10/2/03

 

Dear Lord Richard and other Commission members,

 

I was interested to read of your enquiry into the powers of the Welsh Assembly and as a Welsh expatriate I thought I would add my views.

 

I feel that the Welsh Assembly has some major flaws in that it is responsible for various things such as education without having much power to change things. This problem hasn't been that obvious due to the coincidence of Labour administrations in London and Cardiff but will I feel be a problem when different parties are in power in the two capitals. How would a Labour Welsh Executive Government persuade a Conservative UK Government to enact laws it didnt agree with?

 

My solution would be for the Welsh Assembly to be upgraded to the same status as the Scottish Parliament. The only change I would make would be for the areas of responsibility transferred to Cardiff to be fewer than those transfered to Edinburgh with things such as the police retained by Westminster.

 

I would further suggest that the Queen devolve her role in the Scottish Parliament to the Prince of Wales for the Welsh Assembly.
This would have two advantages; it would provide Wales with a unique system based on its history and it would provide the Prince of Wales with a role which would train him for assuming the wider powers of the Monarch.

 

The Wales Office would remain as a conduit between the Assembly and Westminster would still be needed for the areas of responsibility retained by London.

 

I hope you find my suggestions helpful.

Yours

 

Luke Magee