10:14. > :10:17.has become a toxic debate. Will you join me and others in this Assembly
:10:18. > :10:22.to make it clear that Wales remains open for business, open to visitors
:10:23. > :10:30.and, just as importantly, open to those fleeing prosecution. --
:10:31. > :10:34.persecution. And do you agree with me that this ban on the grounds of
:10:35. > :10:43.place of origin or religion has no ground here? We are, each and every
:10:44. > :10:45.one of us in this chamber, the descendants of immigrants, it just
:10:46. > :10:51.depends when they came to these islands. I do share the view that
:10:52. > :10:55.the current debate in more than one country around the world regarding
:10:56. > :10:59.migration is toxic. It is ironic that the debate is sometimes at its
:11:00. > :11:06.most toxic in countries that are made up of immigrants, first, second
:11:07. > :11:11.and third generation. That is the irony of this. But the irony is that
:11:12. > :11:14.we know that where nationalism in terms of extreme right-wing
:11:15. > :11:20.nationalism is allowed to take a grip, as we saw in the 1930s, the
:11:21. > :11:24.result is calamity. Thank you for your answer and I agree with much of
:11:25. > :11:28.your sentiment there. One of the factors that was influential in the
:11:29. > :11:34.EU referendum result was the issue of wages and the undercutting of
:11:35. > :11:38.Labour. There is no doubt about that. You will be aware, as I am,
:11:39. > :11:45.and an scruple employers charging for accommodation and nominally
:11:46. > :11:48.deducting it from people's wages. Those workers are not in trade
:11:49. > :11:53.unions. They are often being paid less than the minimum wage. Migrant
:11:54. > :11:56.workers are being exploited and those employers are also
:11:57. > :12:01.undercutting Welsh workers so both types of workers are losing out.
:12:02. > :12:05.Yesterday we met with the UK Government Secretary of State for
:12:06. > :12:09.exiting the European Union and this point was made, I think it's great
:12:10. > :12:13.to say, strongly. This morning I've written to the UK Prime Minister
:12:14. > :12:16.calling for much stronger enforcement, just as I called on
:12:17. > :12:20.previous Labour governments to do. It has to be dealt with because this
:12:21. > :12:25.undercutting and exploitation is being used by some politicians to
:12:26. > :12:29.exploit people's concerns about migration. Even the Secretary of
:12:30. > :12:34.State for Wales yesterday was joining in, flying in the face of
:12:35. > :12:45.facts and evidence, as to why wages have been stagnant. Does the First
:12:46. > :12:46.Minister agree with me that the exploitation of workers by
:12:47. > :12:49.unscrupulous employers has to stop and will he agreed to tackle it
:12:50. > :12:52.using whatever powers may be available to him regardless of the
:12:53. > :12:55.Brexit negotiations? She and I were at that meeting with David Davies
:12:56. > :13:00.yesterday and he agreed with what we said but the question is, agreeing
:13:01. > :13:04.is one thing, action is another. The point was made and she made the
:13:05. > :13:08.point that we have not seen prosecutions for breaches of minimum
:13:09. > :13:11.wage legislation, largely because it's not as straightforward as that.
:13:12. > :13:15.I have mentioned in this chamber before now that I have heard
:13:16. > :13:20.believable testimony from Polish workers particularly that they have
:13:21. > :13:23.been paid the minimum wage is -- wage but they have used other
:13:24. > :13:27.methods to take money from them, such as a realistic bonds when they
:13:28. > :13:31.go into accommodation, such as against damage and when they go
:13:32. > :13:36.there it is white furniture, white walls, and it is very difficult to
:13:37. > :13:39.keep it in full order. We made the point yesterday that there is a huge
:13:40. > :13:44.amount of work to do to make sure these people are brought to account
:13:45. > :13:49.because, she is quite right, they exploit migrant workers and make
:13:50. > :13:53.things of a lower standard as a result for workers from the UK.
:13:54. > :13:59.Unfortunately many of the people who sit in the UK Government at the
:14:00. > :14:03.moment are not interested. You are right, there are number of ways that
:14:04. > :14:08.unscrew bless employers can exploit workers but this question of the
:14:09. > :14:12.minimum wage is a key one. Last I looked HMRC only employed six people
:14:13. > :14:17.to enforce the National Minimum Wage and it is clearly not a priority for
:14:18. > :14:20.the UK Government. There have been minimal prosecutions in recent years
:14:21. > :14:23.and that was the case under the previous Labour government as well.
