:00:00. > :00:00.On BBC One, we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.
:00:00. > :00:07.The race is on to rewrite the 350 million
:00:08. > :00:11.pound deal that would bring motorsport to Ebbw Vale.
:00:12. > :00:14.The company behind the Circuit of Wales tell us in an exclusive
:00:15. > :00:26.For her purse on the table we would like to explore an option that sees
:00:27. > :00:29.the government guaranteed to 80%. Delivering a five year freeze
:00:30. > :00:33.on council tax - the promise from the Welsh Conservatives
:00:34. > :00:36.if they win power in the Assembly. The First Minister
:00:37. > :00:38.Carwyn Jones rules out means-testing for university tuition
:00:39. > :00:40.fee grants if Labour retains power And after more than
:00:41. > :00:43.a decade of trying, can new coach Robert Croft achieve
:00:44. > :00:59.promotion at Glamorgan? A new deal is on the table for
:01:00. > :01:03.the financing of Circuit of Wales. Michael Carrick the man behind
:01:04. > :01:10.the regeneration project on the Heads of the Valleys says
:01:11. > :01:20.the latest proposals would bring local authorities back on board,
:01:21. > :01:24.retain Aviva investment at ?357m and reduce the amount underwritten
:01:25. > :01:26.by Welsh Government Our economics correspondent
:01:27. > :01:39.Sarah Dickins has had an exclusive It has been high adrenaline, like
:01:40. > :01:49.the bikes themselves. Every twist and turn of the financing of Circuit
:01:50. > :01:53.of Wales has been moving. The Welsh government said they could not
:01:54. > :01:59.underwrite the money from a fever. Now a new offer on the table keeps
:02:00. > :02:06.the further investment, with less risk to the government. They may be
:02:07. > :02:12.able to be more comfortable. Is this 180%? We have put the table we would
:02:13. > :02:17.to explore with government and option which reduces the government
:02:18. > :02:27.guaranteed to below 80%. How far below? Below 80%. The reason we go
:02:28. > :02:34.below 80% is a nuance, it becomes much easier for all parties to get
:02:35. > :02:39.comfortable with the potential risks of a challenge from a perspective
:02:40. > :02:45.from government. There are state aid issues looming in the background?
:02:46. > :02:50.More than 80% may invoke state aid complaints? There will always be
:02:51. > :02:55.state aid challenges whenever governments provide guarantees. It
:02:56. > :02:59.would be less of a challenge if we were below 80%. That is what we have
:03:00. > :03:06.reverted back with. These are the plans of the company hopes will
:03:07. > :03:10.become a reality. If it fails in construction no taxpayer money would
:03:11. > :03:16.be used to underwrite it. The Welsh government underwriting which would
:03:17. > :03:18.be less than 80% would only kick in once it opened and hit financial
:03:19. > :03:24.troubles. The garment would gain the assets. Investing in a start-up
:03:25. > :03:29.venture like this, something as popular as motorsport, meets the
:03:30. > :03:36.risk and reward balance. This is not a frightening risk for a major
:03:37. > :03:39.investor. The new proposals have only been the Welsh government's
:03:40. > :03:44.desk for a few hours, and maybe still too risky for them to support.
:03:45. > :03:49.The company hopes to bring you support from local authorities who
:03:50. > :03:53.dropped out last month. It is hoped that the project will bring other
:03:54. > :04:01.locomotive companies to the area and bring much needed jobs. Sports car
:04:02. > :04:07.company said they would make their latest car next door. They hope to
:04:08. > :04:13.have an announcement in the next few weeks. The Welsh government has said
:04:14. > :04:18.it is important they keep the door open to negotiations.
:04:19. > :04:20.The doubts hanging over the Circuit of Wales have been most
:04:21. > :04:22.keenly felt in Ebbw Vale and the surrounding area.
