FMQs : Back to the Grind

Summer recess is over. AMs have returned to take their seats in the Senedd.

Hopefully, the general lack of post-election action – as the new intake adapt to their surroundings - has been worked out of their systems and AMs will pick up the pace. Putting it another way: "The real work starts now".

FMQs, 13^th September 2016

Party Leaders

UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton AM (UKIP, Mid & West Wales), congratulated Welsh Olympians and Paralympians, but the Welsh Government "should get a wooden spoon" for pouring cold water on a Commonwealth Games bid. The infrastructure investment was justifiable in its own right, while the costs - within a £15bn annual budget - are "peanuts".

The First Minister said Glasgow didn't have to build as much as Wales would, so the capital costs are huge. An all-Wales bid wouldn't have seen favourably and joint bids aren't allowed under the rules. As the costs were the equivalent of 10% of the annual budget they're not "peanuts", and there are plenty of other events - like the men's and women's Champions League finals in Cardiff next year – that need money too.

Leader of the Opposition, Leanne Wood (Plaid, Rhondda), said the Brexit terms will define the Welsh economy and politics. She drew attention to the First Minister saying Wales should have a "veto" if the Brexit deal isn't a good one. When can we expect to see some vision from the Welsh Government on a post-Brexit Wales? Statements haven't been clear on how much access UK should have, with a Plaid delegation to Brussels told the UK can't have free access to the single market without accepting free movement.

The First Minister responded by saying Wales looks outwards and has been successful in attracting investment. It was hugely important to continue tariff-free access to the single market, and promises from the UK Government that Wales wouldn't lose out and would be part of negotiations need to be kept. There are several possible models, but the WTO rule model doesn't work. A cabinet sub-committee has already met to discuss Brexit impacts.

There were some back and forth semantics about whether there would be "access" or "membership" of the single market, which drove Carwyn to impersonate a clock:

Do you see my point now?

Conservative leader, Andrew Davies (Con, South Wales Central) focused on the recent American trade visit, criticising the First Minister's choice to use a speech to talk about break up of UK when he was supposed to be promoting Wales for investment. Could he explain why? The First Minister also should've gone to Detroit to talk about Ford's Bridgend announcement (more on this later) – did he request a meeting?

Carwyn quipped that at least he didn't call business people "lazy golfers". His speech made it clear there were challenges with Brexit, and that it was hugely important UK remains robust. He also confirmed that a request was made to meet with Ford, but he was told it was a matter for Ford Europe. "Every single business" he met wanted to know what was happening with Brexit, and he emphasised importance of access to single market. Ford Bridgend export every engine they make and they're concerned about tariffs (if the UK doesn't have access to the single market).

Backbenchers

Nick Ramsay (Con, Monmouth) said the start of a six week closure of the Severn Tunnel brought up the importance of good connectivity. He wanted an update on progress towards the South Wales Metro, and was disappointed Monmouth might not be part of the map. How can he reassure constituents the Metro will reach all parts of south east Wales?

The First Minister said procurement for an operating and development partner has started, with the contract set to be awarded by the end of 2017. There are no plans to change current proposals (which include Monmouth), but £125million in EU funding was earmarked; without that funding there may be limits on what they can do and how fast the Metro will proceed.

Lee Waters AM (Lab, Llanelli) asked what progress had been made on GP recruitment? There were concerns in Kidwelly that vacancies at a local GP practice were unfilled, with Hywel Dda LHB seeking to recruit locums. It was essential the Welsh Government works with health boards so they're not left to run their own recruitment campaigns in isolation.

The First Minister said GP recruitment was a "priority". However, younger GPs aren't interested in buying into a practice anymore and want greater flexibility; the days of GPs staying in one place is changing and health boards should adapt or use different delivery models. These problems aren't unique to Wales.

Urgent Questions: Ford Bridgend & Health Board Intervention

Firstly, Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid, South Wales West) asked for a statement on last week's announcement by Ford that they were to halve production of the new Dragon engine, and cut future investment at the Bridgend engine factory. Bethan shared cynicism that this wasn't entirely about Brexit, asking what guarantees were there that Ford won't "leave staff in the lurch" having received so much public funding?