:14:24. > :14:28.Will you join me in condemning in the strongest possible terms those
:14:29. > :14:34.politicians who seek to peddle myths about the reasons behind people's
:14:35. > :14:41.wages being squeezed because while we are pointing out at migrants
:14:42. > :14:44.instead of the government's inaction towards rogue employers, we are
:14:45. > :14:49.letting the real culprits off the hook. Will you also commit to this
:14:50. > :14:52.Assembly today to let us know what Welsh government resources you will
:14:53. > :14:56.be able to identify to stop this exploitation so that enforcement
:14:57. > :15:06.and, if necessary, the What I'd like to do is work closely
:15:07. > :15:11.with those communities affected so they don't feel afraid to come
:15:12. > :15:17.forward to offer their testimony. Quite often, that will be done and
:15:18. > :15:21.the promise of anonymity will be taken forward. Recently, I finished
:15:22. > :15:26.reading Dennis Skinner's autobiography. He isn't a politician
:15:27. > :15:30.I'd normally share a lot in common but what he did say about Polish
:15:31. > :15:33.workers in the mines after the war was interesting. There was no
:15:34. > :15:38.animosity towards them because they were members of the trade union.
:15:39. > :15:42.They weren't seen as undercutting wages. They had the same protection
:15:43. > :15:45.as workers in the UK. That is what we need to get back to. Too many
:15:46. > :15:55.people have low wages because of austerity and because they don't
:15:56. > :15:58.have the support of a trade union. And we know were places that are
:15:59. > :16:00.unionised have better terms and conditions for people in those
:16:01. > :16:03.workplaces, which is why it is important that all workers are
:16:04. > :16:12.covered through trade union membership, wherever they come from
:16:13. > :16:16.in the world. First Minister, on Saturday, it is world Cancer Day,
:16:17. > :16:20.something which many members in this chamber would have been touched by
:16:21. > :16:25.and I know myself and my family have had an unfortunate episode where we
:16:26. > :16:29.have lost a loved one to cancer. One in two of us going forward will have
:16:30. > :16:34.an episode of cancer in our lives, down from one in three. So the odds
:16:35. > :16:38.of people getting cancer are increasing by the day and by the
:16:39. > :16:43.week. Regrettably, the Welsh government's target of a 62 day
:16:44. > :16:48.target time hasn't been met since 2008. That aside, there is good
:16:49. > :16:52.progress is going on in cancer services across Wales. What is your
:16:53. > :16:56.overview of the delivery of cancer services here in Wales, bearing in
:16:57. > :17:00.mind we have the National Cancer day to look forward to on the weekend to
:17:01. > :17:06.reflect on where where at and one in two of us will of cancer in a
:17:07. > :17:11.lifetime? I declare an interest here. My wife is employed by
:17:12. > :17:16.Macmillan. What is clear is that there are two developments that
:17:17. > :17:19.people will find if they're diagnosed with cancer. More and more
:17:20. > :17:24.people are living with cancer, that is the phrase that is used, cancers
:17:25. > :17:29.that cannot be cured in the conventional sense of five years
:17:30. > :17:32.remission. But that actually allow people to live a normal life and
:17:33. > :17:36.doesn't necessarily shorten their lives with the right level of
:17:37. > :17:42.treatment. Secondly, huge progress is being made and we are fortunate
:17:43. > :17:46.to have the unit in Cardiff in developing treatments that are
:17:47. > :17:50.tailored to the genetic needs of the individual. Cancer treatment has
:17:51. > :17:54.been a blunt instrument for many years. The same treatment was
:17:55. > :17:58.applied to people over the years, it was more like trial and error. We
:17:59. > :18:02.are in the forefront of genetic treatment in Wales and I want to
:18:03. > :18:06.make sure more and more people have the opportunity to be rid of cancer
:18:07. > :18:11.in the course of their lives and are able to live with cancer because
:18:12. > :18:16.they have the support of pharmaceutical and moral, in order
:18:17. > :18:18.to do that. You are right to point out the positive since cancer
:18:19. > :18:26.treatments and the developments and the way Wales is leading the way. We
:18:27. > :18:31.have pioneering science, pioneering technology here. Your government has
:18:32. > :18:35.targets are having 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. There is a
:18:36. > :18:41.statement this afternoon towards 2030 from the education secretary.
:18:42. > :18:44.There is a girl that the British Cancer coalition have which is to
:18:45. > :18:50.increase the survival rates from lung cancer, irrespective of where
:18:51. > :18:56.you live. The survival rates are very, very poor. 16% in other parts
:18:57. > :19:01.of the UK, 5-6% in Wales. You'll agree with me that is something
:19:02. > :19:06.we've got to desperately improve. They have a target to increase the
:19:07. > :19:11.survival from lung cancer after five years up to 25% by 2025. I've
:19:12. > :19:15.highlighted other goals your government has set. Will you be
:19:16. > :19:24.prepared to set that as a goal for your government to work too,
:19:25. > :19:26.certainly up to 2021 and hopefully to deliver? I think that is
:19:27. > :19:29.reasonable. We want to see more people live with and survive long
:19:30. > :19:35.cancer. The survival rates are about 8% - 9%. They are low figures. Much
:19:36. > :19:42.of it is because early diagnosis is so crucial, common to any type of
:19:43. > :19:46.cancer. And symptoms don't manifest so readily. I believe our GPs are
:19:47. > :19:51.referring people as they should, there's no question to my mind that
:19:52. > :19:55.is happening and that people are receiving attention as they need.
