supporting charities, volunteers and communities wales council for voluntary action 0800 2888 329 ...
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Supporting charities, volunteers and communities
Wales Council for Voluntary ActionWales Council for Voluntary Action
www.wcva.org.uk 0800 2888 329 [email protected]
Voices for Change Cymru supported by
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Voices for Change Cymru
• Began in May 2008
• Direct response to latest stage of devolution in Wales
• Provide services to help the voluntary sector understand implications and opportunities of devolution
• Training, website, info resources, advice
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“Devolution is a process, not an event”
Ron Davies, Secretary of State for Wales 1997-98
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The history………• 1536 & 1543: Acts of ‘Union’ passed by
Henry VIII, Wales is “united to and annexed with England.”
• 1881: First piece of Wales only legislation – Sunday Closing Act
• 1964: Sec of State for Wales & Welsh Office established
• 1979: Referendum – 80% against
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1997 Referendum
• By 1997 devolution back on the agenda
• Thatcherism
• Cross party co-operation within Labour Party
• Scottish precedent – A “yes” vote one week before Welsh vote
• Referendum – 50.3% vote YES
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Government of Wales Act 1998
• Establishes National Assembly for Wales as a body corporate (not a Parliament – Government model)
• 60 Assembly Members• Policy development and subordinate legislation
only – no primary legislative powers• Statutory obligation to consult the voluntary
sector – Vol Sector Scheme and Partnership Council established
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1999 - 20071999 Labour Minority Government (Alun Michael)2000 Rhodri Morgan takes over, Lib Dem coalition,
begins to create distinct Welsh Assembly Government
2002 Richard Commission set up2003 Labour Government after election2004 Richard Commission reports2005 Labour Party response is Better Governance for
Wales paper (not all recommendations accepted)
2006 Government of Wales Act 2006 passed at Parliament, the next phase of devolution for Wales
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Quick quiz
True or False . . . Vote now!
1. Wales now has more than 60 AMs
2. Wales has primary law making powers
3. AMs can speak in Welsh in the Chamber and committees
4. Wales has tax raising powers
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Government of Wales Act 2006
• Officially splits the Executive (Welsh Assembly Government) and the legislature (National Assembly for Wales)
• Gives law making powers to Wales – in certain policy areas and with consent of Westminster
• Allows for further devolution if certain criteria are met
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National Assembly for Wales
• 60 AMs elected every 4 years• 40 AMs covering constituencies• 20 covering 5 regions (north, mid & west, south
west, south central, south east). 4 in each region• Mix of First Past the Post and Proportional
Representation• So each Welsh citizen has 5 AMs
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The National Assembly today
• Wales has a four-party system;– Labour (26 AMs)– Plaid Cymru (15 AMs)– Conservatives (12 AMs)– Liberal Democrats (6 AMs)– Plus currently 1 independent AM
• Need 30+ AMs to form the government• All parties have realistic potential to form part of
governing coalition• Currently Labour/Plaid coalition “One Wales”
government
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Party Leaders
Kirsty Williams
LiberalDemocrats
Rhodri Morgan
Labour
Ieuan Wyn Jones
Plaid Cymru
Nick Bourne
Conservative
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The NAfW / WAG relationship
National Assembly for Wales – All 60 AMs
44 “Backbenchers” – without Ministers and Presiding Officer / Deputy
Welsh Assembly Government
14 Ministers
Hold to account / scrutinise
Civil servants support
Third Sector Scheme
Assembly Commission and AM’s own staff support
Committees / questions / petitions / AMs ballot
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What can we do in Wales?
• There are 20 areas of Policy devolved to Wales.• List of what’s devolved not what’s reserved
(compared with Scotland)• Welsh Ministers can make policy decision and
subordinate legislation in these areas.• We can also request the power to make primary
legislation in these 20 areas but Westminster has to agree - totally new system, complex but an opportunity nonetheless
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20 devolved areas or “fields”
Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & rural development
Housing
Ancient monuments and historic buildings
Local Government
Culture National Assembly for Wales
Economic development Public administration
Education & Training Social Welfare
Environment Sport & Recreation
Fire & rescue services and promotion of fire safety
Tourism
Food Town & Country planning
Health & Health Services Water & flood defence
Highways & Transport Welsh language
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Lawmaking process2 ways that the power to make legislation can be transferred to Wales:
1. Through the inclusion of powers in a UK Act of Parliament
2. Using a Legislative Competence Order (the Assembly asking for the powers)
Once the power is transferred only then can we make Welsh laws – “Assembly Measures”
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The rules of the LCO Game!
• Can only ask for powers in one of the 20 devolved areas
• Can be proposed by WAG, AMs or a committee• Cannot ask for the powers over the whole of an area
e.g. cannot request the power to make laws in whole “Social Welfare” field only part of it
• Considered by Assembly and at Westminster – both must agree to the transfer of powers
• Must deepen not broaden the devolution settlement• Wales needs to make the case for having the powers
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Issues with the LCO process
• New, complex and hard to engage with• Lack of clarity over what the “rules” actually are• More work for civil society – lots of lobbying and still
a very key role for Westminster in agreeing powers so need to lobby in Cardiff and Westminster
• Means the powers of Wales are constantly changing and being added to – makes devolution even harder to keep up with
• Aren’t laws themselves just the potential – can take over a year and then the law making has to begin
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LCOs so far
Examples of LCOs passed so far:• Education (Additional Learning Needs)• Vulnerable Children• Domiciliary Care (Charging)
Controversial LCOs still waiting:• Environment• Affordable Housing• Welsh Language
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It’s not all bad news
• We can make laws where we have the powers • Once the power is there Assembly measures can be
proposed by WAG, AMs or a Committee• Some examples of Welsh laws that have been made
so far include:
Healthy Eating in Schools Measure (backbencher)
NHS Redress Measure
Learner Travel Measure• At least we now have the possibility to make
legislation
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Ways to engage in Wales
• Third Sector Partnership Council / Ministerial Meetings – the Government route
• Scrutiny of Government via AMs – questions / short debates / committee work
• Ideas for legislation – AMs ballot
• Petitions system
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Welsh Campaigns
“Little steps make a big difference” Footcare campaign
Canoe Wales – Access to Rivers Petition
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Issues for devolved campaigns
• Different powers and devolution settlements, knowing what’s devolved isn’t easy (especially in Wales as it changes!)
• Capacity – project survey revealed issues
• Different policies = different statistics and reports required
• But gives new opportunities and can learn from each other
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The future for Wales• More powers built into GoWA 06 – powers to
make primary legislation in all 20 “fields” but still no tax raising powers.
• Only if the people of Wales want it – referendum• 2/3s of AMs; Sec of State for Wales and both
Houses of Parliament must agree to Referendum
• Labour / Plaid coalition aiming for 2011• All Wales Convention due to report 18
November 09
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Issues• Labour do not want referendum defeat
(memory of 79 looms large) Peter Hain warns against “rushing in.”
• But it’s the basis on which Plaid Cymru went into coalition with them
• May have Conservative Secretary of State by 2011
• New leader of Labour Party in Wales by end of the Year
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Thank you for listening.
Any questions?