1)The Size of the National Assembly
– With No Change in Functions.
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a) Representation
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1.
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In considering whether the size of the
Assembly is adequate to carry out its functions, it
is AWEMA’s view that it is only marginally possible
for the Assembly Members to represent their Constituencies
or Regions. This is through surgeries and other forms
lobbying such as public functions, correspondence, and
for the Party Members within the framework of the Party
meetings.
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2.
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However, Community Groups are often not
accessed by the politicians or the political parties.
This is due to the fact that politicians do not belong
to any of those Community Groups and as such, may not
know how to approach them.
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3.
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It is also the case that Community Groups
do not know that they have the right to make representations
to their Assembly Members. This lack of empowerment
applies equally to Members of Parliament and Local Councillors.
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4.
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In presenting the above arguments, AWEMA
recognises that this applies to the indigenous Community
Groups too. The Commission though needs to appreciate
that with Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities, language,
culture and at times religion are further barriers to
accessibility.
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5.
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It is therefore, our view that having
just a pool of 60 Members in itself limits the scope
for a sufficient spread of experience and knowledge
to be present. This is also the case at Constituency
and Regional levels to reflect the diversity of the
community that the individual AM seeks to represent.
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b) Deliberating
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1.
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Based on AWEMA’s knowledge and experience,
we believe that although the 60 members have the capacity
to deliberate, debate and scrutinise issues before them,
we do not believe that sufficient depth and experience
is present to allow the diversity of views to be brought
to bear on matters under consideration. Thus, the quality
of debate and the depth of scrutinising is the poorer,
resulting in poorer delivery of services. At times,
service to disadvantaged communities does not exist.
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c) Policy Developments
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1.
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AWEMA recognises that the AMs seek to
deliver on the majority Party’s (or a coalition)
priorities as set in the Election Manifesto. It is further
recognised that the Welsh Assembly Government’s
Civil Servants make delivery possible. Use is also made
of the Local Authorities and at times, the Voluntary
Sector.
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2.
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We recognise that through devolved powers,
some 16 Subject Headings fall within the remit of the
National Assembly for Wales. Also, that the funding
for the areas of responsibility are devolved through
the Barnett Formula.
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3.
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Although AWEMA does not have direct knowledge
and experience of how funding is disseminated, it is
our understanding that the bulk of this funding is "ringfenced"
under each of the devolved Subject Headings.
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4.
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The above arguments leave little scope
for recommending policy solutions to problems that may
have been analysed by the Assembly Members.
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5.
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In any event, given the lack of depth
and range of experience, good quality policy development
is impossible. It is here that BME communities continue
to be failed. AWEMA constantly hears from its Community
Groups "that we are forever being consulted, but nothing
ever happens."
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6.
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With the exception of the Housing Division
of the WAG, which has mainstreamed a "BME Housing Action
Plan", little is being done to develop BME policy and
strategy. When an initiative is undertaken, it is in
isolation. Little thought is given to the real needs
of the BME communities under the areas of health, education,
economic development, culture and arts, and sport. In
fact, there is little or no thought made on minority
languages. This in the present international climate
cannot be acceptable.
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7.
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The Government of Wales Act has an Equality
Clause, which requires the Welsh Assembly Government,
and indeed the National Assembly for Wales to consider
issues of equality in all its deliberations. We are
now beginning to find that the WAG does not need to
promote equality, as it is not a devolved matter.
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8.
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AWEMA is of the view that in the equality
deliberations the WAG and NAfW are only partially successful.
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9.
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It is beginning to be generally recognised
that there are eight equality strands:
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1) Gender
2) Race
3) Disability
4) Orientation
5) Religion
6) Age
7) Welsh Language
8) Minority Language
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10.
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It is our experience and view that four
of the above equality strands are being mainstreamed.
Our argument is based on knowledge of Policy Initiatives
and the experience and composition of the AMs. These
are:
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1) Gender
2) Orientation
3) Age
4) Welsh Language
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11.
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It is AWEMA’s firm view that the
other equality strands either remain marginalized or
are completely ignored. The minority languages falling
into the latter category.
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12.
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Before the Referendum in 1997, the following
Statutory Organisations existed, and have been working
with the Public Sector in the field of equality. These
are:
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1) The Commission for Racial
Equality (CRE)
2) The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
3) The Welsh Language Board
4) Disability Rights Commission (following the
Disability Discrimination Act)
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13.
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Following the Referendum, through intense
political pressure on the then Secretary of State for
Wales – Ron Davies, the Equality Policy Unit (EPU)
was established in the Welsh Office. The EPU started
off well, but still remains hesitant and fires on what
may be described as one of six cylinders. It has yet
to prove its worth. This can only come about with much
greater political will and commitment.
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14.
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Since the Assembly Election in 1999,
four further Equality Organisations have been formed
in the Voluntary Sector with the Equality for Wales
grants of £50,000 p.a. only. These organisations are
already being told by WAG that they need to look to
other sources of funding for sustainability. There appears
to be a view in WAG that promoting equality is not devolved
from Central Government. The organisations are:
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1) AWEMA
2) Stonewall Cymru (Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual)
3) Wales Women’s Coalition
4) Disability Wales
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The capacities of these equality-funded
organisations in the Voluntary Sector can only achieve
limited success based on the resources in its possession.
The resources at hand are completely mismatched with the
demands placed on them to fulfil a function that we had
been led to believe was essentially the responsibility
of the WAG and the NAfW. |
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16.
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In any event, equality-funded organisations
can only begin to succeed when they are able to influence
policy development. Policy development only becomes
possible when all the equality strands are present in
terms of depth and experience in the composition of
the elected representatives. This is currently not the
case.
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