:19:56. > :20:05.Where there are complex cancers, it does take some time to get the right
:20:06. > :20:08.treatment for them. I am looking to support an initiative that wants to
:20:09. > :20:13.cut the number of deaths through long cancer in the way the leader of
:20:14. > :20:18.the Welsh Conservatives has described. Thank you for that
:20:19. > :20:23.commitment. If it is met, it could save 600 lives, who were dying
:20:24. > :20:27.prematurely to lung cancer at the moment in Wales. Ultimately, that is
:20:28. > :20:32.a goal we should all be striving to. Two weeks ago I heard an event for
:20:33. > :20:37.patient voices around cancer services. Tom Crosby, the clinical
:20:38. > :20:41.need for cancer services in Wales, highlighted the importance of
:20:42. > :20:47.bringing forward a Cancer plan to underpin cancer development in
:20:48. > :20:49.services, putting oncologists into Wales and developing long-term
:20:50. > :20:55.sustainable services. If were going to hit that target of an increase in
:20:56. > :20:59.survival up to 25% by 2025, and if we want to be serious about getting
:21:00. > :21:04.on track now, we need to bring that plan forward, and when people like
:21:05. > :21:08.Tom Crosby are identifying that has a need, I hope you'll agree the
:21:09. > :21:12.government does need to listen to him and listen to others who are
:21:13. > :21:17.saying that is what is required to drive the strategy forward.
:21:18. > :21:21.Macmillan, who you identified in members interests, identified only
:21:22. > :21:26.last week there needs to be a dramatic improvement in the delivery
:21:27. > :21:30.of services for patients in 2017. Will you commit to bringing forward
:21:31. > :21:35.a Cancer plan along the lines of what Tom Crosby has identified and
:21:36. > :21:39.an improvement in services that Macmillan have called for in 2017?
:21:40. > :21:41.The leader of the Welsh Conservatives will no doubt know
:21:42. > :21:46.these are issues that are raised constantly in the house where I live
:21:47. > :21:54.and the points I make fresh strongly and rightly so. We will listen to
:21:55. > :21:58.those who suggest how cancer can be dealt with. We want to ensure we
:21:59. > :22:01.have the right level of medical staffing, which is why we have a
:22:02. > :22:06.recruiting campaign which were launched last year. And it's
:22:07. > :22:13.important to what the third sector organisations. They provide support
:22:14. > :22:20.for people who are shocked with the cancer diagnosis. The knocking their
:22:21. > :22:26.income, the knock in the confidence, and it is a question as well that
:22:27. > :22:32.people have support outside. I've seen similar examples of people who
:22:33. > :22:36.because they have received support because they've kept their spirits
:22:37. > :22:41.in the right place, they have survived cancer, whereas other
:22:42. > :22:44.people who have lost their spirit don't survive. And I've seen that.
:22:45. > :22:49.It is hugely important that while he makes the point that we have the
:22:50. > :22:52.right level of medical staff to give treatments, we also need to make
:22:53. > :22:58.sure people have support around them and ordered to help them fight the
:22:59. > :23:07.disease as well. Leader of the Ukip group. First Minister will know the
:23:08. > :23:10.Fordham motor company cancelled ?1.6 billion in Mexico and decided
:23:11. > :23:20.instead to invest in its plant in Michigan. This is partly, they say,
:23:21. > :23:30.a vote of confidence in the Trump administration policy. 1850 jobs in
:23:31. > :23:36.Bridgend, depending on company, despite slashing investment by ?100
:23:37. > :23:40.million in September. Are those jobs rendered more secure by his
:23:41. > :23:49.insulting call to cancel the proposed invitation to President
:23:50. > :23:55.Trump to visit to the UK? The Ford Motor Company has condemned his
:23:56. > :24:06.comments over the weekend. We'll see the chaos that has resulted. What I
:24:07. > :24:11.can say to him, it is a great threat, the barrier between it and
:24:12. > :24:14.it's only customer in Germany. It exports every single engine it
:24:15. > :24:18.makes. If there are barriers in place between that engine plant and
:24:19. > :24:23.Germany, Ford will be tempted to shift their production to Romania or
:24:24. > :24:30.other plants in Europe. We ought to be on a level playing field and not
:24:31. > :24:33.be put in a position of weakness. My point is the prospering trade
:24:34. > :24:38.relationship with the United States, which will, to an extent, depend
:24:39. > :24:41.upon having a positive relationship with the United States government. I
:24:42. > :24:47.appreciate there will be different views around the chamber on the
:24:48. > :24:51.domestic policies the United States government and, indeed, President
:24:52. > :24:58.Trump's apparent views on world trade, but given the United States
:24:59. > :25:06.is Wales' biggest individual nation trading partner, we exported 2600
:25:07. > :25:12.?44 million worth of exports to that country, 22% of all the exports from
:25:13. > :25:17.Wales, is it not vitally important that we should be as positive
:25:18. > :25:19.towards President Trump in our international relations and
:25:20. > :25:26.therefore welcome the state visit from him later this year? First of
:25:27. > :25:33.all, it is right to engage the US government. I will be in America at
:25:34. > :25:36.the end of next month, working with the Congress, the Caucus, the Welsh
:25:37. > :25:41.caucus of Congress members, and I will keep on doing that. Theresa May
:25:42. > :25:49.herself said that we should speak to friends. And she has not done that.
