In a statement to the National Assembly, Rhodri Morgan said: “I said last year that Welsh Labour’s aim was to 'focus our efforts on bringing about improvement in those aspects of daily life that impact most directly on our fellow citizens', I believe this programme builds on and continues our work to realise those improvements.
“I believe we are a strong and confident nation, and the programme I have announced today demonstrates that we are focused on using the powers that the National Assembly as a legislature is acquiring from our first legislative programme to deliver our policies for the benefit of the people of Wales.
Chair of the Labour Group in the National Assembly for Wales, JANICE GREGORY AM said:
“As the Chair of the Labour group of Assembly Members in the National Assembly, I’m proud to see that Welsh Labour’s founding principles of fighting to ensure social justice and equality of opportunity for all are reflected in the proposals that have been announced today.
More reaction from Janice Gregory AM can be found here>>
The five proposed Assembly Measures are:
1. Child Poverty
- to provide greater support to children and families experiencing poverty and encompass a number of initiatives such as a duty on public agencies to demonstrate their contribution to ending child poverty and to provide free childcare places and other early years’ services in specific areas.
Welsh Labour Manifesto commitment:
“Using the new powers of the Assembly, Labour will step up our efforts on behalf of children in Wales by seeking the power to reform the law in relation to vulnerable children in Wales, including action on child poverty. This will place a legal requirement on public agencies, such as the NHS and local government, to make and to demonstrate their contribution to tackling child poverty.” Building a Better Wales, p33.
2. Additional Learning Needs
– to extend the range of individuals who may appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
Part (iv) of Welsh Labour’s Proposed SEN LCO, which was part of the Party’s Proposed Legislative Programme which was published in April 2007, stated that the LCO would:
“Provide for rights of appeal for parents to the SEN Tribunal for Wales.”
3. Charging for non-residential social care
– use the powers we have gained through the Domiciliary Care LCO to establish a fairer and more consistent approach to charging for specified services levied by local authorities.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
“We will also seek new powers to allow a third-term Labour Assembly Government to amend the law in relation to charging for domiciliary care, so that charges for similar services are made more consistent and less variable across Wales.” Building a Better Wales, p12.
4. Local Government/Better local services
– in the wake of the Beecham report, a Measure for local government which will require local partners to co-operate in effective and joined-up community planning and service improvement based on greater engagement with citizens and a fuller understanding of local priorities.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
“In a third term we will drive forward a strong vision for the future of local government in Wales. At the heart of this vision will be a demand that public services should work more closely together and
that they put the citizen centre stage.” Building a Better Wales, p27.
5. Affordable Housing
– subject to the approval of the Affordable Housing LCO we intend to develop a Measure giving local authorities the power to apply to Welsh Ministers to designate areas of housing pressure where the Right to Buy may be suspended for a limited period.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
“We will seek new legislative powers to be able to retain the pool of housing available for rent in areas of high housing need as one measure to improve the availability of affordable housing.” Building a Better Wales, p34.
The four proposed Legislative Competance Orders are:
1. Carers' LCO
The aim here is to provide support for carers by placing appropriate duties on public sector organisations.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
“Carers play an invaluable role in every family and in every community in Wales. We will review our Carers Strategy to bring it up to date and to support the role of carers better, including additional investment in respite care services… through investment and targeted action we will work to improve the health and well-being of carers.” Building a Better Wales, p13.
2. Culture Duty LCO
The Assembly Government intends to seek legislative competence to provide Welsh Ministers with the power to implement the commitment to place a statutory obligation on local authorities to promote culture and encourage partnership to deliver high quality cultural experiences for their communities.
Welsh Labour Manifesto Commitment:
“We will place a statutory obligation on local councils to promote culture and encourage them to work together and with other partners in the voluntary and private sectors to deliver high quality cultural experiences for their communities.” Building a Better Wales, p30.
3. Foundation degree awarding powers
In order to respond rapidly to meet the needs of the economic and skills agendas in Wales which have identified a shortage of skills at technician and para-professional level, the Assembly Government intends to seek legislative competence to enable Further Education Institutions in Wales to have the same powers as those in England to award foundation degrees and Credit and Qualifications Framework in Wales (CQFW) level 4 qualifications.
4. Red Meat Levy board LCO
In order to have a red meat levy raising body directly accountable to the Welsh Assembly Government, rather than the UK Levy board WAG intends to seek legislative competence which will allow the Assembly to make a Measure conferring levy raising powers directly upon Welsh Ministers. This will mean that the Assembly Government can replace the existing levy raising ASPB which was intended to be an interim Measure until these powers were conferred upon Welsh Ministers.
