Y Comisiwn ar Bwerau a Threfniadau Etholiadol Cynulliad
Cenedlaethol Cymru
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Y Cyfarfod Cyhoeddus Cyntaf yn y Guildhall, Abertawe
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Ddydd Mercher 15 Ionawr
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COFNOD O GWESTIYNAU A SYLWADAU YSGRIFENEDIG
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| "The people of Wales are over governed. All that is
needed is one local and one national level of government,
ie. Westminster and the Unitary authorities. The Welsh
Assembly is not needed and wasn’t wanted by the Welsh
people. It should be abolished so freeing hundreds of
millions of pounds wasted on this extra layer of government". |
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Malcolm Biggs
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Wedi ymddeol
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| "As a campaigning organisation entirely operated by
volunteers can we expect the Assembly to give us proper
financial support to give justice to the elderly. |
| In order to maintain our independent role we answer
the questions posed by huge charitable organisations well
funded. Give the new Assembly additional legislative powers". |
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Gordon Carruthers
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Cadeirydd, Wales Pensioners
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| "The 2 different methods by which AMs are
elected provides for confusion amongst the electorate,
and different levels of workload amongst AMs. This creates
2 classes of AMs. One directly elected on a named basis
by the electorate, and the second chosen by a balancing
method afterwards, and selected by the political parties.
In some minds this attaches a different level of legitimacy
to AMs. |
| The regional top up seats are not identified with by
the electorate, and this means that local casework tends
to go to the AMs elected in the parliamentary constituencies.
It also means that the AMs elected on a regional basis
are more able to pick and choose issues to campaign on.
The 2 ballot papers provided also unnecessarily complicate
the election. The current method also allows candidates
to have 2 bites of the cherry, by appearing in the ballot
for a constituency first past the post election, and then
if rejected by those voters, appearing on a parties regional
list for top up seats. |
| An alternative could be to elect on constituencies co-terminus
with Unitary Authorities. This would give a geographic
constituency which most of the electorate would identify
with. The division of the 60 AMs between the LA regions
would be on the basis of population, with some weighting
due to land area, and perhaps other factors. |
| AMs should be elected through one ballot, by single
transferable vote. This may be by party or by individual
candidate. This would give each AM the same electoral
legitimacy. It would improve the principle of PR brought
in for the Assembly elections, as it is easier to understand,
and not be felt to be imposed by bureaucracy after the
election. |
| It would also benefit Unitary Authorities to have the
same form of elections, so that AMs and councillors would
have a better idea of the pressures each faced, and the
necessity of dealing with elected members of other parties." |
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Y Cynghorydd Mark Child
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| "When will all planning and monitoring of Police and
Emergency service provisions be fully devolved to Wales. |
| The reason why we ask this question is as follows….. |
| It is extraordinary that because of a Home Office Initiative
"TETRA Emergency Service network for Police" that three
years down the line when Home Office funding ends that
the exorbitant cost of running this service in Wales will
mean an increase to council tax payers of approximately
700%. If we had fully devolved powers – we would
have had the opportunity to have looked at not only a
SAFER but a more efficient and cost effective system. |
| In this instance we have no other option than to accept
a seriously flawed network that is going to be detrimental
to the health of both user and the public". |
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Lis Davies
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| "In what ways could the effective scrutiny of legislation
take place in a National Assembly with increased powers? |
| Greater powers should be devolved to the National Assembly,
including tax varying powers. To cope with the additional
work involved, the number of Assembly Members should be
increased to 80 initially. An increased proportion of
the AM'’ should be elected via Proportional Representation
to reflect better the range of political views espoused
by the people of Wales. More AM’s needed to undertake
scrutiny of legislative proposals. More powers needed
to overcome current blocks and anomalies and possible
future "neutering" of the Assembly by a Westminster government
of a different political persuasion to that in Cardiff". |
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Mike Day
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Cynghorydd Awdurdod Lleol
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| "We need a real Parliament for Wales – democratically
answerable to people of Wales not a puppet for Anglo-centric
conservatism and London control freaks! It is time the
Welsh people took real responsibility for their own nation". |
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Alan M Griffith
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Wedi ymddeol
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"ASSEMBLY ADMINISTRATION.
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National Assembly members’ salary
pegged at May 2002 levels for period of next Assembly
[4 years]
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Abolish the title of First Minister,
the elected leader of the majority Party/Grouping will
be known as Facilitator Cymru…Cydlynydd Wales.