:25:50. > :25:53.I think it is hugely important these points are made. The phrase that
:25:54. > :25:57.I've used, it is difficult to imagine a successful state visit at
:25:58. > :26:10.the moment given the controversy and the timing of this. Bill Clinton
:26:11. > :26:13.didn't have a state visit Noorda George Bush nor did Ronald Reagan.
:26:14. > :26:15.At least two years after they became president did presidents have state
:26:16. > :26:17.visits. The timing is strange, I have to say. I don't criticise
:26:18. > :26:21.Theresa May were trying to force links with the US government, that
:26:22. > :26:26.is the nature of international diplomacy, but it means that if we
:26:27. > :26:30.are truly to be, as it were, friendly critics, if I can use that
:26:31. > :26:35.phrase, of the US government, then the British government shouldn't
:26:36. > :26:40.refrain from doing that. Theresa May has given from the criticism to
:26:41. > :26:47.President Trump already in various ways. And I'm not against being
:26:48. > :26:50.candid with our allies. But there is a difference in diplomacy between
:26:51. > :27:00.candid criticism given a date-mac in a polite way, and megaphone
:27:01. > :27:05.criticism which is more about grandstanding for domestic political
:27:06. > :27:20.game. He sat down when he heard the words Nigel Farage being mentioned,
:27:21. > :27:26.to do with the megaphone. The weather chosen are appropriate and I
:27:27. > :27:31.think they are self-evident to most people in Britain. As I said
:27:32. > :27:35.yesterday, its circumstances change, the circumstances around the visit
:27:36. > :27:38.might change as well. Could the last few days and members can make up
:27:39. > :27:43.their own minds about what is happening in the US, because we have
:27:44. > :27:47.no clarity despite what Boris Johnson said, and I think there are
:27:48. > :27:52.issues for the Prime Minister. First question is when did she know about
:27:53. > :27:55.this? Was it Friday? Did she make representations? When did she know
:27:56. > :28:00.about the conditions that are attached to the executive order? If
:28:01. > :28:03.so, did she make representations for British citizens and British
:28:04. > :28:07.passport holders? Which was asked about the order, why did she say it
:28:08. > :28:13.is a matter for the US? If it had been any other country, she wouldn't
:28:14. > :28:16.have made that response. Why did it take so long for Boris Johnson to
:28:17. > :28:21.get on the phone to clarify the position? It isn't as clear as he
:28:22. > :28:26.has suggested in Parliament. These are all questions I think the prime
:28:27. > :28:30.minister has to answer. Of course, we have to have a relationship with
:28:31. > :28:36.the US government. Of course we will continue our relationship with the
:28:37. > :28:41.businesses. But it doesn't mean that we should say nothing about policies
:28:42. > :28:46.put in place with which we disagree. We haven't done that with countries
:28:47. > :28:51.like China or Russia. It is right we should also make our views known
:28:52. > :28:55.when we disagree with something the US does, rather than be quiet and
:28:56. > :29:03.sit in the corner. That I believe isn't the right way for the UK to
:29:04. > :29:10.conduct its affairs. Question three. Will the First Minister make
:29:11. > :29:18.statements on the Welsh Common's progress on physical activity? We
:29:19. > :29:28.have measures which are being considered and are forthcoming.
:29:29. > :29:33.Every Saturday morning at 9am right across Wales, thousands of people
:29:34. > :29:38.take part in a park runs. They are volunteer led, they are timed people
:29:39. > :29:46.are able to chart their progress as they hopefully their times over the
:29:47. > :29:50.months and, indeed, the years. In Newport, the park run has been added
:29:51. > :29:56.to with the city centre urban park run along the riverside. I took part
:29:57. > :30:01.in recent events and enjoyed the benefits, as so many others do,
:30:02. > :30:05.although my joy in setting a personal best was reduced when the
:30:06. > :30:12.man who finished in front of me confided he'd just had a hip
:30:13. > :30:18.replacement. Nonetheless, they are very important events, and I did set
:30:19. > :30:23.a personal best. Will you join me, First Minister, in recognising and
:30:24. > :30:26.paying tribute to the importance and significance of these park runs,
:30:27. > :30:29.which are making a growing contribution to getting a more
:30:30. > :30:34.physically active population right across Wales?