:04:23. > :04:26.With the promise of thousands of jobs - many in the area have seen
:04:27. > :04:28.the project as real opportunity to transform an area which has
:04:29. > :04:39.If things had gone to the original plan, this rugged field would now be
:04:40. > :04:43.a hive of building activity. Instead on the boundary of the proposed
:04:44. > :04:48.Circuit of Wales, one long-standing supporters says Welsh government
:04:49. > :04:52.ministers will be blamed if the scheme does not materialise. If you
:04:53. > :04:56.are going to have an investment of this size there has to be an element
:04:57. > :05:00.of risk. Who else will back it up other than the government? They are
:05:01. > :05:06.supposed to be representing the people, they need to put their money
:05:07. > :05:08.where their mouth is. At the end of last year the unemployment rate
:05:09. > :05:15.there was the highest in Wales, 9.3%. Nearly 43% of people don't
:05:16. > :05:20.have a job and are looking for one. They are economically inactive. That
:05:21. > :05:25.includes students and retired people, the second-highest in Wales.
:05:26. > :05:30.Local businesses are concerned that the latest setback. It has been very
:05:31. > :05:37.frustrating waiting for it to come to something. As far as we know, as
:05:38. > :05:39.we said earlier, private investment. All of a sudden the private
:05:40. > :05:44.investors want the Welsh government to underwrite it. Governments are
:05:45. > :05:48.not bottomless pits, they cannot do these things. It will pay for
:05:49. > :05:53.itself, don't know what the argument is about. The local MP was part of
:05:54. > :05:58.discussions four and a half years ago. He says all hope is not lost.
:05:59. > :06:02.There was a lot of goodwill to ensure the project takes off. We
:06:03. > :06:07.need to redouble our efforts and get people around the table. The Circuit
:06:08. > :06:11.of Wales have insisted all day this is not the end of the line for the
:06:12. > :06:16.project. We may have to wait another six weeks to find out if the
:06:17. > :06:23.development just over the hill will definitely go ahead. Taking time to
:06:24. > :06:27.speak to people here and across the valleys, you find most of them are
:06:28. > :06:31.in favour of this, not for the motorsport, but the chance to change
:06:32. > :06:43.the entire economy of this part of Wales. Hard to underestimate just
:06:44. > :06:55.how much hope is pinned on this. The UK Business Secretary has ensured
:06:56. > :06:58.unions that tata would be a responsible seller.
:06:59. > :07:01.Mr Javid was in Port Talbot today after a visit to Mumbai
:07:02. > :07:04.where he met with Tata bosses who want to sell their entire
:07:05. > :07:07.The Community Union said their talks with the business secretary
:07:08. > :07:14.We have been lobbying Parliament for a long time, it is a shame we had
:07:15. > :07:18.not been put on a level playing field. We have to move forward,
:07:19. > :07:19.hopefully find new buyers and investors for the plant.
:07:20. > :07:22.A Welsh Conservative government would offer a council tax freeze
:07:23. > :07:25.for five years if the Tories win next month's assembly election.
:07:26. > :07:27.It's happened in England and Scotland - but rival parties
:07:28. > :07:30.Our political correspondent Daniel Davies is here
:07:31. > :07:41.Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Tory leader, says he'll deliver a tax
:07:42. > :07:43.freeze for people in Wales if he's elected first minister.
:07:44. > :07:47.If it had happened five years ago, he says, the average Band D home
:07:48. > :07:55.would have saved nearly eight hundred pounds by now.
:07:56. > :07:59.in some departments - for example, funding for students -
:08:00. > :08:01.giving them the ?17m they'd need to pay for the freeze.
:08:02. > :08:06.Then, local councils would decide whether to pass it on to taxpayers.
:08:07. > :08:11.But it's still lower than in England.
:08:12. > :08:14.In fact it's been that way for years - despite English councils having
:08:15. > :08:25.a chance to freeze the tax under the last coalition UK government.
:08:26. > :08:40.in Wales this year - more than thirteen hundred pounds.
:08:41. > :08:46.But the Tories say council tax here is rising too fast,
:08:47. > :08:48.and eats up too much of people's incomes.
:08:49. > :08:58.The Conservative Party sees themselves of the lower tax party.
