03/06/2014 BBC Wales Today

Joe Wilson reports. That's

The people of Wales do not deserve to be told their

That was the message today from the First Minister Carwyn Jones

as he published his annual progress report which looks at how well areas

such as health, education and the economy are performing.

He insisted progress is being made on the economy and public services.

But opposition parties claim that targets are constantly being missed.

This is the third report of its kind published by the Welsh government

but it comes at a time when its record is under more scrutiny than

ever before, with high-profile properties in health and education.

While launching the Welsh government's annual progress report

containing 335 indicators, Carwyn Jones said Wales was moving forward,

despite tough times. The people of Wales do not deserve

to be told their country is bottom of the pile time after time. To

those who wish to talk our country down I say the indicators we are

publishing today are clear evidence that the Welsh are commonly and

Welsh public services are moving forward despite tough times.

Health is the most sensitive area, the recent damning review into

standards of care in hospitals was the latest in a series of problems

affecting the NHS. Two-day's report said hundreds of billions of pounds

extra was being spent over the lifetime of this assembly, and that

the Welsh government was bearing down on waiting lists.

It is not a rosy picture at all, First Minister. It shows your

government is not delivering on health outcomes here in Wales

ambulance response times, cancer targets, are being constantly

missed. Above all my colleagues to the left and many colleagues are

dealing with closures of hospitals and services downgrades across the

whole of Wales will stop the Welsh government focused more than

anything on its record on the economy.

And in particular the scheme to deal with youth unemployment on the jobs

growth Wales. The Welsh government says the scheme is created more than

13,000 temporary jobs for six team to 24-year-olds since it was

launched in 2012. -- 16. Just under 10,000 have been filled the minister

say that is because the recruitment process is ongoing. Of those who

started the six-month scheme, more than 20% left early. Opposition

parties claim the scheme fails to target some of those young people

most at need, and that proper rates are too high.

Half of those who begin the six-month jobs growth Wales

programme complete and find employment. How will we ensure more

people can find employment at the end of that six-month programme? And

outside the programme how will that situation be improved?

Away from the economy on education since this time last year Wales has

slipped further behind in the education league rankings. The

report says ministers are relentlessly focused on driving up

standards, and that pupils from deprived backgrounds are performing

more strongly. It failed to impress the Liberal Democrats.

The latest annual report published in January says standards of

education in Wales has not improved in the main and I wonder how the

First Minister reconciles his narrative in his document, with the

Chief Inspector of schools that only a number of months ago was able to

make that statement? All in all the huge amount of data

on the delivery of public services in Wales, but what everybody wants

to know is whether it will lead to an improvement in the same

services. Two people from the Swansea area are

critically ill in hospital Public Health Wales say they are

treating three adults in all and are carrying out lab tests to see

whether the drug was contaminated. Plans to build

a wind turbine opposite Dylan Thomas's boathouse in Laugharne have

been approved, against the advice Campaigners had protested claiming

the turbine would spoil the view. Carmarthenshire County Councillors

say the move is consistent with Malcolm Fifield managed to escape it

said he still suffers from the after-effect of the tragedy.

The flood at the colliery left the scene of devastation in its wake, it

has also led to the death of four colliers. Gary Jenkins, Philip

Hill, David Powell and Charles Breslin all drowned after 650,000

gallons of water filled the area where they were working. A number of

the men's relatives sat in the public gallery of Court one is the

man in charge that day continued to give evidence.

His wife and brother were also in court as they have been throughout

this trial. They sat and listened intently as the father of two told

the jury he has to take medication and attend weekly hospital

appointments because he suffers from severe post-traumatic stress

disorder, as a result of being underground when the zest to happen.

-- disaster. Certain words can act as triggers reminding him of the

experience, sometimes to the extent that he feels he is back in that

environment. The prosecution claimed he failed to take adequate steps to

check for the presence of water, as he and his colleagues mind towards

old workings here. But he says he won't down this walkway to inspect

the area behind the coalface on three occasions. And there wasn't a

body of water there. Asked if he was sure of the route he took, he said I

am in no doubt, definitely, that is the route I took. And ask if he had

gone far as the back of the coal face he replied, yes, I did go down

there, absolutely 100%. The prosecution also says he should

have made an application for a prevention against inrush scheme in

line with regulations but he told the court such a scheme is only

needed for workings which cannot be examined and stop the workings at

the colliery were examined the bull. He also told the jury he wasn't mine

manager who took short cuts. He denies four counts of manslaughter

through gross negligence was mine operators deny for clients of

corporate manslaughter. -- four counts.

67 jobs could go after the soft drinks manufacturer

AR Barr announced it planned to close its plant in Tredegar.

The company, which produces Irn Bru, is making

a multi-million pound investment at its site in Milton Keynes.

In Flintshire 50 jobs are to be created in Buckley with the opening

The Irish company, Glen Dimplex, which is the world's largest

manufacturer of electrical heating, will make medical and commercial

Rugby, and Wales back James Hookhas officially signed for English

Hook, who's with the Wales Squad preparing for the Summer Tour to

South Africa, left French side Perpignan at the end of the season.

Time for the weather forecast, and still plenty

Tomorrow not so nice, colder and showers. Quite a few places dry, but

not everywhere. The crowd thick enough for one or two spots of rain,

a future was, -- there will be a few showers. A trough of low pressure

over the UK. Plenty of powerful Wales tomorrow morning. Some places.

Strike not everywhere. There will be some rain and showers. Across the

rest of the UK, the low pressure will bring some rain too much of

England, eventually spreading into Scotland later in the day. Some of

this rain will be heavy. Right across Ireland with sunshine and

scattered showers. -- brighter across Ireland. Disappointing

temperatures for June. In Wales tomorrow afternoon a lot of cloud,

some rain in places. A few showers. Dry weather will spread from the

west later in the afternoon and hopefully it will brighten up in

parts of the South and West. Temperatures below average. Tomorrow

evening and overnight, a few showers, it will rain in the North.

Dry, clear spells, a cold night. Thursday, good news, a much better

day in prospect. Dreyer and brighter. Feeling warmer. Friday

will start dry. It looks like there is more rain on the way. Becoming

warm and humid by the weekend. That may trigger a few downpours and

thunderstorms on Saturday. Sunday, fresher with sunshine and a few

showers. We're back from around 6.25

in the morning. For now from all of us here,

a very good night to you.