:30:35. > :30:41.It is hugely important that people feel comfortable in taking exercise
:30:42. > :30:47.in ways that are appropriate to them. They were two points that I
:30:48. > :30:51.feared he would make. The first when he did make, namely that he has been
:30:52. > :30:56.involved in a part run himself, and the second he didn't make, which I
:30:57. > :31:00.welcome, which was an invite for me to join him in a park run because I
:31:01. > :31:03.know full well he would have the edge on me there. But it is
:31:04. > :31:14.important to encourage people to take exercise in new ways. Dai
:31:15. > :31:27.Lloyd. Following on from John Griffiths' question, the First
:31:28. > :31:31.Minister will recall the last time we had a ballot was to safeguard
:31:32. > :31:35.playing fields and so I hope there will be some development along the
:31:36. > :31:40.line as John suggested but it is also a matter of concern that 13% of
:31:41. > :31:44.children in Wales do no physical activity from one week to the next.
:31:45. > :31:54.What plans do you have in place to tackle the situation? Well, the
:31:55. > :31:58.Welsh schools network, healthy schools network scheme, does support
:31:59. > :32:03.schools to promote schemes to improve the health of pupils in
:32:04. > :32:13.schools. 99% of schools are part of the programme. Those schools that
:32:14. > :32:20.aren't private schools. And of course we also work with the W LGA
:32:21. > :32:26.in order to support the children in continuing with their exercise,
:32:27. > :32:27.including in the summer holidays, by ensuring there are activities
:32:28. > :32:41.available. It could bring substantial benefits for
:32:42. > :32:52.the health and well-being of the nation. The consultation on
:32:53. > :32:57.improving... When will your government be in a position to bring
:32:58. > :33:02.forward proposals that will encourage activities such as cycling
:33:03. > :33:04.and horse riding while protecting the environment and the livelihood
:33:05. > :33:15.of people who work in the countryside in Wales? Let's Walk,
:33:16. > :33:22.Wales, is aimed at introducing walking into people's daily lives to
:33:23. > :33:25.tackle the onset of heart disease and obesity. It is important that
:33:26. > :33:30.people know where they can walk and where they can cycle and the active
:33:31. > :33:35.travel act is a piece of legislation that helps us to develop those
:33:36. > :33:41.methods of both exercise and transport in Wales in the future.
:33:42. > :33:46.Question four. What are the implications of the UK Government's
:33:47. > :33:51.industrial plan on Wales? Thus far it is not full of detail but we have
:33:52. > :33:54.a call for the rebalancing of the economy and we will look at the
:33:55. > :34:01.Green Paper when we see it in more detail. Obviously, the industrial
:34:02. > :34:06.plan will impact on devolved matters in some way but although we don't
:34:07. > :34:09.exactly know that until the Welsh government publishes an industrial
:34:10. > :34:11.plan for Wales itself and in response to a question from my
:34:12. > :34:17.friend, the member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr last week, the
:34:18. > :34:20.economy secretary dismissed any need for an urgent industrial plan for
:34:21. > :34:24.Wales with a suggestion we might have to wait until late in the
:34:25. > :34:27.summer. When will the Welsh government stop playing hide and
:34:28. > :34:32.seek with the future prosperity of this country? The unemployment rate
:34:33. > :34:38.is 4.1%, lower than England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We
:34:39. > :34:43.take the view that it is hugely important that we develop business.
:34:44. > :34:49.We have set up the development bank for Wales. Some supporting sectors
:34:50. > :34:53.where they need support. We have not seen support from the UK Government
:34:54. > :34:56.for steel. We have provided that support and it is for that reason
:34:57. > :35:04.there is a future in prospect for the Welsh steel industry so from our
:35:05. > :35:12.perspective, we have invested in skills as well, and we believe the
:35:13. > :35:16.story we can tell is a good one. First Minister, you just mentioned
:35:17. > :35:18.steel. Are you as disappointed as I am when I read through the
:35:19. > :35:24.industrial plan from the UK Government that there is very little
:35:25. > :35:30.reflection on steel. Their approach to steel is nonexistent,
:35:31. > :35:34.effectively. Manufacturing is 16% of the GPA in Wales. It's a major
:35:35. > :35:38.sector so when you produce the economic strategy, will you make
:35:39. > :35:41.sure the industrial strategy ensures that our manufacturing sector and
:35:42. > :35:47.steel sector are reflected in the actions we take? We are judged by
:35:48. > :35:51.what we have done for the steel sector in Wales. The financial
:35:52. > :35:55.support we have provided, the fact we have engaged so much with Tata
:35:56. > :36:00.and other steelmakers, showing them that we see steel as an important
:36:01. > :36:03.part of the Welsh economy. There is scant reference to it in the Green
:36:04. > :36:07.Paper it self despite what we have heard from the UK Government. We
:36:08. > :36:10.need to see more detail on how the UK Government will do its bit to
:36:11. > :36:17.support the steel industry. Russell George. In regards to your White
:36:18. > :36:21.Paper on exiting the EU, First Minister, there is much I can agree
:36:22. > :36:25.on but there does seem to be a lack of strategic planning to the
:36:26. > :36:31.opportunities to grow the Welsh economy. We know that Welsh exports
:36:32. > :36:37.were down in 2015, new business start-ups since 2011 have reduced by
:36:38. > :36:44.26%, so in growing the Welsh economy, how is your paper linking
:36:45. > :36:49.with a prosperous and secure strategy that your Cabinet secretary
:36:50. > :36:55.talked about last week? What Welsh government plans are there to
:36:56. > :36:59.reverse the export declines and support particularly new business
:37:00. > :37:12.start-ups? I thank him for what he said about the White Paper. He
:37:13. > :37:15.talked about SMEs. We offer repayable finance to SMEs.
