BGW2 EV21

Submission by the Wales TUC to the National Assembly for Wales Committee on Better Governance for Wales

Introduction

The Wales TUC is pleased to be able to contribute to the Committee on Better Governance for Wales’ considerations on the UK Government’s White Paper that sets out the proposals for changing the devolution settlement for Wales (BGW).

The Wales TUC is the umbrella body for the trade unions in Wales. Amongst our roles is that of co-ordinating the input of the trade unions we represent to the National Assembly of Wales and in doing so to ensure that the interests of Wales' half a million trade unionists are properly represented in the whole range of Assembly decision making.

We note the contents of BGW and would make the following comments.

The Wales TUC welcomes and supports the proposals as summarised in the conclusion to the report:

To create a new executive structure for the Assembly

The Wales TUC recognises many of the issues that have led to the desire to create a formal split between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government and welcomes the clarity and enhanced efficiency which the establishment of a separate Ministerial executive authority, which derives its powers directly from the Crown, will bring.

Further the Wales TUC believes that it is appropriate for the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government to have separate legal status and therefore agrees with the proposals made in BGW on this issue.

The Wales TUC notes that the executive functions of the National Assembly will transfer to Ministers, including the powers to make subordinate legislation. We believe that this is appropriate provided that there is an adequate mechanism for ensuring that legislation can be properly scrutinised in a timely fashion.

The statutory duty presently laid on the Assembly to establish partnership or consultative arrangements with business will become the responsibility of Ministers. The present statutory duty to consult with the social partners - the trade union and business organisations in Wales - is not as strong as the requirement to consult with local government or the voluntary sector.

The present Business Partnership Council, at which trade unions and business are represented, is not a statutory body and there is no requirement to provide a report to the social partners on the activities of the National Assembly for Wales on an annual basis.

We believe that the Welsh Assembly Government should establish Business Partnership Council that has a formal role with the Welsh Assembly Government. This would give proper weight to the key role that trade unions and business has in generating the wealth of Wales and sustaining the ability to create wealth into the future.

To give the Assembly enhanced legislative powers

The Wales TUC warmly welcomes the proposal to enhance the legislative powers of the Assembly. The Wales TUC would wish to see that in practice the processes enable the Assembly to take prompt action in areas of policy which benefit the people of Wales. The Wales TUC would also wish to see processes which enable greater clarity as to where the National Assembly’s powers begin and Westminster’s end, and vice versa.

To amend the current electoral system

The Wales TUC welcomes and wholeheartedly supports the proposals to prevent individuals from simultaneously being candidates in constituency elections and being eligible for election from party lists.