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Key Issues for the Fifth Assembly

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Key Issues for the Fifth Assembly Key Issues for the Fifth Assembly National Assembly for Wales Research Service The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account. Contact Us Research Service National Assembly for Wales Tŷ Hywel Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1NA q: 0300 200 6328 E: [email protected] y: Assembly.Wales/InBrief a: @SeneddResearch a: Assembly.Wales/Research © National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2016 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 National Assembly for Wales Commission and the title of the document specified. Key Issues for the Fifth Assembly Editors: Elfyn Henderson and Rhys Iorwerth Working Group: Amy Clifton, Chloe Corbyn, Christian Tipples, Michael Dauncey, Robin Wilkinson, Stephen Boyce, Tom Douch Contributors: Alys Thomas, Amy Clifton, Andrew Minnis, Anne Thomas, Ben Stokes, Chloe Corbyn, Christian Tipples, David Millett, Elfyn Henderson, Gareth Thomas, Gregg Jones, Hannah Johnson, Helen Jones, Jonathan Baxter, Joseph Champion, Megan Jones, Michael Dauncey, Nia Seaton, Owen Holzinger, Paul Worthington, Philippa Watkins, Rebekah James, Rhys Iorwerth, Robin Wilkinson, Sam Jones, Siân Hughes, Siân Thomas, Stephen Boyce, Tom Douch Printed by the National Assembly for Wales Commission, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA. Promoted by the National Assembly for Wales Commission, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA National Assembly for Wales Research Service Foreword Welcome to the Fifth Assembly and to this specially prepared publication from the National Assembly’s Research Service. We know how important it is for Members to have access to accurate, impartial and authoritative information that they can trust. Based on our experience of working with Members over the last 17 years, we have developed a range of specialist services to meet these information needs. Our team of research and library staff are experts in their policy fields and Welsh devolution, and are here to provide Members with up-to-the minute information in a fast-paced political environment. This publication sets out a selection of key issues likely to matter to Members in this Fifth Assembly: from the steel industry to the future of Welsh law-making. It shows the kind of work we can do on your behalf – providing expert analysis using a wide range of sources in a succinct and readable format. Hopefully it provides a glimpse of what we can do, but it is not all. Over the course of the Fourth Assembly, we answered more than 11,500 confidential enquiries from Members and their staff. We also provided detailed briefings and advice for Assembly committees; supported individual Members developing new laws; and published a broad range of topical briefings utilising infographics and mapping on the Research Service blog, In Brief. Our service works on the principles of impartiality and independence, and we treat requests from Members of all parties equally, objectively, and in confidence. We look forward to working with you over this Fifth Assembly. Kathryn Potter Head of Research Service Contents Introducing the Research Service ........................................................................................................................... 1 Directory of specialists ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Constitution ........................................................................................................................... 10 The EU referendum and Wales ............................................................................................................................... 11 A new devolution settlement .................................................................................................................................. 13 A distinct Welsh jurisdiction ..................................................................................................................................... 15 The UK Trade Union Bill and Wales ........................................................................................................................ 17 Finance and governance .................................................................................................... 19 Tax powers for Wales ................................................................................................................................................... 20 The future of Welsh Government funding .......................................................................................................... 23 Reforming local government .................................................................................................................................. 26 Funding local government ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Commissioners and the ombudsman .................................................................................................................. 32 Health and social care ......................................................................................................... 34 Fair access to medicines ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Redesigning hospital services ................................................................................................................................. 37 A sustainable NHS workforce .................................................................................................................................. 40 The future of social care ............................................................................................................................................ 42 The escalating dementia challenge ...................................................................................................................... 45 Tackling the obesity epidemic ................................................................................................................................ 48 Education, children and young people .......................................................................... 51 Improving school standards .................................................................................................................................... 52 Reforming the curriculum and teacher training .............................................................................................. 55 Funding higher education ........................................................................................................................................ 58 Reforming the special educational needs system .......................................................................................... 60 Prioritising children and young people ................................................................................................................ 62 Economy and transport ...................................................................................................... 65 The future of the steel industry .............................................................................................................................. 66 The M4 relief road ........................................................................................................................................................ 69 A development bank for business ......................................................................................................................... 72 Growth in south-east Wales ...................................................................................................................................... 75 Transport in north Wales ........................................................................................................................................... 77 The future of passenger rail ..................................................................................................................................... 79 Poverty, equality and housing ......................................................................................... 82 Work, welfare and poverty ........................................................................................................................................ 83 Debt and financial exclusion .................................................................................................................................... 86 The state of human rights and equality ............................................................................................................... 89 Increasing housing supply ........................................................................................................................................ 91 Environment and agriculture ........................................................................................... 94 Climate change ............................................................................................................................................................. 95 The Common Agricultural Policy
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