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The cabinet will consist of no more than
5 members ie. 1/12th of elected members.
Cabinet posts will be referred to as Secretary of Economic
Development etc.
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The election of 2007 must be structured
to show positive discrimination in PR seats to cater
for Welsh minorities of ethnicity, disability etc.
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Only candidates who are on the electoral
register in Wales will be allowed to contest seats.
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Assembly Members to ‘learn’
Welsh within 15 months of their election to an acceptable
level.
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Wales must seek to provide a true NHS
service, more in keeping with the aspirations of Nye
Bevan. It will not, of necessity, be a National Ill-
Health service, but will concentrate very heavily
on clearing patients needing ‘in-patient’
operations etc., and provide meaningful guidance towards
preventative and health educational messages.
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Environmental Health issues must be tackled
head on. It is accepted that Public Inquiry situations
are extremely costly, and a drain on other resources,
therefore the Assembly must through ‘other’
consultation methods seek to resolve these issues, by
positive decision-making.
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Policy Areas:
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The Assembly should petition the UK Government
for greater return of the tax revenues of tobacco and
alcohol products, which are collected in Wales, into
the Assembly budget from Central Government allocated
funds. These must be ring-fenced for NHS Capital projects
in Wales
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As a priority should seek to renegotiate
the ‘Barnett’ Formula to take into account
the implications of Social Exclusion/Inclusion, on the
population of Wales, and seek ‘fairer’ funding
on a needs basis.
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Should propose that National Insurance
Contributions [in Wales] be increased by say 2p per
week, the funds collected to again be ring-fenced to
meet the Revenue needs of the NHS in Wales.
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Additional funding to our teaching hospitals
and grants to young people to give prospects to them
to remain in the NHS in Wales, should be a priority.
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A system of monitoring the performance
of the NHS in Wales to be established probably linked
to a strengthened VFM unit within the District Audit
in Wales.
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Dignified Care of the Elderly, and Health
Promotion should feature highly in policy decisions.
The NHS in Wales is not to be perceived as an Ill Health
Service.
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| IMPACT AREAS for greater co-operation |
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LOCAL AUTHORITY and LOCAL HEALTH/POLICING
AREAS
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Greater co-ordination between the 22
Local Authorities in Wales
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Cost saving reductions in reducing elected
membership of Local Authorities
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Savings by way of ‘grouping’
senior staff at LA’s
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Positive liaison between the Social Services
of LA’s and Health Authorities
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Greater emphasis on active Health Alliances
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LA’s to consider sustainable funding
for Healthy Living Centres
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Local Health Groups and LA’s to
meet regularly under the Health Alliances
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Co-ordination of Environmental Health
issues
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LEA’s to become more pro-active
on health issues
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The preservation and expansion of the
role of CHC’s in Wales
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The possible linking of an all Wales
governing body for HLC’s
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Enhanced funding to the Police
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Traffic accidents are costly to the NHS
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The National Assembly [in effect]
becomes the single Health Authority for Wales
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Regional Authorities are limited to
4, directly reporting to the Assembly:
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The Four Regional Health Authorities,
which will report directly to The National Assembly,
should be:
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South West Wales, incorporating the Counties/County
Boroughs of;
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Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea,
Neath and Port Talbot, and Bridgend
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South East Wales, incorporating; Vale
of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire
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Mid Wales & the Valleys, incorporating;
Rhondda Cynon Tâf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerffili, Torfaen,
Blaenau Gwent, Powys & Ceredigion
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North Wales incorporating: Gwynedd, Ynys
Môn, Conway, Clwyd, Wrexham and Flint.
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All plans to erect a prestigious debating
chamber [talking shop] are abandoned, uncommitted funds
channelled immediately into NHS resources;
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Primarily:
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A new All Wales Orthopaedic Hospital
to be built in Brecon
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Swift progress on an All Wales Children’s
Hospital [possibly Swansea], appreciating plans for
Cardiff are well advanced
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Clive V James ACIB MCIM PG Dip.