Economy & Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South) was concerned by the announcement, but Ford were still investing £100m and safeguarding 550 jobs. He was proud of the Welsh Government's investment record in the plant and rejected any suggestions this money shouldn't have been spent.

He accepted Brexit wasn't the immediate problem, but it's creating long-term uncertainty and he was under no doubt Ford want access to the single market and stable regulatory environment.

In terms of what the Welsh Government are doing, they were looking at future "high-tech investment opportunities" for the site to safeguard all 1,850 jobs. The Welsh Government "won't release a penny" of their own investment until Ford invests at least £90million, providing a number of jobs for a minimum of five years. The Secretary also confirmed he'll travel to Detroit to meet Ford executives in the summer (contradicting the First Minister's claim it was a Ford Europe decision).

The second urgent question came from Simon Thomas AM (Plaid, Mid & West Wales). He wanted a statement regarding the recent escalation of interventions at three health boards: Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Hywel Dda and Cardiff & Vale. It leaves four of the seven main health boards in some sort of intervention. The NHS Finance Act 2014 was supposed to provide more certainty, so who was responsible for the deficiencies?

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth), said 8 of 10 Welsh health organisations have achieved a balanced budget and the problems are partly, but not entirely, related to finances – it includes workforce planning etc. The interventions are about supporting health boards so they can improve. It would've been more convenient not to change their intervention status, but in order to be constructive, the Welsh Government had no choice.

Best of the rest :

• AMs have seen sent an update on support for the steel industry, however no promises have yet been made by the UK Government on energy costs and pensions. There've been discussions on a new power plant "for years" but there were limits to what the First Minister could say on that regard. "Good progress" has been made on talks relating to the long-term future of steel-making, but Wales can't be seen as an expensive manufacturing destination – to Bethan Jenkins AM.
• The Welsh Government were taking a "number of actions" to improve transport in north Wales. It was difficult to draw a line on how the future Wales & Borders rail franchise will be run, but the First Minister rejected the idea that any service terminating in England should be run from England. It was also crucial the Assembly has responsibility for bus services as it would be easier for the government to ensure services are run "the way we want to run them" – jointly to Llyr Gruffydd AM (Plaid, North Wales) and Mark Isherwood AM (Con, North Wales).

Written Questions of the Summer

There were loads of questions submitted over the recess as you might expect. There are two I wanted to pick out.

Firstly, an update (of sorts) on what's happening to the proposed Circuit of Wales development (Short Circuit), public funding for which was refused earlier this year for the second time in quick succession. Nathan Gill AM (Ind, North Wales) asked whether any additional public funding had gone towards the project and what support they might have given from Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire councils?

Ken Skates confirmed no further payments are anticipated from either the Welsh Government (about £9.3million has been spent in total in grants and loan underwriting) or the local authorities involved. Apparently, proof was also provided that funding for the project chair's landscaping didn't come from any company or individuals receiving Welsh Government funds – though it's being investigated.

Secondly, Dai Lloyd AM (Plaid, South Wales West) asked what discussions the Welsh Government have had on the registration of hairdressers?

Minister for Skills & Science, Julie James (Lab, Swansea West), met with the director of the leading hair and beauty training providers in Wales – ISA Training's Shirley Davis-Fox – to discuss mandatory registration to prevent unqualified hairdressers running a salon. As industry regulation is non-devolved, the Welsh Government believe only the UK Government and UK Parliament can press ahead with it.

Statement of Opinion of the Summer

I'm going back to July (when I was on my own recess). Lynne Neagle AM (Lab, Torfaen) wanted to raise awareness of level crossing safety – there are said to be ~1,100 in Wales - as 28 people were killed on them across the UK between 2009-2014. It was signed by nine other AMs, who joined calls to welcome Network Rail's "Dangerous Ground" campaign, with 275 incidents relating to level crossings recorded in Wales over the past year.