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| Health 'biggest issue' for Welsh assembly election | Health 'biggest issue' for Welsh assembly election |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Health is the biggest single issue that could affect the way people vote in the assembly election, a BBC Wales poll has suggested. | Health is the biggest single issue that could affect the way people vote in the assembly election, a BBC Wales poll has suggested. |
| One third of the people questioned said it was their main concern in the run-up to polling day in May. | One third of the people questioned said it was their main concern in the run-up to polling day in May. |
| Just under a fifth put jobs at the top of their list, while 14% said immigration was their priority. | Just under a fifth put jobs at the top of their list, while 14% said immigration was their priority. |
| Despite the priority given to health, 29% of respondents mistakenly thought it was run by the UK government. | Despite the priority given to health, 29% of respondents mistakenly thought it was run by the UK government. |
| Nearly two-thirds (65%) knew the Welsh government was responsible for the NHS. | Nearly two-thirds (65%) knew the Welsh government was responsible for the NHS. |
| The economy (11%), education (10%), Europe (4%) and crime (2%) were the other priorities of voters. | The economy (11%), education (10%), Europe (4%) and crime (2%) were the other priorities of voters. |
| Despite voters placing health as their top electoral priority, BBC Wales' annual St David's Day poll, carried out by ICM, suggested just 65% of respondents knew the Welsh government runs the NHS in Wales. | |
| Laura McAllister, professor of governance at Liverpool University, said: "I think it's interesting that we've now seen a slight increase at least in understanding that the Welsh government makes the key critical decisions around health in Wales. | Laura McAllister, professor of governance at Liverpool University, said: "I think it's interesting that we've now seen a slight increase at least in understanding that the Welsh government makes the key critical decisions around health in Wales. |
| "I suspect that's actually as a result of some of the quite vitriolic attacks on the performance and the governance of the NHS in Wales that have come from the UK government. | "I suspect that's actually as a result of some of the quite vitriolic attacks on the performance and the governance of the NHS in Wales that have come from the UK government. |
| "Also, there's been some policy differentials around junior doctors strikes that haven't happened in Wales because of a different approach. | "Also, there's been some policy differentials around junior doctors strikes that haven't happened in Wales because of a different approach. |
| "So I think that a majority of people understand the NHS is run by the Welsh government has increased is a good thing. | "So I think that a majority of people understand the NHS is run by the Welsh government has increased is a good thing. |
| "But I think, on the other hand, there hasn't been any great rise in understanding that the Welsh government can do things differently." | "But I think, on the other hand, there hasn't been any great rise in understanding that the Welsh government can do things differently." |
| On immigration, just under half of respondents (47%) thought the numbers moving from outside of the UK into Wales was too high, while 37% thought it was just about right and 8% thought it was too low. | On immigration, just under half of respondents (47%) thought the numbers moving from outside of the UK into Wales was too high, while 37% thought it was just about right and 8% thought it was too low. |
| Plans to give income tax powers to Wales were supported by just over half of those questioned (54%), with 42% saying only the UK government should have control. | Plans to give income tax powers to Wales were supported by just over half of those questioned (54%), with 42% saying only the UK government should have control. |
| On powers for the Welsh assembly, 43% said it should have more while 30% thought its current powers were sufficient. | On powers for the Welsh assembly, 43% said it should have more while 30% thought its current powers were sufficient. |
| At the other ends of the scale, 13% wanted to see the assembly abolished and Wales governed directly from Westminster, while 6% supported independence. | At the other ends of the scale, 13% wanted to see the assembly abolished and Wales governed directly from Westminster, while 6% supported independence. |
| The survey had sobering news for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) due to be elected on the same day as AMs. | The survey had sobering news for police and crime commissioners (PCCs) due to be elected on the same day as AMs. |
| Nearly nine out of 10 people (89%) failed to name any of Wales' current PCCs - one in ten could name one commissioner, while only 1% could name two. | Nearly nine out of 10 people (89%) failed to name any of Wales' current PCCs - one in ten could name one commissioner, while only 1% could name two. |
| Wales has four PCCs: Winston Roddick (North Wales), Alun Michael (South Wales), Christopher Salmon (Dyfed-Powys) and Ian Johnston (Gwent). | Wales has four PCCs: Winston Roddick (North Wales), Alun Michael (South Wales), Christopher Salmon (Dyfed-Powys) and Ian Johnston (Gwent). |
| Colin Rogers, professor of police sciences at the University of South Wales, said: "The previous election was really dogged by the fact that there was no significant debate, there was no significant awareness-raising of the role of commissioners. | Colin Rogers, professor of police sciences at the University of South Wales, said: "The previous election was really dogged by the fact that there was no significant debate, there was no significant awareness-raising of the role of commissioners. |
| "I think that needs to be embraced now to make people aware of what exactly commissioners do now and what their function can be in the future." | "I think that needs to be embraced now to make people aware of what exactly commissioners do now and what their function can be in the future." |
| The last PCC elections in November 2012 saw a voter turnout in Wales of just under 15%. | The last PCC elections in November 2012 saw a voter turnout in Wales of just under 15%. |
| ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults across Wales by telephone from 16 to 22 February 2016. | ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,000 adults across Wales by telephone from 16 to 22 February 2016. |