Carwyn Jones: I do. It’s an excellent example of our universities working together, as well as an example of collaboration between industry and research organisations across Wales and the rest of Europe. It is an EU-funded project, so what will happen to it beyond 2020, of course, is always difficult to predict. Nevertheless, it has great potential, and the fact that so many of our universities have come...
Carwyn Jones: Wel, mae yna wasanaeth ynni lleol ar gael, ac mae hynny’n rhoi cefnogaeth i gymunedau a hefyd i SMEs er mwyn iddynt allu datblygu eu prosiectau eu hunain. Trwy’r ‘portal’ y maen nhw’n ei rhedeg, mae grwpiau sydd â diddordeb yn dod at ei gilydd i weld ym mha ffordd y gallen nhw gydweithio er mwyn symud y prosiectau ymlaen. Mae un enghraifft ym Methesda, wrth gwrs, sef y prosiect...
Carwyn Jones: The air is redolent with irony. When I hear that comment, I have to remind the Member he was part of a party that deliberately closed down coal mines—even those that were profitable. [Interruption.] Even those that were profitable, they closed down. At that time, coal, in his mind, was finished. The reality is that deep mining is not a reality for most of Wales any more—most of the pits...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. We expect the health board to continue to improve access to services, including, of course, reducing waiting times across the full range of services.
Carwyn Jones: She was obviously referring to a constituent who’s contacted her. It’s difficult to comment on an individual case, but, if the constituent wishes, through her, to refer the constituent’s situation to me, I will of course look at it and write back to her.
Carwyn Jones: This from a representative of the party of Jeremy Hunt. I can say to him that the latest published figures prove that the majority of patients, nearly eight out of 10, are seen, treated, admitted or discharged very quickly and within four hours of their arrival despite, actually, an increase in attendances involving the elderly with complex needs and high-acuity and high-dependent patients....
Carwyn Jones: No, I don’t see that because we’re talking about communities where there wasn’t an A&E unit in the first place. So, people travel to the A&Es in an ambulance, and so they will be admitted to that hospital and that’s where the pressure would lie. However, we see that eight out of 10 people who go into the accident and emergency units leave within four hours.
Carwyn Jones: The language impact assessment forms an integral part of the sustainability appraisals that accompany local development plans. They may also be required for planning applications for major windfall sites in areas of particular sensitivity as set out in a development plan.
Carwyn Jones: In the first place, if the assessments are part of the development plan, then the inspectorate can express a view and ensure that they are accurate in terms of the language. Secondly, of course, if any problems arise with an assessment, and if the council were to accept that assessment despite it being erroneous, then there would be an opportunity for Ministers to decide whether the...
Carwyn Jones: That is quite right, because it’s all-important to ensure that there is consistency in the planning system. In the past, different systems were used by some local authorities and in considering TAN 20 we want to ensure that it’s as clear as possible.
Carwyn Jones: Following the European referendum, I undertook to keep the Assembly informed of developments and also to provide regular opportunities for the Assembly to comment and to debate within this Chamber. Mae’r Aelodau yn gwybod i mi fynd i gyfarfod llawn Cydbwyllgor y Gweinidogion yr wythnos diwethaf, a gynhaliwyd gan y Prif Weinidog yn Downing Street. Roedd fy nghymheiriaid yn yr Alban a...
Carwyn Jones: Nobody raises the issue of the UK not leaving the EU except those people who are Brexiters. There’s no question of the UK not leaving the EU. It’s going to happen. We know that. That argument has passed. That ship has sailed. It’s a question now of working out how this happens. All we know is that the people of Wales voted to leave the EU. We know no detail beyond that. We don’t...
Carwyn Jones: I’ve not yet rung the hotline. I’d hope that it would give me more information than if I’d rung the speaking clock, but, so far, the person on the end of that of that hotline has simply said to me, ‘It’ll all be fine’. So, I’m not sure that the information is as detailed as it should be at this stage. He raises many important points there. If I could deal with Nissan first, on...
Carwyn Jones: Again, we seem to be rearguing the referendum in June. There’s no point rearguing that; that is clear, and the result is clear in terms of what the direction is. But I do think we need a dose of reality here. If we had a free trade agreement with the US, nobody would want to jeopardise it—nobody. Nobody would be here saying, ‘What we want is to be in a situation where there might be...
Carwyn Jones: I agree with that. The voice that isn’t heard here, of course, is the voice of the English regions. They don’t have a voice. London has a mayor and the reality is if you want to talk to the north-east of England or the south-west of England, there is no-one to talk to in reality. For them, of course, they’re in the position of having no real voice in these discussions, which is a matter...
Carwyn Jones: It’s a strong point to make, and it is not the case that it’s going to be easy to get agreement from 30 different bodies to a deal. It’s just not going to happen. Spain has got the UK over a barrel when it comes to Gibraltar; it’s seen its opportunity and it will argue for co-sovereignty. That’s one country that has to be persuaded amongst, well, 27 different countries, two regional...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. Local authorities are responsible for public leisure centres. They provide funding for leisure centres through the revenue settlement and, of course, it is for them to decide the pattern of services across their county areas.
Carwyn Jones: Indeed I would. I mean, they have had a better settlement that they would have expected. Even if they are not able to continue funding the leisure centre, there are examples across Wales where the local community has managed to take the leisure centre over. Nevertheless, given the fact that their financial situation is better than they would have expected, then I would encourage them to...
Carwyn Jones: Well, indeed, we know that social prescriptions are hugely important and that pharmaceutical intervention is not the be all and end all for people. That’s why it’s important that a network of leisure centres is maintained across the whole of Wales. While leisure is not a statutory duty for local authorities, leisure is, nevertheless, a hugely important issue, both locally and important in...
Carwyn Jones: Well, it’s a matter, ultimately, for the council, of course. But, from the perspective of the Welsh Government, we would never want to see a situation occur where staff find that they have inferior terms and conditions as a result of changes to the way a service is delivered. Our preference would be for services to be delivered in-house.
