Carwyn Jones: Well, an additional locum hand surgeon has been appointed in Glan Clwyd, to reduce waits in this area. Some activity will be outsourced to alternative providers. We will continue to enhance the musculoskeletal clinical teams, including the focus on physiotherapy. So, yes, there has been the appointment of an extra surgeon, and we believe—and expect—that the waiting lists will now come down.
Carwyn Jones: Well, of course, we have seen examples where the surgeries have said that they no longer wish to remain open. However, the health board then establishes a system in order to ensure that the service is available. Prestatyn is an example of that, where the service is better now than it was previously with the surgeries. So, there’s a responsibility on the health boards to ensure that the...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I’m surprised that that is the advice that the GP has given to him with regard to a drug; a drug has been prescribed that is said to be addictive after three days. I mean, if that’s correct, then I’m surprised that that is the advice that he’s been given by his own GP. But, dealing with the issue that he’s raised, it is right to say that waiting times are too long in some...
Carwyn Jones: Bear in mind, of course, that teachers’ pay and conditions have not been devolved and won’t be devolved until next year, so his party bears a responsibility for the funding of that particular matter. There will be some schools, of course, where numbers have dropped and, as a result, teaching staff have dropped. But we look forward now, next year, to working with the teaching profession to...
Carwyn Jones: He is surely having a laugh. He is the representative of a party that wanted to cut education spending going into the last election. It wanted to cut education spending by 12 per cent and take money out of schools. If he had been in my job now, schools would’ve been starved of funding, we’d have had fewer teachers and fewer achievements in our schools. We have kept our promises on school...
Carwyn Jones: I have no idea what he means by that. If anybody would like to explain all that, then there it is. I’m not letting him off the skewer on this one, okay? He has fought elections on the basis of a 12 per cent cut in education funding. That is a fact. That is a fact. He stood as a Conservative candidate in the election in 2011 when his leader went on live tv—live tv—and said that we need...
Carwyn Jones: Well, these are matters for Carmarthenshire council. They must make an assessment in terms of what they see as the right solution for any particular area within their county boundary.
Carwyn Jones: As I said, these are matters for Carmarthenshire council. As a Government, we of course are supportive of the Welsh language, we want to see an extension of Welsh-medium education and more children involved in it. But, at the end of the day, it is for Carmarthenshire council to justify the decisions that it takes, in view of the elections coming in May, of course.
Carwyn Jones: Well, these are matters that I would have expected Carmarthenshire council to consider in coming to the decision that they did. It’s not a matter for Welsh Government to intervene, but it is important, of course, that any local authority takes into account the views of those who live locally, whilst considering, of course, the encouragement that we give as a Government to supporting the...
Carwyn Jones: Yes, and I deplored the decision taken by HMRC in Porthmadog and other locations, including my own town some years ago. In the same way, certainly, I’m concerned about the withdrawal of commercial banks from many of our communities, and the need to ensure that, for example, the post office is then able to offer up the same kinds of services that the bank does. That depends, of course, on...
Carwyn Jones: In terms of the number of jobs, the total number of jobs will be 40 in the Welsh Revenue Authority. There will be some people who will be able to be based at home in order to work. I did look very, very carefully at where the WRA could be based, and a report was commissioned to that end, and Members should know that report, I believe, was placed in the Library on Friday. The skills that are...
Carwyn Jones: First of all, the Welsh Revenue Authority will be up and running in April of next year. It needs people quickly; it’s not possible to train people up in the specialist skills in the time allowed, and that was the—
Carwyn Jones: And that was the judgment that we took. It’s not possible suddenly to train and have a pool of skilled people in a very short space of time. Those people are in London, in the main, at the moment; they are specialists, and we’re looking to recruit them. The skills don’t exist, in the main, in Wales. In terms of transport, the metro was our idea. Of course we want to promote it. The...
Carwyn Jones: ‘Taking Wales Forward’ sets out our commitments to deliver resilient communities and prosperity for all. Economic prosperity will underpin four cross-cutting strategies that will be published this spring.
Carwyn Jones: We must remember reality here and it’s extremely important to realise that we have to ensure that it’s possible for us to secure the expertise that we need. We know that it’s easier to do that in some parts of Wales than others. That doesn’t mean, of course, that there isn’t a role for north Wales or for mid Wales, and that is why we want to ensure that there are offices there in...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I’m sure I will be visiting Islwyn soon, but BBI’s announcement is an indication of the hard work done by the Welsh Government to support businesses throughout the nation to help them retain and expand their operations here. I was very pleased that the Welsh Government’s investment and support have allowed the BBI Group’s headcount in Wales to grow, particularly as these will be...
Carwyn Jones: Well, he has slightly argued against himself there by saying that there’s a lack of infrastructure when, indeed, the Newtown bypass is being built. That is something, of course, that is hugely important. We’ve seen improvements on the A470 over the past few years in terms of straightening the road. We’ve seen it recently in Dolgellau, for example; and, over the years, Cross Foxes;...
Carwyn Jones: We plan to continue to support businesses in their growth, to invest in high-quality infrastructure, and improve economic development conditions.
Carwyn Jones: Yes, I will. Of course, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire are part of the Swansea bay city region, and it is important that this is not seen as an urban and rural divide. I thank the Member for the work that she’s done and the passion that she shows for rural Wales. The city region is not a one size fits all. There will be other footprints that will need to be used in the future to develop...
Carwyn Jones: Well, 65 businesses have benefited. They’ve received in excess of £2 million of financial support as regards the rate relief scheme. A group has been established in the enterprise zone itself, which has a programme of work to support businesses to secure new contracts. We’ve seen investments in the zone as well, such as Consort Equipment Products, which has invested £1 million in...
