21/03/2012 BBC Wales Today

Hello and welcome to Wales Today. So what does today's budget mean

for us? Andrew Thomas is one of 42,000 people here who won't be

paying income tax next year. extra money will come in handy. I

am getting married. Yes, it will be really good. But the Welsh

Government condemn the Chancellor's "budget of disappointment".

I'm at a depot in Caerphilly that repairs commercial vehicles. I'll

be finding out what people here Our other headlines tonight. The

ambulance service is accused of systemic failure, after one patient

waited nearly three hours for a paramedic after a fall. And these

children certainly have something to cheer about after celebrity

support helped save their community centre.

Good evening. Tax cuts at the top and the bottom of the income scale,

no decision yet on regional pay and additional support for one of

Wales' new enterprise zones on Deeside. Just some of the measures

announced by the Chancellor today in his budget. So what does it mean

for us in Wales? From April next year, the point at which we start

paying income tax goes up, meaning an extra 42,000 people in Wales

won't have to pay any tax at all. At the other end of the wage scale,

around 4,000 people here will benefit when the 50 pence top tax

rate is reduced to 45 pence. And as a consequence of today's budget,

Wales will get an extra �11.7 million from the Treasury over the

next three years. We'll be at Westminster for all the

political reaction in a moment but first Nick Servini on what this

means for business and families. Catering staff like these in

Cardiff are the kinds of workers who will benefit from the increase

in the amount they can earn before paying income tax. From April next

year, it will be extended to �9,200. It is about the annual salary of

Andrew Thomas. He is one of an estimated 42,000 people who will be

taken out of income tax altogether, saving him hundreds of pounds.

will be a great impact over the entire year. It is beneficial for

most young people working part-time. The rise in the first allowance in

Wales is one of the big issues in today's budget. Compare that with

the tap -- cut in the top rate of income tax. That will affect all

those earning more than �150,000 per year. In Wales, that is 4,000

people. The boss here says he does not earn enough to qualify for the

top rate but still supports the reduction. If you have an incentive

to people to take the risk initially, you cannot take that

incentive for them to earn good money and take it back in taxation.

The UK government has changed plans to withdraw child benefit from

households where one benefit -- Perrett is more than �42,000.

Wriggle be withdrawn gradually when one parent birds more than �50,000

-- instead. I think it is an important thing. There are a lot of

families that when the child benefit and will continue to need

it. It is great if they are putting that threshold up for those people

just on the border of losing it but I still think it needs to be looked

at. There was little in the Budget about major infrastructure projects

in Wales. Work on the M4 in Newport, for

example. The Welsh government has said that key road projects and

hospital improvements will be delayed as a result.

There was also nothing from the Chancellor to reduce the cost of

fuel. This was the response from motorists in Barry. I do not like

the thought of petrol prices going up. I pay about two grand in

Insurers per year. I cannot really afford it. It should be a decrease,

I think because of the haulage. All of the taxi-drivers. They all find

it really difficult at the moment. Every penny counts. It would be

nice if it came down a bit but it has never seemed to come down. It

always seems to be on the rise. There was a significant

announcement about one of the new enterprise zones on Deeside.

Businesses will be offered capital allowances. These are major tax

breaks. It is high quality businesses. They

want to invest. They want to grow. That is what we want. We're working

hard to achieve that. Another potentially important decision was

removing age-related income tax allowances for new pensioners from

next year. That impact will be felt as a result of Wales's relatively

old population compared with many other parts of the UK. Nick will

have more business reaction in a minute but first let's go to

Westminster and join our political editor, Betsan Powys.

We may have no an awful lot about the Chancellor's choices that his

priorities before he got on his feet. It was, says George Osborne,

a fair Budget. But what Labour saw was a budget of disappointing --

disappointment. Joining the is the Secretary of

State, Cheryl Gillan. When we look at the detailed, are you saying

about ordinary Welsh families will be better off after today's Budget

than they were? Yes, ordinary families in Wales will be better

off after the Budget today. We have taken another 42,000 families out

of tax altogether. That means 95,000 people will be taken out of

tax and 1.1 million people will benefit would be increasing

personal allowances. -- with the increase in personal allowances.

But you are giving millionaires, as Labour would say, a bit of slack.

