0:00:06 > 0:00:06Welcome to Wales Today.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Tonight's top stories - This gifts company used
0:00:08 > 0:00:11the Jobs Growth Wales scheme to employ a young member of staff.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Now the Welsh Government is to halve the financial support
0:00:13 > 0:00:17it gives to employers.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20And making a profit in Port Talbot - could the reported improvements
0:00:20 > 0:00:30to the steel-makers' balance-sheet help save the industry here?
0:00:35 > 0:00:41Good evening.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43The Welsh Government is halving the amount it gives companies
0:00:43 > 0:00:45for employing young people through its main job creation
0:00:45 > 0:00:47scheme, Jobs Growth Wales, because it says the unemployment
0:00:47 > 0:00:49rate here has fallen so sharply.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Their opponents say the move makes no sense, after a Summer of warnings
0:00:52 > 0:00:53about the economic effects of Brexit.
0:00:53 > 0:01:03Here's our Political Editor, Nick Servini.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06It has been the most high-profile scheme in recent years,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09set up by the Welsh Government to help create jobs
0:01:09 > 0:01:10after the recession.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Jobs Growth Wales became a central economic policy and was designed
0:01:12 > 0:01:14to cut youth unemployment.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16But with the overall jobless rate at its lowest in a decade,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19the subsidies being paid to firms to take on 16-24 -year-olds
0:01:19 > 0:01:24have been halved.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27The Skills Minister, Julie James, says it is time for the private
0:01:27 > 0:01:29sector to take its share of the risk, as recruitment
0:01:29 > 0:01:36has improved.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39We are continuing it, we are just not continuing it
0:01:39 > 0:01:40at quite that level.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42So the subsidy derisks something for the private enterprise.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45We are still derisking it a bit, but we are expecting them to come
0:01:45 > 0:01:47halfway to meet on that, as the economy improves
0:01:47 > 0:01:52and expansion plans continue.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55So how do companies feel about meeting the government halfway?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57This woman used to scheme at her gift shop near Caernarfon.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59She doesn't quite share the minister's confidence in
0:01:59 > 0:02:06the strength of her local economy.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08In a rural area like this, there isn't that many
0:02:08 > 0:02:09job opportunities.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12From my point of view, as a rural business owner,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15then definitely having this kind of scheme, you know, is important.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17We want them to stay here and work here.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20If they all go down to Cardiff then they won't be here to work
0:02:20 > 0:02:27for companies like my own.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The decision by the Welsh Government is in effect a huge show
0:02:30 > 0:02:32of confidence in the ability of the Welsh economy to create
0:02:32 > 0:02:34jobs and interestingly, the skills Minister,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Julie James, believes the jury is out on whether a Brexit
0:02:36 > 0:02:41will harm the economy.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It is a noticeably softer tone than some of the warnings we had
0:02:44 > 0:02:46from those campaigning to remain in the referendum.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50So what kind of impact will it have?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Business groups broadly welcomed Jobs Growth Wales,
0:02:52 > 0:02:53but the data was mixed.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Between 2012 and 2015, the Welsh Government said nearly
0:02:55 > 0:03:0515,000 jobs were filled.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08An independent report last month said that in the short-term,
0:03:08 > 0:03:1035% of those who took part would have otherwise been out
0:03:10 > 0:03:13of work but over the longer term, it found that there no statistically
0:03:13 > 0:03:15significant differences between the employment rates
0:03:15 > 0:03:17of those who took part and those who did not.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Opposition parties have accused the government of sneaking
0:03:19 > 0:03:21the decision out in the middle of the summer recess
0:03:21 > 0:03:27and of sending out mixed messages.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30One minute they are saying post-Brexit there are real
0:03:30 > 0:03:32challenges to the economy and yet in the next breath,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34like this announcement today, they are saying that the economy
0:03:34 > 0:03:37is going well, many jobs are being created, so we can cut
0:03:37 > 0:03:38the training budget.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And importantly, we don't know whether this cut to the training
0:03:40 > 0:03:44budget from 100% of funding of places to 50% is going to keep
0:03:44 > 0:03:47that many within the overall training budget and so there will be
0:03:47 > 0:03:49other opportunities.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52The recruitment of young people is not such a problem now.
0:03:52 > 0:04:01The hope is that it remains that way as Jobs Growth Wales is cutback.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03It's been threatened with closure for months, but now,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05there are reports that Tata Steel's plant in Port Talbot
0:04:05 > 0:04:06is making a profit.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The company announced its intention to sell the plant earlier this year,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11but the sales process is currently on hold.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Over 700 jobs have already been cut, but the remaining workers hope
0:04:14 > 0:04:16the improved balance sheet is a significant step towards saving
0:04:16 > 0:04:17the Welsh steel industry.