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[Nid wyf yn aelod o unrhyw blaid wleidyddol]
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| "Attended meeting on 15th where I believe
some important issues were raised: |
| I would like to see the power of the Assembly increased
re Primary Legislation; |
| An all elected chamber; |
| Would like to see Assembly take the initiative in encouraging
members from Black and Ethnic Minorities to be involved
in the political process; |
| FUNDING – I am currently employed as a Family Court
Adviser with CAFLASS – Public and Private law. Our
work in public law is hindered due to lack of resources
for Social Services Dept in Child Protection cases". |
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Rishi Kitaruth
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Cynghorwr yn Llys y Teulu
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| "If the National Assembly for Wales is not given additional
powers there’ll be a temptation to remove responsibilities
from local authorities to the Assembly itself. How can
this be prevented?" |
| "Apart from the above question, I am strongly in favour
of a Parliament for Wales on the same basis as Scotland.
To deny Wales this right based on fear and prejudice and
vested interest, is not only unjust but is absurd, considering
that both Scotland and Northern Ireland have much greater
powers than the Assembly. Further the Assembly will never
succeed if it’s not given more power. |
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Y Cynghorydd Keith Morgan
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| "Please accept this formal request that a tick-box is
included on this year’s ballot paper for the National
Assembly elections to enable those electors who are opposed
to the very existence of the National Assembly to record
a vote of positive abstention. |
| The exact choice of words is left to the discretion
of the members of your committee, but I have enclosed
my choices: |
| ‘NO’ VOTE FOR ASSEMBLY or NONE OF THE ABOVE. |
| One positive consequence of this gesture would be to
increase the numbers of voters who will take the trouble
to at least turn up at the polling stations on the 1st
May 2003. |
| Finally, it wouldn’t add significantly to the overall
cost to stage these elections, but the results obtained
would be more reliable than those gained from the numerous
opinion polls being carried out at the present time". |
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Mr J Owen
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| "I am writing in support of the National Assembly for
Wales having legislative and tax varying powers for the
following reasons: |
| It is a contradictory situation for Scotland to have
a Parliament (which has the powers to legislate, using
primary legislative powers, and, the powers to vary taxes)
and Wales with none of these powers. |
| It has been said, and given in evidence, that there
is confusion as to what exactly are the National Assembly’s
powers: where do they end and where do Westminster’s
powers begin. |
| Looking abroad, our Assembly has less powers that the
German Laender, the Australian states, the states that
make up the United States of America and other developed
countries. We can include Spain and Italy and other nations
with a federal or quasi – federal system of government. |
| I wouldn’t be put off by the excuses that there
are more important things to do such as dealing with the
economy, the NHS, education or pensions. This is merely
diversionary and is used by people who oppose devolution
and constitutional reform out of vested interests. |
| It is worthwhile to recall that two of the most vibrant
and successful democracies in Europe drafted their federal
constitutions in far worse situations – immediately
after the end of World War 2 – the Federal Republic
of Germany and, Italy. They didn’t use the excuse
of the economic and social crisis of the post war months
and years, nor the growing cold war between East and West.
Indeed they probably thought it vitally important to draft
constitutions which protected the rights of the citizens
and constrained the powers of government. The probably
grew to know that dictatorships usually ran inefficient
economies, and so these provisions were needed to stop
the squandering of wealth. We can also think of other
nations who drafted constitutions against a backdrop of
war or economic problems, such as Japan, South Africa
and so on. |
| We are also regarded as an inferior body because of
our number of AMs – we have 60 but Northern Ireland
with around half the population of Wales has almost double
our number – 110. This gives the impression that
the Northern Ireland Assembly is a more serious body requiring
extra members. |
| Indeed, the National Assembly for Wales could be seen
as a derisory body due to its lack of powers and number
of AMs. It gives the image of Wales and its people as
not being a "serious" nation, that we as a people cannot
exercise such powers because we lack the aptitudes. When
I say this I am mindful of the fact that Wales’ population
is mad up of around 25% who have moved in from other countries.
