02/04/2014 BBC Wales Today

's Good evening. Wales could become the only part of the UK to restrict

the use of electronic-cigarettes in confined public places - under plans

put forward by the Welsh Government. There would also be a minimum price

for alcohol. The Health Minister says it's part of a radical package

of proposals to improve public health - but critics claim the move

to restrict e-cigarette use could be misguided. Here's our health

correspondent Owain Clarke. Enduring a puff over a cup, but do not be

fooled, this cafe is not breaking the smoking ban because this is not

smoke, this is vapour, and these are electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes

come in all different shapes and sizes, and the idea is that by

inhaling vapour, people can get their fix of nicotine, but they are

not exposed to the toxins or poisons present in normal cigarette smoke.

It is a business that is growing rapidly, so what is the appeal? I

smoked about 20 a day. Since I started these, 15 months ago, I have

not smoked one cigarette. If the Welsh government had its way, this

place would have to close. Why? It argues that e-cigarettes normalises

smoking, and claims research from the USA says more young people are

trying them and could move on to real cigarette. It also argues the

evidence is limited of the health impact on the user and the

second-hand smoke is omitted. A number of studies show that people

are using them as effective aid to quit smoking. The studies that are

available do not suggest that e-cigarettes are being used as a

gateway, where you start using e-cigarettes and then end up using

tobacco. Welsh government also wants to introduce food standards in

nurseries and care homes, force councils to open a public toilet,

and introduce a register of tattooed parlours and tobacco sellers. It

also wants to follow Scotland's lead and introduce a minimum price for

alcohol at 50p a unit. Launching his proposals at the home of Welsh rugby

today, the Health Minister admitted he is likely to face a challenge

from the drink industry but he could also face a bigger hurdle. The UK

Government has said that he does not have the power to set a minimum

price in the first place. I am sure there will be a pushback from the

alcohol industry as there has been in Scotland and we cannot

necessarily prevent others from wanting to challenge our powers

through the courts. The UK Government? Well, you could describe

the UK Government as being trigger-happy in wanting to do

that. We are confident of our ground and we will defend it vigorously. In

the end, the Health Minister argues that improving people's health is

one of the most powerful things that a government can do but here, they

argue that the new law have the opposite effect. Clamping down on

e-cigarettes could stigmatise the very people trying to turn their

backs on tobacco. Hundreds of workers at the former Visteon car

parts factory in Swansea are being offered compensation after the value

of their pensions was slashed. The Ford motor company - which formerly

owned Visteon - and the union Unite said they had agreed a settlement.

It follows years of campaigning by the pensioners and local politicians

who took their case to Parliament today. David Cornock reports An

inquest this is a moral victory and hope we

get news. I have is open to a few of you and we have our fingers crossed.

Back to Westminster with a spring in their step. Workers who felt cheated

out of their pensions when their employer Visteon when asked by the

years ago. The owners deny any liability and the workers took legal

action against Ford, the motoring giant. Among them was John who works

at Visteon for nearly 50 years. In retirement he has thousands of

pounds less a year to live on. I have 40% less on my pension and my

standard of living has gone down considerably. What difference do you

hope today's deal will make? I'm hoping to get compensation for money

is lost. -- monies. He will not get back everything but the deal is said

to be worth thousands of pounds. I think it is important that each

pensioner understands how much money they will get from the deal. As I

understand it, everybody will get something but if there is a court

case not everybody will get a pay-out. It is for them to decide.

Four years, the Visteon pensioners have travelled from Wales to

Westminster to try and put political pressure on the Ford motor company.

They hope the deal will mean they never have to come here again. The

deal meets the approval of 95% of pensioners.

An inquest into the death of a Newport teenager -- who went missing

in December last year -- has been opened and adjourned. Nida Naseer's

body was found at the city's Wetlands last week. The coroner said

the cause of death has not yet been determined. Two teaching unions have

asked that pupils be allowed to re-sit the controversial English

Language GCSE this summer without any extra cost to their schools. A

review by the Welsh Government found there were a number of reasons why

thousands of pupils here received "unexpectedly low" grades but ruled

out paying for re-sits. The Prime Minister has told MPs the state of

the NHS in Wales "is a scandal". The claim is the latest twist in a row

between the UK Government and the Labour-run Welsh government over the

performance of the service in Wales. The Welsh Government said it was

"simply the latest chapter in the Tory war on Wales" by Mr Cameron's

Conservatives. What is happening in our NHS in Wales is a scandal and is

a scandal that is the responsibility of the Labour Party who are running

the Welsh Assembly government. They made the decision to cut NHS

spending by 8% in Wales and as a result they have not met the A

target since 2009. I do not know why the leader of the opposition is

laughing! It is not funny, the state of the NHS in Wales! The owner of

Neath Rugby Club has been released on bail, after being arrested on

suspicion of fraud and money laundering. Geraint Hawkes, who's 47

and another man aged 44 were questioned as part of an ongoing

fraud investigation. Police say the arrests were made at addresses in

south Wales, including at Neath RFC. Both men have been bailed until

September. Let's get the weather now and there's a fair bit of rain on

the way, Derek. and there's a fair bit of rain on

the way, Yes, for some parts of the countries. It may be dry at the

moment but there is more rain in the forecast. That is not surprising

with the low pressure on our doorstep the Atlantic. -- over the

Atlantic. A lot of dry weather tonight but not completely dry. A

few splashes of rain drifting northwards overnight. Some mist

forming and a mild and muggy sort of night with the temperature not

dropping below 11. I can promise you dry weather tomorrow but that is

only half the story because there is more rain on the way. Dry start for

most of us tomorrow with some mist in certain areas. Rain looks like it

will spread into the south and west of the country. Across the rest of

the UK there will be rain and thunder. It is wet across the West

Country, and the south and west of Wales. That rain spread in towards

Northern Ireland. The best of the weather will be in the South East of

England, dry and bright at 19 degrees in London. It will be quite

hazy with some more of that nasty pollution. Eight dull and cold day

in the north-east of England, eight degrees in Newcastle. -- a dull and

cold day. The north coast of Wales, the far north-east, maybe some much

drier but I would not rule out any heavy showers. A high of 11 to 15

Celsius. Tomorrow evening and overnight, the rain moves North. A

lot of low cloud, mist and hill fog. Into Friday, a better day in

prospect, drier but with one or two showers. Feeling fresher with better

air quality as well. The area is coming in from the Atlantic so it

will be cleaner. As for the weekend, more rain on the way and the breeze

is picking up as well. Not the best of whether this weekend but not a

total right off either. Thank you very much. And that is Wales Today.

We'll be back from around 6.25 in the morning with updates into

breakfast. For now from all of us here, good night.