22/01/2014 BBC Wales Today

Sunday. Make the most of Saturday because Sunday

Our top story: Wales in Work - the best employment rates for 22 years

with more women working than ever before.

Last year we took on four people and hopefully, if this growth continues,

we'll take a couple more on again. Who checks up on the carers who look

after our most vulnerable people? A warning tonight from a leading

charity. Fresh hopes of peace in rugby as the

Six Nations committee agrees to run a new European tournament.

Breathing new life into telling the story of Swansea's glorious

industrial past. And it's all downhill from here -

the Welshman who's part of Britain's bobsleigh team at the Winter

Olympics. Sochi suits us. It's steep. We're

all ex-sprinters so we can run that sled down the hill as fast as we

can. Good evening. The last time the

employment rate looked this good John Major was in Number Ten and the

year was 1992. Employment levels in Wales are at their highest for 22

years with fewer of us out of work. 108,000 people are unemployed -

that's a fall of 12,000 in the three months to November. That means the

jobless rate now stands at 7.2% - that's a drop of nearly one per

cent. Our business correspondent Brian Meechan has the story.

This shop provides equipment to media companies as well as selling

to trade and customers at its core brands store. It took on for workers

last year. We have always prided ourselves in

being a stable company and we concentrate on growth before we get

ahead of ourselves. Once the growth is there, we will look to take on

more people. 918-year-old -- 19-year-old Luke is

one of the new recruits. It is so good having a job and I can

do stuff. This stop is expanding into this car

park and creating even more jobs. That increasing confidence in the

future is now being reflected across the economy is the latest in

claimant figures show. They mean we now have the highest employment rate

in Wales since 1992. 1.4 million in work. And there are more women

working in Wales than ever before -660,000. That is up 20,000 armed

last month. The Conservatives drew attention to the improving figures.

Would be honourable member welcome the latest fall in an employment

data by 12,000 in Wales, downed. I think it is a reflection on our

people. They are hard-working people. But as a government we have

spent time attracting investment into Wales, talking to employers and

that is why we are outperforming the other parts of the UK.

Another series of job announcements has shown there is guilt uncertainty

for some. Kellogg's plans to cut 140 jobs at its site. Shop is stopping

production of solar panels at its Wrexham plant, causing 500 job

losses and 230 jobs have gone at a milk factory. This training centre

in Wrexham is helping people with their CV 's.

It has been hard with factories closing and the court in Newport.

Most people don't actually... The more people that are seeking jobs,

the harder it is for others. Employers said competition is

fierce. It received 1700 applications for eight jobs at a

recent store opening. As we see the economy improving, we

will see other companies join us in creating new jobs on the high

streets. Employment often lags behind other

indicators of an improving economy because businesses are we tend to

take people on when they are sure they can keep them in work. These

figures suggest things are moving in the right direction.

Who checks up on the carers who look after vulnerable people? A leading

charity says that a Welsh Government White Paper dealing with regulation

of carers doesn't give enough protection to vulnerable adults. Age

Cymru says proposed changes to the system for regulating care staff who

go into people's homes isn't robust enough. Of the 69,000 carers in

Wales only around 4,000 of them are registered. Helen Callaghan reports.

Everyday, tens of thousands of vulnerable people across Wales rely

on paid carers to come into their homes. They may be elderly or

disabled and need assistance with vital tasks, like taking medication.

How do we know whether our home carers are up to the task? The

answer is we don't. To Mr Lilley workers who come into people 's

houses to take care of them any qualifications and they don't have

to be registered with the regulator. We have been contacted by a carer

who is deeply worried about the situation. She wants to remain

anonymous but in e-mails to the programme she told us that when she

first started as a carer, she had very little training, despite having

no previous experience. Training took place over eight weeks

and was unpaid. Then there was a period of shadowing. You went out

with an experienced carer. Of course, this is only as good as the

person you are shadowing and after that you got your router.

The only legal requirement is that home carers must be checked to

ensure they don't have a criminal record and must given a basic

induction. The most government has recognised that the current system

is not fully protecting vulnerable people in their homes. It wants to

bring in a new law which would change the inspection and

reticulation regime. It is a priority for the Welsh government

that the safety and dignity of people who receive care is of utmost

rarity. But there is decisions that the

proposals don't go far enough. Controversially, there is no plan to

register or home care workers. Charities working with vulnerable

people are concerned there is not enough scrutiny.

