Senedd Watch - November 2013

The UK Government announced - as their response to the first part of the Silk Commission - that financial powers would be devolved to the National Assembly, including : stamp duty, non-domestic rates, landfill tax, the ability to create new taxes (with Westminster agreement) and limited borrowing powers. Subject to a referendum, income tax varying powers could be devolved in future. However, the First Minister said there shouldn't be a vote until...

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Assembly committee smacks minister's Arsenal

It's perhaps the biggest story of the week you haven't noticed, but could be a sign of an increasingly irritable relationship between the Assembly (as a legislature) and the Welsh Government.The National Assembly's Constitutional & Legislative Affairs Committee have the unenviable task of sifting through the labyrinthine secondary legislation (order, regulations, rules etc.) introduced by the Welsh Government - which is how they run the country...

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Welsh tuition fee policy under scrutiny

The Welsh Government's tuition fee policy was recently revealed by the Wales Audit Office to have cost more than expected. But does that headline tell the whole story? (Pic : BBC Wales) Last week, serious questions were raised about the Welsh Government's tuition fees policy, whereby they subsidise tuition fees for Welsh-domiciled...

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Housing Bill introduced to the National Assembly

The Welsh Government's Housing Bill is a wide-ranging law that aims to tackle "rogue landlords", address homelessness, improve social housing standards and reduce the number of empty homes. (Pic : The Guardian) Continuing the housing theme, the Welsh Government's Housing Bill was introduced to the National Assembly on Tuesday...

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Welsh Tory Housing Policies - Do they add up?

It's obvious we need more housing, but are recent Welsh Conservative proposals the right way forward? Or at an even more basic level, do their numbers add up? (Pic : BBC Wales) The Welsh Government's long awaited for Housing Bill was formally introduced to the National Assembly today (it's separate from the proposed Renting...

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Tomorrow's Enterprise - Assembly Youth Entrepreneurship Report

Starting your own business is often daunting. A recent National Assembly committee inquiry highlighted the good and bad in terms of support for entrepreneurship in Wales. (Pic : BBC) Entrepreneurship is one those "big issues"in the Welsh economy you always see mentioned, but never quite understand or look into in any great...

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Carwyn's Big Convo on the future of Welsh

The first findings of the First Minister's Cynhadledd Fawr have been published. Has the big issue - demographic shifts - been acknowledged but largely overlooked in favour of easy options? (Pic : iaithfyw.com) Over several months, First Minister Carwyn Jones led a "Big Conversation/Conference" (Y Gynhadledd Fawr) on the...

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