01/04/2016

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0:00:06 > 0:00:08Welcome to the programme. Tonight's headlines.

0:00:08 > 0:00:11Steelworkers in Port Talbot confront the UK Business Secretary over

0:00:11 > 0:00:13what action will be taken to try and save their jobs.

0:00:13 > 0:00:17And 250,000 people here will get a pay rise with a new living wage,

0:00:17 > 0:00:20but what will be the impact on small businesses?

0:00:33 > 0:00:35Good evening.

0:00:35 > 0:00:38The UK Government's Business Secretary says there'll be no

0:00:38 > 0:00:41closures of Welsh steelworks over the next few weeks.

0:00:41 > 0:00:44Sajid Javid was on his first visit to the Port Talbot site

0:00:44 > 0:00:47after Tata Steel announced it wants to sell its UK plants,

0:00:47 > 0:00:52putting 6,000 jobs here at risk.

0:00:52 > 0:00:55Have we got an industry?

0:00:55 > 0:00:59The industry is absolutely vital.

0:00:59 > 0:01:01Face-to-face at last.

0:01:01 > 0:01:05Nearly three days after the bombshell announcement that

0:01:05 > 0:01:08Tata's Welsh plants are for sale, Sajid Javid met the workers directly

0:01:08 > 0:01:10affected.

0:01:10 > 0:01:13The concern was there for all to see.

0:01:13 > 0:01:17The Business Secretary had earlier met senior managers and union

0:01:17 > 0:01:20leaders to find out more about the sale and to try

0:01:20 > 0:01:23to give reassurance.

0:01:23 > 0:01:25Secretary of State, as you know, this is the biggest steel plant

0:01:25 > 0:01:29in Britain facing its biggest ever crisis, why has it taken you so long

0:01:29 > 0:01:30to come here?

0:01:30 > 0:01:34I was here last month and I am really pleased to be back again.

0:01:34 > 0:01:38Since the announcement - the crisis has hit this industry?

0:01:38 > 0:01:40Although the announcement has only come in the last couple of days,

0:01:40 > 0:01:44we have been working with Tata for a number of weeks on this issue,

0:01:44 > 0:01:48their concerns about Port Talbot, a lot of that would be commercially

0:01:48 > 0:01:49sensitive.

0:01:49 > 0:01:53It is up to Tata to announce the news that we can manage it

0:01:53 > 0:01:56in a way that we have the best possible chance to secure

0:01:56 > 0:01:58the long-term future of Port Talbot.

0:01:58 > 0:02:01That is something everyone agrees on.

0:02:01 > 0:02:06On the timing, how long have we got to find a buyer before Tata starts

0:02:06 > 0:02:10closing steel plants in Wales?

0:02:10 > 0:02:14I believe that Tata is a responsible company, they have shown that

0:02:14 > 0:02:17elsewhere within their group where they have had situations

0:02:17 > 0:02:20in the past where they have wanted to move out and wanted to bring

0:02:20 > 0:02:23in new potential investors, and there is no reason to believe

0:02:23 > 0:02:25they will act any differently.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27Weeks or months?

0:02:27 > 0:02:30The actual timing, given the size of the plant, the importance of it,

0:02:30 > 0:02:33I don't think anyone would say it's a matter of a few weeks.

0:02:33 > 0:02:36The important thing is that you have a responsible seller,

0:02:36 > 0:02:38you have the UK Government working very closely with the Welsh

0:02:38 > 0:02:42Government and willing to work with any potential new buyer

0:02:42 > 0:02:45to make sure we can secure the long-term future.

0:02:45 > 0:02:48And so at a time when the UK Government has come under intense

0:02:48 > 0:02:52pressure for its handling of the crisis in the steel industry,

0:02:52 > 0:02:56Sajid Javid came here to the lion's den to try to send out the message

0:02:56 > 0:03:00that the UK Government is determined to keep steel-making here in Port

0:03:00 > 0:03:01Talbot.

0:03:01 > 0:03:03Any reassurance?

0:03:03 > 0:03:06The reassurance is that this country, from my understanding,

0:03:06 > 0:03:10what he said to me, we need a steel industry in this country.