We would have recognised registration, although that would

have brought the high level of bureaucracy. Don't feel vulnerable

people should be put at risk and we think any risk should be mitigated

in terms of registration and universal registration would be best

way. Many believe unless real changes are

made to care and soon, in future the potential for problems will be huge.

For more on that story - the Wales report is at 10:45pm tonight here on

BBC One Wales. A woman from Powys has been found

guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced to 14 years in prison in

Indonesia. Andrea Waldeck, originally from Talgarth, was facing

a possible death sentence, but prosecutors called for a jail term

and a heavy fine. Waldeck, who was a former police community support

officer, admitted smuggling drugs. She was also fined more than

?100,000. Her mother and brother travelled to be with her.

Beds at a mental health unit in Bangor are to be temporarily closed

to try to deal with with concerns over the treatment of patients

there. A report by the regulator - health care Inspectorate Wales

criticised low staff morale, poor professional relationships and

safety issues at the Hergest Unit, at Ysbyty Gwynedd. In response, the

local health board is proposing to reduce the number of beds

temporarily. But staff at the unit have criticised the plans and blame

management for the problems. After a turbulent few months, there

are fresh hopes tonight that a resolution is in sight to the

dispute over the future of rugby's Heineken Cup. The Six Nations unions

have agreed to run next season's European competition, instead of the

current body European Rugby Cup. But there are still major hurdles to

overcome before a final deal is done. Our sports reporter Ashleigh

Crowter is here. What's the significance of this

latest development? It at least provides a platform for

other more detailed negotiations to take place. The unions of England,

Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy have agreed the Six Nations

committee will run the new tournament. The English clubs, and

the Welsh regions, had refused to play in any competition running by

the ERC, who currently organise the Heineken Cup. So that barrier is now

removed. It's a positive step forward, but there are still big

obstacles to overcome if a deal is going to be struck.

What are issues that need to be sorted?

The English and French clubs, and the Welsh regions, want to run the

commercial side of any new tournament. They think they could

raise more income if they were doing the commercial deals. It remains to

be seen if the Unions will be happy for that to happen. But arguably,

the much tougher issue to sort out is which television station the new

tournament will be broadcast on. The ERC have an exclusive deal with Sky,

but the English clubs have signed a lucrative deal to show their

European matches on BT Sport. The question is: can the two companies

come to some sort of accommodation to share rights? Much easier said

than done. Until these two big issues are sorted out, the regions

and clubs across the Six Nations won't know how much money they can

expect to receive for playing in Europe.

Much more to come before 7:00pm: Bringing the story of Swansea's past

back it was once home to the world 's

largest copper works and we will have the latest on the effort to

restore this site so future generations can learn about

Swansea's industrial past. Attracting jobs and investment from

abroad has been under discussion at the national Assembly. AMs have been

hearing evidence about the Welsh Government's record on attracting

inward investment to Wales. It's an area which has seen some improvement

lately with the number of projects almost trebling in the last

financial year. Our Political Editor Nick Servini is in Cardiff Bay.

Nick. That improvement was referred to as

potential green shoots but at times, there was also a damning indictment

in terms of inward investment increase and with -- investment in

recent years and ground to make up. Inward investment is a topical

subject. Last week a major promotional campaign was launched to

sell Wales. Tomorrow the Welsh Conservatives launch their vision on

inward investment. I will be speaking to them in a minute but

first our economic correspondent look at our record in attracting

companies here. This is how Wales used to be sold

across the world is a fantastic place to do business.

In Wales we already speak the language of tomorrow's technology...

This is the latest push. Just ask Wales. That is the message across

the London underground. It is part of economic policy for decades. This

factory will become the home of the first Japanese company to set up in

Wales and only the second to start manufacturing anywhere in Britain.

It stayed on this site for nearly 30 years but continued to make the same

product, PVC coated metal sheeting. It's downfall came when it was

cheaper to make it abroad. Courting Japanese firms seemed to work, by

cracking open a barrel. Sony and the Welsh secretary celebrating a new

factory. The UK was a good way in because of the English language and

Wales bent over backwards to make them welcome. By the early 90s, with

5% of the population of the UK, Wales was attracting 15% of the

inward investment but by 2005 - 2006, that fell to only 2%. The

latest figures from the UK government show last year the number

of new projects that came to Wales rose from 23 to 67. A professor has

today given evidence to a committee of Assembly Members about the record

on inward investment. On hundred and 91% increase, we expect that to be

associated to safeguard new jobs but it would be valuable if we could see

that in terms of capital investment.

