Carwyn Jones: Let me just give the Member a flavour of what we're doing. Of course we recognise the importance of prevention. We're aware of the NHS England programme. We don't think that this is right for Wales, because we know that obesity is a risk factor for a number of diseases, therefore a disease-specific approach is not warranted. We know also the evidence base for the effectiveness of a diabetes...
Carwyn Jones: The national diabetes audit, which is part of the clinical audit programme for the NHS in Wales, indicates there were approximately 178,000 people registered with type 2 diabetes in Wales in the 2016-17 reporting year.
Carwyn Jones: There is an evaluation that is taking place. What we do know, however, is that passenger numbers are growing. The introduction of free travel has been hugely important in terms of doing that. I have to say that the Member gives the impression, in the way he asked the question, that he is not in favour of the TrawsCymru network. Any network when it first begins will take some time to bed in....
Carwyn Jones: Well, two points: first, regarding the question of whether we’re planning to expand the service, that is true; we are at present working with local authorities to look at new routes, namely Bangor to Chirk and Oswestry, and also from Wrexham to Newtown. But also, what we need to consider is how those services can be used and run. I'm very pleased to see a coach running on the service...
Carwyn Jones: I entirely agree that we should be open and professional, and that's what we strive to do. It's not something I've been directly involved with, as he can appreciate, but I do hope that a position will be reached soon when the question can be answered—and answered it must be, I understand that.
Carwyn Jones: We continue to work closely with local authorities to explore opportunities to enhance existing TrawsCymru services and introduce new routes where there are clear strategic benefits from offering new long-distance bus and coach services.
Carwyn Jones: The Hamilton report is clear. I don't intend to elaborate on what it says, other than to say that, of course, as far as Welsh Government staff are concerned, that is a matter for the Permanent Secretary. And I can say that, according to our latest staff survey, 80 per cent of staff scored the organisation positively on inclusion and fair treatment—that's 4 per cent above the UK civil...
Carwyn Jones: Yes. The Permanent Secretary is responsible for the leadership and management of the Welsh Government civil service. I support her in leading a culture that is confident, inclusive, and focused on delivering for Wales.
Carwyn Jones: Yes, that is the problem, of course. In a situation where the amount of money available falls year on year, it’s very difficult to give any kind of pledge or promise in that way because it’s not clear how much funding will be available to the Government. Where we can, we try to do so, but it is difficult to give that promise on all funding, because we know that the budget will be...
Carwyn Jones: It is a challenge in Government to seek to provide three-year revenue funding when our own budget often—necessarily, because of the block grant that we get—has to be developed on a shorter timescale. That is an issue that's always been with us—it's not a political point I make—but that, nevertheless, is true. But, yes, as far as possible, we try to ensure that we don't simply see...
Carwyn Jones: Ffrind i Mi is an excellent project, of course, that's been developed by Aneurin Bevan board. We know that, where people are lonely, it's not just a question of them not having company and a sense of isolation, but it affects people's health. That's why, obviously, as a health board, it's correct to actually get involved in making sure that loneliness as an issue is dealt with. I can say to...
Carwyn Jones: We'll deliver on our commitment to produce a strategy by March 2019. Building on the work of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry into loneliness and isolation, we are engaging widely with stakeholders, including the Scottish and UK Governments, to help us to set the direction that will drive our work.
Carwyn Jones: It's been necessary for us to become involved because we want to make sure that the metro is successful. We have a vision for the site around Cardiff Central to become an integrated transport hub to provide seamless integration between trains, buses, coaches and the metro, allowing easy access for pedestrians and storage facilities for cyclists, and of course facilities for taxis and...
Carwyn Jones: No, we did not gain a tax advantage as a result of this transaction being completed under SDLT rather LTT. So, I can assure the Member of that.
Carwyn Jones: The guiding principles for Welsh Government ownership of property are set out in our corporate asset management strategy. Other public bodies will have their own relevant asset strategies. Of course, since bringing Cardiff Airport back into Government ownership, it's been a remarkable success, and I look forward to the first Qatar Airways flight coming in next week.
Carwyn Jones: I don't think I've expressed a strong preference for either route, and nor can I, because I'll be the decision maker who takes the final decision. There is no doubt there's a problem. We can all see what the issue is in the tunnels at Brynglas, and that problem is not easy to resolve. I will consider the evidence of the planning inspector when I get that evidence. But it's not just about...
Carwyn Jones: Well, the latest statistics show that we continue, I'd argue, to have a positive trend in the number of homes completed in Wales, with October to December 2017 data showing an increase of 29 per cent on the previous quarter. During the 12 months to the end of December 2017, a total of 6,885 new dwellings were completed. That's up by 4 per cent on the 12 months to December 2016. What are we...
Carwyn Jones: Well, first of all, I do have to point out, of course, that the reduction or removal of in-work benefits has not helped in terms of people's take-home pay in Wales. We've seen the effect that has had. We are no longer, unfortunately, as a result of the actions of the UK Government, in a position where we can say to people, 'If you get a job, you'll be better off', and that is surely a...
Carwyn Jones: When it comes to the public sector, we have delivered. We've ensured that there are far fewer zero-hours contracts. We want to drive them down as far as possible in terms of subcontractors as well. But the second point is this: she is right to point to the 2017 general election manifesto. Of course, that would have used powers that are not available to us as a devolved institution or a...
Carwyn Jones: Two things: firstly, it'll be in the economic contract. There will be a very heavy focus on fair employment. Secondly, as I announced on Saturday, there will be a fair work commission established. The job of that commission will be to look at all levers—some legislative potentially, some not—in order to make sure that, as far as we can go in terms of the powers that we have, we truly make...