RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements
of the National Assembly for Wales

I believe that the present size is probably about right. While it can be argued that some of the rural constituencies might be too large to be efficiently represented by a single member, the current arrangements in Brecon and Radnorshire, and in Montgomeryshire, seem to work well. Doubling the number of AMs for constituencies such as these might help, and might affect the present political balance. One advantage of keeping the number of AMs as at present is that a lengthy and potentially divisive public debate on the issue would be avoided.

In terms of fulfilling the work demands of the Assembly, much has already been achieved with the present number of Members. To leave the number as it is might prove in this second Assembly to create a greater demand on members: if this turns out to be the case, (and assuming that the administrative and departmental civil service support is operating at full efficiency) then the argument to enlarge the membership would become more powerful. What is important, from the point of view of the future of Wales and also from the point of view of the attitude to, and perception of, the Assembly among the people of Wales is that it should be seen clearly to be working hard for the country, and to be achieving real and measurable progress - to be seen to be delivering results. If all that results is a 'talking shop', particularly if it were one riven by internal dissent, then public attitudes would rightly become far more critical, even to the point that some might say that the present number of members was too high.

There is a growing case for the acquisition of further powers by the Assembly. It can be argued that the present situation is a case of 'something and nothing', and that the comparison with the Scottish system reveals the National Assembly as somewhat inferior. Certainly, increased powers would enhance the image of the Assembly in the eyes of the Welsh people, and would require an even greater degree of public accountability, but this in turn could serve to help to improve the image of the Assembly as a force for good in the country and beyond.

A greater workload would enhance the argument for increasing the number of Members. But at the same time there might well be cause to reconsider the number of Welsh Members of Parliament, as the argument might be made that their workload had been reduced. Perhaps some sort of balancing would be required to satisfy the potential criticisms that might arise.

A further aspect would involve a reconsideration of the role of County Councils, and in particular the workload of County Councillors. In any event there is a need, even with the present arrangements, to clarify the relationship between AMs and the County Councillors in their constituencies, and the responsibilities that each have to their electorates; in some places this need for greater liaison and joint working is being pursued actively.

I do not think that any change to the present system should be contemplated until the Assembly has worked through at least three administrations. The current system has to be properly tested over a period of 10 - 12 years.

I am against there being any alteration in the number of Welsh parliamentary constituencies, for the same reason as set out above.

In general, in terms of the above two headings, many people have expressed the view to me that there have already been too many changes in the government of Wales over the past 10 years or more. The changes in local government are seen by some as being bad enough, but the creation of the Welsh Assembly (and the matter of how many people actually voted for it) is seen by such people as being almost the last straw. They would oppose vehemently any further attempt to change matters around yet again.

I do not take such a fixed view: I wish to see the National Assembly for Wales being given time to prove itself and to show true leadership for Wales in this new century. Increased powers would increase that opportunity and demonstrate fully that devolution has been beneficial. There might be the need, and the demand, far certain changes, but each would have to be fully quantified and capable of rational justification. The main criterion should be that the National Assembly for Wales develops as a body that works hard and responsibly to assist the evolution of Wales into a strong and confident nation within the United Kingdom and the European , as well as a full participant in the World community. Any changes that do not assist this process would be highly questionable.

There is an inherent problem in that the Assembly is situated in Cardiff (rightly so, if only from the point of view that Cardiff is the capital of Wales) in the far south-east of the country. This situation does give the impression, and to a great degree the effect, that almost all the power and influence is centred on the capital. Wales as a country suffers from an inadequate infrastructure, the result of many decades of less than adequate consideration and investment by successive Westminster governments. To make the journey from a village in mid-Wales to the nation's capital involves one of two methods, either by road and rail, or by road alone. Those living, for example, in Aberystwyth, Newtown or Welshpool can, if they live close enough, walk to the station and catch a train to Shrewsbury (in England) then change for a train to Cardiff. Living in a village entails a drive, assuming one has a car, or a friend with a car, or (rare, this) access to a bus route with a timetable that coordinates with the railway timetable, to a station before and after such a rail journey. In any event this can be a lengthy and wearisome process. To drive from; say, Welshpool to Cardiff involves a journey of at least three hours each way on roads that, despite being designated as 'Trunk' roads, are less than adequate, at least until one reaches the Brecon area. Neither of these means of travel is much of an inducement to those who wish to visit Cardiff on business, or pleasure, or to partake of the cultural riches of the capital. A visit to Cardiff for a performance at the new Wales Millennium Centre would, realistically, involve an overnight stay, at added and considerable expense. The implications for those living in North Wales are even more acute, and it is little wonder that many in the north feel a closer cultural pull to Chester, Liverpool or Manchester, access to all of which is considerably easier.

The point of this is that Cardiff, and by extension the National Assembly for Wales, is seen by many in the middle and north of the country as being less than completely relevant. One could say that many people in these regions feel somewhat disenfranchised because of their relative isolation from the capital, and the government that is situated there.

Therefore the Assembly now faces great challenges that will not be met by the introduction of token gestures. For Wales, that is all of Wales, to thrive will require a radical rethink of firstly the transport infrastructure of the country, secondly of the manner in which cultural and sports provision can be spread, and thirdly of the need for decentralisation of administrative resources.

The economic well-being and development of the parts of Wales between the Heads of the Valleys road and the fast road along the north coast will not be well served by their continuing isolation. New or upgraded links (road and rail) are required, both from north to south and, importantly for mid-Wales in particular, from west to east, to link with the national motorway and rail networks. In addition to this consideration should be given to innovative ways of extending air travel, perhaps with small feeder airports linking to the existing main airports. These developments would achieve a major change for the whole of Wales, but at considerable cost.

There is a need to revise the manner in which the cultural and sports infrastructure for the nation is provided. At present it can be argued clearly that the main cultural and sporting facilities are in the south-east of the country. The National Assembly should take a clear look at the needs of the whole country, and ensure that full consideration is given to the provision of international standard cultural and sporting facilities beyond the south east in order to give equal opportunities for all the nation's citizens. The present discussion on a National Gallery of Contemporary Art is a case in point: to situate such a major facility in, for example, mid-Wales, would not only make it more accessible to more people but would also act as a major regenerating influence to the whole region. A similar argument can be made for the provision of a national sports centre.

The third opportunity is to make positive steps to moving some or even many of the Welsh Assembly Government's departments out of Cardiff, situating them in areas of economic need further afield. The currently available resources of information and communication technology such as video conferencing and broadband internet links would make such a decentralisation both effective and efficient. The economic benefit of moving government departments and associated offices out of the south-east would be of positive benefit to those areas in which they were placed. This has been proved already viable in Great Britain as a whole, with major facilities being relocated far away from London.

Challenges such as those outlined above need to be faced, and dealt with enthusiastically, if the National Assembly for Wales is to become truly representative and supportive of the whole country and not just the privileged bottom right hand corner. The credibility of the Assembly would be enhanced, much criticism would be deflected and an increasing number of people would come to trust in and support the essential work that the Assembly needs to do if Wales is to thrive.

If this is done, and if work on making these things possible is started sooner rather than later, then the observation of Landsbergis, quoted at the beginning of this response, will be justified, and the National Assembly will truly be of Wales.

(Richard Noyce writes on the visual arts, and is the Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Newtown Llanllwchaiarn North on Powys County Council.)