For many, this appeared to be the end for devolution in Wales.. In the immediate aftermath of the referendum, devolution became something of a dormant political issue in Wales. The powers of the Welsh Office had been markedly increased in the lead up to the referendum, a process which continued through the years of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister. This process also saw the creation and expansion of the quangos quasi non-governmental organisations.
These were arms-length bodies to which government powers were delegated. The UK Government retained a degree of control, with the Secretary of State for Wales appointing much of the leadership of quangos. Demand grew for greater accountability and democratisation of this layer of government.
The result was However, this was enough to change the course of Welsh history. This has been borne out by developments in Welsh devolution since The legislation included a number of core values, including a commitment to equality, sustainable development, partnership working and parity of treatment for both the Welsh and English languages.
The Act granted the National Assembly the power to make secondary legislation in specified areas, including agriculture, fisheries, education, housing and highways. Such powers were broadly equivalent to those previously held by the Secretary of State for Wales. The National Assembly for Wales met for the first time on 12 May It was officially opened by the Queen on 26 May. Of the 60 newly-elected Members, 24 were women. This represented a significant change in the previously male-dominated Welsh politics.
The newly-established Assembly was based on a more inclusive and consensual style of politics, and prioritised public access to its work. However, its structure as a single corporate body responsible for executive and scrutiny functions proved to be problematic. The minority Labour administration experienced difficulties in securing agreement from other parties, and the First Secretary was replaced in February In response to increasing calls for change, the Assembly resolved in to separate the functions of executive and legislature.
Known as the Richard Commission, in it recommended the legal separation of the executive and legislature as individual legal entities, the devolution of primary law-making powers to Wales, and an increase in the number of Members.
Designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership, the building makes extensive use of Welsh materials like slate and oak. It also embodies in physical form the values that underpinned the National Assembly, including environmental sustainability, transparency, and openness. This new settlement also gave the Assembly the power to make primary legislation for the first time.
The Scottish Parliament sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Scotland already had its own legal and education system. After devolution, it has become responsible for many areas, including:. Its powers were extended in , and again after the referendum on whether Scotland should become independent. Devolution in Northern Ireland is different to Scotland and Wales, with government powers divided into three categories:.
In addition, the power-sharing agreement between the nationalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland is vital. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister jointly lead the government - one representing each of the two largest parties in power, in a mandatory coalition. Despite different job titles, they have the same powers. But in January , the two parties re-entered the devolved government after agreeing to work together again, alongside three smaller parties - the Ulster Unionists, SDLP and Alliance.
Over the past 20 years, more powers have been given to local and regional mayors in areas like transport and housing. The first was the mayor of London.
The position was created, alongside the London Assembly, after a referendum in The London mayor decides how much money to spend and sets priorities in some key areas.
For example, the mayor can set bus and Tube fares, and decide targets for the number of affordable homes. Mayors in other parts of the country were added following referendums held in and They have different powers depending on the areas they represent. In Greater Manchester, for example, the mayor's powers extend to social care, children's services and housing.
It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. The result will be more effective, better targeted public services, greater growth and stronger partnerships between public, private and community leaders in local areas.
Without devolution, decisions will continue to be made in Westminster, removed from communities that they affect. We believe it is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.
Devolution will provide greater freedoms and flexibilities at a local level, meaning councils can work more effectively to improve public services for their area. In November , the Government announced the first devolution deal with Greater Manchester, followed by a deal with Cornwall in July At this point, the Government also invited proposals from local areas as part of the Spending Review.
It asked them to submit their proposals by early September The Government received 34 bids from local areas.
Of these, 12 were brought forward initially for negotiation and 11 areas have confirmed devolution deals signed off by both local and national leaders.
At the time, many of the unsuccessful areas felt they lacked a clear response from Government as to why their proposals were not taken forward. There was also concern that the criteria for success was not transparent enough or focused too heavily on the need for a directly elected Mayor. Areas that were successful in putting together devolution deals went through a process whereby their initial proposals were tested with relevant government departments.
Over time this resulted in a significant degree of standardisation across each of the devolution deal areas. In practice, some of the powers outlined below are exercised by the Mayor and some by the combined authority.
More recently, Mayoral combined authorities have also led on the development of Local Industrial Strategies, whereas in areas without directly elected mayors these have been led by Local Enterprise Partnerships. Although devolution deals have remained a possibility since the first combined authority mayoral elections in , only three additional areas have agreed a devolution deal since then.
We understand the Government will seek to strike new devolution deals with Counties and work with the existing combined authority mayors to ensure they have the powers they need to support the recovery, create jobs and improve local.
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