Wales
Draft Wales Bill published 26 October 2015
The draft Wales Bill has been published with proposals to create a new Welsh devolution system, moving to a reserved powers model similar to the one which currently operates in Scotland, providing a clear and complete boundary between devolved and reserved subjects. The draft Bill sets out the government’s plans for a stronger, clearer and fairer devolution settlement for Wales. It implements the commitments made in the St David's Day Agreement and set out in the Command Paper Powers for a Purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales , published in February 2015. The Command Paper stated that in order to empower the Welsh Government to deliver for the people of Wales, they will introduce a floor in the level of relative funding provided to the Welsh Government with the expectation that the Welsh Government will call a referendum on income tax powers in the next Parliament. The Wales Act 2014 gained Royal Assent in December 2014. Amongst a range of other non-fiscal measures, section 13 enables the Welsh Assembly to trigger a referendum on the devolution of some income tax. What we don’t yet have news of is whether there will be a referendum. The draft Bill devolves important new powers for Wales in areas such as energy, transport and local government and Assembly elections. It also provides greater powers to the Assembly over its own affairs, including the ability to change its name.
The draft Wales Bill is open to consultation before a final version is published in February 2016.
CIPP related news
Devolution of income tax in Wales – 23 January 2015
Welsh councils and unions unite to oppose Trade Union Bill 12 November 2015
We recently reported that an official request has been made for Scotland to be excluded from the entire Trade Union Bill. UNISON Cymru/Wales has joined other local government unions and Welsh councils to signal their joint opposition to the bill.
UNISON, GMB and UNITE are championing a statement agreed by the Joint Council for Wales employer’s side condemning the Trade Union Bill as a regressive step that will harm good industrial relations.
The statement calls upon the Welsh government to work with public sector employers and unions to persuade the Westminster government to reconsider.
It follows the recent vote by Welsh Assembly Members in the Senedd against the bill and a strong statement of opposition from first minister Carwyn Jones.
UNISON Cymru/Wales head of local government Dominic MacAskill, who is staff side secretary of the Joint Council for Wales, said:
“This bill is a blatant attack on trade unions. If passed, it would deny millions of working people a strong voice at work. It’s alien to the traditions we have in Wales, and employers from right across the public sector have written to the government to state their opposition to it. It must be withdrawn.”
Read the full press release
Welsh devolution of income tax 26 November 2015
From the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015:
CIPP Policy News Journal
25/04/2016, Page 451 of 453
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