All Wales Convention
From Democracywiki
The All Wales Convention has been established by the Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition government in the Welsh Assembly to determine whether the Assembly should have more powers to make laws for Wales.
It has been reported that: “The work of the convention, chaired by former British ambassador to the united nations Sir Emyr Jones Parry, will cost £1.5m and will start this summer [2008]. It is due to report back its findings in Autumn 2009. A referendum would have to be held by 2011.” Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy said in February 2008 that a referendum would be unlikely before 2011.
This process began with the Richard Commission. The Commission report in 2004 recommended that:
- "there should be a legislative Assembly for Wales on the model in Chapter 13;
- in the interim, the framework delegated powers approach should be expanded as far as possible with the agreement of the UK Government and Parliament;
- if a legislative Assembly is constituted, tax-varying powers are desirable, but not essential;
- to exercise primary powers, the Assembly needs an increase in membership to 80 Members;
- the Assembly should be reconstituted as a separate legislature and executive;
- the present voting system cannot sustain an increase to 80, and the best alternative is the STV system;
- these changes should be in place by 2011, or sooner if practicable.
See our Better Governance for Wales and Government of Wales Act pages for more information on other developments following the Richard Commission report.
The Labour/Plaid Cymru One Wales agreement of June 2007 saw both parties commit to establishing the convention with a referendum to follow, and to campaign for a positive outcome.
Terms of reference for the Convention were published in March 2008. The Establishing Committee of the All Wales Convention consisted of Labour and Plaid Cymru appointees. The Committee left it to Sir Emyr and the Convention’s Executive Committee to establish ways of working, but their own suggestions included citizens’ juries. It also said that the guiding principle should be that the Convention included the broadest possible debate:
The Convention will need to engage organised groups (for example the trade unions, business organisations and national voluntary organisations). It is also important that it reaches out to individuals, groups and communities that have not been involved before in such debates. Children and young people must also be engaged in the process, since it is their future the Convention will be debating. We recognise that such a broad approach presents challenges in terms of working methods and resources. However we believe it is essential if the Convention is to meet the requirements of its Terms of Reference. (s. 3, terms of reference).
The Conservative Party have a review, led by Lord Roberts, due to report before summer 2008 to establish their own view on more devolution for Wales.
The Liberal Democrats have called in February 2008 for increased devolution for Wales and an early referendum on this.
