Old Colwyn (East) Residents’ Association Meeting 12th April 2006
Minute of a talk on the Organisation of the Welsh Assembly
By Bethan Hughes, and Eve Pennant-Jones North Wales Regional Coordinators
The talk was illustrated and interesting imparting a broad understanding of the role of the Regional Public Information Service of the assembly and the manner in which the Welsh Assembly is organised and run in a manner which gives access to information and involvement in proceedings by the public.
Background to the Assembly
In July 1997, the Government published a White Paper, A Voice for Wales, which outlined proposals for devolution in Wales. These proposals were endorsed in the referendum of 18 September 1997.
Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales, and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, which enabled the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly to take place on 1 July
1999.
Subsequently many acts of Parliament have given new powers to the Assembly.
A new style of Government for Wales
The Assembly decides on its priorities and allocates the funds made available to it from the Treasury.
Within its powers, the Assembly develops policy and approves legislation which reflects the needs of the people of Wales. Decisions about these issues are made by politicians who are accountable, through the ballot box, to voters in Wales.
Wales remains part of the UK and the Secretary of State for Wales and Members of Parliament (MPs) from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in Westminster.
Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster still apply to Wales
How the assembly is elected
The elections for the first Assembly were held on 6 May 1999. Elections are held every four years, and the last elections were held on 1 May 2003.
The Assembly has 60 elected Members and each voter has two votes. The first vote is used to elect a local or constituency Assembly Member in the same way as MPs are elected to the House of Commons. Forty Assembly Members are elected on this ‘first past the post’ basis, one from each constituency in Wales.
The second vote is used to elect 20 additional Members, on a regional basis, to ensure that the overall number of seats for each political party reflects the share of the vote they receive. This is known as the Additional Member System, a form of proportional representation. There are five electoral regions, based on the European Parliamentary Constituencies created in 1 994, and each region returns four Members to the Assembly..
The Powers and responsibilities of the Assembly
The Assembly has considerable power to develop and implement policy within a range of areas:
• Agriculture
• Ancient monuments and historic buildings
• Culture
• Economic development
• Education and training
• The environment
• Health and health services
• Highways
• Housing
• Industry
• Local government
• Social services
• Sport and leisure
• Tourism
• Town and country planning: and roads
• The Welsh language
What this means in practice
Examples of the important decisions the Assembly can make are:
• developing education, training and lifelong learning in Wales
• developing and funding NHS services in Wales
• administering European funds including the Objective One programme
• administering funding for local authorities in Wales
• developing housing policy, including tackling homelessness
• sponsoring bodies that protect our environment and conserve wildlife and natural habitats
• developing an integrated transport framework for Wales
• promoting agricultural schemes and rural development
• developing schemes to promote the culture and heritage of Wales
• establishing schemes for sustainable development and equality of opportunity
• developing information and communication technology in Wales
How the Assembly works
The essential structures and procedures for the Assembly are laid down in the Government of Wales Act 1 998. The more detailed processes are set out in the Assembly Standing Orders. The first meeting of the National Assembly for Wales
The historic first plenary meeting of the Assembly took place on Wednesday 12 May
1 999, when Assembly Members elected the first Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer and First Secretary (later known as the First Minister)of the Assembly.
The Presiding Officer
The Assembly is chaired by the Presiding Officer, who is the equivalent of the Speaker of the House of Commons and who is elected by the whole Assembly. Once elected, the Presiding Officer serves the Assembly impartially. There is also a Deputy Presiding Officer who is elected in the same way.
The Presiding Officer is responsible for:
• the working of the Assembly and for ensuring that the proper procedures are observed
• services for Assembly Members, such as the library and briefing service, which support members in their work
• services to the public, such as the information service and the visitors’ programme, which
aim to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of the Assembly
The First Minister and assembly Ministers
The 60 Assembly Members delegate their executive powers (the making and implementing of decisions and laws) to the First Minister, who is elected by the whole Assembly and therefore usually represents the largest political party.
The First Minister in turn delegates responsibility for delivering the executive functions to Assembly Ministers, who form the Cabinet. The Cabinet makes many of the Assembly’s day to day decisions, and its Ministers are responsible for individual subject areas such as health and education. The Cabinet is accountable to the rest of the Assembly, which scrutinises all its decisions and actions.
The role of Committees
Subject Committees
Assembly Members from all parties can voice their opinions on how the Assembly operates through Subject Committees, such as Education and Lifelong Learning, Culture, Environment, and Economic Development. These Subject Committees develop policies and examine what the Assembly does. Assembly Members are elected to serve on these committees. The committee membership reflects the balance of political groups within the Assembly.
Regional Committees
Regional Committees represent the needs and interests of their localities, and convey issues of local concern to the full Assembly and to the Subject Committees. There are four Regional Committees, which are made up of Assembly Members from the relevant constituency and electoral region.
Most committee meetings take place in public and a number are broadcast, both on digital television (54C2, BBC Parliament) and on the internet — www.webcasting.wales.gov.uk.
Plenary Meetings
Plenary meetings of the Assembly take place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in public and are broadcast. The Presiding Officer circulates a notice of business for each plenary session in advance and business is dealt with in the order in which it appears in the notice of business.
For each week the Assembly meets in plenary session, at least 30 minutes are allocated to oral questions to the First Minister. Each Minister also responds to oral questions at least once every four weeks, while any other Assembly Member can propose a motion or topic for a short debate before the end of a plenary session.
