13/12/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to a special edition of Wales Today. It's all about your

money, or the lack of it. We're calling it Crunch Christmas. Food

for thought here tonight. The rate inflation drops slightly, but what

you earn on average still isn't keeping pace with the cost of

living. Food, petrol, heating. Gas and

electric have gone up. On the whole, not many things are coming down,

unfortunately. We can control the flow of water

around this part of the Welsh coast, but the levers of our economy lie

in Westminster. So, what influence can politicians here really have?

We have no taxation powers, but we use the levers we already have.

What are those levers? Providing the money to build new schools, and

Good evening. Also tonight: Is this the future for television

here? Cardiff and Swansea are to get their own local stations, but

critics warn there's not enough money to make it work.

And Chaz Davies is crowned BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of

the Year. We'll bring you all the winners from one of the biggest

Welcome to Ogmore Vale Bakery in Bridgend. Christmas is only two

weeks away and staff here have been busy baking cakes and tarts for

customers across the world. It's a challenging time to be in business.

Inflation figures out this morning have fallen for a second month in a

row. That will be welcomed here, but it still remains well above the

two per cent target. What does that mean for you? Quite simply, your

money doesn't stretch so far. How do they work all this out? The most

frequently used measures of inflation are the Consumer Prices

Index, or CPI, which looks at the prices of everything from bread to

petrol, and the Retail Prices Index, or RPI, which includes your housing

costs. CPI fell from 5% last month to 4.8% last month. The fall was

partly due to a slowdown in the rise in food and non-alcoholic

drink prices. But the prices of some essentials are rocketing. Your

electricity, gas and other fuels have gone up by more than 20% last

year. And wages here aren't keeping pace with the cost of living. The

average weekly wage in Wales is �454. In a moment, we'll be finding

out about how inflation is affecting this business. Let's go

to Lampeter to see how finances are being squeezed. Prices are

disgusting. You have got to shop around. You can get some cheap

things. It is very expensive. left it near the coast. The price

of diesel, everything is dear. The further you go away from the big

centres of business and industry. Buying essential things in life

like food, petrol, heating, Gas and Electric has gone up. On the whole,

not many things are coming down. I think the biggest impact is the

fact that salaries are have frozen. These products are going to markets

as far afield as America. In every corner of the country, it is the

season for panto. It is the season for panto all

across the country. Our reporter Matthew Richards has been to

Wrexham, where they're making a drama out of the financial crisis.

I was just telling our friends how pool where we are. When a burglar

broke into our house, he left us money.

It's a feeling more and more of us are starting to recognise. The

economic slowdown has added extra resonance to Grove Park Theatre's

version of Jack and the Beanstalk. Andrew Maskall plays the Dame.

lost my job. By was a drama teacher. Eight months after that, I had to

sell my car because I could not afford to get it fixed. Being out

of work, being on the benefits and the lack of opportunities with the

economy, it all plays a part. So, what is inflation? Our hero

Jack can help explain. It reflects the cost of all kinds of goods.

It's calculated by adding up a typical basket of products from

electricity charges, mortgage interest payments, electronics,

cars and food. Like the beanstalk, it's shot up over recent months,

but the rate is falling as some prices are cut or frozen. When

Katie Cooney isn't playing the Fairy Flash, she's counting the

cost of Christmas for her five- year-old daughter Molly. She

doesn't have a magic wand to help her, so she's... I try to work out

how a king get things from different shops. In terms of rent,

they have gone up. It is a case of trying to make ends meet. The of

the attack has frozen prices. are looking at places where there

is a minimum costume change, we are looking at plays, even at the

potential of finding a royalty free place because the cost of royalty

is eats into the budget so much. All these factors make a difference

to the ultimate economic reality of running the theatre. As the curtain

closes, it looks as though 2012 will see an encore for our money

woes. But if a jacket can overcome his problem, Perhaps there is hope

That is the situation there. Bacchae at the bakery, if you are

slightly confused looking at the products, they have moved off

Christmas, they are now working on Easter treats and Valentines of

products. We are also seeing some Chinese markings. Things may cheer

are exported to Japan, China and America. Let's talk to the boss of

the bakery. You are on the front line. What does inflation mean to

you. The biggest impact has certainly been in commodity prices

which we have seen over the last year pushing up the cost of raw

materials, hence pushing up the price to the end consumer.