:08:59. > :09:01.They want to see themselves as a low tax party to make them more
:09:02. > :09:02.competitive with other parties, perhaps wanting to hold taxes where
:09:03. > :09:05.they are. The Tories aren't the only party
:09:06. > :09:11.talking about tax cuts. Plaid Cymru would cut up
:09:12. > :09:13.to four hundred pounds for the lowest valued homes -
:09:14. > :09:17.paid for by a tax rise for people publish plans soon which will reduce
:09:18. > :09:33.the unfair burden of council tax. UKIP told us that they
:09:34. > :09:35.wanted to "support reductions in council
:09:36. > :09:37.tax wherever possible". And Labour, who've
:09:38. > :09:39.overseen council tax levels since devolution,
:09:40. > :09:41.say they've kept bills lower here than in England,
:09:42. > :09:43.and say the Tory freeze has The Welsh Liberal Democrats say
:09:44. > :09:47.they would create an extra 140 thousand new apprentices over
:09:48. > :09:49.the next five years - if the party wins power in next
:09:50. > :09:54.month's Assembly election. in Wales each year -
:09:55. > :09:58.the Lib Dems say their plan All the main parties are promising
:09:59. > :10:01.to increase the number of apprentices - or have equivalent
:10:02. > :10:05.schemes to reduce unemployment. A father from Connah's Quay has
:10:06. > :10:07.admitted the manslaughter Sean Michael Mullender,
:10:08. > :10:13.who is 23 shook two month old Daniel with such force that he experienced
:10:14. > :10:16.bleeding and swelling on the brain. From Mold Crown Court,
:10:17. > :10:21.Matthew Richards reports. Sean Mullender arrived at court
:10:22. > :10:27.facing the prospect of a murder trial but his defence team told
:10:28. > :10:30.the judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies that he would be prepared to admit
:10:31. > :10:34.a lesser charge of manslaughter. Following an incident at the family
:10:35. > :10:44.home in Connah's Quay his two month old son Daniel
:10:45. > :10:47.was taken to hospital in Chester on 2nd October 2014 after receiving
:10:48. > :10:50.injuries including fractured ribs and bleeding on the brain
:10:51. > :11:02.caused by violent shaking. He was Moved to Alderhey
:11:03. > :11:03.children's hospital Concerned Staff alerted
:11:04. > :11:06.north wales police. The prosecution barrister Told
:11:07. > :11:08.the court that the extended bereaved In his short life Daniel had
:11:09. > :11:12.received earlier rib fractures some fairly recently before he died
:11:13. > :11:15.which the court heard may have been Sean Mullender was remanded
:11:16. > :11:19.in custody and is due to be You're watching wales
:11:20. > :11:25.today, still to come: new optimism at Glamorgan,
:11:26. > :11:29.bosses tell us their finances are in a better shape,
:11:30. > :11:31.after a deal to write-off like weather for cricket
:11:32. > :11:37.at the moment. Hail and a spectacular double
:11:38. > :11:45.rainbow on Anglesey. The First Minister Carwyn Jones has
:11:46. > :11:48.ruled out means-testing for university tuition fee grants
:11:49. > :11:53.if Labour retains power It follows accusations
:11:54. > :11:58.that the policy has become unaffordable because tens
:11:59. > :12:00.of millions of pounds ends up in the coffers of
:12:01. > :12:03.universities in England. In the latest in our interviews
:12:04. > :12:06.with the party leaders, our political editor
:12:07. > :12:09.Nick Servini caught up with him in a restaurant in Barry
:12:10. > :12:22.in the Vale of Glamorgan. Welcome to Wales Today. Best laid
:12:23. > :12:28.plans, you were clearly heading into the assembly campaign on an economic
:12:29. > :12:32.development ticket, we have had well-documented problems in the
:12:33. > :12:38.steel industry. Last night, a huge regeneration economic scheme for the
:12:39. > :12:46.racetrack in ever fail looks dead in the water, were very difficult
:12:47. > :12:49.position. We an economy in crisis? The steel issue can be resolved. We
:12:50. > :12:55.need the UK Government to do its bit. There needs to be a financial
:12:56. > :13:03.package put on the table, pensions, tariffs, and energy prices. A lot of
:13:04. > :13:08.work to be done. The Circuit of Wales, the model put forward would
:13:09. > :13:14.not work. They were looking for two big a guarantee, no government would
:13:15. > :13:19.ever agree to that. The king of the model in more detail. When did that
:13:20. > :13:24.happen? In the last few days. You have signed cheques for ?9 million.
