A first step towards dismantling the over-centralised British state was made yesterday with publication of details of the proposed Welsh Assembly. The white paper, A Voice for Wales, sets out how the first new parliamentary body in Britain for almost 300 years will work, covering everything from relations with Westminster through to the salaries for the MWAs (Members of the Welsh Assembly).
The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, in the foreword, placed the assembly in the context of his plans for overall constitutional reform: "The government is pledged to clean up and modernise British politics. We believe it is right to decentralise power, to open up government, to reform parliament and to increase individual rights."
The date for the election to the 60-member assembly, which will meet in Cardiff, is to be May 6th, 1999. But before that, the plan has to be subjected to the will of the Welsh people, at a referendum on September 18th this year, and there is no certainty that the Welsh will back the plan.
The assembly will be elected by a pale version of the PR system, the additional member system: 40 members will be directly elected by constituencies and the remaining 20 chosen from a list drawn up by the parties. Voters will have two votes: one for the constituency MP and one for a candidate from the list.
MPs and MEPs will be able to stand for and sit in the assembly. Determined to show it will not just be a talking shop, as the Conservatives claimed yesterday, the white paper repeats at regular intervals the powers the assembly will have. It will take over from the Welsh Secretary responsibility for: economic development; agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food; industry and training; education; local government; health and personal social services; housing; environment; planning; transport and roads; arts, culture and the Welsh language; and sport and recreation.
Westminster will retain responsibility for "foreign affairs, defence, taxation, macro-economic policy, policy on fiscal and common markets, social security and broadcasting". British cabinet ministers will continue to take a lead role in European negotiations.
Unlike the Scottish parliament, the Welsh assembly will not be able to introduce primary legislation (mainstream bills) but instead will be limited to secondary legislation, which fleshes out the detail of primary legislation.
With only limited legislative powers, The Welsh Secretary, Mr Ron Davies, will have to sell the assembly mainly on its power to deal with the much-detested Toryrun quangos. Mr Davies confirmed yesterday the scrapping of nine of the 45 main quangos and the promise that the assembly will review others with the aim of scrapping them too.
But the Welsh Development Agency, charged with responsibility for bringing inward investment and job creation, is to be strengthened.
Although the Welsh assembly is to take most of his powers, the role of the Welsh Secretary is to be retained, with a seat in the cabinet. - (Guardian Service)