I believe that this reinforces prejudices from other nations
about the Welsh, as well as inferiority complexes amongst
the Welsh themselves. |
| Despite its limited powers, the National Assembly hasn’t
fallen flat on its face! As some predicted it would! It
has shown that we can manage ourselves! |
| We must ensure that the powers of local government will
be democratised and not be "sucked up". This could be
a case where a more powerful National Assembly could legislated
for Proportional Representation in local government and
make this tier of government more representative of the
people and more relevant to them. |
| With law making and tax powers, I believe that people
in Wales will take the body more seriously, elections
turn out will be higher, decision made quicker (we won’t
have to have Westminster’s approval, which will take
time and have to be scheduled in the government’s
timetable. It could also be sabotaged by MPs hostile to
devolution acting out of self – interest and not
the common good), and government brought closer to the
people. |
| For these reasons, I would request that you recommend
in favour of more powers for the National Assembly for
Wales with full law making and taxation powers. |
| I urge you not to accept any half way house with law
making powers but no taxation powers, or, vice versa,
as this would be seen as unnecessary and confusing. It
could also be used as a stalling device. |
| Thank you for your kind consideration of my opinions. |
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Patrick Powell
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| "The Assembly does not have adequate powers
to fully develop devolved Government in Wales. In particular
primary legislative powers are required in the areas of
Education and Health policy if truly Welsh solutions are
to be found. That has to be done, preferably, in co-operation
with Whitehall and at least with understanding. |
| However at this stage I would not support tax varying
powers as I believe there is still a public credibility
gap for the Assembly to bridge and it is too early to
consider tax varying powers. The issue of methods of taxation,
devolution & local authority taxation (including national
non domestic rates etc.) will have to be considered overall
for the UK in the near future in any case and should be
done within that context. The Assembly, to its credit,
has used its control of the available funding to re-direct
funds in a manner which better suits the needs of the
people of Wales and has made a difference as a result.
There is still scope within the existing funding framework
for that to be developed further. |
| There are insufficient members to develop policies &
act as a primary legislative body and to do so the Assembly
must become a Parliamentary body with Constituency based
Assembly members only. I believe that the regional "list"
system has blurred accountability and has led to a strengthening
of "machine" politics. I would support a Parliamentary
Constituency based system with 2 Assembly members per
Constituency. Accountability is clear and people understand
such geographically based representation well. Such a
system would also be more likely to improve representation
from currently under represented groups. The Political
Parties would cope well with such a system and it would
be less prone to centralised machine politics. The Assembly
is seen as and acts in a Parliamentary way now in any
case. The Assembly should consider revising its structures
to reduce the unnecessary confrontation and introduce
means of adequate scrutiny of the Executive. Local Government
has some good practice which may provide some guidance." |
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Y Cynghorydd Dereck Roberts
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| "Is it possible to make the working relationship
between the AMs and PMs a formal Grand Committee held
in public as debates on issues of UK wide policies, etc.?" |
| That all levels of elected government should provide
overlapping but often different checks and balances, eg.
The Westminster Government – first past the post
as it is/should be primarily concerned with political
beliefs and principles. |
| The Assembly should similarly be first past the post
but with one woman and one man representing each constituency.
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| This would overcome the male dominated political culture
and would retain the vitally important success of twinning". |
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Terry Scales
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Ymddiriedolaeth Datblygu'r Mwmbwls
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| "I believe it is absolutely crucial to the future well-being
of Wales that we achieve the political status awarded
to Scotland. There is no logic in the current political
settlement which I firmly believe needs amending. |
| I believe that the powers allotted to the Assembly should
be equivalent to those enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament.
The Government of Wales Act was drastically amended and
there is no clear definition of powers. The whole point
of a devolved institution was that it should be able to
act decisively on matters pertaining to Wales. The people
of Wales still lack any real political control over matters
that are important to our country. There is a perception
by critics of devolution and some sections of the media
that it is a "talking shop". A fully empowered Parliament
– with clearly defined, adequate legislative powers
would engender a more positive attitude. The increasing
divergence of the Welsh and English economies make it
a necessity that we have decisive control of our political
affairs"" |
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Ian Seaton
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Briciwr
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| "During the last referendum Ron Davies stated
that Wales would not have more powers (such as tax raising
powers) devolved to it without another referendum. We
should not be railroaded into it". |
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VH Stacey
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| "The National Assembly is still, after
5 years, coming to terms with its existing powers. Whilst
its powers may need supplementing and may need extension
– this is a matter for review in 5 to 7 years time. |
| The partial proportional representation system in existence
is sufficiently representative. There is no need for more
AMs. We (taxpayers) already pay for 60 – no more
please!" |
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Mr Jonathan Piers Gage Walters
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| "Why is the only welsh control over the 22 unitary
authorities the Ombudsman, and why is the Ombudsman answerable
to no one? |
| To get a deal for the setting up of the Welsh Assembly,
Ron Davies did a deal with the Unitary Authorities to
leave them immune from any control, and without an "Ombudsman
Committee" answerable to "someone" the system is corrupt". |
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Gareth Woodham
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Datblygwr, Entrepreneur a Dyn Busnes
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