Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:45 pm on 20 September 2016.
Well, I’m surprised to hear the leader of Plaid Cymru describe the policies that are included in this document as ‘platitudes’. Free childcare for working parents is a key pledge in the Labour manifesto; reducing tax for small businesses—a key pledge in the Labour manifesto; a development bank for Wales—both manifestos supported that; a new treatment fund for life-threatening illnesses—a key pledge in the Labour manifesto; increasing the capital limit for people going into residential care—a key pledge in the Labour manifesto; and 100,000 quality apprenticeships for all ages—a key pledge in the Labour manifesto. Now, of course, there are issues in here that weren’t in our manifesto and which reflect the discussions that we have had with her party. But, for her to say that, somehow, we come to the table with no ideas, given the fact that our manifesto was chock-full of them and those ideas are included in this programme for government, alongside others, of course, does not cut the mustard.
As far as the suggestion that it is a wish list, it isn’t a wish list. In 2011-16, we delivered on every promise we made—every promise we made. People knew that on the doorstep and they appreciated that on the doorstep. As a result, we wanted to produce a programme for government that did not make a wish list of promises that couldn’t be delivered and couldn’t be paid for, but to have promises that were in place that could be paid for. That’s why it took us until the summer to look at what the situation would be post Brexit, to make sure that we could be sure and that we could say to the people of Wales that we could deliver on these promises even with Brexit. We can’t have a document that simply talks mainly or wholly about Brexit. People know that’s happening; it’s hugely important now that we get on with delivering for the people according to what the manifestos have said. People want to know what’s going to happen with health and education, they want to know what’s going to happen with housing—and 20,000 more houses are going to be provided, of course—and they want to know that the Government that is in place will deliver on the promises that it has made, and we’ve done exactly that.
In terms of the economy, well, we’ve the lowest unemployment of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in Wales. We have the lowest. We’ve the lowest youth unemployment, and we’ve the best foreign direct investment figures for 30 years. These are coming about through hard work. People do not come to Wales unless you go out and sell yourselves around the world. When I became First Minister, much of the overseas operation had been shut down, I have to say. Many of the offices had gone, and there was no real overseas activity. That had to be rebuilt. And we see what has happened as a result of that. We see the work that has been done with employers like Aston Martin, who have come to Wales because of—and these are their words—the passion and professionalism of the Welsh Government. You have to go out and fight for these opportunities.
When it comes to rural communities, yes, we will deliver for rural communities. One example I can give is broadband. By the summer of next year, 96 per cent of premises will have access to superfast broadband. That wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the fact that money had been provided from the public purse for that to happen, because the market would never ever have done that. We have delivered as a Welsh Government broadband to many, many communities that would never have had it otherwise, and we are proud of that.
When it comes to some of the other issues that she raised, we’re more than happy with our pledge for the £100 million for education. We will continue to build schools across Wales, even as they are not built in England. We will continue to invest in education, both in terms of buildings, yes, but also in terms of the workforce.
We have seen more and more GP practices remaining open into the evenings, and some on weekends. We need to see further progress in terms of weekends, that much is true. But, what we have here is a programme for government that is strategic, that is deliverable, that is affordable and one that we as a party stood on in the election and, of course, we’ve reached out to other parties in order to put this programme for government together. We will continue to work with all those who want to stand up for Wales and deliver the best for our country, and this document reflects the discussions that have taken place.