0:00:09 > 0:00:10Welcome to Wales Today.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Our top stories -
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The new secretary of state for Wales Alun Cairns
0:00:14 > 0:00:15on his first day.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Those splits in the cabinet and what's in his in-tray
0:00:18 > 0:00:20and its the main railway link into south and west Wales -
0:00:20 > 0:00:30but in September - the Severn Tunnel will shut.
0:00:34 > 0:00:40Good evening.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42The new Secretary of State for Wales says he wants to prioritise
0:00:42 > 0:00:44the North Wales economy.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Alun Cairns said he would hold a summit next week
0:00:46 > 0:00:49to look at ways of driving forward investment with a "growth deal"
0:00:49 > 0:00:51for the region.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Mr Cairns replaced Stephen Crabb - who is the new
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Work and Pensions Secretary following the shock resignation
0:00:56 > 0:00:57of Iain Duncan Smith.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Here's our parliamentary correspondent, David Cornock.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01For the Welsh Conservatives, it's the best of times,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04the worst of times.
0:01:04 > 0:01:10Promotion for Stephen Crabb and Alun Cairns, their party
0:01:10 > 0:01:13at civil war over Europe and the budget.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16As the Downing Street door closed for Iain Duncan Smith and opened
0:01:16 > 0:01:17this morning for Alun Cairns.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Stephen Crabb's deputy since 2014.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24He inherits the top job at the Wales Office and the task
0:01:24 > 0:01:26of steering the next stage of Welsh devolution into law.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29How will you do the job differently?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I plan to follow the pragmatic approach that Stephen Crabb followed
0:01:32 > 0:01:35as Secretary of State.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37I think that worked well, both in his relationship
0:01:37 > 0:01:40with the Welsh government but also in relationship with the business
0:01:40 > 0:01:43sector, local authorities, communities across Wales.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45I want to be a pragmatic secretary of state.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48So who is Alun Cairns?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The new Secretary of State grew up in the Swansea Valley and began
0:01:52 > 0:01:55working life in a bank.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58He was one of the original assembly members in 1999.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01His Westminster career was almost over before it began.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04He was suspended as a candidate after
0:02:04 > 0:02:07making a derogatory comment about Italians.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09He apologised and was elected
0:02:09 > 0:02:13MP for the Vale of mid Glamorgan in 2010.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15A regular runner, he was the fastest MP
0:02:15 > 0:02:17in the London Marathon two years ago.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Labour say, he can run but he can't hide.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26He needs to make up for lost time because we need a Wales Bill
0:02:26 > 0:02:27which is effective.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We have had no end of delay on it and we'd
0:02:30 > 0:02:33like to see something that makes it much clearer what Welsh government
0:02:33 > 0:02:35can do and what powers are reserved up here.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Alun Cairns has also lined up alongside Stephen Crabb
0:02:38 > 0:02:41for the Parliamentary rugby team.
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Mr Crabb will need all of his rugby skills to tackle his new job.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Having met staff at the DWP this morning he faced MPs
0:02:48 > 0:02:52to tell them that the controversial cuts to independent payments
0:02:52 > 0:02:56for disabled people won't now be going ahead.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58In his new job, Mr Crabb will recognise a familiar,
0:02:58 > 0:03:03if not friendly, face.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06His Labour shadow is once again MP for Pontypridd.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08These two nation Tories decided to cut
0:03:08 > 0:03:10benefits from people because they didn't think
0:03:10 > 0:03:13they would vote for them.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18It was extraordinary, it was shameful.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23The new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will have
0:03:23 > 0:03:28a hell of a job on his hands to wash that stain out.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31It's good to renew the relationship with him.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35It was culminated happily for me on May the 7th last year when he had
0:03:35 > 0:03:39to crawl out and explain why the Labour Party
0:03:39 > 0:03:43had lost Cardiff North, Vale of Clywd and the Gower.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Back at the Wales Office that Mr Crabb has left
0:03:45 > 0:03:50behind, there's another change with the Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb
0:03:50 > 0:03:56taking the junior minister's role vacated by Alun Cairns.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59The steelworkers' union Community has met the head of Tata steel
0:03:59 > 0:04:02in Europe to discuss the future of Port Talbot.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05What's been described as an urgent meeting -
0:04:05 > 0:04:07comes amid reports that - Tata could reject a plan
0:04:07 > 0:04:09to save the steelworks.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12The company's board is set to meet in India next week to decide
0:04:12 > 0:04:15the future of the plant.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18The one time managing director of a bus company has been told
0:04:18 > 0:04:21to expect a jail sentence - after being found guilty
0:04:21 > 0:04:24of defrauding the Welsh Government's flagship bus-pass scheme of half
0:04:24 > 0:04:27a million pounds.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30John Hulme doctored the books to make it appear that -
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Padarn Bus Limited - which operated from
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Llanberis in Gwynedd - was carrying thousands more
0:04:35 > 0:04:39concessionary passengers that it really was.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41The Severn Tunnel - the main rail link between
0:04:41 > 0:04:45South Wales and the rest of the UK - will be closed for six weeks
0:04:45 > 0:04:48from September - delaying journeys across the border.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51It's to prepare it for rail electrification.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Passengers will be diverted or will have to use
0:04:54 > 0:04:59rail replacement busses.
