29/01/2017

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0:00:11 > 0:00:15Good evening.

0:00:15 > 0:00:17Introducing a Universal Basic Income in Wales would be a "worrying

0:00:17 > 0:00:19and extremely expensive socialist experiment", a leading

0:00:19 > 0:00:21economist has warned.

0:00:21 > 0:00:23Earlier this month, the Finance Secretary

0:00:23 > 0:00:26said the idea of paying

0:00:26 > 0:00:30every citizen an unconditional sum of money was "attractive"

0:00:30 > 0:00:33and could help tackle poverty and inequality.

0:00:33 > 0:00:36But Professor Patrick Minford told Sunday Politics Wales

0:00:36 > 0:00:38the scheme "isn't workable".

0:00:38 > 0:00:42More from our political reporter, Cemlyn Davies.

0:00:42 > 0:00:44Should every single citizen receive an automatic basic income

0:00:44 > 0:00:48to spend however they want, no strings attached?

0:00:48 > 0:00:50It isn't a new question.

0:00:50 > 0:00:52Philosophers have debated it for centuries.

0:00:52 > 0:00:56But the policy does have fresh support from the left and the right,

0:00:56 > 0:00:59and here in Wales, the Finance Secretary recently

0:00:59 > 0:01:03described the idea as attractive.

0:01:03 > 0:01:07It's an idea with considerable roots in our social policy.

0:01:07 > 0:01:10Always struggled to manage to find a practical way

0:01:10 > 0:01:13of taking it forward.

0:01:13 > 0:01:15But there is an opportunity for us in Wales to watch

0:01:15 > 0:01:18what is being attempted elsewhere.

0:01:18 > 0:01:22It isn't clear if or how the Welsh government could introduce

0:01:22 > 0:01:24a universal basic income, but Mark Drakeford says he will keep

0:01:24 > 0:01:27an eye on developments in Scotland, where there are efforts to launch

0:01:27 > 0:01:30pilot schemes in Glasgow and Fife.

0:01:30 > 0:01:33The initiative has cross-party support and the backing

0:01:33 > 0:01:36of the RSA think tank.

0:01:36 > 0:01:38It explains a basic income would be paid to everyone,

0:01:38 > 0:01:42regardless of whether they work or not and so there is an extra

0:01:42 > 0:01:47incentive for unemployed people to find a job as they wouldn't have

0:01:47 > 0:01:51to worry about losing benefits as happens under the current system.

0:01:51 > 0:01:55With a basic income, moving from a system where you weren't

0:01:55 > 0:02:02working into one where you were, you won't face those penalties.

0:02:02 > 0:02:04You retain your consistent payment throughout that period.

0:02:04 > 0:02:07You are given security to be able to choose to work.

0:02:07 > 0:02:10And also to actually to be able to choose work or training,

0:02:10 > 0:02:11or to set up your own business.

0:02:11 > 0:02:14This is not a workable scheme because it is far too expensive.

0:02:14 > 0:02:17It creates a tremendous tax and disincentive for the average

0:02:17 > 0:02:20person further up the income scale who is paying the taxes

0:02:20 > 0:02:23to fund the whole thing.

0:02:23 > 0:02:25Mark Drakeford has said he thinks this is an attractive idea.

0:02:25 > 0:02:28Does that worry you?

0:02:28 > 0:02:31Well it is quite worrying for Wales because it is very expensive.

0:02:31 > 0:02:35If Wales does it on its own it is going to be very expensive.

0:02:35 > 0:02:37Critics also claim a universal basic income could encourage laziness

0:02:37 > 0:02:41and increase immigration.

0:02:41 > 0:02:44The First Minister has criticised President Donald Trump's decision

0:02:44 > 0:02:50to institute a 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran,

0:02:50 > 0:02:52Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

0:02:52 > 0:02:54Carwyn Jones said the impact on "law-abiding citizens"

0:02:54 > 0:02:57was beyond any "rational defence".

0:02:57 > 0:03:00He also criticised the Prime Minister's response

0:03:00 > 0:03:03to Mr Trump's executive order.

0:03:03 > 0:03:06Mr Jones says he'll raise the matter with Theresa May when they meet

0:03:06 > 0:03:10tomorrow for the Joint Ministerial Committee.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12Police have renewed an appeal for information

0:03:12 > 0:03:16about the death of a baby boy - exactly a year after his body

0:03:16 > 0:03:18was found in Newport.

0:03:18 > 0:03:20The newborn child was discovered on land near Imperial

0:03:20 > 0:03:22Park in Coedkernew.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25He'd been wrapped in a white towel from the city's

0:03:25 > 0:03:29St Anne's Hospice, and put in a black leather-style bag.

0:03:29 > 0:03:31Despite numerous appeals, Gwent Police have been unable

0:03:31 > 0:03:40to identify the baby's mother.

0:03:40 > 0:03:41Boxing, and the former light welterweight world champion

0:03:41 > 0:03:45Amir Khan says Lee Selby needs a high profile fight to take his

0:03:45 > 0:03:46career to the next level.

0:03:46 > 0:03:49Selby said he was left almost in tears

0:03:49 > 0:03:53after his IBF featherweight world title defence against

0:03:53 > 0:03:57Jonathan Victor Barros in Las Vegas was called off with 24 hours to go.

0:03:57 > 0:04:01There's talk Carl Frampton and Abner Mares -

0:04:01 > 0:04:03the WBA super and regular champions - could be

0:04:03 > 0:04:06future opponents.

0:04:06 > 0:04:08Selby's not really had that one big fight that

0:04:08 > 0:04:10can make him that name, give him that name for

0:04:10 > 0:04:13people to recognise him.

0:04:13 > 0:04:16And beating someone like Mares or fighting someone like the winner

0:04:16 > 0:04:18of Santa Cruz and Frampton, will definitely take him

0:04:18 > 0:04:24to a different level.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27They are big names in the world of boxing and they have titles,

0:04:27 > 0:04:37so I think definitely by beating one of them big names.

0:04:41 > 0:04:42Selby will be right up there.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45A look at the weather forecast, and the rain will clear,

0:04:45 > 0:04:47leaving a cloudy and mild night for all.

0:04:47 > 0:04:49There'll be mist, low cloud and fog over the hills.

0:04:49 > 0:04:51Tomorrow will be a cloudy and mild day.

0:04:51 > 0:04:54It'll look grey and murky from the start, with hill fog.

0:04:54 > 0:04:57Rain will gradually spread north and east, though it will be lighter

0:04:57 > 0:04:57and patchier than today.

0:04:57 > 0:04:58Top temperature 10 Celsius.

0:04:58 > 0:04:59That's Wales Today.

0:05:08 > 0:05:09Good

0:05:09 > 0:05:09Good evening.