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: 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: 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, 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: Well, the reality is that the EU and the US are large trading blocks. The UK is much, much smaller. It comes down to how much muscle you have in the market at the end of the day. She and I are in the same position—we would not want to see any kind of privatisation in the NHS. Frankly, I see the figures in the ‘leave’ campaign—Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage—and I do not...
Carwyn Jones: Well, if you are a doctor qualified in the European Union and you are told, ‘You can travel to 27 other countries without the need for a visa, or come to the UK but you need a visa’, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that it’s far easier to go to the other countries. So, the UK will become a more difficult place to recruit medical staff into. But, yes, of course, there will be an...
Carwyn Jones: Well, could I first of all express my slight annoyance that the leader of the opposition has got in before me when it comes to congratulating the Welsh football team? A wonderful result last night. The Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates, was there—he’s looking well after such an evening as we saw. This is hugely important for Wales in terms of our profile around the world and the fact that...
Carwyn Jones: No, I don’t believe that’s right. Natural Resources Wales are doing a good job in terms of managing our forestry resource, and making sure that advice is made available to businesses in order to mitigate their environmental impact, and of course in terms of managing our countryside for the benefit of our people.
Carwyn Jones: Although it is an arm’s-length body, the Secretary has a clear interest in ensuring that the body works as it should. In doing this, the Minister will want to see these figures improve, and will want to see that there is evidence that pathways to developing individuals’ careers are developed and are available as they require it.
Carwyn Jones: Those are responsibilities for the chair and chief executive to make sure that staff feel valued. I notice from the survey that, overall, staff were more satisfied than they were last year. But, it’s right to say that, when we drill down underneath those figures in terms of perceptions of management, for example, career development and understanding of the organisation’s direction, the...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. It’s a big file, as the Member can see. I am aware of the staff survey results. It is, of course, a matter for the board of Natural Resources Wales as an arm’s-length body, but the Cabinet Secretary has met with the chair and chief executive of NRW. She has outlined her disappointment in the figures and stressed the importance of proper staff engagement.
Carwyn Jones: I think I answered this question in response to the question posed by the Member for Ynys Môn—that is that reducing diagnostic waiting times is a priority for this Government. We see from the figures that I mentioned earlier that diagnostic waiting times are reducing very quickly in Wales.
Carwyn Jones: Yes, many cancers, of course, present themselves at A&E. People live with the symptoms, not knowing what the symptoms are. With children, I suspect—though I am not medically qualified—the assumption will always be that it is something else. It is difficult for GPs to diagnose cancer at an early stage. Nevertheless, as part of the refreshing of the cancer delivery plan, we will look at...
Carwyn Jones: Well, it is the patient, of course, who is important in this. But, as regards diagnostic tests, for example, may I say that we’ve seen a significant improvement in the past year? The figures for April 2016, for example, are 23 per cent lower than the figures for April of last year, and 40 per cent lower than the high point in July of last year. What is important, of course, is that tests...
Carwyn Jones: Well, the screening engagement team of Public Health Wales is working with local public health teams, health boards and primary care clusters to consider cervical screening uptake in each region and planned specific activities to improve uptake, including social media activity. There has been a specific focus on the groups in each region where uptake is lowest.
Carwyn Jones: We will continue with our population screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer, as well as improve our support to GPs to better recognise symptoms and improve the access to testing.
Carwyn Jones: Diolch, Lywydd. Jo Cox, or Jo Leadbeater, or little Jo, as many in Wales will have remembered her, led a full and brilliant life. She was known to many of us in Welsh Labour when she worked for Glenys Kinnock, and developed her passion for international development and social justice there. There is little doubt that the attack on Jo Cox was political in nature. It was an unforgivable and...
Carwyn Jones: Well, his party in Scotland are in favour of policing being dealt with in Scotland. So, are his party in Scotland then a bunch of separatists, using that argument? I don’t think we can have those double standards any more when it comes to devolution for Wales. As I’ve said before, Wales should be treated along the same principles and the same lines as Scotland and indeed Northern Ireland....
Carwyn Jones: That is the fiscal framework. But there needs to be an agreement in place so that Wales doesn’t lose out, if I can put it in those terms. At the moment, of course, the Bill as it’s phrased could impose a duty on us without a proper framework being in place. I don’t think that’s right, and I’m sure Members will agree that there needs to be a framework put in place so that the people...
Carwyn Jones: Thank you, Llywydd. May I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate and may I say at the outset that we will be supporting the Plaid Cymru motion on these benches and will reject the Conservative amendment? May I start by dealing with some of the points raised by Steffan Lewis on policing? Well, we are in favour of the devolution of policing. It’s true to say that, in Westminster...
