Nations and Regions: The Dynamics of Devolution Quarterly Monitoring Programme Wales Quarterly Report December 2003 The monitoring programme is jointly funded by the ESRC and the Leverhulme Trust WALES IS WAITING Monitoring The National Assembly September to December 2003 Edited By John Osmond In association with: CONTENTS SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................................1 1. ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT..........................................................................................................2 WALES IS WAITING ..............................................................................................................................2 QUEEN’S SPEECH..................................................................................................................................7 ‘A BETTER COUNTRY’..........................................................................................................................8 NEW DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURES.....................................................................................................9 NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN ............................................................................................................10 COMMUNITIES FIRST ..........................................................................................................................12 CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER..............................................................................................................13 CHILDREN’S COURT ADVISORY SERVICE TO BE DEVOLVED..............................................................14 ELWA ................................................................................................................................................15 SPIN DOCTORS APPOINTED.................................................................................................................17 NEW WEFO CHIEF EXECUTIVE..........................................................................................................18 PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN.........................................................................................................18 ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT OFFICES FOR MID AND NORTH WALES.....................................................18 2. FINANCE..........................................................................................................................................19 THE BARNETT SQUEEZE .....................................................................................................................22 EUROPEAN MATCH FUNDING .............................................................................................................23 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.........................................................................................................25 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND REGENERATION ................................................................................................25 EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................................26 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ........................................................................................................................27 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORT .....................................................................................28 ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE .................................................................................28 CULTURE, WELSH LANGUAGE AND SPORT.........................................................................................29 SIZE OF THE RESERVE AND UNDER-SPEND........................................................................................30 3. THE ASSEMBLY.............................................................................................................................32 RICHARD COMMISSION.......................................................................................................................32 ASSEMBLY SEATING...........................................................................................................................35 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES MEMBERSHIP CHANGE...............................................................................35 MAY 2003 ELECTION .........................................................................................................................36 BUSINESS IN THE FIRST TERM ............................................................................................................38 4. POLICY DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................39 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES .........................................................................................................39 EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................................41 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.................................................................................................................42 CULTURE, SPORT AND WELSH LANGUAGE .........................................................................................42 ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE .................................................................................43 FINANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES ....................................................................45 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND REGENERATION ................................................................................................45 5. THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS....................................................................................................46 PROGRESS OF WESTMINSTER BILLS CONFERRING FUNCTIONS ON THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ..........46 DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY .........................................................................48 PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN FOR WALES .....................................................................................49 PRESCRIPTION CHARGES ....................................................................................................................49 6. RELATIONS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT...........................................................................51 CAERPHILLY SEEKS JUDICIAL REVIEW...............................................................................................51 ‘GOLDEN GOODBYES’ DIVIDE COUNCILS...........................................................................................52 LOCAL AUTHORITY BUDGETS ............................................................................................................52 NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT ........................................................................................................53 GROWTH INCENTIVE SCHEME ............................................................................................................54 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS..................................................................................................54 COUNCIL TAX BANDS.........................................................................................................................54 ONE VOICE WALES ............................................................................................................................54 7. RELATIONS WITH WESTMINSTER AND WHITEHALL......................................................56 HAIN PRESSES FOR WELSH MOTORWAY TOLLS .................................................................................56 TRUANCY AND IDENTITY CARDS........................................................................................................56 LOTTERY FUNDING.............................................................................................................................57 8. RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION .........................................................................58 DRAFT EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION .....................................................................................................58 FUTURE OF EU FUNDING....................................................................................................................59 FOREIGN MISSIONS.............................................................................................................................60 NUMBER OF MEPS REDUCED .............................................................................................................61 9. POLITICAL PARTIES ...................................................................................................................62 LABOUR..............................................................................................................................................62 PLAID CYMRU ....................................................................................................................................64 CONSERVATIVES ................................................................................................................................65 LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ........................................................................................................................67 FORWARD WALES, CYMRU YMLAEN .................................................................................................67 10. PUBLIC ATTITUDES...................................................................................................................68