0:04:17 > 0:04:25Nick Palit reports.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Earlier this year the Indian industrial giant Tata put
0:04:27 > 0:04:30all its British steel interests up for sale, including the UK's largest
0:04:30 > 0:04:32steelworks in Port Talbot, which employs over 4,000 people.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Cheap Chinese steel and high energy costs were among the reasons
0:04:35 > 0:04:38cited as to why Tata was haemorrhaging money.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40But now, it seems the loss-making UK operation isn't
0:04:40 > 0:04:47losing so much anymore.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52Unconfirmed reports say they made a profit of ?500 million in June.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55In a statement, Tata said they don't disclose financial results
0:04:55 > 0:04:58beyond normal public reporting.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00But said the management team and employees were continuing
0:05:00 > 0:05:02to work hard to improve the underlying performance
0:05:02 > 0:05:09of the UK business.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11However, sources close to this business have told me that this
0:05:11 > 0:05:13plant made a quarterly profit of ?12 million.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16We heard reports of ?5 million, ?12 million, are those the kind
0:05:16 > 0:05:22of figures you are hearing?
0:05:22 > 0:05:24They are the kind of figures that have been reported
0:05:24 > 0:05:25throughout the works.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28I think the important thing is the fact we have
0:05:28 > 0:05:29seems to turn a corner.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30We are making a profit.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32We are moving in the right direction.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36The fact that we've got rid of 700 plus jobs, that is going to kick in.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38We are still feeling the effects of that.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40It has been a painful time for people.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We are taking on more responsibility and the workforce are
0:05:43 > 0:05:44stepping up all the time.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46That's one of the major reasons.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Industry experts say these profits are just not enough to secure
0:05:49 > 0:05:53the long-term future of Port Talbot.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56It's good news, but we still have challenging times ahead, I think.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58The steel industry is extremely volatile and we still don't
0:05:58 > 0:06:00understand the implications of the Brexit decision.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02That has consequences for the industry, not just
0:06:02 > 0:06:11in the UK, but across Europe.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13The sale of Tata Steel's Welsh operations is currently on hold.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16They have entered negotiations with a German firm over a merger.
0:06:16 > 0:06:25The local MP says the workforce have done everything asked of them.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27There's been some real improvements in efficiency.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28Real improvements, breaking all production records,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and so every single steelworker in that plant should be given
0:06:31 > 0:06:36themselves a pat on the back today.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38They are helping to turn the business around.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Of course, there's still room for improvement, of course,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43the five million a month, if that is the correct figure,
0:06:43 > 0:06:52is not where you'd want to be in the long term.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Despite the move into profit, there is still uncertainty
0:06:55 > 0:06:57for workers in Port Talbot, but they are confident
0:06:57 > 0:07:03that their hard work is beginning to pay dividends.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05A 23-year-old man has appeared in court charged
0:07:05 > 0:07:08with the murder of his girlfriend in Cardiff last week.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Jordan Matthews was arrested
0:07:09 > 0:07:11after police were called to the house he shared
0:07:11 > 0:07:13with Xixi Bi on Ely Road in Llandaff on Friday morning.
0:07:13 > 0:07:23Ms Bi's family, who live in China, have been told of her death.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Also in Cardiff, a 22-year-old woman has died after the BMW
0:07:26 > 0:07:29she was driving crashed into a block of flats in the early
0:07:29 > 0:07:30hours of this morning.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32The passenger, a 21-year-old man, is in hospital with serious
0:07:32 > 0:07:35injuries after the collision in the Adamsdown area of the city.
0:07:35 > 0:07:42Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Fewer people are dying of heart disease and are being treated more
0:07:45 > 0:07:47quickly and effectively according to a Welsh Government report.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50The annual report into the condition shows the number of deaths have
0:07:50 > 0:07:53fallen by a quarter since 2005, to just under 9,000,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55thanks to a drop in smoking and binge drinking.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57The British Heart Foundation has welcomed the progress,
0:07:57 > 0:08:04but says we can't afford to be complacent.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Coronary heart disease is Wales' single biggest killer.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07We still need to have more research into
0:08:07 > 0:08:17treatments, translating into better services for people.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Welsh athletes may have won a record 10 medals
0:08:32 > 0:08:35at the Olympics in Rio, but tonight, there are claims that
0:08:35 > 0:08:37medal success masks a rowing crisis in sports at a grassroots level.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40One Labour AM says limited public money should be spent
0:08:40 > 0:08:42on getting more people active, not on investments that
0:08:42 > 0:08:43win medals for a few.
0:08:43 > 0:08:52Tomos Dafydd has this report.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55They are the Welsh sporting stars who broke records in Rio de Janeiro.
