DOCSLIB.ORG

Safer Buildings in Wales: a Consultation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Safer Buildings in Wales: a Consultation Number: WG41862 Welsh Government Consultation Document Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation A Building Safety White Paper This White Paper sets out proposals for comprehensive reform of legislation that contributes to building safety in Wales. It focuses on legislative change across the lifecycle of buildings as well as setting out aspirations for culture change in the way buildings are designed, constructed and managed. Date of Issue: 12 January 2021 Action Required: Responses by 12 April 2021 Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh. © Crown Copyright © Crown Copyright Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation Overview This White Paper sets out proposals for comprehensive reform of legislation that contributes to building safety in Wales. It focuses on legislative change across the lifecycle of buildings as well as setting out aspirations for culture change in the way buildings are designed, constructed and managed. How to respond Responses to this consultation should be e-mailed/posted to the address below by 12 April 2021 at the latest Further information Large print, Braille and alternative and related language versions of this document are documents available on request. https://gov.wales/safer-buildings-wales Contact details For further information: Building Safety Team Welsh Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ email: [email protected] Also available in https://llyw.cymru/adeiladau-mwy-diogel-yng-nghymru Welsh at: 1 Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) The Welsh Government will be data controller for any personal data you provide as part of your response to the consultation. Welsh Ministers have statutory powers they will rely on to process this personal data which will enable them to make informed decisions about how they exercise their public functions. Any response you send us will be seen in full by Welsh Government staff dealing with the issues which this consultation is about or planning future consultations. Where the Welsh Government undertakes further analysis of consultation responses then this work may be commissioned to be carried out by an accredited third party (e.g. a research organisation or a consultancy company). Any such work will only be undertaken under contract. Welsh Government’s standard terms and conditions for such contracts set out strict requirements for the processing and safekeeping of personal data. In order to show that the consultation was carried out properly, the Welsh Government intends to publish a summary of the responses to this document. We may also publish responses in full. Normally, the name and address (or part of the address) of the person or organisation who sent the response are published with the response. If you do not want your name or address published, please tell us this in writing when you send your response. We will then redact them before publishing. You should also be aware of our responsibilities under Freedom of Information legislation If your details are published as part of the consultation response then these published reports will be retained indefinitely. Any of your data held otherwise by Welsh Government will be kept for no more than three years. Your rights Under the data protection legislation, you have the right: to be informed of the personal data held about you and to access it to require us to rectify inaccuracies in that data to (in certain circumstances) object to or restrict processing for (in certain circumstances) your data to be ‘erased’ to (in certain circumstances) data portability to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection. For further details about the information The contact details for the Information the Welsh Government holds and its use, Commissioner’s Office are: or if you want to exercise your rights under the GDPR, please see contact details Wycliffe House below: Water Lane Wilmslow Data Protection Officer: Cheshire Welsh Government SK9 5AF Cathays Park CARDIFF Tel: 01625 545 745 or CF10 3NQ 0303 123 1113 Website: https://ico.org.uk/ e-mail: [email protected] 2 Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation Contents 1. Ministerial Foreword........................................................................................ 4 2. Executive Summary ........................................................................................ 6 3. Progress to date ........................................................................................... 17 4. An improved building safety regime – first steps ........................................... 25 5. Setting out the Scope of the Building Safety Regime ................................... 28 6. The Building Safety Regime (Design and Construction Phase) .................... 35 7. The Building Safety Regime (Occupation Phase) ......................................... 52 8. Residents: Roles and Responsibilities .......................................................... 81 9. Raising Concerns ......................................................................................... 91 10. Regulating the Building Safety Regime......................................................... 93 11. General Requirements in Relation to Fire Safety Equipment ...................... 110 12. Annexes ...................................................................................................... 