With the Presiding Officer’s prior approval, any Assembly Member can propose that the Assembly should immediately consider a matter of urgent public importance at any plenary session.
Time is also allocated within the annual plenary cycle for certain categories of Assembly business such as:
• allocation of the Assembly budget
• subordinate legislation - regulations which implement Acts of Parliament (or primary legislation)
• motions proposed on behalf of political groups not represented in the Assembly Cabinet
• reports submitted by subject and regional committees
• matters relating to the European Union
Broadcasting of Assembly Proceedings
In partnership with the BBC, HTV and S4C, the Assembly has established The National Assembly for Wales Broadcasting Company to broadcast the Assemblys public proceedings. All plenary Sessions are broadcast live on the digital television channel S4C 2. You can also watch live and archived meetings on your PC via the internet - visit www.webcasting to find out more.
Your Local Link to the Assembly
Regional Public
Information Service
The National Assembly is developing networks in the regions. The Assembly has four regional teams — covering South East, South West, Mid and North Wales — who can bring the Assembly to the public in those areas.
Each team consists of two regional co-ordinators who are developing links in each area. Their role is to develop local networks as part of the Assembly’s commitment to reach all the people of Wales.
As well as visiting major national events such as the National Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh Show, these teams have a strong local presence and are available for local events and to talk to community groups such as Women’s Institutes, religious groups and Rotary Clubs. They also attend the Assembly’s Regional Committees — these committees take place regularly in different venues in each region. They provide an opportunity for members of the public to put their views to Assembly Members on a variety of issues.
What difference does the Assembly make to me?
The Assembly decides on its priorities and allocates funds made available by the UK Government. It has powers to develop and implement policy within a range of areas, including agriculture, health and social services, education, tourism and heritage, roads and planning, housing and economic development.
This means the Assembly makes important decisions about issues such as developing and funding the NHS in Wales, administering Objective One funding, allocating money to local councils and promoting agricultural schemes and rural development.
These decisions are made in Wales by politicians who are accountable to the people of Wales through the ballot box. The Assembly also has policy committees, covering areas such as health and social services, education and economic development. These committees carry out policy reviews in which they consult widely with people and organisations throughout Wales, often holding their meetings outside Cardiff. For example, the Culture Committee held a major policy review of the Welsh Language and took evidence from individuals and organisations across Wales.
Accessing the Assembly
The Assembly has been at the forefront of using modern technology to make information available to all:
• All Assembly plenary sessions and some committee meetings are broadcast and video tapes are available to buy
• Plenary sessions and committees are also webcast and can be viewed on the website
• If you do not have access to the internet, you can go to one of the Assembly’s Information Link libraries — there is at least one in every local authority area — and use their facilities to access our website
The regional co-ordinators can come and talk to your group and provide an exhibition on the Assembly.
Bookings can be made via the Assembly booking line on 029 2089 8477 or via email assembly.booking@wales.gsi.gov
Bookings are subject to availability.
Contact Us
Information Line: 029 2089 8200
Textphone: 029 2089 8261
For the latest information visit: www.wales.gov.uk
Watch the Assembly live on your PC:
This information is also available on request in the following formats:
Large print • Braille • Audio Cassette
National Assembly for Wales Exhibition.
The Assembly in North Wales
The Exhibition Hall in Princess Drive, Colwyn Bay.
The exhibition provides visitors with a unique opportunity to access the most up-to-date information on who’s who, what’s happening and how the Assembly works. The latest technology and the internet provide visitors with pictures, audio clips and Assembly information.
North Wales Education Service
Education visits to schools and colleges provide students and teachers with curriculum and PSE linked programmes which include
• quizzes and worksheets
• debates
• mock elections
• interactive presentations
Schools and colleges can arrange a visit by the North Wales Education Officer via the Assembly booking line on 029 2089 8477
or via e-mail
assembly.bookings@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Additional learning resources are also available on-line via www.wales.gov.uk/learningzone
The Assembly Shop
The Assembly Shop offers visitors a wide range of National Assembly branded souvenirs and gifts.
Visitor Information
Free admission. Monday to Friday, 900am - 500pm.
Last admission is 1 5 minutes before closing. Visitors should allow 30 minutes to view the exhibition.
Facilities for disabled people are provided throughout the building. Induction loops are located in the reception area.
Group Visits
Group visits are available, subject to booking. Groups of visitors are advised that they must pre-book their visits. During these visits Tour Guides accompany visitors through the exhibition hall. To book a guided tour or an educational visit contact:
Booking Line. 029 2089 8477
E-mail: assembIy.bookings@waIes.gsi.gov
Location details
By Road:
From the east, leave the A55 at junction 20, and at traffic lights turn left on to Princes Drive. The National Assembly for Wales North Wales Visitor Centre is the first office building on the left.
From the west, leave the A55 at junction 20 turn right and follow sign for Colwyn Bay. Take first left on roundabout, following the signs for the promenade along Princes Drive. The National Assembly for Wales North Wales Visitor Centre is the first office building on the left.
Contact details
National Assembly for Wales
North Wales Visitor Centre
Princes Park
Princes Drive
Colwyn Bay
Conwy
LL29 8PL
Telephone: 01492 523200
Information Line: 029 2089 8200
Text Phone: 029 2089 8261
Booklets are available on request in the following formats:
Large Print • Braille • Audio Cassette
This minute was produced using notes made at the time and information
in the leaflets handed out at the meeting
in the leaflets handed out at the meeting