It is not surprising that the opposition parties and the unions

and charities are lining up to condemn this Budget. We are about

to have a cash increase for the state pension. We are protecting

pensioners. Be a simplifying the tax system and protecting the

benefits for pensioners. It is good news for many people across Wales.

I was saying that Labour have condemned this Budget. Let's hear

briefly from the First Minister, Carwyn Jones. The disappointment is

this is not a Budget for Jobs, for growth, to create an economy that

we want to see improved in the future. The worry must be now that

as we see Germany and the US for example moving towards economic

growth that the UK will be left behind. Disappointment. How can you

claim he is wrong? I am tired of hearing the First Minister talk

down Wales. This is a Budget for enterprise. We have the enterprise

zone in Deeside. They will be get best getting capital allowances. --

they will be getting. We have got Cardiff about to become

a super broadband City would the extra investment coming from the UK.

It is about time the First Minister told people how good Wales is going

to be for businesses to do business. Cheryl Gillan, thank you very much

for your reaction. We will have more reaction from Westminster and

the opposition parties later in the programme.

Then a -- so let's test the theory on this being a budget for growth.

I am speaking with the manager. We should talk about fuel to talk off

-- to start with. There was nothing in it in terms of relieving fuel

duty. Very disappointing but we did not really expect anything.

Slightly pleased that there is a freeze on the excise duty for

hauliers but overall, there is not a lot for the transport industry in

the Budget today. From a transport point of view,

there is not an awful lot in the budget for them. We will talk your

-- talk about corporation tax in a minute. I suppose the big question

that people will want to know is, was there anything in that budget

that will help your members recruit more people? I think it is too

early to say now at this point. We are quite keen to see a more

favourable business environment. That is moves such as the tax

simplification and the rise in the personal tax threshold. These are

the kind of things that were in centre vies businesses to operate

in a more favourable environment. When we look at the corporation tax,

how much of a business will it make to this business? Was it the best

thing the Chancellor can do to help you? Not really. We will take

anything we can get, quite honestly. Any reduction in any tax is

welcomed. After all, businesses do not really want handouts, they want

to employ a reasonably educated people in an atmosphere that is

conducive to growth and providing employment for all of their staff.

I do not necessarily think this Budget has given us that. Was there

anything that was not there that he would have liked to see? -- you

would have? The fuel concession is something we would like to see

worked on in the future. Infrastructure investment is

something we have been lobbying on. It has not delivered in this Budget.

But lots to be pleased with. Thank you very much. The view of the

private sector and now back to Westminster.

I said earlier the opposition politicians were straining at the

bit to have a go at this Budget. Owen Smith, the Welsh Liberal

Democrats seemed quite happy. They are saying this is a Budget for the

many, not the field. They are fundamentally wrong. They were told

they would get something significant in return for accepting

the cut in the 50 pence rate. What they have actually got is a big

kept to the incomes of pensioners in Wales. We have 42,000 people not

paying tax and more. And we knew they were going to get that. That

was already in the agreement. We knew they would get to 10,000. That

is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. What is new in this Budget

is that 14,000 millionaires in Britain will get either 40,000 or

�10,000 per year from this government. The pensioners will be

paying for tax breaks for the richest 1%. That is completely the

wrong set of priorities. And especially in a period of austerity,

it is a crazy set of priorities. People were not think it is fair

and they were not understand it and they will not forgive the Liberals

for selling out on this issue. There have been strong feelings

here all day today. Jonathan Edwards, we did not actually see

anything you today? I thought the Chancellor today but a clear

framework in place to implement regional pay across all departments.

It is adding on to the policy introduced by the Labour Party.

What was most bizarre about day was the Welsh government announcing

they would stop regional pay. There is a framework in place. It

will be hugely damaging for the public sector in Wales. Real-terms

pay cuts on top of pension cuts and job losses. It also hit the private

sector. It will affect the cash being spent in local shops. It is a

very worrying time. It is good they do not implemented instantly, as

the briefing had suggested they were going to. But we are opposed

to what they are doing. It is not true that it is an evolution of

what we did. The Court Service is a very different. We are committed

different types of courts. We reduce it to five rates of pay.