:37:16. > :37:19.Immediately following the referendum, we did launch the
:37:20. > :37:25.business confidence plan aimed at promoting business confidence. We
:37:26. > :37:31.want Wales to remain an attractive place for businesses to invest. On
:37:32. > :37:35.top of that, Finance Wales has introduced two new funds. For
:37:36. > :37:38.example, the Wales technology venture investment fund and the
:37:39. > :37:42.Wales business fund. We are determined to make sure that we can
:37:43. > :37:46.provide as much support as SMEs need. It is right to say that there
:37:47. > :37:50.is still some uncertainty as to what happens post-Brexit. We don't know
:37:51. > :37:53.what the arrangements will be for accessing the single market until
:37:54. > :37:57.those questions are answered so it's natural that some businesses will
:37:58. > :38:01.want to wait and see what happens before they take investment
:38:02. > :38:03.decisions. Question five. What assessment has the First Minister
:38:04. > :38:15.made of bank closures in north Wales? What is absolutely crucial is
:38:16. > :38:20.that people, with a loot their bank branches are able to access banking
:38:21. > :38:24.services through the Post Office. Just last week, HSBC announced its
:38:25. > :38:27.intention to close its branch in Holywell, hot on the heels of
:38:28. > :38:32.NatWest taking the same decision in the same town. The consequence of
:38:33. > :38:37.which will hit the high street hard. I joined members of the community
:38:38. > :38:41.last Friday to take a stand against this latest closure and the hurt and
:38:42. > :38:46.anger of local people was palpable. They really feel enough is enough
:38:47. > :38:53.for the area. When HSBC closed its bad in Flint last year, they advised
:38:54. > :38:59.customers to use the Holywell Arch. -- branch. While the banks make
:39:00. > :39:04.clear it is possible to use the local post office, this is not
:39:05. > :39:08.applicable to business customers and the future of Hollywood post office
:39:09. > :39:11.is far from certain. While I recognise that any legislation to
:39:12. > :39:15.protect our local bank branches would need to be eaten at the UK
:39:16. > :39:19.level, what can the Welsh government do to make sure that people and
:39:20. > :39:23.businesses in my constituency and across Wales continue to access
:39:24. > :39:31.face-to-face banking and support our high streets? We have over the years
:39:32. > :39:34.supported our post offices financially and they are hugely
:39:35. > :39:39.important in local communities. It is right to say that while personal
:39:40. > :39:42.banking services can be provided by post offices, the reality is that
:39:43. > :39:48.most business customers don't get that kind of service. When
:39:49. > :39:55.businesses cash at the end of the day, where do they take their money?
:39:56. > :40:01.Is one of the issues. It helps the football of a post office as well.
:40:02. > :40:06.The difficulty with banking is that football has dropped in branches. We
:40:07. > :40:09.must find a way, working with the Post Office, to make sure that those
:40:10. > :40:13.services are available to the people that need them. We have made
:40:14. > :40:17.representations over the years to the Post Office and the banks to
:40:18. > :40:22.make sure that where banks decide they no one to be -- no longer want
:40:23. > :40:25.to be in the community, the Post Office is able to take over the
:40:26. > :40:39.services they offer, and to look at whether credit unions can take over
:40:40. > :40:42.as well. Rhun ap Iorwerth. I have also raised concerns in this chamber
:40:43. > :40:44.to the First Minister on a series of announcements in my constituency.
