The Richard Commission Report: Presentation to Mid Wales Regional - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Richard Commission Report: Presentation to Mid Wales Regional Committee, 8 October 2004

Tom Jones and Laura McAllister

Aims of presentation

To provide an overview of report and its

recommendations.

To explain what we tried to do, how we

approached the task, and why we reached

• ur specific recommendations.

Beyond the Terms of Reference

• Two prescribed areas:
• Powers
• Electoral Arrangements
• Broadly interpreted - independent

commission

• Opened up other critical areas
• Designing overall framework for good

governance

Methodology and Approach

Practical focus, not overly technocratic,

public’s views paramount

“Critically evidential”! Test against own “vision” Integrated approach to Terms of Reference Aims:

– holistic blueprint for improvements – maximalist coverage and sustainable

governance

The Vision

“The Assembly is the democratically elected

representative body for the whole of Wales. The WAG should be able to formulate policies within clearly defined fields, and should have the power to implement all the stages for effective delivery, in partnership with the UK Government and other stakeholders. The Assembly should be able to set its own priorities and timetables for action. It should be accountable to the people of Wales through the elected Assembly for its policies and their implementation.”

Basis for Recommendations

Best sustainable solution for Wales (not for

WAG, National Assembly or political parties)

Underpinning principles: fair representation,

good governance, democratic legitimacy and public support

Contribution to improved public engagement

with Assembly, plus job satisfaction for politicians and officials alike

“A Virtual Parliament”: the Evolution of Devolution

WAG and the National Assembly Creation and re-naming of Parliamentary Service

with separate budget

Separation of staff protocols, free-standing legal

advice, House Committee, Executive Board (with special advisers), new policy focus

Less of a dichotomy between executive and

legislative devolution

Permissive legislative powers Operation of plenary and Subject Committees

Stretch or Strain?: A Creaking Internal Architecture

Corporate body has had its day Too few members? Under resourced Parliamentary Service Trade offs between policy development and

effective scrutiny- SCs and Plenary

Some under-used capacity? Better use of

timetable but still needs more AMs

The Key Recommendations

A legislative Assembly for Wales Test framework delegated powers approach

in meantime

End of corporate body 20 extra members Elected by STV Changes in place by 2011, or sooner

A report with a long shelf life

Outcome is crucial, but process itself is

very important

Not about hasty reactions: durability of

report

Up to the people of Wales- referendum and

campaigning more widely

Concluding Remarks

Serious contribution to an often immature

debate

Strikes right balance between ambition and

realism

Unlikely to be another Richard Commission Therefore, premium on sustainability,

clarity, workability, accountability

Not another muddled compromise We’ve done our bit - over to others to push

for its implementation

The Vision

“The Assembly is the democratically elected

representative body for the whole of Wales. The WAG should be able to formulate policies within clearly defined fields, and should have the power to implement all the stages for effective delivery, in partnership with the UK Government and other stakeholders. The Assembly should be able to set its own priorities and timetables for action. It should be accountable to the people of Wales through the elected Assembly for its policies and their implementation.”