:13:25. > :13:32.It is not money wasted, the land is available. We cannot take on board
:13:33. > :13:38.an enormous risks of the Welsh taxpayers. Any rational government
:13:39. > :13:42.would make sure there is not an unacceptable risk to the people of
:13:43. > :13:48.Wales. Let's talk about the NHS. What has emerged in January, if you
:13:49. > :13:55.were waiting for a hip replacement operation. On average you are
:13:56. > :14:00.waiting 200 days. In England, 70 days. A lot of these people will be
:14:01. > :14:06.waiting months and months longer than they would in England. People
:14:07. > :14:09.have a right to say, what is going to happen to improve things?
:14:10. > :14:18.Entirely fair question. We spend more money for head then England. 7%
:14:19. > :14:23.more in emergency services. We are seeing waiting times coming down. If
:14:24. > :14:27.you look at cancer, cancer treatments in Wales are more readily
:14:28. > :14:34.available than England. The same for stroke. Some areas we don't do as
:14:35. > :14:37.well. Let's get the facts right. Not some, most. Most of the main
:14:38. > :14:44.indicators on some, most. Most of the main
:14:45. > :14:48.England, we are longer. Your officials told us we could not
:14:49. > :14:53.compare for five years, then we found the figures in January, and we
:14:54. > :14:57.could directly compare, showing striking differences between the two
:14:58. > :15:02.countries. The OECD, independent body says there are very little
:15:03. > :15:06.difference between all four countries. They did not look at
:15:07. > :15:12.waiting times. But that is what they said. People want to see
:15:13. > :15:16.improvements, and we accept that. In some areas things have not gone as
:15:17. > :15:20.they should, and we have taken steps to correct that. At the start of the
:15:21. > :15:26.assembly, we spent 42% of our budget on the NHS, it is now 48%. You bring
:15:27. > :15:33.down waiting times, more resources, more doctors to carry out
:15:34. > :15:37.operations. The gap between Wales and England has been getting longer,
:15:38. > :15:43.not getting shorter on things like orthopaedics? You are picking up one
:15:44. > :15:48.particular aspect. Not just orthopaedics, twice as long for a
:15:49. > :15:53.heart surgery, cataracts, pneumonia, those of the figures? We have been
:15:54. > :15:58.ensuring that people, when they need operations quickly, we're paying for
:15:59. > :16:02.those who happen in England. It comes down to making sure the money
:16:03. > :16:07.is in the health of this, we have increased the resource overtime. To
:16:08. > :16:12.be honest the demand has gone up. Tuition fees, people say it is
:16:13. > :16:15.unaffordable in the current form. There is a sense that Labour will be
:16:16. > :16:20.looking at means testing element being introduced. Subsidies for the
:16:21. > :16:26.costs of universities. Is that where you are going? No. We have the
:16:27. > :16:31.Diamond review, reporting in the next few months, looking at what the
:16:32. > :16:35.report suggests. The other thing we have to be aware of rough, if
:16:36. > :16:40.England gets rid of the cap on tuition fees, it causes problems for
:16:41. > :16:43.us. What we will never do is put Welsh students in the same financial
:16:44. > :16:49.position as their colleagues in England. That is a fundamental
:16:50. > :16:56.principle of what we do. You cannot afford it without means testing? I
:16:57. > :17:01.don't like means testing, you create haves and have-nots. You want to
:17:02. > :17:07.keep a universal? Means testing is not where we are going. We will look
:17:08. > :17:10.at the Diamond review. I am not attracted to simply doing what
:17:11. > :17:13.England does, putting huge amounts of debt on students. Thank you very
:17:14. > :17:15.much. Carwyn Jones there
:17:16. > :17:17.talking to Nick Servini - and you can watch that interview
:17:18. > :17:19.again on our website - Tomorrow night, we'll be hearing
:17:20. > :17:32.from the leader of Ukip We have been hearing from the
:17:33. > :17:37.leaders of all the parties, but don't forget you want to hear from