Your opened the door to it. It is Tory spin. The only real instance

we have had in the UK was in the NHS in the 1990s. We got rid of it

and introduced agenda for change. National pay bargaining is what we

support, along with Plaid Cymru. We will continue to oppose -- we will

continue to oppose this. There will be an awful lot more detail coming

out from that Redbook over these next few days that will be keeping

a close eye on those. But for now, that is it from Westminster.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has been accused of systemic failure,

with managers showing a basic lack of empathy for bereaved families.

If follows two cases of patients being left without ambulances. One

waited nearly three hours for help to arrive. Our Health Correspondent,

Hywel Griffith, is here. Talk us through what happened in these two

cases. Both cases are anonymous. But we do

know they involve two men from the Pontypridd area. One gentleman had

fractured his hip. Five phone calls were made to be ambulance service

but it took over two and three- quarter hours for paramedics to

arrive at his home. During that time, it has been uncovered that 11

other ambulances could have responded. Sadly, after the

gentleman was taken to hospital, four days later, he died.

There are similarities in a second case in 2010. This time a gentleman

with breathing difficulties. It took 51 minute that 51 minutes to

get to him. Yet again, there was another

ambulance that could have been called in. Tragically, that

gentleman suffered a cardiac arrest. He died. Both families feel the

delays contributed sadly to their loss. The ombudsman says he is

deeply concerned by this will stop yes, I have read a lot of these

ombudsman's reports. The language is pretty damning.

He says he has ongoing reservations over the way that ambulances are

deployed and if there is not one in your immediate area, they are not

brought in from wider field. This was a systemic failure in the way

the processes operated at the time. They did not look out of the --

outside of the district to see if others were available. They could

have been dispatched within minutes. Instead, they waited for an

ambulance to become available. Managers have also been criticised

for the way they handled the complaints. What have they had to

say? It took months to answer these complaints from the families.

According to the ombudsman, it was woefully inadequate. The ambulance

service say they would like to apologise to the families concerned

and they will review the way that ambulances are sent out in

emergencies. The University of Wales is warning

it may make redundancies. It's launched a consultation with more

than 200 full time members of staff, but won't say the level of cuts

it's considering. Last year, BBC Wales exposed a scam where overseas

students were offered ways to help cheat their way to the university's

degrees. Video games retailer Game, which

has 21 stores in Wales, says it intends to appoint administrators

in the next few days. The company, which also owns the Gamestation

chain with 12 shops here, has failed to secure new funding. It

says its stores will remain open for the foreseeable future. The

company employees 6,000 staff across Britain.

Well, if things on the High Street weren't tough enough, businesses in

Welshpool say they're being hampered further by the town's new

one way system. In the year it's been in operation local traders say

they've seen sales drop. Powys County Council says it's reviewing

the system. Cemlyn Davies reports. Traffic flows along Welshpool's

main shopping streets. Since the one-way system was introduced, many

of the town's businesses save their sales have also only gone one way.

This woman runs a pet shop in the town centre. We lost a huge amount

of sales. Almost 60 %. Straight away. People are just not coming

into the town itself. Just like any other town centre, Welshpool is up

against it. And another -- in number of people living locally

feel this no rope -- new road layout is another blow for the high

street. The change coincided with the

opening of a new supermarket on the edge of town. The local livestock

market had already moved away. And this pub -- abyss that, there is a

feeling people are less likely to pass by.

I just 10 to think there is a feeling that any time we want help

from the council, small businesses, it is negative, it has gone the

other way. It seems to be deflecting traffic away from the

centre now. The council says it is reviewing the one-way system.

Meanwhile, motorists are still getting to grips with the changes.

Do you think people are confused? Definitely. I have seen cars going

down past the Royal Oak, the once asked the wrong way, turning the

wrong way. It is not as good as it used to be. It takes hours to get

around the one-way system. A Quinn to residents, be one way system

causes congestion. -- according to. Local businesses will be hoping

holidaymakers have not already decided Welshpool is a no-go area

this year. People in Glyncoch near Pontypridd are celebrating tonight

after raising the final �30,000 they need to replace their old

community centre. Earlier this month, television star Stephen Fry

got involved and called on his four million followers to help raise the

funds before the community lost grant money they'd secured. Our

reporter Caroline Evans has been back there today, as people were

given the news. They had been hoping for a new community centre

for so long, most of these children were not born when they first drew

up the plans. There was great excitement as they heard the news.

