 Rhodri Morgan will outline his vision for the next four years |
First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said his government knows where it is going in a speech outlining his vision for the next four years as the assembly reconvenes. Mr Morgan pledged to cut prescription charges by 2005 before scrapping them altogether in 2007, and to appoint a commissioner for older people.
Free breakfasts for primary schools, starting in Communities First areas by 2004, and access to a GP within 24 hours by April 2005 were also promised.
He said: "This is a unique proposal for partnership with the people of Wales - can we together create the healthier, wealthier Wales we all want to see?"
Other key pledges included:
- cutting all junior class sizes to 30 by 2004
- legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour and increase fines
- 3,000 extra nurses and 400 extra doctors by 2006
- free swimming for older people
- free home care for the disabled.
Mr Morgan said it was a "challenge to everyone who is concerned with the future of Wales".
He added: "We need to work together to shape a positive and confident future.
"This is what we were elected to do and what we will achieve over the next four years."
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Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne criticised the agenda saying there was nothing that "begins to identify the real problems facing Wales, let alone tackle them".
The priority should be tackling waiting lists rather than "wasting scarce resources abolishing prescription charges for the middle classes," according to Mr Bourne.
He also said the proper place for breakfast was in the home but added if they were being offered, they should be rolled out across Wales, not just Communities First areas.
The day also marked Ieuan Wyn Jones' return to lead Plaid Cymru's team in Cardiff Bay.
Days after Plaid's disappointing performance in the May election, Mr Jones announced his resignation from his dual role as the party's president and assembly group leader.
There were accusations that the mid and west Wales AM Helen Mary Jones had led a plot to oust Mr Jones.
But Mr Jones then decided to contest the post of assembly group leader, and narrowly beat Helen Mary Jones in a party vote last week.