Opposition AMs also urged the assembly government to improve the delivery of public services in rural areas.

BBC: Fears over the future of Wales' rural areas

Looking to improve component availability in final assembly, they ranked worst performing facilities on a small set of key metrics.

FORBES: InfosysVoice: Is monitoring our actions spying - or an incentive to improve performance?

According to Professor Hargreaves there is an urgent need for the assembly government to improve the coherence and quality of its support.

BBC: Debate on creative industries

An assembly government spokesperson said plans to improve train services to Fishguard and north Pembrokeshire were included in a report submitted to it last week.

BBC: Youngsters call for more trains

She promised a "comprehensive" literacy and numeracy programme to improve standards if a Plaid Cymru Welsh government is elected at the next assembly election in 2016.

BBC: Elfyn Llwyd MP urges 'parity with Scotland'

Before long, self-assembly was put aside and the talk swung to how to improve X-rays, and then to the puzzling phenomenon of soldiers in Iraq who survive a bomb blast only to die a few days later of a stroke.

NEWYORKER: In the Air

Emphasising the importance of appointments and accountability to improve the way Wales is served by broadcasters, the report argued that the assembly government should decide who takes up posts such as the BBC Trustee for Wales and chair of S4C.

BBC: Wales is 'invisible nation' on TV

Angela Burns AM called on the assembly government to introduce direct elections to the authorities in a bid to improve localism and accountability.

BBC: Democracy Live site links

In Wales, the Assembly Government is working in partnership with the Sports Council for Wales to improve standards in PE and the range of sports offered.

BBC: Leap forward for school sports