Fortunately, the last month has seen a plateau in that. I can see

the ongoing pressures still coming through. The cost of goods will

continue to rise. T Pass this rising cost of your petrol and

chopped raw ingredients on to the customers? There is a combination.

Some, we have no choice, we have to. Others, we have to look at the

project and look to see if we can actually compromise its lightly,

maybe on the weight of the product, to maintain a price so that we are

not compromising the quality of the product. How to Welsh businesses

combat the effects of inflation, which they are all suffering from?

Given what we have just church, it illustrates that they are being

squeezed from both sides because prices are rising faster than they

can pass on. The answer is threefold. It is finding new

markets. It is finding ways of doing the things differently in

terms of making more efficiency, organising their processes.

Ultimately, it is about to innovating to create different

projects to the future. This firm is exporting to China and the

United States. That is the message to every Welsh business. It is

looking to new markets, markets where there are still high levels

of income. Those are not the markets of the UK or the European

Union at the moment. We are starting to build up a picture of

what it is like to be in business. Also to deal with the present state

of the economy. And what it is like to be a shop and finding that your

money does not stretch as far as you might hope. What are the

answers? When it comes to trying to do things for the Welsh economy,

the answers do not like close at home. The leaders of the Welsh

economy are run in Westminster. Here is our political editor.

global crisis. A storm that has caused Europe's governments to

grasp every economically the they have. For Wales, the economic

outlook is not bright. It is the First Minister war has talked about

not sitting back, not letting the economic tide to wash over us. But

when it comes to control, when it comes to turning that tide, which

economic patterns does his Government have to press? The Welsh

Government cannot very how much tax we pay. It cannot raise it or put

it. What about interest rates? No cloud over those either. Another

was, this Government cannot affect how much money it has to pump into

the Welsh economy. What can it do? It can give the struggling

businesses and those keen to expand many to spend on protecting and

creating jobs. The boss year says that happen now would allow his

business to grow in the future. Government can directly fund growth

in businesses and enable us to access capital investment which is

difficult to run -- to access at the moment, such as investing in

the software we create she which will directly created jobs and

high-value jobs queue. Government can offer lifelines.

There is rate relief for small businesses. But can inject the

money it gets into the economy by a big building projects. Labour says

it is doing just that, but not enough money is flowing into the

economy, say opposition parties. have no taxation powers, but we use

the levers we to have. Providing the money to build new schools,

build new houses, that does not just provide new spaces for new

students and also for people who want a roof over their heads, it

provides jobs in the construction industry. The UK Government says it

may be time to devolve more financial powers to the Assembly.

That would put an end to what they see as a constant plane -- blame

game played in Cardiff. This is a mature way to ensure the Assembly

in a Welsh Government that the responsibility they neat tool

ensure that the administration does not perpetually demand more powers

and more money. The big economic levers certainly are not in Cardiff

Bay. But the challenge for the Welsh Government is to prove that

what it can do is making a difference. While steering clear of

bearing any blame for what it cannot. But bigger be put -- a

couple of those points with a Professor David Pickernell. We

heard a lot about what the Welsh Government should do. And what

Westminster should do about the wider problem. Realistically, what

can ministers in Cardiff Bay do? think from what we have seen

previously, wanting to encourage businesses to export an innovator,

it is things around that, it is facilitating, helping universities

were quite small firms, it is the sort of issues where they can prime

the punters and illustrate a way to go. That is what Welsh politicians

can do. Let's talk about what Welsh businesses can do for themselves.

What can they do? There again, that is looking internally within their

businesses to focus on where they can become more efficient, where

they can reorganise and Engineer what they're doing, but also

looking to see whether projects in other parts of the world have

opportunity and to scan more widely than they have had to do before.