:40:45. > :40:52.They have been further announcements recently on financial institutions,
:40:53. > :40:55.not only banks closing, HSBC in Holyhead, the Yorkshire building
:40:56. > :41:02.society in Llangefni, they are the latest two. The outcome of this is
:41:03. > :41:06.that there is a centralisation of services and regional hubs. We are
:41:07. > :41:09.seeing a pattern of that emerging at the moment and that does deprive
:41:10. > :41:13.people of services as other members have said. There is the First
:41:14. > :41:17.Minister agree that the Welsh government does need to put pressure
:41:18. > :41:21.on the UK Government to make sure that banks, not as individual
:41:22. > :41:24.companies but as a wider sector, should make sure that there are
:41:25. > :41:30.financial services which are accessible to all communities in
:41:31. > :41:35.Wales? Yes, that is a fair point. If the banks can't do it, in my view
:41:36. > :41:41.they are duty bound to offer alternative ways of delivering the
:41:42. > :41:47.financial services, via the Post Office and also, as a government, we
:41:48. > :41:52.want to make sure that credit unions can fill the gap that the commercial
:41:53. > :41:56.banks are leaving. As I said earlier, by so doing, I think it
:41:57. > :42:02.will be possible to make sure that people will receive the services
:42:03. > :42:06.they should receive. Mark Isherwood. As he Jess be told me when I met
:42:07. > :42:09.them last year to discuss the closures in Flintshire, as NatWest
:42:10. > :42:14.replied to me when I wrote to them regarding their closure in
:42:15. > :42:18.Hollywood, and as the Yorkshire building society is now saying, the
:42:19. > :42:27.reason for this is the switch from bank raised service usage to digital
:42:28. > :42:31.usage. That, as is now being said by HSBC in Holywell, Hollywood head and
:42:32. > :42:35.Llanrwst, leaves those without transport, those without Internet
:42:36. > :42:40.access, shopkeepers and small businesses, losing out. What
:42:41. > :42:44.dialogue and what submission did your government made to Professor
:42:45. > :42:47.Grigg's independent review into how banks have intimated the banking
:42:48. > :42:52.protocol to minimise the impact of bank closures and into dialogue with
:42:53. > :42:58.the Post Office regarding the newly announced partnership to secure
:42:59. > :43:02.access to local banking services? We welcome the recommendations for
:43:03. > :43:07.better engagement and communication between the banks and customers but
:43:08. > :43:10.it is important the UK Government, as the lead organisation here, to
:43:11. > :43:16.make sure that what the review actually suggests is taken forward,
:43:17. > :43:19.namely that the banks improve the way they engage with communities
:43:20. > :43:22.facing branch closures, including working with small business
:43:23. > :43:28.customers to mitigate the challenge of cash deposits. While we welcome
:43:29. > :43:33.the recommendations, we do need to see action now on the part of the UK
:43:34. > :43:35.Government. Question six. Will the First Minister make a statement on
:43:36. > :43:42.support for micro businesses in Wales? Business support is available
:43:43. > :43:47.for entrepreneurs, Micro, small and medium-sized businesses across
:43:48. > :43:50.Wales, through our business Wales service, and our focus remains on
:43:51. > :43:57.supporting innovation, jobs and the economy. As well as the support you
:43:58. > :44:01.have referred to, I am aware that business Wales provides considerable
:44:02. > :44:07.practical support for guidance on developing businesses such as
:44:08. > :44:11.business plans, research, bands etc. In Merthyr Tydfil we have a
:44:12. > :44:13.fantastic organisation which offers facilitated office space for
:44:14. > :44:19.businesses to share resources and ideas under one roof. The space
:44:20. > :44:24.offers a one-stop cost-effective environment to kick-start ideas and
:44:25. > :44:29.share skills, knowledge and success. An important part of the hub's role
:44:30. > :44:33.is not just to provide the facilitated office space but it
:44:34. > :44:36.provides a forum for these new or developing small businesses to share
:44:37. > :44:41.experience and good practice and mutual support. Do you agree with me
:44:42. > :44:45.that initiatives like this can be incredibly beneficial to small
:44:46. > :44:47.businesses, particularly in their formative years, and have an
:44:48. > :44:51.important role to play in supporting the continued growth of small
:44:52. > :44:57.businesses in Wales, supplementing the work done by business Wales?
:44:58. > :45:05.Sharing expertise, good practice is a good factor for start-ups. I note
:45:06. > :45:12.the sector in Conwy, in conjunction with the entrepreneurial sector, is
:45:13. > :45:14.looking at the type of spaces needed to make sure that provision is
:45:15. > :45:26.available. Will the First Minister make a
:45:27. > :45:31.statement on the Hendry review? We welcome it. It supports the case for
:45:32. > :45:35.the tidal lagoon and the specific recognition that gives to the
:45:36. > :45:41.projects already under development around our coast. Thank you. We all
:45:42. > :45:45.welcome it. What we don't need of course is the issue of the marine
:45:46. > :45:53.licence holding up progress. Bearing in mind that I raise the delay in
:45:54. > :45:59.September 2015, how often has your government chased and Derby to come
:46:00. > :46:06.forward with the license, and what reasons has it given for its species
:46:07. > :46:10.report? NRW at arms length organisation. There is a limit to
:46:11. > :46:14.what we can appropriately say to them as they are determining a
:46:15. > :46:20.marine licensing application. I will say the application needs to be
:46:21. > :46:24.determined as possible. And we all understand in this chamber of the
:46:25. > :46:28.importance of the tidal lagoon in terms of jobs. We also need to see a
:46:29. > :46:31.firm commitment from the UK government in terms of the strike
:46:32. > :46:38.price in order to ensure this worthwhile project goes ahead.