Ford is an example of a company that has been here for 40 years. It is

one of the most modern engine production lines in Europe and ford

has been updating design, picking their engines and reduction lines

more efficient. The factory here in gender has managed to win more

investment from Ford headquarters time and time again. They are

spending ?25 million making these engines more efficient and clean and

that is money that is being spent on the Welsh economy.

I would argue that there were some things that the WDA did well and

marketing was one of them. This company in Treforest is one of

them. It moved here from London. They look at Canada but Wales one.

They are very supportive so if you have an idea or you want to run

something by them, they will come over and advise. We found them to be

marvellously supportive. Companies like this one, their jobs

and investment have been quoted by the Welsh government. The committee

of Assembly Members has been analysing how effective the Welsh

government is at promoting trade and investment.

Let's pick up on that document I mentioned earlier from the Welsh

Conservatives which is being launched tomorrow. I'm launched by

the policy director, Suzy Davies. One of the elements you are going to

call for is the creation of the private sector led body to advise

the Welsh government on inward investment. Is this the return of

the WDA? It is not at all. The idea that we

have got, with the investment cancel this different to the WDA. -- the

investment cancel. It is to do with keeping those companies here but it

is a completely different animal. The Welsh Conservatives are happy to

work with the private sector and we think men should be able to do that.

More than just take it flies -- advice, and ensure that companies

are looked after properly with the expert knowledge that both companies

have. One of the problems you have is that

the record currently of the Welsh government is very good. It has

risen. We always welcome a rise in inward

investment and I'm not sure whether I would say 67 is very good news.

It is an improvement. But we need to make sure those shoots are nurtured

and they grow and turn into profitable and flourishing plants.

It is a small proportion of inward investment in Britain.

You talk about after-care. Once companies are here you don't think

enough is done to get them to expand and stay? There is no dedicated

strategy at the moment and this document contains that.

Suzy Davies. We have to leave it there. That document being

officially launched tomorrow. It was once home to the world's

largest copper factory and work is well underway on restoring the

Hafod-Morfa site in Swansea. This afternoon recordings took place for

an audio trail which will guide visitors around the old works. As

Cemlyn Davies explains, it's part of a project to improve our

understanding of a time when Swansea was known as "Copperopolis".

The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks as they would have looked in their

heyday...When 90% of the world's copper was smelted right here in

Swansea...And two thirds of the city's population were supported by

the industry. That was then. The copperworks

closed in 1980. Most of the chimneys are now long gone and the few

remaining buildings are derelict making it hard to believe just how

internationally important this place used to be. And that's why work is

now underway on developing the site as a centre for learning. A new

audio trail for example will lead visitors back in time.

Have a fully, my grandfather George Patterson had a near fatal food and

-- near fatal accident... Judith Scott's from a family where

generations of men worked at the copper works. She's lending her

voice to the project by reading an historic account written by her

father who worked at Hafod-Morfa. Although it is a story it is fact

and it is about a terrible accident my grandfather sustained. It's about

how it left him disfigured for the rest of his life. It is important

people of our generation realise that at the age of 14, there were

young boys working there in dangerous situations.

These young people are here to record the experiences of the copper

works' child labourers. I wouldn't like to work in those

conditions. We should be out playing football, I think, at that age.

Around a million pounds is being spent on phase one of this long-term

project to bring the copper works back to life.

The aim of the project is to reconnect the people of Swansea with

the site. It is hugely historically important but possibly more

importantly, it is important for many people in Swansea who have

connections with the site. Fonzie was built on the copper industry and

this is the last remaining monument. Ultimately the plan is to fully

restore the Hafod-Morfa grounds so future generations can learn how

this city came to be known as "Copperopolis".

Now, last week we told you about a man from Holyhead who thought he

might have found a rare substance called ambergris, which is vomited

by whales and highly valued by perfume makers. Well, it's been

tested at Bangor University and scientists say it's NOT valuable.

They're not sure what it could be, although it could be rubber from a

ship. Tonight's sport now. Here's

Ashleigh. Cardiff is unlikely to step in to

host the 2022 Commonwealth Games after it emerged no-one has yet bid

for the event. The council and Welsh Government are currently finding out

how feasible it would be for the capital to host the games in 2026,

but have no plans to move any potential bid forward. The president

of the Welsh Commonwealth Federation says there might not be enough time

to prepare. We were delighted they were looking

at that date because Wales would be at home for the first time in many

years. We were looking at that positively. I'm not sure, with the

games at this size, whether that is an easy time frame.

