+ Philip Pullman Growing up in Ardudwy John Osmond Where stand the parties now Inspiring Gerald Holtham Time to be bold on the economy Ned Thomas Patagonia Cultural corridor to the east Sarah Jenkinson A forest the size of Wales Gareth Rees The PISA moral panic Virginia Isaac Small is still beautiful Mari Beynon Owen Wales at the Venice Biennale Trevor Fishlock Memories are made of this Peter Finch Joining a thousand literary flowers together Peter Stead The Burton global phenomenon www.iwa.org.uk | Summer 2011 | No. 44 | £10 The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Waterloo Foundation. 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Wales puts her hand to the wheel Editor: John Osmond First Minister Carwyn Jones’ announcement the Welsh Government has commendable Associate Editors: on 12 July of his legislative programme for aspirations. Who could quarrel with the Geraint Talfan Davies Rhys David the fourth Assembly was another milestone First Minister’s aim “to ensure that Wales in Wales’ devolution journey. Without has increasingly resilient and diverse Administration: Helen Sims-Coomber the resounding Yes vote in the March ecosystems that deliver economic, referendum this occasion could not have environmental and social benefits”? There Design: [email protected] happened. For the first time in our history was a widespread welcome, too, for the we can see the outlines of a parliamentary proposed Heritage Bill. The First Minister To advertise, tel: 029 2066 0820 nation beginning to take the measure of its agreed in debate that the proposed Institute of Welsh Affairs legislative aspirations. In Putting Wales in the Highways and Transport (Wales) Bill could 4 Cathedral Road Driving Seat, a report the IWA prepared for be widened to embrace the need for an Cardiff CF11 9LJ the all-Wales Convention in April 2009, we integrated public transport system rather Tel: 029 2066 0820 looked forward to this day. We argued that than being just limited to placing a duty on Email: [email protected] www.iwa.org.uk the great virtue of the National Assembly local authorities to provide and maintain being able to enact primary legislation cycle paths, laudable though that is. The IWA is a non-aligned independent without first seeking permission from It was in this last policy area that the think-tank and research institute. Westminster via Legislative Competence First Minister came closest to describing Members (annual subscription £40) receive agenda three times a year, Orders, would be to allow it to develop a an over-arching theme for his programme. can purchase reports at a 25 per cent strategic vision. It would enable the Welsh As he put it, “We will legislate to embed reduction, and receive discounts when Government to adopt a holistic approach, sustainable development as the central attending IWA events. dealing with policy in such fields as health, organising principle in all of our actions Branches education, and the environment in a wide- across Government.” Again, few would ranging and connected way. quarrel with that. But like much of what North Wales Secretariat c/o Huw Lewis How does the Welsh Government’s successive Welsh Governments have sought 6 Maes yr Haul, Mold, inaugural legislative programme measure to achieve in the first decade of devolution, Flintshire CH7 1NS up on this score? The opportunity certainly the objective is general and declaratory Tel: 01352 758311 appears to have been taken in education. and provides little comfort that concrete Gwent Secretariat The Schools and Standards (Wales) Bill gains will be made in practice. Institutional c/o Chris O’Malley will enshrine the 20 action points that change may be important in this area, but it University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus have been set out by Education Minister is by outcomes that the Welsh Government PO Box 179, Newport NP18 3YG Leighton Andrews in a series of speeches has asked to be judged. Tel: 01633 432005 over the past six months and hopefully will This first legislative programme West Wales Secretariat succeed in improving performance in our is a welcome beginning and marks a c/o Margaret Davies schools. In higher and further education, significant moment in the maturing Principal’s Office, Trinity University too, legislation may also result in significant of Wales as a political nation. Much College, Carmarthen SA31 3EP institutional change as a result of far- responsibility will now fall on the shoulders Tel: 01267 237971 reaching recent reviews. of the Opposition parties to scrutinise Swansea Bay Secretariat The social policy agenda is also pretty and improve what is being proposed. c/o Beti Williams substantial. The Social Service (Wales) Bill Their collective performance in the Department of Computer Science, will provide, for the first time, a coherent wake of the First Minister’s statement Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP Welsh legal framework for social services was unimpressive. But overall, we still Tel: 01792 295625 based on social democratic principles, lack a convincing narrative as to how though as ever the devil will be in the the proposed 21 Bills across such a wide Cardiff and Valleys Secretariat c/o Llio Ellis financial detail. The proposed Housing range of subject matters hang together 3 De Clare Drive, Bill will do the same, as well as tackling as a programme for a full term. There Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8FY homelessness which is bound to increase is a striking contrast with the One Wales Tel: 07971 246116 in the coming years as a result of the agreement that was put together, in the IWA Women Westminster Government’s assault on wake of the 2007 election, in about the c/o Kirsty Davies benefits. There are also related Domestic same time period. There are more benefits [email protected] Abuse, Youth Offending, and Children and to coalitions