113 3 Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation 1. Ministerial Foreword This year will mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower. The passage of time has done nothing to mitigate the enduring imprint the events of that night left on us all. Nor should it. The Grenfell tragedy must serve as a constant reminder of the upmost importance of access to a safe and secure home. Securing the safety of residents must be a guiding principle of government, the housing sector and wider industry to ensure an event like this can never occur again. The ongoing Grenfell Inquiry continues to serve as a stark reminder of the importance of the devastating consequences that can result when build quality and resident safety are not prioritised. Whilst Wales has a good record on fire safety, we know that many of the same issues and wider systemic failures highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety are equally applicable here. The lessons learned from these reviews and inquiries and the work of our own Building Safety Expert Group have forged a clear path and identified what must be done to improve our approach to building safety. It is now time to act. We are proposing a new Building Safety Regime for Wales. Not only would this present a significant overhaul to the existing system, it would also result in the most expansive building safety regime in the UK. The proposed changes we outline will see improvements made to every stage of the lifecycle of multi-occupied buildings, from design through construction and on into occupation, so that these buildings are safe for each and every resident. We know that the risks identified are not limited to high rise buildings alone and so we propose to go further and include other types of residential building where we recognise there is a risk from fire or structural safety that has the potential to impact upon significant numbers of people. If safety is to be our guiding principle then we must apply that principle to all buildings within the scope of the proposed Building Safety Regime, regardless of building type or tenure, for the benefit of residents across Wales. The proposed new regime will establish clear lines of accountability by creating new roles and responsibilities for those that own and manage relevant buildings, meaning that there can be no doubt about where the responsibility lies. Our proposals seek to drive up standards by improving industry competence, making sure that safety features are designed into the very fabric of the building, their use is properly understood and they are installed correctly by people with the right expertise. We intend to establish a stronger and more coherent regulatory system which would hold those responsible to account, with serious consequences for attempts to cut costs at the expense of safety and placing residents at risk. 4 Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation Critically, our proposed reforms will empower residents by putting their lived experience, safety and wellbeing at its heart, with enhanced rights and a stronger voice in matters that affect their homes. We recognise that reform on this scale is complex and will take time to develop and embed, but it is clear that maintaining the status quo is not an option. We cannot achieve our vision alone. This must be a collective endeavour if we are to get to where we all agree we need to be. This is why we seeking your views, insight, experience and expertise to ensure the changes we make are clear and effective. We are currently in the midst of extraordinary times and as a Government are responding to unprecedented challenges, but I am clear that this will not detract from this critical work. Indeed, Welsh Government can point to many examples where we are already demonstrating our commitment to quality housing, whether it be the energy efficient homes of the future built under our Innovative Housing Programme, adopting pioneering approaches to construction under our Modern Methods of Construction strategy, or
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sustainability: Annual Report 2019-20
    Welsh Parliament Senedd Commission Sustainability: Annual Report 2019-20 June 2020 www.senedd.wales The Welsh Parliament is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people. Commonly known as the Senedd, it makes laws for Wales, agrees Welsh taxes and holds the Welsh Government to account. An electronic copy of this document can be found on the Senedd website: www.senedd.wales Copies of this document can also be obtained in accessible formats including Braille, large print, audio or hard copy from: Welsh Parliament, Cardiff Bay, CF99 1SN 0300 200 6565 [email protected] www.senedd.wales SeneddWales SeneddWales Senedd © Senedd Commission Copyright 2020 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the Senedd Commission and the title of the document specified. Welsh Parliament Senedd Commission Sustainability: Annual Report 2019-20 June 2020 www.senedd.wales On 6 May we became the Welsh Parliament; the Senedd. As the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 received Royal Assent in January, it marked the culmination of a long and complicated pro- cess for the many Commission colleagues who were involved in its passage. Despite our new title, you will notice this document mostly refers to the institution as the Assembly; a reflection of the fact we’re looking back over the past 12 months before the change to our name. Sustainability: Annual Report 2019-20 Contents Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Juliette Sherrard
    Childcare Inspection Report on Juliette Sherrard Lisvane Date of Publication Tuesday, 16 April 2019 Welsh Government © Crown copyright 2019. You may use and re-use the information featured in this publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License. You can view the Open Government License, on the National Archives website or you can write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] You must reproduce our material accurately and not use it in a misleading context. Description of the service Juliette Sherrard is based in the Lisvane area of Cardiff. Her service is provided from her home and she minds alone. The service offers care before and after the school day in term time, and is conducted through the medium of English. The child minder has been registered since June 2013 and is registered to care for a maximum of 10 children. Summary of our findings 1. Overall assessment Children attending this service enjoy their time and are happy to come. They are able to make choices over their play and they have access to a good range of play resources and a large garden for outdoor play. Parents and children benefit from a reliable and well run service, but in few isolated areas, elements of the service do not meet the regulations and National Minimum Standards for Regulated Child Care. 2. Improvements Since the last inspection of the service, several improvements have been made, which have impacted positively on the experiences of children, and these include extending the home which has created more space for children, and moving a piano into the dining area so that children can use it, which we saw them enjoying.
