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Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements
of the National Assembly for Wales
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2nd Public Meeting at Llandudno Junction
Wednesday, 26th March 2003
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RECORD OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND OPINIONS
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"Will attendees be allowed to propose and vote on the
proposition that the Assembly should be closed down?"
"Will a box be added to the voting form whereby the
voter may show his/her intention to wind up the Assembly?"
"So far the Assembly has failed the N. Wales population
regarding support grants compared with the monies spent
on S. Wales".
Leslie G Ager
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"A notice advertising a public meeting to be held at
the Conwy Business Centre on Wednesday, 26th
March 2003 appeared in the Western Mail last week.
A question raised in the advertisement is very LEADING
question and could be deemed as entirely inappropriate
in this context and in a notice of this sort.
Has the Assembly got the powers it needs to deliver
for Wales? This is the first point raised in the notice.
This suggests that it does not have suitable powers
and that this is its failing. This also suggests to
the reader that the Richard Commission is canvassing
view points which are pro more powers for the National
Assembly for Wales.
This is very unfortunate and calls for a future wording
of notices of this kind.
There was a very narrow vote for an Assembly for Wales.
– an Assembly with limited powers- at the referendum.
The National Assembly cannot have greater powers by
stealth. Wales cannot have a Parliament through the
back door.
The National Assembly for Wales is in its infancy and
needs to prove that it can operate effectively within
the powers it has. This it has not demonstrated. Wales
is a small country sharing a long border with England.
We are historically and geographically linked and the
continuing calls within the Assembly to BE DIFFERENT
FROM ENGLAND, for WALES TO HAVE ITS OWN this and for
WALES TO HAVE ITS OWN that are risible.
Margaret Bird
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"Why is the policy of "Traffic Calming" not a priority
in Wales? We live on the border of Shropshire, where
every village has 30 mph speed limit, a lot of them
have red warning road strips, white road markings and
signs, - yet here in Peuley we cannot get the speed
limit reduced, past 2 schools. The Senior school has
12 buses loading and unloading on the road outside the
school as well as parents’ vehicles and children
walking.
We have been trying since 1995 to get traffic calming
in this busy village, but with no joy. We would like
to know why the policy of the Welsh Assembly is different
to England?
I don’t know if this is an applicable question
for your consultation, but these are the important questions
for our part of Wales.
Eileen M Edwards
Clerk, Maelor South Community Council
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"I wish to make a submission for the immediate abolition
of the Welsh Assembly. I do so on the grounds that it
is inefficient, ineffective, costly, incompetent and
quite frankly an embarrassment to Wales.
The fact that they discuss totally irrelevant issues
such as the Iraq war is a national disgrace and the
expensive and ridiculous hole in the ground which is
to be a symbol of incompetence if ever built is breathtaking
in its arrogance and waste.
The Assembly is totally irrelevant to North Wales and
people in droves that I speak to want it abolished.
As for granting extra powers, they cannot work effectively
with the powers they have at present and under no circumstances
should any additional powers be granted without a referendum
which should have two questions and be binding
Should the Welsh Assembly have additional tax and law
making powers?
Should the Welsh Assembly be abolished?
My own preference would be to go back to the Welsh
Office system of governance although I would be prepared
to accept a Council of Members of Parliament and local
authority appointees who would not be paid any extra.
Let us put the money wasted on this Assembly to better
use for the people of Wales and lets abolish a tier
of government which is totally unwanted, unloved and
without purpose.
I call on the Commission to realise that my view I
believe is representative of the silent majority within
Wales whom I speak to daily many so indifferent to the
Assembly that they cannot be bothered to make submissions
others are afraid especially in some Welsh areas to
speak out.
However, I strongly believe that this view is gathering
pace and that the people have had enough of this exercise
in false and ego building democracy.
D Elwyn Jones
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"In view of the fairly widespread public indifference
and even hostility towards the Welsh Assembly, would
matters be improved where the Assembly to be given more
powers such as raising some money of its own through
a special tax in Wales?
"The Assembly already has enough powers to get on with
though I think there is a case for it to have some money
of its own by a special tax in Wales".
Silvan Jones
Retired
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"My personal views are that the Welsh Assembly should
have stronger powers and decide on policies which best
suit Wales.