This is the problem with the lack of growth in the UK and the

European Union. It is looking for We're keen to hear how you're

coping in the run-up to Christmas. Email us at [email protected],

contact us on Twitter via the address on your screen or phone us

on 03703 500 700. We're on Facebook The day's other news now. Councils

here aren't doing enough to protect your personal details from falling

into the wrong hands. That's the warning from the UK's information

watchdog. It's raised concerns after thousands of pieces of

personal information were lost or To provide us with all these

services, councils need an awful lot of our personal information,

names, addresses, date of birth and more sensitive social services data.

That information is generally kept in council buildings. Sometimes it

needs to be shared. It is downloaded on to laptops or memory

sticks or e-mailed on to other people. But problems can arise. In

the most serious case, Cardiff Council wrongly sent out an e-mail

containing the names and addresses of over 2,000 children on a child

protection register. Fortunately, it was sent to the NHS which

destroyed the information. The council said quick action meant the

disclosure was contained. But the UK information watchdog is

concerned. Financial implications and that sort of things. There is

also the issue of privacy. If we're talking about sensitive records,

people do not want that information put out into the public domain.

That is likely to happen. In the last three years, council staff

have lost memory sticks with information or they have had them

stolen. Laptops have also been stolen from council vehicles.

People trust their councils with the most sensitive information as

part of the cows as providing services. But they have a serious

question to ask, can the council's be trusted to hold that

information? With identity theft on the increase, how they take care of

the information is becoming increasingly important.

The UK Government is proposing to centralise its DVLA services in

Swansea as part of plans to close all regional offices across the UK,

including those in Bangor and Cardiff. Around 400 jobs could be

created in the city. But there are fears that nearly 80 jobs could

also be lost here. The head of the organisation in Swansea says they

hope to secure as many as possible.. As we look to put more services

into intermediaries, centralising some of those services into Swansea

will lead to increased job opportunities within Wales.

The neo-natal unit at Singleton Hospital in Swansea has fully

reopened after test results found there was no further cross

infection of E.coli. It was closed last month following the death of

two babies with E.coli, one contracted the infection at the

hospital. Flintshire Council has voted to

press ahead with plans to close a specialist centre for children with

autism despite protests by parents. Council officials say too few

children use the centre at Westwood Primary School in Buckley and that

other facilities are available in Flint.

Cardiff and Swansea are among 20 places across the UK to get their

own TV Stations within the next two years. The UK Government says the

services will meet a demand for local programming. But some are

warning the channels won't be It is all about mirroring the

American model. Cities, rather than regions, have their own television

stations. Cardiff and Swansea will be the first cities in Wales to get

their own local TV stations. The UK government is convinced there is a

demand for the service. These are not services that will resemble

those produced by the BBC, ITV or S4C. They will be on a shoestring

in comparison to those services. There have to be produced on far

smaller budgets. The BBC has agreed to put up money to start the

project across the UK. It is intended that advertising will keep

the services on the air. Some critics have claimed there is no

need for more channels. This man struggles to see how the new

channels will be commercially viable. Everybody is using the

internet and people understand it. People are making films. They can

upload them and share them. That is what local TV has to be about.

and Bangor are other areas identified for future licences. The

first channels had due to be up and running within the next two years.

Chaz Davies says he's shocked after winning BBC Cymru Wales Sports

Personality of the Year. The motorcyclist from Powys, now based

in California, became the first Welshman to win a world superbike

class title. The winner is Chaz Davies. He might not have been the

best known sports personality on the list but he certainly was the

most popular. 24-year-old motorcycling champion Chaz Davies

from Presteigne in Powys was the surprise winner last night. A

fitting finale to a year when he won one of motorcycling's biggest

prizes, the World Supersport Series. He couldn't be at the event. He's

practising for the new season in California but he did join the

ceremony at the Liberty Stadium via videolink. His mother accepted the

award on his behalf and said she's proud he's put the sport on the map.

I was shocked to get a nomination in the first place. We are going up

to get a lot of talented sports people in Wales. To just be

nominated but to now when is something that I definitely did not

think would happen. Triathlete Helen Jenkins came second in the

public vote, followed by Paralympian Nathan Stephens. The

team of the year award went to Swansea City. Under Brendan Rogers,

they became the first Welsh team to win promotion to the Premier League.