:17:38. > :17:41.you, too. We have been asking you to tell us what you would do if you
:17:42. > :17:44.were in charge of Wales. If I were First Minister I would give schools
:17:45. > :17:47.more money for resources. I would ensure there were suitable care in
:17:48. > :17:53.place for the vulnerable and elderly. If I were First Minister I
:17:54. > :17:54.would make planning permission for small businesses fairer to the
:17:55. > :18:01.independent trader. small businesses fairer to the
:18:02. > :18:12.are coming in thick and fast. My Manifest the 20 16th is filling up
:18:13. > :18:16.with your ideas. -- my Manifesto. We have reporters ready to follow up
:18:17. > :18:23.with your suggestions. Stuart Jones runs a garage, is there how would
:18:24. > :18:28.e-mail us to say he would make life is easier for small businesses. The
:18:29. > :18:31.money I have to find just to open the doors is shocking. Catch
:18:32. > :18:38.Stuart's message to politicians tomorrow. If you want us to tell
:18:39. > :18:43.your story, make sure the people you want your vote listen to the issues
:18:44. > :18:54.that matter to you, get in touch. Contact us by e-mail. We are on
:18:55. > :19:00.Facebook and Twitter. You can also write to us.
:19:01. > :19:06.If you want to make sure your voices heard in this election, get involved
:19:07. > :19:11.with My Manifesto 2016. Its exactly four weeks to go
:19:12. > :19:13.until the assembly election - whatever happens on May the 5th
:19:14. > :19:16.the next assembly promises More than a dozen politicians
:19:17. > :19:19.are stepping down - many having served in Cardiff Bay
:19:20. > :19:35.since the assembly was set The Welsh assembly is a very
:19:36. > :19:43.different place today, compared to when many of the AMs were elected 17
:19:44. > :19:48.years ago. The building did not even exist in 1999. Mr Thomas is one of
:19:49. > :20:06.three like root AM 's -- Clive in Scotland face a devilish riding
:20:07. > :20:13.with revolution, here we set relative revolution. The revolution
:20:14. > :20:26.has been steadier. We have evolved further than other devolved areas.
:20:27. > :20:40.Ten Labour AMs stepping down, this AM is also leaving. What advice does
:20:41. > :20:44.he have? Get stuck in, don't worry about making mistakes, except people
:20:45. > :20:50.who don't do any thing. Come with enthusiasm, make a nuisance of
:20:51. > :20:55.yourself. Represent interests you believe in. William Graham has
:20:56. > :21:00.brought a splash of colour to the assembly since 1999. He did not plan
:21:01. > :21:05.to leave the vague at the election. After slipping down the Conservative
:21:06. > :21:12.candidate list, he accepts he will not be re-elected. Will you miss the
:21:13. > :21:17.assembly? Certainly. I cannot say I've enjoyed every minute. The
:21:18. > :21:22.interaction with individuals, politicians, journalists,
:21:23. > :21:27.constituents, it has been really very important to me. 14
:21:28. > :21:34.politicians, they know they will not be coming back. Likely that others
:21:35. > :21:43.will lose their seats. This election promises to provide us with the
:21:44. > :21:45.biggest intake of new AMs since it was set up. The next assembly
:21:46. > :21:47.promises to be very different. Promotion is a realistic aim,
:21:48. > :21:50.that's the message from Glamorgan's cricketers,
:21:51. > :21:52.ahead of the start That's despite only one team
:21:53. > :21:55.going up to County Championship Meanwhile, Chief executive
:21:56. > :22:07.Hugh Morris says Glamorgan will tackle debts of more
:22:08. > :22:09.than six million pounds, despite facing a possible
:22:10. > :22:15.loss this year. They will be hoping the weather
:22:16. > :22:20.improves before the season starts. After preparations in sunny Spain,
:22:21. > :22:25.back to reality today. Two months into the new job, coach Robert Croft
:22:26. > :22:30.is trying to achieve something which has eluded predecessors for more
:22:31. > :22:34.than a decade. Getting Glamorgan back to the County Championship
:22:35. > :22:38.Division 1. Something made more difficult this season, only one team
:22:39. > :22:43.will be promoted, not two. They finished in fourth place last year.