And on tomorrow night's programme we'll be looking ahead to this

summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. There's only six months

left to go, so we'll be finding out about the preparations in the city,

and meet some members of Wales' biggest ever team taking part in

July. That's at 6:30pm. A former sprinter from Pembrokeshire

will represent Great Britain in the bobsleigh at next month's Winter

Olympics. Bruce Tasker from Manorbier has been picked as the

brakeman in GB's first-choice four man crew. He's now heading to Sochi

with a realistic chance of winning a medal.

He provides power at the back and is the last one to jump in. His task as

the brakeman is crucial to hopes of winning a medal at. He has been keep

eating for less than four years after switching from athletics,

where he was British champion three times in a row.

When I first tried it, I'm aware that a lot of people didn't enjoy it

but I knew I would like it. It has not been an easy road to qualify.

Bruce and his team-mates are based in Bath but it's expensive to travel

to compete. He has made sacrifices to keep the dream alive.

I worked in bars and restaurants in Bath. I had to do that through the

summer. It is hard to pay for winter with a summer job but it is a

challenge. We have had to work. It is only when we gained funding from

our world championship finish well be able to stop work and the

benefits that we've found from that are enormous.

The team proved they were contenders by winning silver last year but

selection issues mean their form hasn't been consistent.

Sochi suits us because it is steep and we are ex-sprinters so we can

run down the hill. We hope to start fast and have a good drive down.

Then we are in with a chance. Only 16 Welsh athletes have competed

at Delius Winter Olympics so Bruce has already achieved something

special. He is hoping there will be a medal at the end of his

extraordinary journey. Wales coach Warren Gatland says it

is unlikely captain Sam Warburton will feature in their Six Nations

opener against Italy in Cardiff. The tournament, which kicks off on the

first February, was officially launched in London earlier.

Warburton says he's confident he'll be ready after recovering from a

shoulder injury, but Gatland's not so sure: he hasn't been declared fit

yet. I think that was somebody talking in

the media. We are hoping that he is going to take a little bit of a part

next week. He hasn't trained with us yet. Probably might not be available

for the Italian game but we will see her next week plans out.

And we'll have all the build-up to the Six Nations here on Wales Today

of course. Time to find about the weather now, Derek's got the

forecast. Well, it's been a wet January so far

and milder than average too. The daffodils are already out in places

including John Jones's garden in Sketty, Swansea. Of course, by this

time last year we'd already had a fair amount of snow. As far as this

winter goes, there's still no sign of any significant snow but tomorrow

will feel colder and windy. This evening showers will die away, dry

for a while and chilly. A touch of frost inland, mist in Monmouthshire

and the Marches. And then after midnight, a band of rain and heavy

showers will spread from the west. Here's the picture for 8:00am. Some

places dry and bright but there will be a few showers around. Wintry on

high ground, feeling colder and breezy. The wind strong on the

coast. So a few scattered showers tomorrow but many places enjoying a

dry afternoon with a mixture of cloud, some bright spells and

sunshine. Temperatures lower than today five to eight Celsius with a

brisk west to north-westerly breeze. In Gwynedd tomorrow a few showers.

Wintry on the mountains. A little sunshine as well, feeling colder and

breezy. Only four in Blaenau Ffestiniog. If you're going up Pen y

Fan tomorrow the thermals will come in handy. The temperature around

freezing with a few snow showers. Tomorrow evening a dry start, ground

frost inland but rain will spread from the west later in the evening

and overnight. Friday's chart shows low pressure near Iceland pushing

warm fronts across the UK. So Friday cloudy with rain. The rain moderate

to heavy with plenty of low cloud and hill fog. The weekend, Saturday

a bit better with bright intervals and blustery showers. Some of the

showers heavy with hail and thunder. More rain and strong to gale force

winds on Sunday. Some heavy, torrential rain with a warning of

flooding. The number of people unemployed has

seen its biggest fall since 1997. David Cameron said it meant more

security, peace of mind, and opportunity for Britain.

In Wales, employment levels are at their highest for 22 years.

That's Wales Today. I will have an update for you at 8pm

and again after the news at ten.