0:08:55 > 0:09:03Ten medals for Team GB, more than ever before.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Each and every athlete that has got those medals has worked extremely
0:09:06 > 0:09:07hard over periods of time.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Their commitment has been outstanding.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11And the delivery of their performances when it really matters
0:09:11 > 0:09:19in this cauldron is a testament to themselves as individuals.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Each of Britain's 67 medals cost the equivalent of ?4 million
0:09:21 > 0:09:24but tonight, claims that medal success masks a growing crisis
0:09:24 > 0:09:25in sport at a grassroots level.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27While millions of pounds is spent on athletes,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29there are concerns that cuts to council budgets have brought
0:09:29 > 0:09:38local clubs to the brink.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It is terrific we are top of the league table for medals
0:09:41 > 0:09:43but we are also top of the league table for childhood
0:09:43 > 0:09:44obesity in Europe.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46A quarter of all Welsh adults are obese.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Our whole approach is to tackle that through sport.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51And sport is not going to reach people who currently take no
0:09:51 > 0:09:59physical activity at all.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Your party is in charge, the Welsh Labour government cut
0:10:01 > 0:10:03the budget to local authorities by 2%.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05This is a bit rich, isn't it?
0:10:05 > 0:10:06We are in a period of austerity.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08The funding coming down from Westminster to Wales
0:10:08 > 0:10:09has been cut.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12The cuts have been passed on to local councils and they have
0:10:12 > 0:10:14got little choice but to make cuts where they can.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16They are on top of the world.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19There were not any Welsh athletes in Team GB 's gold-medal winning
0:10:19 > 0:10:22hockey team but these teenagers, Wales' under 16 and under 18 sides,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24could change that by Tokyo in 2020.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Sport Wales says it invests ?24 million per year in community
0:10:26 > 0:10:32sports, three times that invested in elite sport.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34I think there is a very fine balance.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37You have two investing talented athletes, you have to give them
0:10:37 > 0:10:40the support and the funding in order for them to be successful
0:10:40 > 0:10:41and they were then consequently inspire future generations
0:10:41 > 0:10:44because they won't necessarily get the uptake and excitement
0:10:44 > 0:10:47if they can't see their heroes doing it successfully and doing it well,
0:10:47 > 0:10:52doing it at the top of their game.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Big claims are often made about how Olympic success can change
0:10:54 > 0:11:00people's lifestyles.
0:11:00 > 0:11:07The debate over how best to spend money will only
0:11:07 > 0:11:16intensify, as budgets are squeezed even further.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19In football news, Leon Britton will stay with Swansea City
0:11:19 > 0:11:21until the summer of 2018 after agreeing a one-year
0:11:21 > 0:11:22extension to his contract.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The midfielder has played 514 games for the club since first joining
0:11:25 > 0:11:30on loan 14 years ago.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Time now for the weather forecast with Derek.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34We have had a real taste of autumn recently.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Strong to gale force winds, around two inches of rain
0:11:37 > 0:11:38in parts of Snowdonia.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40But some will return tomorrow, with plenty of hazy sunshine
0:11:40 > 0:11:41and some toasty temperatures.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Tonight, drizzly rain will spread northwards again but by
0:11:43 > 0:11:46the end of the night, much of the country will be dry.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47And a warm night.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Some low cloud, mist and even a few fog patches.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54Now, tomorrow morning, any low cloud, mist and fog
0:11:54 > 0:12:03will soon disappear, leaving the whole country dry.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Brighter than today, with hazy sunshine.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Perhaps a bit more cloud in the far north and west.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Across the rest of the UK, a warm front over Ireland
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and Scotland will produce cloud and outbreaks of rain
0:12:12 > 0:12:12through the day.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Further south though, it is a different story.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Fine and bright, plenty of sunshine.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17Hazy in the North.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18And a big contrast in temperature.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Only 17 in Belfast, a hot and humid 29, 30 Celsius in London.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23And it will certainly feel more like summer,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25compared to today across Wales.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Fine, bright, lots of hazy sunshine and some toasty temperatures.
0:12:27 > 0:12:2826 Celsius in Cardiff and Monmouth.
0:12:28 > 0:12:37That is 79 Fahrenheit, around 21 Celsius on Anglesey.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43Alfresco weather tomorrow evening.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Overnight, a week, cold front will bring some cloud.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51But very little, if any rain.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52On Wednesday, dry, more cloud around.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Some sunshine though in the South and it should brighten up
0:12:55 > 0:12:56in the north and west.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Some sunshine in the afternoon.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59On Thursday, the forecast is a bit more tricky.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01A few showers breaking out.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Some thundery rain developing.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06That will clear away overnight.
0:13:06 > 0:13:15Tomorrow, the warmest day of the week in Wales.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17They risk of thundery showers on Thursday.
0:13:17 > 0:13:23Finer and fresh on Friday.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Enjoy the nice weather tomorrow, if you can.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28That's Wales Today.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30We'll be back with more in Breakfast from around 6:30 tomorrow morning.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31Until then, from all of us on the late team, good night.