Issue 12—November 2008 Assembly Bwletin Cynulliad

On the agenda this month:

• First Economic Summit—Seven point action plan revealed

• The All Wales Convention— Who has a true voice?

• Welsh Liberal Democrat Leadership Contest— A woman, but which woman?

• Welsh NHS Reorganisation—Changes unveiled

Welsh Conservatives Mini Reshuffle Alun Cairns AM has been reinstated in Nick Bourne’s Shadow Cabinet but not to his original education portfolio. Instead, the South Wales West AM Alun Cairns has been appointed as Shadow Local Govern‐ ment Minister replacing Nick Ramsay AM who now moves to finance. Mr. Cairns has also been reinstated as the parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan. Angela Burns AM has been given the Transport and Regeneration portfolio, on top of her chairmanship of the National Assembly’s finance committee.

Assembly Bwletin Cynulliad is a joint initiative between Grayling Political Strategy and the In‐ stitute of Welsh Affairs, bringing you the ABC of Welsh politics every month.

Institute of Welsh Affairs Grayling Global 1‐3 Museum Place 2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, , CF10 3BD Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ Tel: 029 2066 6606 Tel: 029 2046 2507 www.iwa.org.uk www.grayling.com

Issue 12 — November 2008

All Wales, True Wales…..who has a true voice?

Grayling Political Strategy Welsh public the opportunity to hear the case against autonomy for the National Assembly for Wales and In March 2008, the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan AM to facilitate democratic participation in a full debate and the Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM about our constitutional future”. It will “lobby both formally accepted the recommendations of the Estab‐ the Welsh Assembly and govern‐ lishing Committee to set up an All Wales Convention, ments to hold a referendum, duly supervised by the to be chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry. A ‘One Wales’ Electoral Commission, regardless of the findings and commitment of the Labour – coalition, recommendations of the ‘All‐Wales Convention’”. the Convention is an information campaign, to iden‐ tify how much of a demand there is for full law‐ So what about a ‘Yes’ Campaign? Surely there will be making powers in Wales. someone who will stand up to the ‘True Wales’ group? Maybe someone from the Assembly Govern‐ At the beginning of September, David Davies, the ment? Perhaps time will tell. Conservative MP for Monmouthshire announced his intentions to establish a vigorous ‘No’ Campaign. He For the coalition the timing of any possible referen‐ warned that if there was not a ‘No’ Campaign then dum, if that was the recommendation of the Conven‐ Wales could “sleepwalk into Soviet‐style poverty”. In tion, remains a rather large headache. At the time of the following days the ‘True Wales’ group was estab‐ writing ‘True Wales’ continues to campaign unop‐ lished. This new cross party, cross sector group de‐ posed and has yet to tackle the responses of an official scribes itself as a group which wants “to allow the ‘Yes’ campaign.

First there was one, now there are two

In August of this year, crowd at the conference, as many were sporting Welsh Liberal Democrat “Kirsty 4 Leader” badges. Kirsty Williams AM re‐ AM Peter Black stated that plied to the launch of Ms. Randerson’s campaign by “the race for leader has not saying that “I believe that I have a track record in be‐ really started. I know that I ing able to stand up for all parts of Wales”; a com‐ will not be a candidate and ment which is minded to refer party members to Ms. it is likely that Montgom‐ Randerson’s perceived ‘Cardiff‐centricity’. eryshire AM, Mick Bates will sit out this contest as well.” Therefore on a sheer level of mathematics, Mr. After a somewhat hushed Black has tacitly acknowledged that the next leader of campaign launch from each the will be a woman; but side, the political sniping and which woman? This is the question which has name‐calling has begun, with gripped the party. the Randerson camp calling Ms. Williams the “rainbow On 10 September, Brecon and Radnorshire AM Kirsty wrecker” after she voted not Williams announced that she would be standing for to join the so‐called rainbow coalition with the Welsh the leadership after Mike German stood down at the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru after last year’s As‐ autumn conference. Ms. Randerson AM did not wait sembly Elections, and the Williams’ camp claiming long to officially announce her leadership campaign that Jenny Randerson will be “more of the same”. and launched her bid at the conference in Clydach, After Peter Black AM has apparently reversed his ear‐ Swansea, flanked by MP, Jenny Willott lier claim of remaining neutral in the leadership elec‐ MP and leader Rodney Berman, un‐ tion process, commentators and party members wait der the banner of “vision, courage, experience.” The to see with which campaign the outgoing leader will Liberal Democrat AM addressed a conference crowd align himself. Until then, both Kirsty Williams and saying that her campaign “will be all about change; Jenny Randerson continue to make their cases to sup‐ change of ambition [as] we deserve to be in govern‐ porters. ment”. However Jenny Randerson faced a tough

Welsh NHS Reorganisation

Institute of Welsh Affairs sirable to attempt to create such a distance between political responsibility and service delivery.” Sweeping changes in the management of the Welsh NHS have been unveiled by the Assembly Government’s health The minister has also suggested that Health minister, Edwina Hart AM. Mrs Hart has announced that Councils (CHCs) will play a greater role in local engage‐ from next year she will chair a new Welsh NHS Advisory ment with patients and the public. Welsh politicians have so Board and will also personally hold the NHS Chief Execu‐ far avoided using patient choice to try to improve services, tive to account. There will also be seven new NHS ‘unified as has happened in England. delivery bodies’ that replace the current arrangement of The New Welsh NHS Structure seven trusts and 22 local health boards.