I have lived in countries the size of Wales (eg New
Zealand, Ireland…..) and have good knowledge of
other countries. As a former Spanish teacher, I taught
Spanish political history.
I do not believe that strong component parts of a whole
weaken the ‘whole’ but rather, strengthen
it".
Gwyneth Kensler
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"As I campaign for a fully accessible and barrier free
environment for all, how can the National Assembly for
Wales use it’s powers to insist that Local Authorities
comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995,
including Part III, 2004. Also can it award funding
to help speed up the Local Authorities comply with the
Disability Discrimination Act and all it’s parts
making it a fully accessible place to live in Wales".
"The National Welsh Assembly has given Wales it’s
own identity in Britain.
I would like the National Assembly for Wales to gain
legislative powers to improve this identify and strengthen
the resolve that we do things differently in Wales.
The implications of this are Members of Parliament become
part of a ‘Focus Group’ within Westminster
to monitor and promote the Welsh way of doing and looking
at legislation.
Numbers of Assembly Members should go up to 80 and
ensure a true percentage from North and South. There
should also be a North Wales Assembly Building in the
area, the site Chosen by the people of North Wales and
not imposed by the South.
Election stations must all be fully accessible by 2004
to comply with Part III of the Disability Discrimination
Act, 2004, and in all formats to allow people with disabilities
to take an active part in any election.
To end on a good note, I am also the Vice – chair
(North), of Scope Cwmpas Cymru, Scope in Wales, and
we gained devolved structure three years ago from Scope
Nationally. This has enabled us to access funding from
the Assembly, National Lottery (Wales), and European
funding to support and expand services in Wales for
people with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities. This
being a direct result of being a ‘Welsh’ Organisation
and a member lead.
Barrie Mee
Co-ordinator
Denbighshire Access Group
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A ydy'r Comisiwn yn rhagweld y bydd canlyniad yr Ymgynghoriad
yn arwain at roi mwy o bwerau i Gynghorau Cymunedol?
Does the Commission envisage that the outcome of the
Consultation will lead to awarding more powers to Community
Councils? (Translation)
Dylid trosglwyddo mwy o bwerau o Sant Steffan i'r Cynulliad,
o'r Cynulliad i'r Cynghorau Sirol ac o'r Cynghorau Sirol
i'r Cynghorau Cymunedol.
More powers should be transferred from Westminster
to the Assembly, from the Assembly to the County Councils
and from the County Councils to the Community Councils.
(Translation)
Godfrey D Northam
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"Now that the invasion of Iraq has commenced do you
consider this will affect the future funding for the
National Assembly of Wales".
Jean A Roscoe
Councillor
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"Would members of the Commission agree that the Assembly’s
lack of powers has led to the cynical attitude towards
it from a large section of welsh people, who look on
it as little more than a debating chamber, believing
that its still very much Westminster that dictates what
happens in their lives?"
"It is early days yet and I do believe that the Assembly
is working hard to find its feet and attempt to improve
things for Wales. However it is only with the necessary
power that you can change things and that is recognised
by the people, many saw the Assembly as a sop compared
to the Scottish Parliament.
It was made a laughing stock in the beginning when
the subject of GM crops was discussed. Again it was
illustrated very recently, when it briefly discussed
the Iraq crisis and the First Minister said this is
not a decision for this place".
Tony Tobin
Retired Paramedic/County Councillor
Conwy
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"In my opinion, the only meaningful change that could
and should be made to the Regional Assembly for Wales
is total abolition. Is this included in the Richard
Commission frame of reference, please, or is this a
viewpoint to be dismissed out of hand?"
John R Walker
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"I was present at your public meeting at Llandudno
Junction on 26 March, but did not speak. I am an Independent
Member of Conwy County Council and Abergele Town Council.
I am also a member of the Executive Committee of the
Wales Association of Community and Town Councils and
in this capacity have had considerable contact with
Assembly civil servants.
I full support the Assembly and would like to see its
powers and responsibilities extended. Many Home Office
functions should be transferred to the Assembly. Since
the creation of the Assembly, civil servants are far
more open and approachable and this has been of great
benefit to local government.