    [Show full text]
  • The Executive's International Relations and Comparisons with Scotland & Wales
    Research and Information Service Briefing Paper Paper 04/21 27/11/2020 NIAR 261-20 The Executive’s International Relations and comparisons with Scotland & Wales Stephen Orme Providing research and information services to the Northern Ireland Assembly 1 NIAR 261-20 Briefing Paper Key Points This briefing provides information on the Northern Ireland Executive’s international relations strategy and places this in a comparative context, in which the approaches of the Scottish and Welsh governments are also detailed. The following key points specify areas which may be of particular interest to the Committee for the Executive Office. The Executive’s most recent international relations strategy was published in 2014. Since then there have been significant changes in the global environment and Northern Ireland’s position in it, including Brexit and its consequences. Northern Ireland will have a unique and ongoing close relationship with the EU, due in part to the requirements of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol. The Scottish and Welsh parliaments have launched and/or completed inquiries into their countries’ international relations in recent years. The Scottish and Welsh governments have also taken recent steps to update and refresh their approach to international relations. There is substantial variation in the functions of the international offices of the devolved administrations. NI Executive and Scottish Government offices pursue a broad range of diplomatic, economic, cultural, educational and specific policy priorities, with substantial variation between offices. Welsh Government offices, meanwhile, appear primarily focused on trade missions. It is therefore difficult to compare the international offices of the three administrations on a “like for like” basis.
    [Show full text]
  • Design-And-Access-Statements.Pdf
    Design and Access Statements in Wales Why, What and How This guidance was prepared for the Welsh Government by the Design Commission for Wales. Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael un Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh. Digital ISBN: 978-1-4734-9083-3 Contents Section 1: Introduction Section 2: What is a Design and Access Statement and do I need one? Section 3: The benefits fo a Design and Access Statement Section 4: Pitfalls and good practice Section 5: Structure of a Design and Access Statement and communicating the design process a. Summary of the proposal b. The brief and vision c. Site and context analysis d. Interpretation e. Design development f. The proposal i. Character ii. Access iii. Movement iv. Environmental Sustainability v. Community Safety vi. Response to planning policy World Heritage Sites and conservation areas Section 6: What if a Design and Access Statement is not required? Section 7: Working with Design and Access Statements Appendix 1: Legislative context for Design and Access Statements Appendix 2: Inclusive design principles Appendix 3: Further reading Design and Access Statements in Wales. Why, What & How. 01 1 Margam Discovery Centre, Port Talbot Client: Neath Port Talbot CBC with Field Studies Council Architect: Design Research Unit and Loyn & Co Architects Introduction Design and Access Statements (DAS) have been required in Wales for many planning applications since 2009. Since then much has been learned about their use and what constitutes a useful DAS. This guide builds on that understanding and responds to legislative requirements for DASs under 1 the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Children and Education Subgroup1 Name Organisation Andrew Jones P
    List of members on stakeholder groups Technical Advisory Cell: children and education subgroup1 Name Organisation Andrew Jones Public Health Wales Christopher Williams Public Health Wales Robin Howe Public Health Wales Ronan Lyons Swansea University, SAIL Brendan Collins Welsh Government (HSS – Finance) Ruth Conway Welsh Government (EPS – Education Directorate) Bethan Craddock Welsh Government (ESNR - Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning) Nicola Edwards Welsh Government (EPS – CYP&F) Lucie Griffiths Welsh Government (EPS – CYP&F) Chloe Hendry Welsh Government (Perm Sec’s Group) Lloyd Hopkin Welsh Government (EPS – Curriculum) Stephen Hughes Welsh Government (KAS) Glyn Jones Welsh Government (KAS) Marion Lyons Welsh Government (DHSS – DHP – Public Health) Huw Morris Welsh Government (ESNR – Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning) Kelly Murphy Welsh Government (EPS – EBPG) Neal O’Leary Welsh Government (EPS – Education Directorate) Heather Payne Welsh Government (HSS – DPH – Population