0:04:59 > 0:05:05Jordan Davies reports.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Travelling into the Severn Tunnel is a bit like travelling
0:05:08 > 0:05:12back in time.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16It was built for the age of steam.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It's now about to see electrification.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21For months, this orange army have been busy preparing
0:05:21 > 0:05:23the tunnel.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26This vast machine has drilled thousands of holes in the room.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Two kilometres in and a team is picking up
0:05:29 > 0:05:31where the machine left off.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33This is precision engineering,
0:05:33 > 0:05:39ahead of what has been called a key milestone this September.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43A four-mile long rail will run along the roof of the Severn Tunnel,
0:05:43 > 0:05:48it will provide the power for the electrified trains.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Another cable will run alongside it to provide back-up power.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53That work will take time.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Closing the tunnel for a month and a half from September.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Network Rail bosses say electrification will speed up
0:06:01 > 0:06:04journey times and that this is the most efficient way to get
0:06:04 > 0:06:06the work done.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09It would take our engineers approximately four years to complete
0:06:09 > 0:06:11the work if they only worked at weekends.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13That would have a significant impact on passenger
0:06:13 > 0:06:16disruption and would also delay the electrification programme.
0:06:16 > 0:06:25During the closure, passengers travelling
0:06:27 > 0:06:30from South Wales to London would be diverted via Gloucester adding up
0:06:30 > 0:06:33to 40 minutes to the journey.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Passengers travelling to Bristol will have to use rail replacement
0:06:35 > 0:06:37buses, also adding 40 minutes to the journey.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39People are advised to check train operator websites
0:06:39 > 0:06:40for specific routes.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43If you've got a 9am start, that would be an hour
0:06:43 > 0:06:44earlier you'd have to get up.
0:06:44 > 0:06:45So not ideal.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Any upgrade in the rail service would be fantastic.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50But of course the disruption is going to cause
0:06:50 > 0:06:51some real issues.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53The passenger watchdog Passenger Focus says the closure
0:06:53 > 0:06:55could cause massive disruption and it will be watching
0:06:55 > 0:06:56for unnecessary delays.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59We are planning things and we look at every eventuality.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02So that the people will not be inconvenienced more
0:07:02 > 0:07:06than is absolutely necessary.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09So this tunnel will be closed for nearly a month
0:07:09 > 0:07:12and a half for work to speed up and improve the journey through it.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16But it will mean disruption for commuters and rail users coming
0:07:16 > 0:07:22across the border from this September.
0:07:22 > 0:07:29The Wales Green Party has pledged a "fairer economy and vibrant
0:07:29 > 0:07:31communities" - as it launched its Assembly election campaign.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33The party's leader - Alice Hooker-Stroud -
0:07:33 > 0:07:35also said no Welsh student studying in Wales
0:07:35 > 0:07:37would pay tuition fees under them.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39The Green Party is hoping to win a seat in the Assembly
0:07:39 > 0:07:43for the first time in May.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45A new lifeguard service is being launched
0:07:45 > 0:07:47at Three Cliffs Bay on Gower -
0:07:47 > 0:07:48following two drownings there last year.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50It will see the RNLI, landowners and the National Trust
0:07:50 > 0:07:53working together.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59There's a change on the way weather wise Derek's got the forecast.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03This March has been to driest month in Wales since last October.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06There is more try whether to come this
0:08:06 > 0:08:09week but with some rain on the way on Thursday.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14Try tonight, fairly cloudy, but some breaks in the cloud.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Not as cold as last night but a slight frost is likely in some
0:08:17 > 0:08:19places with temperatures close to freezing.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Chilly start tomorrow morning.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26There will be cloud but some breaks so it will be bright in places
0:08:26 > 0:08:29with a little sunshine.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Across the rest of the UK, a few spots of rain in the North West
0:08:33 > 0:08:35of Scotland, elsewhere most places dry,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38fairly cloudy in the West, the best of the sunny spells
0:08:38 > 0:08:42in the East and the highest temperatures in the East.
0:08:42 > 0:08:4611 Celsius in Norwich, eight in Belfast.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Close to home, try again tomorrow afternoon, fairly cloudy
0:08:50 > 0:08:52but hopefully a little sunshine in places.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Temperatures not that high 8-10dC with hardly a breath of wind.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Into Wednesday, more dry weather, just the odd light shower with even
0:08:58 > 0:09:02more dry weather.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Variable cloud but sunny intervals.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Thursday, things start to change.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12The weather will come in from the frantic again and these
0:09:12 > 0:09:15fronts will bring us all some rain on Thursday with winds picking
0:09:15 > 0:09:22up as well.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Beyond that, Good Friday is dry with some sunshine but not
0:09:25 > 0:09:26set to last.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Over the Easter weekend, changeable.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Rain and showers at times, wind a feature as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37There will be some drier and brighter interludes with even
0:09:37 > 0:09:39a little sunshine.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41That's all from me.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44You can keep up-to-date with the forecast on our website
0:09:44 > 0:09:49and you can follow me on Twitter.
0:09:49 > 0:09:56We're back with the latest news and sport, traffic updates
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and weather in Breakfast from six tomorrow morning.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02That's Wales Today thank you for watching from all of us
0:10:02 > 0:10:02on the programme, good night.