My greatest disappointment with the Assembly to date
has been its failure to significantly improve the road
links between north, south and west Wales. This would
help to break down many barriers and make Wales a more
inclusive society.
The electoral system needs changing. At present the
emphasis is on the party rather than the individual.
Membership of the Assembly should be increased, say
to 80n or even 120, with all members representing smaller
constituencies. There should be one member for each
constituency. Electors should be asked to rank candidates,
eg. 1, 2, 3 etc. This would considerably assist in the
election of independent members and produce a less confrontational
approach to Assembly politics. Interest in political
parties, is in my opinion, falling but not necessary
in policies and public issues.
Richard G Waters
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"Articles 263, 264 & 265 of the Maastricht Treaty,
relate directly to the carve up, with the 15 EU Nations
being split into 111 new "euro regions". Instead of
giving us back some Welsh pride, the National Assembly
really is nothing more than an EU scam to make it easier
to control and rule us all, directly from Brussels.
Furthermore, the Assembly has shown itself to be just
another talking shop, filled with career politicians,
all on the gravy train – They can’t even agree
o the needs or the simple cost of an Assembly building
in Cardiff. What have we got so far? Surely the most
expensive hole in the ground in British history! Some
of them are even campaigning for another building in
North Wales! Who is going to pay for it? We will of
course! – Yet even more precious Welsh money is
going down the drain.
The money that the Assembly squanders should be put
to better use supporting badly needed investment in
Wales, increasing spending on our NHS, Schools, Police
and Employment. Small businesses must be freed from
yet more regulations and political costs, so that they
can create employment. This will increase our self-pride
and well being.
WE SAY SCRAP THE ASSEMBLY AND GIVE GREATER POWERS TO
THE EXISTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES – BRING DEMOCRACY
CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE!
This is my view as well as the views of the UNITED
KINGDOM INDEPENDENCE PARTY WALES."
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"When the English regions come to being will we all
then be governed and finance directly from Brussels
thus lose our democracy, and democratic process?"
"Far too much money is spent on this, basically a talking
shop. It is not achieving anything. Wales has been conned
to be nothing more than one of the 111 euro regions
Brussels has devised all to the better for us to be
governed and dictated to by unelected bureaucrats. We
should abolish the Assembly and have another referendum
on the true reason for the Assembly".
Elwyn Williams
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"ONID YW ERBYN HYN, YN HOLLOLEGLUR NAD YW Y CYNULLIAD
YN GALLU GWEITHIO YN EFFEITHIOL NAC YN EFFEITHLON AM
NAD OES GANDDO NEMOR DDIM PWERAU – WEDI’R
CYFAN, HEB HAWLIAU I DDEDDFU FEL SENEDD YR ALBAN, OFEREDD
YDYW CEISIO CYFLWINO DEDDFAU EILRADD FEL Y PROFWYD GYDA
GWERTHY ‘CIG AR YR ASGWRN’ – ER ENGHRAIFFT?
Translated from Welsh
"Isn’t it totally obvious by now that the Assembly
cannot work effectively and efficiently as it has hardly
any powers at all – after all, without the right
to legislate like the Scottish Parliament, attempting
to introduce secondary legislation – as seen with
selling meat on the bone, for example – is futile?"
YN FY MARN I, MAE’N RHEIDRWYDD SYMUD AR FRYS ER
RHODDI HAULIAU I’R CYNULLIAD GREU A CWYFLWYNO DEDDFAU
ELFENOL (PRIMARY) ER MWYN GWELLA LLYWDRAETHU YNG NGHYMRU
AC ER MWYN ATAL Y CECRU AIR YMOSODIADAU GEIRIOL PARHAUS
O DU CELYNION Y CYNULLIAD SY’N DWEU ‘NAD YW’N
DA’I DDIM AM NAD OES GANDDO RYM’.
Translated from Welsh
"In my opinion, it is essential to move urgently to
give rights to the Assembly to create and introduce
primary legislation so that it can improve as a government
in Wales and to put an end to the arguments and the
verbal attacks from enemies within the Assembly who
say that it is good for nothing as it does not have
power".
Owain Williams
Councillor, Gwynedd County Council
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"The positive discrimination in favour of Welsh in
job advertisements, etc., in Wales contravenes European
Human Rights Legislation".
Francis Charles Wykes
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