The powers of the Welsh Assembly were established by the Government of Wales Act 1998. This Bill proposes to extend devolved law-making powers, after further consultation, and a referendum. The Welsh Assembly Government would be established as an entity, separate from, but accountable to, the National Assembly for Wales. There would be be a new Welsh Consolidated Fund into which the Secretary of State would make payments out of moneys voted by Parliament, and the Assembly Government would be accountable to the Assembly for the use of budgetary resources. In the event of a vote in favour of "primary legislative powers" within devolved fields of competence without further recourse to Parliament [Westminster], procedures to regulate the relationship between Westminster and the Assembly would need to be developed, somewhat akin to those between Westminster and the Holyrood Parliament in Scotland. The Assembly would have more legislative freedom, for instance, powers to make subordinate legislation [Statutory Instruments]. The Bill also includes provisions concerning the conduct of Welsh Assembly general elections, the role and responsibilities of Assembly members. Explanatory notes to this Bill, prepared by the Wales Office, are published separately as Bill 100-EN (ISBN 0215802292).
The Committee believes that a draft Bill would have been more appropriate than a White Paper (Cm. 6582 (ISBN 0101658222), but nonetheless it sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations. It accepts the view that a "Welsh Statute Book" should be established setting out a clear and comprehensive register of Welsh legislation. The Committee further commends the proposals to make a formal separation of the Legislature and the Executive in the National Assembly for Wales, with the Welsh Assembly Government being known as the Welsh Executive. The Assembly should have the right to dissolve itself, if a Government cannot be appointed. The Committee supports the proposals for electoral reform as laid down in the White Paper. The report comprises five sections: Introduction; The separation of the Executive and Legislature; Recommendations of the National Assembly Committee; New legislative powers; Electoral reform along with formal minutes and oral evidence.
A Bill to make provision about elections to and membership of the National Assembly for Wales; to make provision about the Welsh Assembly Government; to make provision about the setting by the Assembly of rates of income tax to be paid by Welsh taxpayers and about the devolution of taxation powers to the Assembly; to make related amendments to Part 4A of the Scotland Act 1998; to make provision about borrowing by the Welsh Ministers; to make miscellaneous amendments in the law relating to Wales. Brought from the Commons on 25 June 2014
This report of the inquiry by the Welsh Affairs Committee into social exclusion in Wales following devolution focuses on those areas which remain largely the responsibility of the UK Government, and on financial exclusion and poverty in particular. The Committee does not scrutinise the work of the Welsh Assembly and welcomes the Social Inclusion Action Plan that has been drawn up by the Assembly. The Report makes recommendations to both the UK government and the National Assembly for Wales. It concludes that devolution offers a great opportunity to develop local solutions appropriate to social exclusion in Wales but emphasises that very close co-operation between the UK Government and the National Assembly is essential. The Government must provide real money, through funding for the National Assembly and through social security. Reducing poverty is the key to promoting social inclusion. People experiencing social exclusion and poverty must be fully involved in developing policy to tackle those problems.
The Welsh Affairs Committee finds many aspects of the Legislative Competence Order (LCO) process - the mechanism for the Assembly to bring forward proposals to extend its lawmaking powers - are working well. After more than two years in operation, the LCO process has proved to be an effective system for the transfer of powers to Wales.
In the Committee's report on broadband services it considers that the UK and Welsh Governments must work together and use all means available to bring broadband services in Wales up to speed with the rest of the UK, and eradicate broadband "slow spots" and "notspots" as a matter of urgency. Both Governments should consider promoting mobile and satellite technologies, particularly in remote areas of Wales in order to deliver this and not rely solely on rolling out fibre optic cabling. The availability of broadband has been consistently lower in Wales than the rest of the UK and although that gap has narrowed in recent years latest figures show the gap is widening again. The existence of notspots an slowspots has hindered existing businesses and deterred new businesses from choosing to locate to Wales - to the cost of the local economy.The Welsh Government's target is a commitment to provide all Welsh businesses with access to next-generation broadband by "the middle of 2016". The Committee also says that both Governments must ensure that the roll-out of superfast broadband is not achieved at the expense of delivering a good broadband service for all. The Committee recommends that Ofcom undertake a study to evaluate whether satellite broadband should be supported more vigorously in Wales; the delayed Spectrum auction, now planned for 2013, must ensure that 4G mobile services are available to at least 98% of people in Wales; and Ofcom must continue its efforts to open up access to infrastructure in Wales. BT's market power must be regulated effectively to ensure efficient operation of the market.
