The National Assembly for Wales

First Minister: Rhodri Morgan (MP, AM) (Labour)

The proposal for the creation of a National Assembly for Wales was approved in a referendum on September 18th 1997 with 559,419 votes (50.3%) in favour of the Assembly and 552,698 votes (49.7%) against it.

Voter turnout: 50.3%

Subsequently, the UK Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales, and The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, which enables the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly.

The elections for the First Assembly were held on 6th May 1999. The first plenary meeting of the Assembly took place at 11 am on Wednesday 12th May 1999, when Members elected the first Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer and First Secretary of the Assembly.

Further elections were held for the National Assembly for Wales on 1st May 2003. The final results for the 60 seats within the Assembly saw Labour return with 30 seats, Plaid Cymru with 12, Conservatives with 11, Liberal Democrats with 6, and former Labour AM Dr John Marek returned as an independent, with Rhodri Morgan AM remaining First Minister. The only notable change from the 1999 elections was the lower number of Plaid Cymru AMs, down 4 from 1999.

The powers of the National Assembly for Wales

(see Government of Wales Act 1998, s 22; The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, SI 1999/672)

Key areas of devolved responsibility

From 1st July 1999, the Assembly has the power to develop and implement policy in a range of areas: agriculture, ancient monuments and historic buildings, culture, economic development, education and training, the environment, health and health services, highways, housing, industry, local government, social services, sport and leisure, tourism, town and country planning, transport and roads and the Welsh language

The National Assembly for Wales does not have the same level of power and responsibility as that enjoyed by its counterparts the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, each of which can pass primary legislation (Acts).

Westminster retains control of primary legislative powers in all areas while the Assembly took control over secondary legislative powers (statutory instruments) in those areas shown above.

While it can debate any matter it wishes, the National Assembly for Wales has only these secondary powers and only in the areas mentioned above.

It also has some powers over quangos, being able to question, monitor and reduce their numbers.

System of Government

The Assembly is chaired by a Presiding Officer elected by the whole Assembly, equivalent to the Speaker in the House of Commons. Once elected, the Presiding Officer serves the Assembly impartially. There is also a Deputy Presiding Officer who is elected in the same way.

The First Minister is elected by the whole Assembly and usually represents the largest political party. The First Minister in turn delegates responsibility for delivering the executive functions to a number of Assembly Ministers. They are responsible for individual subject areas, such as health and education. Together they form the Assembly’s executive committee, the Assembly Cabinet, which makes many of the Assembly’s day to day decisions. The Assembly Cabinet is accountable to the rest of the Assembly.