:46:39. > :46:47.Question eight. We were delighted Charles Hendry visited the Assembly
:46:48. > :46:51.last week. What discussions has the First Minister had with the Prime
:46:52. > :46:56.Minister regarding the Swansea Bay tidal lagoons since the Hendry
:46:57. > :47:01.review was published? Can I thank the member for the heads up on his
:47:02. > :47:06.supplementary? Not directly with the Prime Minister but I know the
:47:07. > :47:10.Cabinet Secretary for Conwy infrastructure met last week and
:47:11. > :47:21.officials are in close contact with the Department in Whitehall. Thank
:47:22. > :47:26.you for your patience. It was a clear and resounding endorsement of
:47:27. > :47:31.the Swansea Laguna Seca Pathfinder, he said, and the cost of the project
:47:32. > :47:41.would be about 30 people are household were a year for the first
:47:42. > :47:44.30 years. The benefits he said that investment could be huge, especially
:47:45. > :47:48.in South Wales but also in many other parts of the country. Having
:47:49. > :47:53.looked at the evidence and spoken to the key players on both sides of the
:47:54. > :47:57.debate, it is my view we should seize the opportunity to move this
:47:58. > :48:01.technology forward now. Would be First Minister note the cross-party
:48:02. > :48:08.support here in the Senedd? The cross-party support among Welsh MPs?
:48:09. > :48:12.The cross sector business support? The University support? And whilst
:48:13. > :48:17.we need to deal with the environmental concerns, the wider
:48:18. > :48:21.NGO support for this sustainable energy scheme? Would you further
:48:22. > :48:24.agree that this, as I said to Charles Hendry when he first came
:48:25. > :48:30.here to take views, is a no-brainer or as he said, in no regret policy
:48:31. > :48:35.for government. And we would welcome a supportive statement from the UK
:48:36. > :48:38.government for the pathway Project at the earliest opportunity. What
:48:39. > :48:43.can he do to help to get that statement? We have made it very
:48:44. > :48:46.clear that this is a project that doesn't just deliver green anergy
:48:47. > :48:51.beyond our own lifetimes, which is not something we are used to
:48:52. > :49:00.predicting in politics. It also has the potential to create 1300 jobs,
:49:01. > :49:08.particular import tool but that is required. -- particular in Port
:49:09. > :49:14.Talbot. And I hope we can move forward with the project that will
:49:15. > :49:18.only be good for the Welsh people. Will the First Minister make a
:49:19. > :49:22.statement on recognition given those who carried out their National
:49:23. > :49:25.Service as Bevin Boys during and after the Second World War? I know
:49:26. > :49:31.the member has a very firm interest in this issue and we know that Bevin
:49:32. > :49:36.Boys, many of whom worked in dangerous minds, played their part
:49:37. > :49:41.in winning the Second World War and it is fitting memorial commemorating
:49:42. > :49:47.them has been planned in the Staffordshire arboretum. I was
:49:48. > :49:51.contacted by my constituent who turns 91 this year and was a Bevin
:49:52. > :49:55.Boys during the Second World War. When the Bevin Boys programme was
:49:56. > :50:01.wound up in 1948, they didn't receive medals and their efforts
:50:02. > :50:07.went unrecognised until VE Day, the 50th anniversary celebrations, in
:50:08. > :50:11.May 19 95. In June 2007, the UK government announced Bevin Boys
:50:12. > :50:15.would get a badge for their service. I feel it wasn't enough. I will be
:50:16. > :50:18.writing to the Bevin Boys association to ask them to contact
:50:19. > :50:23.my constituent. With the First Minister pay tribute to my
:50:24. > :50:27.constituent and people like him and recognise his contribution to our
:50:28. > :50:31.country's security during the Second World War? Indeed, I would because
:50:32. > :50:34.even though they weren't competence, without them, there would not have
:50:35. > :50:38.been the ability to release those who went into the armed forces,
:50:39. > :50:43.there wouldn't have been the ability to fill so many of the engines that
:50:44. > :50:47.were needed in ships particularly and we know the economy would have
:50:48. > :50:51.ground to a halt. That would have been as debilitating as military
:50:52. > :50:55.reversal. War pensions, for example, are not devolved and they haven't
:50:56. > :50:59.been applied to Bevin Boys, they are the response poverty of the UK
:51:00. > :51:01.government. But I'd be happy to write to the responsible minister in
:51:02. > :51:08.the UK government to make him aware of the issues you phrase today, and
:51:09. > :51:12.the issue of war pensions and what should be done now to honour all of
:51:13. > :51:16.those who are still with us who contributed so much to the war
:51:17. > :51:20.effort. That was First Minister's questions.
:51:21. > :51:25.Proceedings continuing Cardiff Bay and if you want more coverage of the
:51:26. > :51:35.National Assembly, go online to BBC Wales live page, which is. More
:51:36. > :51:40.politics on Wales Today at 6:30pm. As for today, from all of us on the
:51:41. > :52:21.programme, thanks very much for watching. Goodbye.
:52:22. > :52:26.When people talk about the game being in the nation's soul,
:52:27. > :52:32.We only taste delirium because we've had despair as well.
:52:33. > :52:36.Eddie Butler meets the fans and players who make it what it is.
:52:37. > :52:38.It's probably the most emotionally charged rugby you play.
:52:39. > :52:46.Friday night at 8:00, on BBC One Wales.
:52:47. > :52:48.CHEERING 'Well, this is the moment
:52:49. > :52:51.'that the whole of Wales has been waiting for...'