Given the divergence in health policy between England and Wales, and the significant number of patients who cross the border for treatment, the Welsh Affairs Committee examined the interface between the two systems and the effectiveness of co-ordination between the Department for Health and the Welsh Assembly Government. It wanted to discover whether cross-border patients are treated fairly and whether the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Health consider the border in the development of the diverging policy environment. The Committee was aware of significant confusion amongst patients, for example in knowing what they are entitled to receive from their health service and that cross-border providers were being disadvantaged by the need to cope with two separate funding and commissioning schemes. The Committee's interim report on this topic (HC 870, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780215521682) concluded that four key criteria should be established in cross-border health policy: clinical excellence as close to home as possible; border-proofing of policy and practice; cross-border citizen engagement; and transparent and accountable co-operation between localities, regions and governments. This report returns to these key criteria. The Committee is very disappointed that a protocol on cross-border health services has not been agreed, further evidence of a clear lack of co-ordination between the UK and Welsh Assembly governments and which leaves clinicians and administrators in a strained position and risks adversely affecting patients as a result of cross-border commissioning and funding problems. Better information for patients must be provided. The Committee finds the Department of Health's delay in responding to its interim report until some 6 months after publication to be unacceptable.
The effective operation of devolution stands the best chance of success if both the UK and Welsh governments share knowledge and understanding, concludes the Welsh Affairs Committee in this report. The Committee makes a number of recommendations to improve the relationship between Wales and Whitehall. A broad review of how intergovernmental relationships are coordinated is required. The Joint Ministerial Committee should meet on a regular basis and ministers at all levels should be alert to the consequences of policy and legislation on devolved areas. The Cabinet Office should take lead responsibility for devolution strategy in Whitehall. Whitehall has lost a focus on the devolution settlement and too often has displayed poor knowledge and understanding of the specificities of the Welsh settlement. The Civil Service needs more consistent training and clear department-by-department focus on retaining devolution knowledge and understanding. The Welsh Assembly Government should have the confidence to interact with Whitehall and to promote areas of good practice. The Cabinet Secretary and the Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government should give evidence annually to the Welsh Affairs Committee. Finally, reform of the Barnett Formula is required. The current financial settlement does not appear sustainable and a new arrangement needs to be built on an agreed and enduring basis which is demonstrably fair and sensitive to the particular circumstances of Wales.
On 3 March 2011 the voters of Wales will be given an opportunity to decide, in a referendum, whether the National Assembly for Wales should assume primary law making powers under Part 4 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act would be at the heart of the new constitutional settlement if the referendum vote is affirmative. Prior to the referendum, the Government has proposed amendments to Schedule 7 in the draft Order: the National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010, laid before Parliament on 21 October 2010. The Committee believes that it is essential that the House is clear about what it is agreement to in approving the draft Order. This report outlines the context in which the Order is being put forward, the nature of the amendments proposed, and the extent of the legislative competences which the National Assembly would enjoy if it came into effect. While there would remain a few ambiguities and loose ends in the definition of the Assembly's powers under Part 4 of the Government of Wales Act, the Committee sees no impediment to the House approving the draft Order. The amendments to Schedule 7 are unlikely to be the last word on the shape and nature of the constitutional arrangements for Wales and the Committee has sought and received assurances that Parliament and the Welsh Affairs Committee will be properly involved in the examination of any future changes to them.
Working practices between the UK and Welsh Assembly governments in relation to cross-border policies appear much improved since the Committee's earlier reports on this subject. But a number of outstanding issues remain in transport, health and further and higher education. On transport the Committee welcomes the planned electrification of the Great Western Main Line. However, the Department for Transport appears to have washed its hands of any strategic responsibility for cross-border roads. The A483 is the clearest example of a road vital for travel within Wales but which is not important to the English region in which it is located, and as a result loses out on funding. The Committee stresses the need for comparative data on which to build solid research comparing NHS performance in the devolved nations. More needs to be done to raise public awareness of the differences in services people can expect to receive on both sides of the border. Transparency of information is vital. Research proposals in the UK Government's Higher Ambitions strategy for higher education make no reference to nations other than England, despite the UK-wide research remit of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Committee calls for details about how research funding proposals apply to all four nations.
This inquiry arose from the Committee's belief that any benefits of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games should be felt in Wales and not only in London and the South East of England. The Committee cannot yet conclude whether Wales will benefit from the 2012 Games. Few events will be held in Wales and it is not predicted that Wales will benefit greatly from tourism generated by the Games. An opportunity was missed in the original bid to locate events in Wales particularly in respect of mountain biking and canoeing. In retrospect, it now seems misguided to build expensive new venues when such facilities exist in Wales. Lottery funding will be diverted from Wales to fund the Games, with a loss of an estimated £100 million, which will have a long-term effect on grassroots projects with a reduction in the number of new facilities built and possible problems in maintaining current structures. The Government has launched the London 2012 Business Network and CompeteFor, but there Welsh companies currently only account for 2 per cent of all the total number of registrations on the CompeteFor network. The most obvious benefit to Wales arises from the fact that the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London provide a unique opportunity to generate interest in sport amongst children and young people. Disability sports is a great success story for Wales and the community programme ensures that there are opportunities for children and young people with disabilities. It is important that all sections of Welsh society are engaged with the Olympics and Paralympics and its ideals.
