Senedd Watch - July 2011

• University leaders agreed to cooperate with proposals for "fewer but stronger" universities in Wales. Higher Education Wales also said that mergers should be a matter for the universities governing bodies to decide. The Welsh Government welcomed HEW's "positive statement".
• The Welsh Government is understood to be examining proposals to close four smaller regional offices around Wales. The offices earmarked for closure are believed to be in Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Carmarthen and Caernarfon.
• The latest crime statistics for Wales show that recorded crime in Wales has fallen by 20% between 2003 and 2009, with the level of overall crime being consistently lower than England. Also, the proportion of detected/cleared crimes was higher than England in 2010. Local Government & Communities Minister Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alun & Deeside) welcomed the fall, and said that it was proof that investing in crime prevention pays off.
• One of the suspended Lib Dem AMs, North Wales's Aled Roberts has been reinstated to the Assembly following an Assembly vote on July 6^th. The other suspended AM, John Dixon, was not reinstated and has been replaced by Eluned Parrott -  the second Lib Dem on the South Wales Central regional list.
• Former Welsh Lib Dem leader Lord Carlile said that the Welsh Lib Dems should have continued a legal battle to reinstate John Dixon. A Welsh Lib Dem spokesperson told BBC Wales that there was "very little support for his case in the Assembly".
• Chief Scientific Advisor to the National Assembly, Prof. John Harries, has been awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal by NASA - its highest civilian honour - for contributing greatly to the understanding of the atmosphere and climate change.
• Eight out of ten universities in Wales will charge the full £9,000 tuition fees from September 2012. Welsh-domiciled students will have the fee increase paid for them by the Welsh Government. It's estimated that this will cost the Welsh Government an extra £280million per year.
• On July 12^th, UK Prime Minister David Cameron held a cabinet meeting in Wales at the Royal Mint, Llantrisant and addressed the Senedd, announcing a new package for super fast broadband in Wales and that a new commission would be set up to look at devolution in Wales and what fiscal powers - if any - could be devolved. He said that both his government and the Assembly "share common aims to make life better for the Welsh people".
• The First Minister formally unveiled the Welsh Government's legislative programme for the next 5 years to the Assembly, outlining 21 bills covering education, health, transport, heritage, public protection, the voluntary sector, planning and governance at both local and national level.
• The Welsh Government's school building programme, 21^st Century Schools, will be reviewed just over a year since it was launched. Local authorities will now be expected to contribute more towards the building of new schools, and many projects could be delayed or cancelled. Education Minister Leighton Andrews blamed capital budget cuts on the move.
• In a separate move the Education Minster has placed Blaenau Gwent schools into special measures, saying there were "systemic management failures" and that the shortcomings had been "simply unacceptable". An action plan, led by a Neath Port Talbot council task force, is now required for the 34 schools in the county.
• Andrew RT Davies (Con, South Wales Central) was elected the new leader of the Welsh Conservatives, and subsequently, leader of the opposition by 53.1% to 46.7%. Nick Ramsey (Con, Monmouth) was defeated.
• The UK Treasury has modified rules relating to Assembly end of year flexibility, this means that unspent funds can now be carried forward to following years. In a separate development, a commission to examine Assembly funding is to start work in the autumn, with the aim of a report in 2013.
• Environment Minister, John Griffiths (Lab, Newport East), announced that businesses employing under 10 people will not be required to keep records relating to plastic bags when a 5p charge comes into effect on 1^st October.
• Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has said he will stand down before Plaid's 2012 Spring Conference. Nominations for the leadership will open in January 2012, with an expected 10-week leadership contest.
• Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said he wouldn't oppose a coalition deal between the Lib Dems and Labour in the National Assembly.
• The Welsh Government held a cabinet meeting in Llandudno on July 26^th for the first time. The First Minister said "it was only right that the business of government takes place across the country."
• Rhodri Talfan Davies has been appointed the new director of BBC Wales. Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillen congratulated him on his appointment and hoped he would "continue to strengthen the output that is so vital to Wales and its culture."
• Welsh language activists Cymdeithas yr Iaith have reacted with bemusement to suggestions that the Assembly Commission are considering using Google Translate to provide bilingual records of Assembly proceedings.
• A permit for a £1billion gas-fired power station in Pembrokeshire has been halted due to "gaps" in analysis submitted by the Environment Agency.
• The National Assembly is now in recess until Monday 19^th September.
• Projects announced in July include a £2million expansion of a scheme tackling broadband "not spots" in rural Wales, a UK Government package of £57million to expand super fast broadband coverage, the expansion of a programme targeting families affected by substance misuse, £6million to develop sustainable travel, an £11million tidal energy scheme in Pembrokeshire and £15million targeting up to 4,000 young people in north Wales at risk of falling out of education.