Response to the Richard Commission:

 The Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales

Introduction

The Wales TUC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Richard Commission consultation "The Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales". The Wales TUC represents 60 trade unions who in turn represent half a million members across Wales.

The Wales TUC has made a number of recommendations. Our conclusions are the outcome of a special debate at the Wales TUC Annual Conference in May 2003 and submissions received from trade unions in Wales.

Powers

1. The Wales TUC recommends that pre-legislative scrutiny by National Assembly Committees, for all Parliamentary bills, for which the Assembly will take up a subsequent responsibility, should be a priority.
2. The Wales TUC recognises that where the National Assembly’s powers begin and Westminster’s ends, and vice versa, remains unclear. The Wales TUC therefore recommends that in all areas of partial devolution, consideration should be given to extending the National Assembly’s remit as part of a process of achieving greater clarity and delineation of secondary powers between the National Assembly and Westminster.
3. The Wales TUC recommends that where secondary powers have been wholly or substantially devolved, such as housing, local government and education, the extension of devolvement to include primary law making powers should be considered.
4. The Wales TUC recommends that the National Assembly should be empowered to take strategic control of public transport in Wales, including the powers currently vested in the Strategic Rail Authority.

Electoral Arrangements

1. The Wales TUC recommends that the Additional Member List System should be abolished.
2. The Wales TUC recommends that all Assembly Members should be elected by the First Past The Post electoral System from the existing Westminster Constituencies.
3. The Wales TUC recommends that the National Assembly should consist of 80 Assembly Members – with two members elected from each constituency.
4. The Wales TUC recommends that each constituency should elect one man and one woman.