www.iwa.org.uk | Winter 2014/15 | No. 53 | £4.95 Wales: The heart of the debate? In the rush to appease Scottish and English public opinion will Wales’ voice be heard? + Gwyneth Lewis | Dai Smith | Helen Molyneux | Mark Drakeford | Rachel Trezise | Calvin Jones | Roger Scully | Gillian Clarke | Dylan Moore | The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Waterloo Foundation. 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Indeed, in one area we can be sure to see double standards – that of referenda. The limited powers over Income Tax set out by the Editors: Lee Waters and Jessica Blair UK Government for Wales can only be drawn down if there is yet another referendum (the Culture Editor: Dylan Moore fourth in less than 40 years). But there is no mention of further devolution to England being Editorial Board: Geraint Talfan Davies, predicated on a referendum. Gerry Holtham, Marcus Longley, Not only is Wales being largely left out of Clare Critchley, Rhea Stevens the debate, but we are being held to a higher Political Cartoonist: burden of proof of public support than other Mal Humphries (Mumph) parts of the UK. Design: Once again an expedient response to [email protected] pressure will produce a ‘settlement’ that will not Proofreader: Rhobat Bryn Jones last. Just as in the 1950s a Scottish Covenant movement, and a mass petition for a Parliament To advertise, tel: 02920 484 387 for Wales, was defused with conceding some The publisher acknowledges the change – a Cabinet Minister for Wales in our financial support of the Welsh September 18th is turning out to be a highly case – so the pressure for a Parliament for Books Council. significant date in the constitutional history of Scotland, and aversion to a ‘democratic deficit’ Institute of Welsh Affairs these islands. It was on Thursday September in Wales, produced a modest devolution 56 James Street, Cardiff Bay, 18th 1997 that Wales voted to establish its settlement in the late 1990s. Cardiff, CF10 5EZ Tel: 02920 484 387 first ever democratic Assembly, and it was on Short-term tactics are not successful in Email: [email protected] the same date in 2014, that Scotland voted to stabilising the Union, in fact they have brought www.iwa.org.uk reject Independence. the Union to the brink of collapse. To survive, as Charity number: 1078435 David Cameron recognised the morning after The IWA is an independent think tank Indeed, you could argue that it is the Scots the Scottish vote, the Union has to be fair and and charity dedicated to promoting the who have done the most to secure powers balanced to everyone. And that will need our economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. for Wales. Had it not been for Scotland voting leaders to take the long view. Yes to devolution in 1997 one week before the The IWA hopes to help generate a debate To become a member and receive benefits such as copies of the welsh Welsh referendum, it is highly unlikely that the about what kind of settlement would work agenda, discounts on events, weekly majority of just 6,721 would have been secured for Wales by hosting an online ‘Constitutional newsletters and free publications, for just £45 a year, please call Jess Blair for a Welsh Assembly. Convention’. I set out in more detail what we on 02920 484 387. Fast forward 17 years and it seems that, have in mind in my article in this issue of agenda. again, it is votes cast in Scotland that will set Funding this project, and the other work Branches the pace for Welsh devolution. The ‘Vow’ made of the IWA, remains one of our biggest North Wales Secretariat to Scottish voters to persuade them to stick challenges. As Gerry Holtham, himself a c/o Huw Lewis with the Union in the last week of the Scottish former Director of the leading London think- 6 Maes yr Haul, Mold, Flintshire, Independence campaign is likely to result in tank the IPPR, says in his tribute to Geraint CH7 1NS Tel: 01352 758311 extra powers flowing to Wales too. Talfan Davies in this issue, “As any think-tank Which powers? We simply don’t director knows, the money is erratic and Gwent Secretariat know. Wales has not been included in the uncertain. The whole operation, impressive as c/o Rob Southall University of Wales, Newport, debate about the future of the UK. The UK its output has been, lives hand to mouth”. Caerleon Campus, Government’s Wales Bill is currently going That has never been more true. As the PO Box 179, Newport, NP18 3YG through Parliament and will deliver some of the constitutional flux once again shows, Wales Tel: 01633 432005 Silk Commission’s recommendations, but not needs an independent voice to help articulate Cardigan Bay Secretariat all. And the rush to be seen to be responding to and organising our thinking. But without c/o Meilyr Ceredig Scottish and English feeling may well overtake additional help and funding, the IWA’s ability to 4 Science Park the thoughtful report of the Silk Commissioners. meet this need cannot be taken for granted. Aberystwyth SY23 3AH History suggests that Whitehall will not be Tel: 01970 636412 overly worried about producing a settlement Lee Waters, Swansea Bay Secretariat that is consistently applied to all parts of the Director, IWA c/o Delith Thorpe 38 Southlands Drive, Swansea, SA3 5RA Tel: 01792 404315 the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 1 22 45 contents 4 Lessons from Scotland 14 Debate: 22 Arts in an age of 31 The IWA Senedd Papers Roger Scully draws some Gender equality: endless austerity We look at the first two conclusions following the Claiming back the Geraint Talfan Davies Senedd Papers, the IWA’s Scottish referendum. ‘lost decade’ looks at the state of publication series, which Joy Kent examines the arts in Wales in a aims to promote new 6 Did Scotland say no, the drive for gender challenging financial ideas to policy makers. or just not yet? balance among the climate. Eberhard Bort says decision-makers in a post- 33 Devolving to change for the union devolution Wales. 26 Those in greatest need English Cities must be forthcoming or at the front of the queue. David Waite examines the No vote on the 18th 15 Putting a price on At the IWA’s annual health decentralisation September will be nothing gender inequality conference, IWA Director, across England and its more than a reprieve. Helen Molyneux says Lee Waters, and Health implications for Wales. companies should be Minister Mark Drakeford sat 8 England awakens penalised for not having down to discuss the notion 36 North Wales, a region Michael Kenny says women on their boards. of ‘prudent healthcare’, the without a city? English votes for English Welsh Government’s ‘big David B. Jones asks where Laws doesn’t just pose 16 It’s time to wake up idea’ to address the severe a City Region agenda problems for Labour. and smell the coffee: challenges facing the NHS for South Wales and the poor places stay poor in Wales. North West of England 11 How can Wales be at because of rich places leaves the north of Wales. the heart of the debate? Professor Calvin Jones 29 Debate: Lee Waters says empty argues that no place E-cigarettes 38 Debate: reassurances put Wales develops within a vacuum. Let’s find a balance in Will the SEN reforms at risk of being left the e-cigarette debate work for Wales? behind again. 20 Getting Graduates Dr Julie Bishop explains A Raw Deal to Teach First why Public Health Wales Nathan Davies outlines Jennifer Owen-Adams is calling for regulation of why increased divergence looks at the potential e-cigarettes. between special education impact of Teach First needs provision is a raw coming to Wales. 30 Let’s lighten up! deal for Wales.