The play off final is something that will live with me for the rest

of my days. It brought everyone together in the city. We took

ourselves up the M4 to Wembley. There was a lifetime achievement

award for Anne Ellis from Swansea in recognition of her 50 years to

hockey. Once a player, she stills helps out at her local club every

weekend. When you consider people who have received this award, they

were legends. I am a girl from Swansea who loved hockey. Amazing.

There were also two Young Sports Personality Awards. One for gymnast

Angel Romaeo, the other for golfer Rhys Pugh.

We'll be looking back at a momentous year in Welsh Sport

tonight at 10:35pm here on BBC One Wales.

The weather has thrown up a bit of everything today. Gales, heavy rain

and flooding in some places. And What a day! Heavy rain, sleet,

thunder, snow and hail the size of peas. Mark Hillman sent in this

picture via Twitter. The road covered in hailstones in

Ystradfellte making driving conditions treacherous. We've also

had plenty of rain. At the moment, there are 11 flood alerts in force.

And one flood warning on the River Dee from Llangollen to Chester.

Strong to severe gale force winds as well. At Mumbles Head in Swansea,

a gust of 81mph was recorded this afternoon. The reason for the

disturbed weather is low pressure. The air over us has come from

Greenland so it's unstable, producing towering clouds and

showers. Tonight, further heavy showers in the south feeding in

from the Bristol Channel. Snow in places, especially on higher ground.

The north, dry and clearer. The wind easing but still breezy on the

coast. Temps inland falling close to freezing with a frost and a risk

of ice. Now there is a snow warning in force covering most of Wales

tonight and tomorrow morning. It's a yellow warning, the lowest

grading. Widespread problems are not expected but be aware there is

some snow in the forecast. Tomorrow morning, northern counties should

start dry. Some frost and a risk of ice. Further south and west,

showers are likely. Some heavy and wintry. In fact some places,

especially the higher communities in the South Wales Valleys, could

have a covering of snow. A few sunny intervals tomorrow but

showers will become more widespread during the day. Rain, hail and

sleet again. Some snow in places but later in the afternoon the

showers mostly of rain. Temperatures on the cold side. The

wind not as strong as today but still breezy, especially on the

coast and gusty at times. Tomorrow night, more rain and heavy showers.

Strong to gale force winds in Pembrokeshire. The air less cold,

so any snow confined to the very highest ground. Thursday, a breezy

day. Some sunshine and scattered showers. Becoming dry for a time

but we could be in for another dose of stormy weather Thursday night

into Friday. It all depends on an area of low pressure and which path

it takes. There is a risk of more heavy rain, flooding and gales but

it's not clear cut. So it would be worth keeping a close eye on the

forecast over the next couple of days. It's time for a few more of

your pictures. The first by Megan Evans from Tonyrefail. The next a

Christmas Tree by Keira and Carwyn from Ceredigion. And finally, it

looks like Dyfan Morris from Llanffestiniog has made a new

friend. Thanks Dyfan. I hope you had a nice time at the Christmas

Welcome back to Bridgend, where we've been looking at the high cost

of living. Some of you have got in contact with us to share your

experiences. John emailed us to say he and his wife get �105 a week.

They spend �25 on gas, �20 on electric and �20 on other bills.

That leaves them with �40 for shopping which includes bus fares,

so it works out they have �32 to live on each week. He says they

have to decide whether to eat or And mum of three Karen Collins got

in touch to tell us she's really struggling this year to pay for

food and heating. She says she and her family will be very cold this

Christmas as she can't afford to heat her home as heating oil costs

them more than �300 per delivery and she and her boyfriend often

only eat one meal a day so they can Thank you for getting in touch with

your stories. Tomorrow night, our series of

special programmes on the economy in Wales in the run up to Crunch

Christmas continues. We're talking about jobs. Here's Sian Lloyd.

Unemployment in Wales is at its highest for almost 20 years. Today,

we get the figures that we give us a sense of how workers in the

public sector at faring. Across BBC Wales, television, radio and on

line, we will hear stories of those struggling to cope in the current

climate. You'll be asking what can be done to help fund. -- to help

them. That is it from us. We'll have an