0:03:10 > 0:03:13So by saying that to me, he is not going to

0:03:13 > 0:03:14throw us to the door.

0:03:14 > 0:03:16What did you take from it?

0:03:16 > 0:03:19It depends how much we trust them now really.

0:03:19 > 0:03:20Do we really trust them?

0:03:20 > 0:03:22That has come out in the open a bit more.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25Few new details emerged from the talks but they were broadly

0:03:25 > 0:03:27welcomed by union leaders.

0:03:27 > 0:03:30What is the UK Government going to put on the table

0:03:30 > 0:03:32if there is a buyer?

0:03:32 > 0:03:35The detail of that was not discussed.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38I was just happy to look the man in the eye and him say,

0:03:38 > 0:03:41"We are committed to making sure there is a UK steel

0:03:41 > 0:03:43"industry going forward."

0:03:43 > 0:03:46To hear those words after the last couple of weeks is important.

0:03:46 > 0:03:48Do you believe him?

0:03:48 > 0:03:49I believe everybody.

0:03:49 > 0:03:51I give everybody a chance.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54The hard work now begins of trying to find a buyer of steel

0:03:54 > 0:03:57plants in an industry that is currently

0:03:57 > 0:03:59haemorrhaging money.

0:03:59 > 0:04:04A project that helps prevent young people running away from home has

0:04:04 > 0:04:06been praised by the Children's Commissioner for Wales.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09Sally Holland says police forces and councils in other areas

0:04:09 > 0:04:12could learn from the Gwent Missing Children project,

0:04:12 > 0:04:16to try to prevent another major sexual abuse scandal,

0:04:16 > 0:04:18after an independent report praised its work.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21Police in Caerphilly are investigating reports

0:04:21 > 0:04:24of historical sex offences and concealment of a birth.

0:04:24 > 0:04:28Officers have been searching a house at Pen-Y-Bryn near Gelligaer.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31A local man is assisting Gwent Police force with its inquiries.

0:04:31 > 0:04:35A family who turned their B in Llandyrnog in Denbighshire

0:04:35 > 0:04:38into a cannabis factory have been ordered to pay back

0:04:38 > 0:04:39more than ?55,000.

0:04:39 > 0:04:43Chemistry teacher Susan McKay, her husband Owen, and their son

0:04:43 > 0:04:46were given suspended jail terms.

0:04:46 > 0:04:50It's estimated up to 250,000 people here in Wales could benefit

0:04:50 > 0:04:54from a new national living wage of ?7.20 an hour.

0:04:54 > 0:04:57But there have been mixed reviews to the changes so far,

0:04:57 > 0:04:59as Abigail Neal reports.

0:04:59 > 0:05:02By the seaside in Saundersfoot.

0:05:02 > 0:05:06One in three Pembrokeshire workers are on a low wage.

0:05:06 > 0:05:09So how welcome is this news of a pay rise?

0:05:09 > 0:05:14Meet Mandy, she owns a hair salon, and will now pay two of her staff

0:05:14 > 0:05:20a higher salary - ?7.20 an hour rather than ?6.70.

0:05:20 > 0:05:24I will have to increase the prices, which I don't like doing

0:05:24 > 0:05:29because I like to offer affordable service here.

0:05:29 > 0:05:33By putting the prices up as well, it doesn't benefit the business,

0:05:33 > 0:05:36it just means I pay more tax.

0:05:36 > 0:05:39How are you going to spend the extra money?

0:05:39 > 0:05:42One of those to gain is Mandy's sister.

0:05:42 > 0:05:44Nikki's earnings will go up by ?12 pounds a week,

0:05:44 > 0:05:47but she's worried that gain will just be cancelled out.

0:05:47 > 0:05:50Obviously, there's a limit to what I'm able to earn as well

0:05:50 > 0:05:53before it's taken off, not just myself, but other people.

0:05:53 > 0:05:56Wages made up from benefits, for example.

0:05:56 > 0:05:58They will lose the money from the benefits, that they would

0:05:58 > 0:06:00gain in wages.

0:06:00 > 0:06:02Then there's Harley.

0:06:02 > 0:06:06Just turned 19, she's on ?5.30 an hour, and won't benefit

0:06:06 > 0:06:09because she's too young.

