I'm trying something new for the Fifth Assembly in order to improve the depth of coverage and that's blogging First Minister's Questions (FMQs) for the first time.
This is a trial-run and I won't guarantee I'll keep this up; it depends on how much time I have and what sort of demand it generates. I'm open to ideas so if you have any more suggestions let me know, but I'm pushing myself to the absolute limit short of going full-time.
As for how I'm going to do this : I won't cover everything. Questions from party leaders, urgent questions and questions relating to Bridgend will be covered as standard. For the others I'll decide beforehand which questions are likely to interest the most people. I'll sum-up answers to other important-ish questions that I don't cover fully at the end of each post.
Questions will be listed by the AMs who ask the originals, not the follow-ups, though I'll include answers to follow ups in the First Minister's replies.
I'm also going to do a "Written Question(s) of the Week" and "Statement(s) of Opinion of the Week" for the best answered, funniest, most bizarre or most urgent written questions or statements of opinion tabled in the time between FMQs.
FMQs, Tues 24th May 2016
A Short Rebuke
Before FMQs the Llywydd, Elin Jones (Plaid, Ceredigion), said a "number of complaints" were received about UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton's (UKIP, Mid & West Wales) use of sexual innuendo at the previous meeting. After reviewing the record, Elin deemed the language "unacceptable" (clip).
She said the rules would be applied consistently and equally to all parties and members and she wasn't singling any group out. Elin wanted robust debate, but expected members to do so "without crossing the line".
The two met in private, and the UKIP leader explained he didn't intend any disrespect and it was his sense of humour, saying he perhaps should've suggested Plaid and the Liberals had "got into bed with Labour" instead....
I don't know which approach here would work the best : the "don't feed the trolls" approach or the "call them out on it" approach. The former could see some ugly statements go unchallenged when they should be challenged, while the latter would see the Assembly descend into playground squabbling with AMs running to "tell Mrs Jones on yooooooou! Oooooohmmmm!"
I'm sure everyone's excited the Senedd chamber is a bit more lively now (though this FMQs was no different to any other), but the jokes will start to wear thin if this happens week in week out.Then I'll start to get annoyed and just switch off completely.
Party Leaders
Leader of the Opposition, Leanne Wood (Plaid, Rhondda), paid tribute to Cardiff-based cancer campaigner Annie Mulholland who died recently. Annie supported a specialist drug treatment fund so patients wouldn't need to cross borders to access treatment. Leanne asked if the First Minister can confirm plans to press ahead with an independent panel to review current system with a view to changing cancer treatment allocations?
The First Minister extended his sympathies to Annie's family. Under the terms of compact agreement with Plaid, the Welsh Government will be looking at a treatment fund or, indeed, whether there's a better way to deal with new treatment requests. He met with campaigners in Llandudno recently and found those meetings useful. He was going into the process "with an open mind".
Conservative leader, Andrew Davies AM (Con, South Wales Central) asked if the First Minister would confirm that all members of cabinet are bound by collective responsibility? The answer was "yes".
His second question prompted a more substantive answer. Andrew asked whether the First Minister could say "with confidence" that the proposed commencement date for the M4 Newport bypass of Spring 2018 is realistic?
Carwyn was confident a public inquiry would finish by the end of 2017. The inquiry would look at alternatives so the public can understand the reason behind the Welsh Government's support for the Black Route in light of objections; the Blue Route is "problematic and not pain free".
UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton AM, said the United States had increased tariffs on cold-rolled steel imports to 522%. EU has a 14% tariff on equivalent steel. This shows what happens when you outsource trade policy to the EU and the powers should be repatriated. Would the First Minister support the EU increasing steel tariffs to US levels?
The First Minister supported increased tariffs, but said it was the UK Government who opposed raising EU tariffs, not the EU. We need fairness for our own steel producers, warning that leaving the EU would mean EU tariffs would apply to UK steel.
Backbenchers
As suggested, the steel crisis is still at the forefront of AMs' minds as the shortlisting of potential buyers edges closer.
Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid, South Wales West) – who said Swansea University had put a £17.2million price tag on a potential steel innovation centre at their new campus - and David Rees AM (Lab, Aberavon) both asked for updates on the steel industry generally and the ongoing sales process.
