Carwyn Jones: There is advice available through the team here in Cardiff, but also advice from the offices in America. There will be a group travelling to America later this month, on a trade mission, to see what kind of interest there is in Wales from investors, but also, of course, to seek new markets for Welsh producers.
Carwyn Jones: These are matters for the US population, of course. But, I can see the strong point that she makes. For me, what is hugely important is that the relationship with the USA continues, that the USA doesn’t become an isolationist, nationalist country, and that nothing happens after the election that imperils the commitment of the USA to NATO. I think these are all issues that concern us, and I...
Carwyn Jones: The current political landscape around the world means relations with the US are more important than ever—economically, politically and culturally. We do maintain a strong presence in the US, including opening our latest office in Atlanta, and I visited the USA in September and plan to visit again next year.
Carwyn Jones: We have made it clear that it’s for the council to consider in detail the possibility of keeping the leisure centre open, but, if not, they should consider ensuring that there is an opportunity for the community to run the centre itself. There are examples of that across Wales. Of course, what nobody would want to see is the centre closing without those options being explored.
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.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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’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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