The changes will bring greater ministerial involvement in • A National Advisory Board, chaired by the the Welsh NHS. The Welsh health minister said: “I believe Health Minister; that a National Advisory Board, which I will chair, with a • A separate Delivery Board, chaired by the NHS small, independent membership and meeting in public, will Wales Chief Executive, with responsibility for improve the accountability and transparency of the NHS.” the day‐to‐day operation and performance of

the seven new NHS bodies; However, critics fear the changes will encourage short‐term decisions in health policy because of political pressures. • Further research and consultation will be undert‐ Some also think that ministerial involvement could go too aken about whether the seven new bodies will far. The Health Service Journal editor, Richard Vize, said be allocated some of the responsibilities of there was “more than a whiff of Stalinism” about the new Health Commission Wales, the commissioning system. He also said that future health ministers in Wales body; might not be as willing as Mrs Hart to get involved in the minutiae of health service delivery. If this occurs there could • A Unified Public Health organisation with execu‐ be another reorganisation in the Welsh NHS. tive responsibility for public health being vested with the seven NHS Local Bodies and at a Mrs Hart’s new plans eschewed an ‘arm’s length’ style rela‐ national level. tionship between the NHS and Assembly Government. She said: ”In a devolved Wales, it is both impractical and unde‐ Welsh Economic Summit

A plan to aid the Welsh economy was unveiled by the and Ieuan Wyn Jones AM for Plaid Cymru. Welsh Assembly Government this month. The seven point statement of action was published after an economic sum‐ The summit followed a joint statement by the Confederation mit with leading Welsh business figures. of British Industry Wales (CBI) and Wales Trades Union Congress (TUC) calling on the Assembly Government to The Assembly Government said the summit was take action. The statement included calls to improve skills “invaluable in bringing together representatives from across and infrastructure, and to speed up public sector invoice key sectors to discuss how to work together to ensure Wales payments from 60 to 15 days; to raise the level of procure‐ is fully prepared for any economic aftershocks of the global ment contracts awarded to Welsh companies; and measures banking crisis”. The statement was signed jointly by Secre‐ to help the Welsh construction sector. These calls were tary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy MP, and leaders of the adopted in the summit plan. Assembly Government coalition, Rhodri Morgan AM for Although the high level economic levers are in London – with HM Treasury and the Bank of England – business sup‐ port and economic development are devolved policy areas in Wales, involving fairly significant funds. Reducing public sector invoice payments from 60 to 15 days will provide an estimated £500m cash boost for the Welsh economy, if im‐ plemented, and doubling Welsh public sector procurement from local sources will add approximately £1.3bn to Wales’s local economies. Issue 12 — November 2008

IWA and Grayling’s recent activity

The Institute of Welsh Affairs invites you to Keep your ear to the ground with Grayling Politi‐ attend…. cal Strategy……

Launch Event Keeping up to date with political decisions and develop‐ Politics in 21st Century Wales ments in the National Assembly for Wales is essential ‘Question‐Time’ chaired by Betsan Powys, Political Edi‐ for effective communication in Wales. tor, for BBC Wales with: Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister, Nick Bourne AM, If you are not careful these activities can eat into the time Leader, , Kirsty Williams AM, Lib‐ you have available for developing policy and for face to eral Democrats, and MP, Plaid Cymru. face contact with key opinion leaders and stakeholders. Ty Hywel, the , Cardiff Bay, 17th November 2008, Grayling Political Strategy’s monitoring service ensures 5.30pm to 7.30pm you are kept up‐to‐date with political decisions and de‐ velopments in the Assembly freeing you up to imple‐ ment the more strategic elements of your role. Conference Our reports are distributed to you via email within 24 Regional Economies in a Globalising World hours of a subject committee or plenary session. We Enhancing Intellectual Capacity and Innovation don’t just surf the Assembly website ‐ our researchers Chaired by Professor Brian Morgan monitor the meetings themselves providing a much bet‐ Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University, 21st November ter insight and analysis of what is said, by whom and in 2008, full day event to commence at 9:00 am what context.

More details are available on www.iwa.org.uk So confident are we that you will find our service invalu‐

able that Grayling Political Strategy would like to offer Telephone or email the IWA to book or for enquiries: you a free tailored monitoring report, to let you sample 029 2066 6606 or wales.iwa.org.uk the quality of what we will deliver.

Just published If you decide to go out to public tender, please make Unpacking the Progressive Consensus sure Grayling Political Strategy is offered the opportu‐ £10 (discount to IWA members) nity to pitch and demonstrate to you the excellence ser‐

vices we offer and introduce the top class consultants What does Labour and Plaid Cymru’s ‘progressive con‐ who work with us. If you would like to find out more sensus’ mean in key areas, such as education and health? please do not hesitate to contact us. Four distinguished commentators ‐ including John Kay,

a columnist with the Financial Times, and Will Hutton, a Contact Carla Mahoney on: 029 2046 2571 or columnist with the Observer—offer their assessments. [email protected]

Grayling Political Strategy develops and implements communications programmes for organisations and businesses throughout Wales, directed at those in the world of politics and the media as well as the wider public. We provide information and advice which helps our clients effectively engage with National Assembly Members, officials and deci‐ sion makers, and others working in the field of public policy in Wales.

The Institute of Welsh Affairs is an independent think‐tank that promotes quality re‐ search and informed debate aimed at making Wales a better nation in which to work and live. It is a membership‐based body that commissions and publishes research and organ‐ ises events across Wales over a range of topics. The IWA particularly focuses on politics, economic development, education, culture, the environment and health.