The First Minister said it was an "absolute priority" to maintain a sustainable steel presence in Wales. No formal bid has been submitted for an innovation centre, but any future bid would be examined. The Welsh Government are still looking to see if there's more they can do on business rates, while it's important Tata's assets in Wales are seen as a whole, without a piecemeal sell-off.
He's met with two bidders, but emphasised that maintaining the heavy end/primary steel-making is crucial and he wouldn't support any deal that saw a diminishing of pension rights. He'll travel to Mumbai tomorrow as Tata whittle down a shortlist of bidders.
Joyce Watson AM (Lab, Mid & West Wales) asked what was being done to safeguard unaccompanied refugee children? According to Save the Children, unaccompanied children make up 1 in 3 child refugees fleeing Syria in 2016 compared to 1 in 10 in 2015.
The First Minister said that immigration is not devolved, but the UK Government was working to resettle children from refugee camps. There's a children's sub group of the refugee task force set up last year to deal specifically with problems facing child refugees.
Urgent Question
Angela Burns AM (Con, Carms W. & S. Pembs.) asked for a statement on the recent announcement that support for part-time postgraduate students would be scrapped by the higher education funding body, HEFCW. Welsh universities will face big cuts in HEFCW funding – some facing up to 20% or more cuts to their grant (clip).
Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), said it was a matter for HEFCW and the Welsh Government has no power to change funding allocations for higher education. However, part-time study is a priority for the government, and she was pleased HEFCW was able to maintain funding for part-time undergraduates.
The Secretary doesn't want to pre-empt the Diamond Review and would consider its recommendation with cabinet colleagues when published later in the summer.
Judging by the jeering around the chamber this was something of a baptism of fire for Kirsty but I thought she handled it quite well.
Best of the rest :
- There'll be a focus on increasing numbers of health care workers in Wales as part of the compact agreement with Plaid Cymru, but it's important not to concentrate solely on increasing the number of doctors as other staff specialities are equally important. Competition is "fierce" across Europe and the world for health care workers - to Sian Gwenllian AM (Plaid, Arfon).
- The Welsh Government is "fully committed" to Wylfa Newydd and this year will be "significant" in its development. A nuclear programme board has been established to secure the maximum benefits for Anglesey, such as skills and business development- to Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (Plaid, Ynys Môn).
- Congestion is a daily problem on the Newport M4 and is a significant cause of air pollution (Newport was recently named amongst the worst cities in the UK for air pollution). Removing traffic jams would improve air quality – to Jayne Bryant AM (Lab, Newport West).
- The First Minister supports the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) call for a review of the miners pension fund (in return for underwriting it, the UK Government takes some of the surplus profits generated). It "can't be the case" for the miner's pension scheme to be seen as a way to raise money for the UK Government and more needs to be done to ensure beneficiaries get a fair share of the fund's profits – to Steffan Lewis AM (Plaid, South Wales East)
- The First Minister said he couldn't foresee any reason for the May 2017 local government elections not to go ahead despite uncertainty over local government reorganisation. The proposed map wouldn't get support in chamber, but there is support for reorganisation and the plans will continue to be worked on – to Andrew Davies AM.
Written Questions of the Week
With the cabinet only just being appointed, there weren't many answers published yet.
Despite this, as hinted from the commentary above, Conservative leader Andrew Davies has bombarded the First Minister with questions relating to the recently-agreed Labour-Plaid liaison committees as well as Kirsty Williams' appointment as Education Secretary.
He might have a point that it's a rather clandestine way to conduct business, or constitutes a "coalition-lite" (especially where decisions are binding on the Welsh Government). Maybe it undermines Plaid's opposition credentials somewhat and Kirsty's independence....or maybe he's just a little bitter he wasn't invited to the party.
Statement of Opinion of the Week
At time of posting, 10 AMs had signed Rhun ap Iorwerth AM's statement calling for the Welsh Government to offer support to the African kingdom of Lesotho (where Wales has strong bilateral ties). It's estimated up to a third of the population is facing famine due to a severe drought. There's more information on the crisis, as well as donations, from Dolen Cymru.
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