:22:44. > :22:48.It makes it clearer what you want to achieve. Last season we were on
:22:49. > :22:57.course for half the season, dropping off stop we have more resources in
:22:58. > :23:01.the squad this year. This year the county's finances and not been
:23:02. > :23:08.healthy, their chief executive tells me things are getting better. The
:23:09. > :23:12.club had debts of ?70 million, it has been reduced to 6 million after
:23:13. > :23:18.a deal with creditors. Cardiff Council, the bank and the former
:23:19. > :23:23.chairman greed for money owed to them to be written off, totalling
:23:24. > :23:27.?11 million. Five days of England against Australia matches last year
:23:28. > :23:33.helped the club make a profit of ?600,000. With fewer days of
:23:34. > :23:37.international this year, they have to look elsewhere to make money. We
:23:38. > :23:42.played cricket for 45-50 days a year. We have a lot of downtime, we
:23:43. > :23:48.focused on diversifying the business. We have international
:23:49. > :23:53.darts tournament, boxing. We are now for the first time giving our total
:23:54. > :24:04.into the music events. Good news for fans of Simply Red. They will
:24:05. > :24:09.perform here this summer. Until then to Glamorgan players to perform,
:24:10. > :24:11.they start the season in ten days. It doesn't feel much
:24:12. > :24:20.like spring at the moment. Showers, hail, sunshine and a double
:24:21. > :24:23.rainbow on Anglesey. This spectacular photo taken by Nick
:24:24. > :24:25.Jones. Tonight one or two showers
:24:26. > :24:28.here and there otherwise dry. Temperatures inland falling as low
:24:29. > :24:36.as 3 or 4 Celsius. Here's the picture
:24:37. > :24:38.for 8 in the morning. Certainty much drier
:24:39. > :24:41.in the north compared to today. Most of mid and south Wales dry too
:24:42. > :24:48.bar the odd light shower. So a window of better weather
:24:49. > :24:59.tomorrow. Some sunshine and lighter winds
:25:00. > :25:04.but rain will spread into western Top temperatures 9 to 12 Celsius
:25:05. > :25:10.and with lighter winds than recently Most of the day dry but rain late
:25:11. > :25:22.afternoon and evening. Tomorrow evening rain in the west
:25:23. > :25:32.will spread across the Followed overnight by clearer,
:25:33. > :25:35.drier weather with showers Temperatures inland falling low
:25:36. > :25:39.enough for a touch of frost. Saturday chilly with
:25:40. > :25:41.sunshine and showers. The air unstable so the showers
:25:42. > :25:43.heavy in places with hail and thunder and on high
:25:44. > :25:45.ground more snow. While if you're gardener, watch out
:25:46. > :25:48.for frost on Saturday night. The chart for Sunday shows low
:25:49. > :25:51.pressure shaped a bit like an onion And that will influence our
:25:52. > :25:55.weather next week. Sunday, though, should
:25:56. > :25:56.be a reasonable day. Maybe a shower in
:25:57. > :25:58.Pembrokeshire otherwise dry. Temperatures a little
:25:59. > :26:01.higher with a cool breeze. The wind freshening
:26:02. > :26:08.from the east or southeast. So a mixed bag for the weekend
:26:09. > :26:11.but some dry and sunshine as well. Next week more rain and showers
:26:12. > :26:25.and turning a little warmer. Thank you very much. Quick update at
:26:26. > :26:30.eight. More after ten. That is Wales Today. From all of us here, we hope
:26:31. > :26:32.you have a good day, and goodbye.