DEVOLUTION

Devolution and The Welsh Assembly

The following section clearly outlines devolution in regard to the Welsh Assembly. For a further, more detailed account of the implications of Devolution from a participatory and academic perspective please refer to this websites educational resource.

The offical website for the Welsh Assembly can be found at: http://www.wales.gov.uk

What is Devolution?

The Government of Wales Act 1998 granted devolution in Wales in the form of executive devolution.

Devolution is a process of ‘devolving' power from the centre to sub-national units and differs distinctly from Federalism in the sense that such powers can always be withdrawn back to the centre [Westminster]. Under the act, the Assembly accepts the powers previously held by the secretary of state for Wales (welsh office). Devolution in Wales is deemed ‘executive devolution' because primary legislative powers were not offered to the Assembly – i.e. the Welsh Assembly cannot pass legislation unless given specific permission by Parliament .

The distinction between primary and secondary legislation is quite complicated, but what this means for Wales in practice can be served with a topical example*: The Transport for Wales Bill is a piece of Law or Legislation passed in the UK parliament and was therefore written and scrutinised in London, but with a major input from members of the Assembly – either in committee or as a formal request to create such primary legislation. This step represents the primary legislation stage. This piece of legislation (The Transport for Wales Bill) would now give the Welsh Assembly powers of secondary legislation – which essentially means Wales can now decide how best to implement transport policy in Wales, albeit under the constraints of the Transport for Wales Bill. For example, such a Bill may state that there should be a bus network in Wales – but ‘where;' ‘how;' ‘for who;' and ‘how much' are all decisions taken by the Welsh Assembly .

What about Accountability?

It is important that you have someone to talk to if you're not happy with policy that affects you. It may be the case that you do not see eye-to-eye with your representative on an issue but it is always important to express your happiness for dissatisfaction with policies pursued by your government.

My Member of Parliament or my Assembly member – Who do I contact? Who do I hold to Account at Election?

From reading the opening paragraph in this section, it becomes evident that devolution is anything but simple. It is however broadly simple to decide upon who is best to contact with your enquiry. A good example is Healthcare: If you disagree with the fundamental concept of a free healthcare system [the NHS] for all, then you should write to your MP who will reply. Healthcare in Wales is known as a ‘devolved area' and therefore responsibility for the implementation of Healthcare in Wales and how to spend the healthcare budget is left to the Welsh Assembly . As such, if you have a query about a waiting list or a prescription expenditure then it's your AM you should write to.

Essentially, if it's something very fundamental that you are concerned about – that we should be able to drink at 16; vote at 17 or shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq – it's your MP you should be speaking too. If you require information on Housing, sport provision in your area or a issue regarding the welsh language – these are areas where the Welsh Assembly now has power to function and you are probably best directing your enquiry to your AM ( Assembly Member).

It is important to remember that if you are unsure, you should always direct your enquiry to both your AM and your MP . Environmental policy is now the prerogative of the Welsh Assembly; however, if you are concerned about plans to build an incinerator in Clwyd South – obviously I would offer my concern and potentially condemn such a proposal publicly.

For your convenience, the table below details the areas of responsibility previously held by The Welsh Office and areas of responsibility that have subsequently been transferred to the Assembly.

* At time of writing, the Transport (Wales) Bill is still in the parliamentary stage and has not yet devolved new powers to the Welsh Assembly.

Karen Sinclair AM (Labour - Clwyd South)

book an appointment to see either of us directly. Karen was born in Wrexham in 1952, she was a care manager with people with learning disabilities. She is a Denbighshire County Councillor, school governor and a former Citizens Advice Bureau adviser. Ms. Sinclair is best contacted via the following mediums:

Constituency Office

6 Oak Mews, Oak Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire LL20 8RP

Tel: 01978 869105

Fax: 01978 869464

Contact

National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA

Tel: 02 920 898724

Fax: 02 920 898308

Email: karen.sinclair@wales.gov.uk

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