Carwyn Jones: Well, it is something we are actively considering. I’m not saying we will simply replicate what happened in Westminster. I believe it needs consideration separately from other legislation, but, certainly, it is something that we’re willing to discuss with other parties in order to ensure that the services we have for autism are the best they can be.
Carwyn Jones: The first challenge, of course, is for there to be a diagnosis, and that can take some time. Because autism, as the Member knows, exists on a spectrum, there are some elements of autism that are not easily diagnosed, and the diagnosis is the first step. He’s asked about those who’ve been diagnosed. Well, we seek to ensure, of course, consistency across Wales—that’s why we ring-fenced...
Carwyn Jones: Well, no, that’s not correct. Extra money has gone into CAMHS. CAMHS, in some ways, was the victim of its own success at the beginning. Once it was known that the service was there, GPs were far more able to refer into CAMHS, and, indeed, it’s right to say that demand did become quite high. We then took steps, of course, to make sure the funding was available in order to meet that demand,...
Carwyn Jones: I haven’t seen those comments. At the beginning, he seemed to be advocating Welsh independence, talking about small countries. I’m sure he’ll explain his position a little later. I don’t believe that, and I’ll explain why: the reason why people are angry at the moment is they feel their jobs aren’t secure. They remember the days when there were jobs available, when they had...
Carwyn Jones: He should look at his own benches when it comes to employing those from eastern Europe, shouldn’t he? I mean, the reality is, on the one hand, his party says, ‘Well, of course, you have to stop people coming in’, and on the other hand, quite happy to employ people when they are here. The reality is that, out of a population of 3 million in Wales, we have 47,000 people who are nationals...
Carwyn Jones: I wonder if the leader of the Conservatives heard that, with the common agricultural policy. So much for his guarantees—he’s just heard it from UKIP that they want to get rid of the common agricultural policy. That means, of course, getting rid of subsidies. It means allowing in more New Zealand lamb at a cheaper price—that’s what it means—it means taking away the protections of our...
Carwyn Jones: We demand the highest standards of care for the people of Wales. We have put in place rigorous outcome and standards frameworks, effective performance management arrangements, as well as robust regulation and inspection regimes, which drive service improvement and quality.
Carwyn Jones: Well, can I thank the Member for that question? I fully agree: we do remain committed to excellent, high-quality care across Wales. As we’ve said before, the OECD report confirms that not one system across the UK is outperforming another. Whilst there was much to be satisfied with in that report, there is still work to do in some areas—that much is clear. We cannot be satisfied 100 per...
Carwyn Jones: Well, we saw the level of delays reduce by 7.6 per cent in April, and a further 2.6 per cent fall was reported in May. The number of patients delayed in acute beds also fell in May: down 7 per cent on the previous month. There was a significant decrease in the number of patients waiting to leave mental health facilities: a 20 per cent decrease. Provisions in the Act—the Social Services and...
Carwyn Jones: We are funding enhancements to the Ebbw Vale line, which, of course, we reopened, that will allow for additional services to be introduced in the future, improving stations and, of course, improving bus connectivity.
Carwyn Jones: Well, it’s right to say that the Ebbw Vale line would not have been reopened without European funding. The metro cannot go ahead without European money. There are those who say that the money will be made up penny for penny by Whitehall. I believe that that is cloud-cuckoo-land, if I’m quite honest with you. I’ve spent many years in this Chamber fighting Whitehall for funding, ensuring...
Carwyn Jones: To me, it works both ways. It is right to say that many thousands of people commute into Cardiff every day. That’s going to continue, but it’s also important that we connect communities to bring investment up from the M4 as well. So, it works both ways, not just physical connectivity, but broadband as well, because we know that broadband, in the twenty-first century, is the equivalent of...
Carwyn Jones: I think I answered that question from the Member—I did say earlier on that the investment that we’re making will allow services to Newport. We considered that as part of the procurement for the next franchise.
Carwyn Jones: I’ve made it clear that I will only support the devolution of further tax powers if there is a fair fiscal framework. Discussions are under way and I expect the UK Government to be good to their word and agree a fair and strong funding deal.
Carwyn Jones: I’ve made it very clear, when it comes to the Wales Bill, it’s absolutely crucial that the powers should not be devolved without the consent of this Assembly. The reason why I say that is that there should be an agreement on the fiscal framework. If it’s good enough for Scotland, it’s good enough for Wales, and it simply isn’t good enough for Wales to be told—to be imposed on with...
Carwyn Jones: The Member is right, and we have to make sure—we will make sure—that this is part of the decisions around the fiscal framework, which, to my mind, will need to be agreed with the UK Government. What is essential, to my mind, is that we have an agreement that’ll underpin our funding arrangements for the long term, and that means, of course, putting in place the safeguards that the Member...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I cannot disagree with you. We have been arguing for some time that air passenger duty should be devolved. It has been devolved to Scotland. The review that the Member alludes to is a review into the airports of England, and not Cardiff, to see what the impact would be on the airports of England of devolving air passenger duty to Scotland. So, Wales isn’t even part of the equation....
Carwyn Jones: Well, I didn’t hear him advocate a referendum in Scotland for the transfer of far greater powers in Scotland, but my view is this: the UK’s tax system needs to be re-examined with, for example, a system where there is an element of the taxation system that provides the means to redistribute money across the UK to where it’s needed, while at the same time ensuring local accountability....
Carwyn Jones: The improving employment rate in Wales continues to outperform all other nations of the UK. We are ahead of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, with the fastest growing rate of employment and the sharpest declining rate of unemployment over the last 12 months.
Carwyn Jones: Well, one example, of course, is Jobs Growth Wales. It has been hugely successful, with a success rate of over 80 per cent in terms of young people going on to employment, or to further or higher education schemes, funded by European money, and of course it’s a scheme that has helped so many young people get in to work. The genesis of that scheme was that we talked to small and medium-sized...