Healthcare) Simon Rolfe Welsh Government (ESNR – Science) Sonny Singh Welsh Government (EPS – Curriculum) Craiger Solomons Welsh Government (KAS) 1 The subgroup studies Welsh, UK and international evidence, and gathers/requests further advice and guidance from the Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG). TAG is the group of scientific and technical experts who provide advice and guidance to the Welsh Government in response to COVID-19. TAC is the core team of public servants who: take active part in UK-wide COVID-19 scientific groups such as SAGE; chair and run TAG and its associated sub-groups; draft and issue advice to the Welsh public sector and communicating advice and evidence on COVID-19 to the wider public as needed. Headteachers and leaders stakeholder group Name Organisation Marc Belli Caldicot School, Monmouthshire The Bishop of Llandaff CiW High school, Cardiff Darren Jones St.
    [Show full text]
  • Flooding and Historic Buildings in Wales
    Flooding and Historic Buildings in Wales July 2019 TECHNICAL Statement of Purpose Flooding and Historic Buildings in Wales provides For information on specific historic buildings and guidance on ways to establish flood risk and prepare guidance on whether remedial treatments and repairs for possible flooding by installing protection measures. require consent, you should consult the conservation It also recommends actions to be taken during and officer in the local planning authority. after a flood to minimise damage and risks. Sources of further information and practical help are Aimed principally at home owners, owners of small listed at the end of the document. businesses and others involved with managing historic buildings, Flooding and Historic Buildings in Wales explains how to approach the protection of traditional buildings and avoid inappropriate modern repairs in the event of flood damage. Acknowledgement Cadw is grateful to Historic England for permission the express written permission of both Historic to base the text of this best-practice guidance on England and Cadw. All rights reserved. Historic Flooding and Historic Buildings, published in 2015. England does not accept liability for loss or damage arising from the use of the information contained The original material is ©Historic England 2015. in this work. www.historicengland.org.uk/images- Any reproduction of the original Work requires books/publications/flooding-and-historic-buildings- Historic England’s prior written permission and any 2ednrev reproduction of this adaptation of that Work requires Cadw Welsh Government Plas Carew Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed Parc Nantgarw Cardiff CF15 7QQ Telephone: 03000 256000 Email: [email protected] Website: https://cadw.gov.wales/ First published by Cadw in 2019 Digital ISBN 978-1-83876-805-8 © Crown Copyright, Welsh Government, Cadw, except where specified.
    [Show full text]
  • Progress Towards the Development of a New Procurement Landscape In
    Progress towards the development of a new procurement landscape in Wales © Crown copyright 2020 WG40210 Foreword The Welsh Government is committed to making Wales a more prosperous, more equal and greener nation – the choices we make when purchasing goods and services for the people of Wales are crucial to making that a reality. Continuing to maximise procurement spend in Wales to support local wealth is key to creating a more resilient Welsh economy, especially in the face of global economic uncertainty. The £6.3 billion annual procurement spend will support sustainable jobs and growth; fair work and employment practices; modern infrastructure and construction; among wider benefits for our economy and public services. This investment in Wales’ future will help to define our progress against the wellbeing goals we are pursuing for future generations. From innovative measures to decarbonise our public sector estate to delivering the training and skills fit for the future, our procurement choices can help to protect the future of our planet and tackle the causes of poverty. The context for this spend is also changing. The social partnership legislation currently being drafted will place requirements on public bodies to have a procurement strategy to encourage and support more joined up, clearer and more sustainable approaches. There are also immediate challenges in relation to post EU transition procurement reform that will impact on the rules that operate in Wales. As procurement decisions touch on so many areas of our life across our economy, public services and third sector, procurement plays a central role in the delivery of policy priorities ranging from the foundational economy, circular economy and decarbonisation, to social value and community benefits.
