Carwyn Jones: Absolutely right. I know there’ve been issues on the forest drive, of course, with tree disease in years gone by. It’s a hugely useful attraction for the Islwyn constituency, and we know that we need to access all the pots that are available to us in order to maximise the impact on the local economy that the drive provides.
Carwyn Jones: Well, I do know that the economists who back Brexit tend to be, shall we say, minimalists when it comes to the protection of workers’ rights. Arch-Thatcherites from the 1980s are indeed people who don’t believe that manufacturing is important. That is what I have heard from Professor Minford, for example. That’s what he’s insinuated. The reality is this: I go abroad and when I bring...
Carwyn Jones: Well, membership of the EU and continued access to a single market of over 500 million people provides the people of Islwyn, and indeed Wales, with enormous benefits. It accounts for around 40 per cent of our exports, helps fund long-term infrastructure investment and supports Welsh farming.
Carwyn Jones: Well, one way of improving the environment, of course, and indeed emissions, is to invest more in sustainable energy, which I know is a particular issue in his part of the world. It is obvious that there are some forms of energy that are far less polluting than others, and that’s the way that we have to go and the world has to go in the future. One way, of course, of investing further in...
Carwyn Jones: I must now remember what I said. [Laughter.]
Carwyn Jones: It’s extremely important that we play our part in Wales. It’s also important, of course, that every country in the world plays its part. There’s no point in us taking action alone, and that’s why it’s important that we have action on a global level and that we in Wales play a vital role.
Carwyn Jones: This is something that we will have to consider, of course. It is very important that we ensure that action takes place worldwide. We can play our part, of course—we have done so because of the legislation that has been passed. But also, there is no point for us to reduce what we are doing about climate change if things get worse in another country. So, that’s why it’s so important to...
Carwyn Jones: That’s entirely right. It is true to say that the UK has been dragged into ensuring that the environment is cleaned up and to ensure that our rivers, seas and air is cleaner than it was 30 years ago. I remember, as someone who was a keen fisherman as a boy, that the River Taff was virtually empty. By now, of course, we have salmon swimming up the Taff and that just shows how much good has...
Carwyn Jones: Having brought forward the groundbreaking Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 to provide Wales with the legislation to effectively tackle climate change, we are now committed to fully implementing them.
Carwyn Jones: I was astounded and appalled by that comment. I’m not surprised by it, but the leader of the opposition is absolutely right, it’s an astounding comment. It would sit very well in the 1930s, actually—the politics of the 1930s, frankly, and some of the parties that existed then. The reality is, I’m afraid, that the debate on our membership of the European referendum—and I say this: I...
Carwyn Jones: Yes, that’s correct. I think it was under article 8 of the convention that the action was taken, if I remember rightly, in court in 2007. And, yes, it is right to say that, as a result of the court’s interpretation of European law, further protection was put in place for those pensioners. It is indeed an example of how the European Union, in this one way amongst many, has protected and...
Carwyn Jones: Can I say that I entirely agree with what the leader of the opposition has said? It’s not acceptable that people should be denied the right to vote because of a technological problem. I am in the process of writing to the Prime Minister about this, although it seems that, earlier on this afternoon, he gave an indication that the deadline would be extended. It’s important now, of course,...
Carwyn Jones: I hear what the leader of UKIP has said. It’s important that the process now moves forward. It’s important that the process is as transparent as possible. It’s important that the Government obeys the law, which is why we have the process that we do. I’ve looked at this in some detail and the conclusion that I’ve drawn is that it’s difficult to see an alternative to the black...
Carwyn Jones: No, this is a legal requirement; it’s not something that we can escape without the threat of judicial review and nor would we want to escape it. It is part of the process of moving forward with a solution to the issue of the Brynglas tunnels. I don’t think it affects the steel industry in any way, shape or form, but it is right to say that, for many businesses, and, indeed, when we’ve...
Carwyn Jones: Well, I don’t agree that it’s been kicked into the long grass. There is a general recognition that there needs to be a solution to the problems around the Brynglas tunnels. The process in terms of the black route continues, but that needs a proper inquiry—that needs proper examination. I am keen that other options are examined as well, as part of that public process. I’m in favour of...
Carwyn Jones: These are issues that are being examined as we seek to move the policy forward. One of the things that we are proud of is the fact that we have built so many new schools across Wales, that we’ve refurbished so many schools across Wales and that the twenty-first century schools programme will continue. Increasingly across Wales we see more and more children, and more and more teachers, who...
Carwyn Jones: No, the commitment can be met outside the £100 million pot.
Carwyn Jones: We are proud to pledge the £100 million as a main pledge in our election manifesto. That money is earmarked for educational improvement. It’s a matter now, of course, for the Government and for the Secretary to examine how the issue of class sizes can be taken forward.
Carwyn Jones: Well, that would be needed in any event. The Swansea bay city region of course crosses boundaries. We know that political boundaries don’t align themselves with economic boundaries. That’s why the city deal in the capital region involves 10 local authorities, reflecting, of course, what is the economic region, and reflecting the need for local authorities to work together to deliver...
Carwyn Jones: That’s quite right, and it’s true to say that without having that funding available to us, that campus would not exist.