0:06:09 > 0:06:12I think it should be extended because, like I said,

0:06:12 > 0:06:15people my age could be living on their own.

0:06:15 > 0:06:17They could benefit from that extra.

0:06:17 > 0:06:23Across retail, caring and catering, low pay covers many sectors,

0:06:23 > 0:06:26and the think tank Resolution Foundation estimates around 250,000

0:06:26 > 0:06:31people across Wales will be affected by this change.

0:06:31 > 0:06:34Although this is being called the national living wage,

0:06:34 > 0:06:38opinions do vary about what the cost of living actually is.

0:06:38 > 0:06:41The Living Wage Foundation says it should be higher than that.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44It should be more like ?8.25 an hour.

0:06:44 > 0:06:47And they are calling on employers to pay more than just

0:06:47 > 0:06:49the bare legal minimum.

0:06:49 > 0:06:51Some already do.

0:06:51 > 0:06:54Burns in Kidwelly sells pet food and runs a farm shop.

0:06:54 > 0:07:00The starting salary here is ?8.25 an hour for everyone.

0:07:00 > 0:07:04My late father-in-law was basically a farmer, he said money

0:07:04 > 0:07:06is made to go around.

0:07:06 > 0:07:09If people don't have money to spend the economy can't thrive.

0:07:09 > 0:07:12It's a complicated picture.

0:07:12 > 0:07:15Higher wages sound good, but they don't always mean

0:07:15 > 0:07:17everyone is a winner.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20Sport, and Boxing is as safe as it can be, according

0:07:20 > 0:07:23to Welshman Lee Selby.

0:07:23 > 0:07:25He was speaking as Nick Blackwell remains in an induced coma

0:07:25 > 0:07:28after a fight last week.

0:07:28 > 0:07:32Selby is preparing to defend his world title next week.

0:07:32 > 0:07:35Boxing safety is as high as it can be,

0:07:35 > 0:07:37especially with the British Boxing Board of Control.

0:07:37 > 0:07:39I think they do one of the best jobs in world boxing.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42I don't think nothing should be changed.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45Rugby, and in the Pro 12tonight, the Dragons faced the Ospreys

0:07:45 > 0:07:47at Rodney Parade.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50Despite two tries from Hallam Amos, the Ospreys kept their hopes

0:07:50 > 0:07:52of a top six finish alive.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55Sam Underhill with their fourth try, securing them a bonus point victory.

0:07:55 > 0:07:58Final score 20-26.

0:07:58 > 0:08:02A look at the weather now with Sue Charles.

0:08:02 > 0:08:07There will be some rain at first tomorrow in the north and west

0:08:07 > 0:08:12and often overcast, but that rain starts to move back northwards

0:08:12 > 0:08:18to leave a drier afternoon with sunny spells.

0:08:18 > 0:08:26A brighter end to the day across Wales and feeling milder.

0:08:26 > 0:08:31Southerly winds easing but introducing warmer air.

0:08:31 > 0:08:3510 Celsius in Gwyneddd.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37-13 in Monmouthsire.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40We keep that warmer southerly airflow overnight but with low

0:08:40 > 0:08:44pressure surrounding the UK, showers are never too far away.

0:08:44 > 0:08:47So we could see a few showers spilling northwards Saturday night

0:08:47 > 0:08:50into Sunday morning.

0:08:50 > 0:08:59Again, another mild night for early April.

0:08:59 > 0:09:03Then on Sunday, still some sunny spells, but probably a cloudier day

0:09:03 > 0:09:10for most and a chance of a few scattered showers.

0:09:10 > 0:09:15Quite windy.

0:09:15 > 0:09:21But still those warmer southerly winds.

0:09:21 > 0:09:27Highs of 11 to 14 Celsius so a lot of dry weather this weekend.

0:09:27 > 0:09:31Some sunshine but a few showers as well.

0:09:31 > 0:09:36And after a colder than average March, warmer weather at least

0:09:36 > 0:09:42for the start of April.

0:09:53 > 0:09:55We'll be back with our next update tomorrow evening.

0:09:55 > 0:09:56But that's Wales Today.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59From all of us on the programme, good night.