I have got great news. We have now secured all the money for the

community centre. The community centre will start to be built

shortly. These children have even given up

�250 in prize money they won to help meet the target. We put it

towards the new centre. We did not know what to do with it. And they

were short of money. We just wanted to put it towards it. It is easy to

see why they need a new building. But as the end of March approached,

they were in danger of losing grant money they had already secured.

There was massive relief that two big donations help them reach the

�30,000 they needed. It is brilliant! All that hard

work! It is unbelievable to think that last week, we did not think he

would get anywhere. Last month, Stephen Fry got involved Kohl --

calling for people to dip -- donate. I am so excited. I was crying on

the phone when I found out. It has been such a long process for the

committee. It is so needed. We wanted it was so long.

Work is under way and they are so buoyed up by what they have

achieved, they say this is a new beginning for village Mark --

Glyncoch. The money will pay for phase one of

the project but they say there is no stopping them now. They already

planning phase Two and Three. In the meantime, these children can

look forward to a Christmas party in the new centre. Rugby and Dan

Lydiate has been named the Six Nations Player of the Championship.

More than 30,000 votes were cast, with the Wales Ffanker securing

more than a quarter of them. The 24-year-old was Man of the Match

against Scotland and France, where he helped Wales secure a third

Grand Slam in eight years. He says it's a massive honour to win.

something I did not expect. Going back to the game on the weekend,

the feeling of being eight grand- slam winner, I thought nothing

could top that. And to receive this award, it is... I cannot put words

to it. I am so happy. Football and Newport County are two points off

the Conference relegation zone after drawing 1-1 with Cambridge

United last night. Cardiff City, who are outside the Championship

play-off places, welcome Coventry tonight. Midfielder Stephen McPhail,

who's set to make his return, has been talking about the help he's

received from tennis star Venus Williams, as they both battle

against an incurable immune system disease. The former Republic of

Ireland international also has Sjogren's Syndrome and says he was

very surprised when she rang him. She ran the house out of the blue.

It was a bit of a shock. She is such a superstar. It made me feel

really at ease. She is a lovely woman to speak to. Just really

exchanging stories on how she is dealing with it.

I think it has helped. The fans have been amazing. They have kept

Time now for the weather forecast with Derek.

Plenty more dry weather to come this week. More sunshine as well.

Not completely dry, though, there are a few showers in the forecast.

Now today the south enjoyed the best of the sunshine and the

highest temperatures. Cardiff recorded 15 Celsius but in the

north it was cloudier and cooler. 10 Celsius on Anglesey. Tonight dry.

The cloud in the north disappearing and with a clear sky it will turn

chilly. Temperatures inland falling as low as 2 or 3 Celsius with some

ground frost, especially in rural areas. Tomorrow's chart shows high

pressure over the north Sea. This front to the south of Britain is

heading our way. So, tomorrow morning dry. Most of the country

fine and bright. Much sunnier in the north compared to today. Cool

first thing and quite breezy in the south and west, especially on some

coasts and hills exposed to the easterly wind. During the day,

staying dry and bright. Plenty of hazy sunshine. A nice afternoon for

sitting in the garden. However, a few showers may reach the far south

and southwest towards evening. Breezier than today and warmer. Top

temperatures 16 to 18 Celsius with an east to south-easterly breeze.

Cooler on windward coasts. In Denbighshire tomorrow, dry and

sunnier than today. Temperatures in Llangollen rising to 16 Celsius.

Tomorrow night, a little rain in places. A few showers spreading

north. Drying up again later in the night. Friday generally dry. A grey

start in places. Low cloud and mist but brightening up with some

sunshine. As for the outlook, we're in for a dry weekend. More sunshine.

No sign of any significant rain. We can now return to Westminster and

What is in this Budget for Wales? There is good some news -- some

good news. 42,000 people in Wales will not have to pay tax.

There are some things where projects could create jobs and

growth in Wales. But squeezing pensioners, not

helping out with fuel duty, none of that is known to be an easy sell in

Wales. And regional pay, they might have

been -- there might have been less than some parties expected but I do

think the route towards that is a bit clearer tonight and it was

tonight -- this morning. The UK government will be entirely clear

that the further down that route they now choose to go, the louder

the combination will be from all parties in Cardiff Bay. And that is

Wales Today. We'll have a quick update at 8:00pm and more after the