Building Societies (Funding) and Mutual Societies (Transfers) Bill; Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, Government amendments: Greater London Authority Bill, Government response: Pensions Bill, regulatory reform: draft Regulatory Reform (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) Order 2007; draft Regulatory Reform (Game) Order 2007
Building Societies (Funding) and Mutual Societies (Transfers) Bill; Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, Government amendments: Greater London Authority Bill, Government response: Pensions Bill, regulatory reform: draft Regulatory Reform (Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) Order 2007; draft Regulatory Reform (Game) Order 2007
11th report of Session 2006-07 : Building Societies (Funding) and Mutual Societies (Transfers) Bill; Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, Government amendments: Greater London Authority Bill, Government response: Pensions Bill, regulato
The Wales Office and the Welsh Assembly Government must ensure UK digital inclusion initiatives meet Welsh needs and build on existing good work to deliver on Welsh digital ambitions, says the Welsh Affairs Committee in a report published today. This report "Digital Inclusion in Wales", examines the use of digital technologies in Wales, highlights the urgent need for the eradication of broadband ’notspots' - areas with limited or no access to high speed internet connections - and says this issue must continue to receive priority attention. There should be more support to help a wider range of people use technology effectively. Employers told the Committee they need staff with better IT skills and more training opportunities. The Committee recommends the Welsh Assembly Government explicitly includes this issue in its digital inclusion strategy. The digital inclusion agenda is a complex mix of reserved and devolved matters. This brings a risk that key issues can be overlooked, for example no account has been taken of Welsh language speakers' needs in the Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan. The Secretary of State for Wales must ensure that bodies in Wales across all sectors are fully engaged with initiatives and that the next stage of Digital Britain adequately reflects Welsh needs. Higher education institutions also have a vital role to play and should be involved in any new research opportunities. The Welsh Assembly already has successful digital inclusion projects in Wales and it should find a way to become fully involved with the UK digital inclusion and Digital Britain work so it does not miss out on policy developments and funding opportunities. The Committee also recommends the creation of a one-stop shop providing advice on the risks for young people using technology, and commends the Assembly's work tackling internet related crimes which it says should be promoted as part of the economic development strategy in Wales.
This compendium of information aims primarily to assist teachers of English as a second language, mentors and others helping immigrants to integrate, It will also help immigrants who have workable English and who are required to take a citizenship test if they apply for naturalisation as Briitsh citizens. Sections include: the making of the United Kingdom (history); a changing society; a profile of Britain today; how Britain is governed; everyday needs (housing, health, education, money, leisure etc); employment; sources of help; knowing the law.
This report examines the arrangements in place for communication between the UK Government and Scottish Executive, particularly when the UK Government formulates international policy which will specifically affect Scottish interests and devolved matters. Generally there are effective channels of communication at both ministerial and official level between the two governments. Whitehall tends to overlook the Scottish angle of policy and legislation more often in those departments which are unfamiliar with devolved matters. We recommend that the Government ensures that each department has a devolution champion to ensure that there is a good level of awareness of devolution issues. The revival of the Joint Ministerial Committee should provide an important forum for discussion between Ministers of the UK Government and devolved administrations. However, there is little opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of the outcomes and effectiveness of the Committee's meetings. The report welcomes the publication of the new Protocol for Avoidance and Resolution of Disputes as the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding did not provide adequate guidance on how disputes between the UK and Scotland should be resolved. This was demonstrated during the communications between the governments on the UK's negotiations with Libya on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement. Both Governments should display the necessary political will to ensure that both understand each other's point of view and demonstrate the mutual respect which should characterise all their dealings.
The ability of the foundations and rules of the UK to evolve and in doing so adapt to changing circumstances has been a great strength. England, despite being home to 83% of the population of the UK, is yet to join the other nations of the Union in having effective devolution. Outside London, most decisions about England are still taken centrally by the UK Parliament though many decisions in the devolved parts of the Union are also taken centrally in the sense that they are made by the devolved Administrations and Legislatures for the whole of that part of the Union. 'Prospects for codifying the relationship between central and local government' (HC 656-I, ISBN 9780215052544) outlined a way in which devolution for England could be taken forward using local councils as the vehicle. Among the options is a national forum, or pre-convention, for England to discuss the most appropriate method to address the English Question. A strong, lasting democratic settlement for the UK must be built upon two principles: those of devolution and union. That is to say, a broad acceptance of the role and powers of the Union, allied to a respect for different but agreed forms of devolution for the nations that make up the Union. The development of bespoke devolution, rather than one size fits all, is welcomed but the more this is within a context of an agreed role for the UK, the more sustainable the settlement will be
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