    [Show full text]
  • Welsh Government Response to the Climate Change Committee's 2020
    Welsh Government response to the Climate Change Committee’s 2020 Progress Report: Reducing Emissions in Wales Digital ISBN: 978-1-80195-496-9 Context In December 2020 the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its first emissions reduction progress report for Wales, required under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.1 The CCC considered our performance in emissions reduction since 1990, with a focus on trends in emissions during the first carbon budget period (2016-20). Drawing on the most recent available emissions data at the time (2018), the CCC concluded that “Wales is on track to meet its 2020 target (a 27% reduction on 1990 levels) and the First Carbon Budget (23% average reduction on 1990 levels across 2016-2020) on the current inventory basis, as long as emissions do not increase in 2019 and 2020.” The Welsh Government is therefore confident we are on track to meet our first carbon budget and 2020 target. This has been confirmed by the most recent emissions data which was published on 15 June 2021. It shows that in 2019 Welsh emissions were 31% lower than the baseline. Within six months of a CCC progress report we have a legal duty to prepare a response to the points raised by the report and lay it before the Senedd. This report meets that duty. Looking ahead Reporting on the first carbon budget and 2020 target We are required by law to publish a final statement on the first carbon budget and the 2020 target before the end of 2022, once data for the whole period is available.
    [Show full text]
  • Let's Shape the Future , File Type
    Let’s Shape the Future. Working in partnership to reconstruct a resilient future for the visitor economy in Wales. Tenby, Pembrokeshire Version: March 2021 Contents. Delivering together 3 About this plan 11 Engaging the sector 4 8 essential themes 12 - 1. Supporting business. Introduction 5 - 2. Valuing people. - 3. Reopening safely. The importance of our sector to the new economy 6 - 4. Rebuilding consumer confidence. - 5. Stimulating and managing demand. A look back over the last year 7 - 6. Developing local visitor economies. - 7. Transforming the sector to be more resilient. The road to recovery 8 - 8. Developing tailored recovery plans. Insights: our sector 9 Measuring success 28 Insights: our visitors 10 Let’s Shape the Future. A shared plan for recovery. Elan Valley, Mid Wales 2 Delivering Together. Welsh Government. This Welsh Government is on the side of This plan is for all of us. Taking this plan forward. people in Wales. We are striving for a more Visit Wales is the team within Welsh To underpin governance and drive forward prosperous, equal and greener nation. Government that is responsible for the delivery of the outline interventions covered A more prosperous Wales means creating development and promotion of the visitor in this plan, it is recommended that a new task a thriving, socially-just economy, which economy in Wales. Our role is to support & finish group is established. It is proposed benefits everyone fairly and tackles the and enable partners to grow our sector for that this group oversees the development of causes of poverty. the future. an accompanying Action Plan that will act as a An equal Wales means delivering better public living document, providing more detail around While this plan has been produced by services, helping everyone who needs them, the interventions and addressing the ‘who’ Visit Wales, we are just one of a number of when they need them, where they need them.
    [Show full text]
  • Letter of 30 September from the Minister for Health
    Vaughan Gething AS/MS Y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Minister for Health and Social Services Lee Waters AS/MS Dirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Ein cyf/Our ref VG/00327/20 Cardiff Airport BAR UK (the Board of Airline representatives) AOA (the Airport Operators Association) ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents) ABI (the Association of British Insurers) 30 September 2020 Dear Colleague, Further to our letters of the 10, 17, 22 and 28 September, the Welsh Government has extended local restrictions to four more Welsh counties. The local restrictions in four local authority areas in North Wales – Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy and Wrexham – will come into force at 6pm on Thursday (1 October) For more information on the local restrictions, please visit the Welsh Government website at: https://gov.wales/local-lockdown As you’re aware these restrictions mean that people are not able to leave their local county, and therefore not able to travel internationally. The restrictions are made under regulations and have the full power of UK law. It is therefore incumbent on the travel and insurance industries to take the necessary steps to mitigate the financial impact of the restrictions on members of the travelling public whose travel plans are disrupted as a result. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those organisations who have already responded to our earlier letters. As mentioned previously, our letters and your responses will be published on the Welsh Government website. These can be found here: https://gov.wales/letters-welsh-government-uk-travel-industry-and-uk-ministers-about-local- lockdowns-wales Canolfan Cyswllt Cyntaf / First Point of Contact Centre: 0300 0604400 Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay [email protected] Caerdydd • Cardiff [email protected] CF99 1SN Rydym yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg.
    [Show full text]
  • Welsh Route Study March 2016 Contents March 2016 Network Rail – Welsh Route Study 02
    Long Term Planning Process Welsh Route Study March 2016 Contents March 2016 Network Rail – Welsh Route Study 02 Foreword 03 Executive summary 04 Chapter 1 – Strategic Planning Process 06 Chapter 2 – The starting point for the Welsh Route Study 10 Chapter 3 - Consultation responses 17 Chapter 4 – Future demand for rail services - capacity and connectivity 22 Chapter 5 – Conditional Outputs - future capacity and connectivity 29 Chapter 6 – Choices for funders to 2024 49 Chapter 7 – Longer term strategy to 2043 69 Appendix A – Appraisal Results 109 Appendix B – Mapping of choices for funders to Conditional Outputs 124 Appendix C – Stakeholder aspirations 127 Appendix D – Rolling Stock characteristics 140 Appendix E – Interoperability requirements 141 Glossary 145 Foreword March 2016 Network Rail – Welsh Route Study 03 We are delighted to present this Route Study which sets out the The opportunity for the Digital Railway to address capacity strategic vision for the railway in Wales between 2019 and 2043. constraints and to improve customer experience is central to the planning approach we have adopted. It is an evidence based study that considers demand entirely within the Wales Route and also between Wales and other parts of Great This Route Study has been developed collaboratively with the Britain. railway industry, with funders and with stakeholders. We would like to thank all those involved in the exercise, which has been extensive, The railway in Wales has seen a decade of unprecedented growth, and which reflects the high level of interest in the railway in Wales. with almost 50 per cent more passenger journeys made to, from We are also grateful to the people and the organisations who took and within Wales since 2006, and our forecasts suggest that the time to respond to the Draft for Consultation published in passenger growth levels will continue to be strong during the next March 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Reforming Our Union: Shared Governance in the UK , File Type
    Reforming our Union Shared Governance in the UK Securing Wales’ Future | 1 Contents 1 First Minister’s Foreword 1 2 Introduction 2 3 General Principles 4 4 Legislatures and Legislative Powers 7 5 Executive powers: Governments, Agencies and Civil Service 11 6 Finance 16 7 Justice and the Courts 19 8 Constitutional Reform 21 9 Annex 1 – The Twenty Propositions 22 © Crown copyright 2019 WG39096 Digital ISBN: 978-1-83933-324-8 2Mae’r | Reforming ddogfen ymaour Union:hefyd arShared gael yn Governance Gymraeg / in This the documentUK is also available in Welsh 1 First Minister’s Foreword In the public debate around Brexit which has engaged politicians and citizens in all parts of the UK in recent times, the main focus has been on the UK’s future international and trading relations with the European Union and the wider world. This of course is vitally important, but just as much attention needs to be paid to the other side of the coin: how is the UK itself to be governed in future years as it responds to the challenges of the new century, including the potential challenges resulting from Brexit? There is currently a vacuum in the UK Government’s thinking on this issue, at least so far as manifested in public documents. Admittedly, in a speech delivered shortly before she left office, Mrs Theresa May spoke with Mark Drakeford AM commitment about the benefits of the Union. But her speech did not provide First Minister of Wales a way forward for those of us who believe that the United Kingdom continues to have value for each of its constituent parts, that its survival is however an open question, and who wish to see it continue as an effective and mutually-beneficial partnership between people and nations.
    [Show full text]